The Golden Age of Flying: how it used to be in the 1950s and '60s!

My husband and I travelled from Toronto, Canada to London, England in 1969. We flew on Wardair. I still have the menu from the flight. It has a copy of a famous painting on the cover. The menu consisted of Shrimp cocktail, Filet Mignon, Sherry trifle, champagne. It was the most amazing experience and the seats were very roomy and comfortable. Nothing like today where we are herded in like cattle and lucky if we get a sandwich. Great video. Thank you❤️🇨🇦❤️🇨🇦

Loved your video I was a “Stewardess” for United Airlines from 1968 to 2006. I’m so glad I saw some of those golden years of flying our society was so different back then.

I had my first flight in 1958. You arrived at the airport 30 minutes before departure. You got the most delightful for a meal and drinks and several souvenirs.

I took my first flight in 1974, and I can tell you that what I got in Economy back then is more than I get today in First Class.

I was very fortunate to have travelled with my parents in the early-mid 60’s, and we would always dress smartly, suits and dresses… and it WAS special !

I was a TWA Flight Attendant and it was wonderful to have real inflight service.

My mom took her first flight from Morocco to Paris in 78 and she dressed her best and enjoyed every bit of it. She still to this date advise me to look better on flights days 😊❤

I started flying in 1970, and it was really such a pleasant experience! People dressed nicely. The flight attendants (still called “stewardesses”), seemed happy to see you! (Can you imagine that?) Middle class people like me used to save money in order to fly. It was considered a luxury, and part of a vacation, in many cases. The food was delicious, and even dessert and coffee was 5 star! It was fun! Now, it’s a lot cheaper, but a lot more like going somewhere on an overcrowded city bus. Very stressful today.

I really miss those days. Today flying is not much more than riding a bus with wings.

I have a photo of my mother, my brother and myself arriving at the airport after an overseas flight from Scotland to Toronto back in 1950. My mother has her hat on and is high heels. I was six at the time. I remember we were deaf at the time because of the roaring of the plane and that lasted for days.

My father and I flew to London from Dublin in 1960. I was so excited. The air hostesses were glamorous and we were served a lovely meal during the flight.

My mom was a stewardess from 1954 to 1959, the year she got married. Met dad on a DC-3. Had my 1st flight in 1961 from Idlewild airport in NYC to Kai Tak in Hong Kong. I was 4 months old. Spent my entire childhood traveling the world as my parents lived all over Asia.

Worked for American in the 1960s, and always traveled first class. Stewardesses had to adhere to strict weight and grooming requirements. They dressed beautifully, and with class. The passengers also dressed appropriately, as if they were going to a first-class restaurant. No dragging your suitcases onboard either. Luggage was checked which made boarding and deboarding so much quicker and more pleasurable. American had a superb meal service in first-class called the Captain's Table on long-haul flights, it was a real treat. Wish we could go back to these days of true civility.

Oh my gosh how glamorous and magical not a plastic fork or tracksuit in sight loved it 😂❤

I used to be a flight attendant and the crew back then looked so stylish and joyful. So beautiful ❤

Even as late as the 1990s I still enjoyed flying. I usually flew AA for work, and as my region was from Mexico all the way to Argentina and Chile, I was on a lot of long flights. Everyone from the gate staff to the crew knew me by name. I flew a million miles on AA alone, and with the flyer miles was able to gift my Dad a huge multi-country trip all over Asia and the Far East. Now flights are more like the movie 'Con Air'.

What a fantastic video. You have made a great presentation. In the early 80s, as tourists to the USA, we were able to purchase a flight package with American Airlines. It cost us about $450 for virtually unlimited travel over two months. What a way to see America. In those days Domestic travel was comfortable with decent sized seats. There was a full meal service equivalent to what you get on international flights. Probably the biggest difference was that not one of our 30 plus flights were either delayed or cancelled. Those were the days.

I remember flying international in the late ‘70’s as a child and my mom dressing me in my Sunday best dresses. Also, the free stuff we got as kids late70’s and early 80’s in the plane, coloring books, puzzles, stuffies and candies and special kids meals.

LOVE YOUR CHANNEL! My mom was an "Air Hostess" in 1951-54 for TWA. So many great stories! I love your old school TV as a screen! Very creative. And YOU are a wonderful host.

The narrators voice on this video from the 60's is so interesting full of emotion that it makes you want to hear what he says the entire video not like my teachers who put me to sleep as soon as they started talking.