This was back when flying was a luxury even for the economy class, stewards cared, and airplane food was ACTUAL food, but now air travel has just become an airborne bus ride, its lost its purpose and now we just fly just for the hell of it

This is the era that I flew ..the DC-10 as a flight attendant with Overseas National. Our passengers were treated like royalty. Flying was fun and glamorous.

my parents remember those times: -Wide seats -Nice food -Pong -Alcohol in flight -Great Attention -Kind and respectful employees -Arriving the plane while the crew is welcoming you with a musical number

The service aboard the Continental 727s was fun & incomparable! ✈️

I flew back from Australia in the 80s and i lost my ticket in the restroom when I boarded the plane. I didn't know. I enjoyed some cocktails and by the time we got to Hawaii and deplaned it was clear I had no ticket. They allowed my to fly to LA because I had to have the ticket to get on the plane. The Continental cleaning crew found my ticket in the trash bin and all was good. As I was one of the last to clear customs in Hawaii, I did have to run fast but never missed the flight home. They did a great job.

The singing was just awesome

I love the songs. Everybody looks so happy, you can really tell they're genuinely proud to move their tail for you.

My husband retired from Continental after 25 years of service. He still speaks proudly of those days. Not all of them mind you, because Frank Lorenzo almost grounded the company until Bonderman's Texas Air Partners and the affable Gordan Bethune came to the rescue. They paved the way with better leadership, turning the company around from Worst to First with record breaking service and a game plan that included Continental's employees. Gordy and all the others who made it possible , wherever you are, God Bless You!

The original Continental Airlines of Robert F Six will always and forever be THE BEST airline ever! Period! I should know I was apart of it!

Back in the day when you complained to the airline they would upgrade you. Today when you complain they have you arrested.

loved flying on CO back then the 72s and 10s were great

It breaks my heart that these glory days of airline travel are long gone.

Miss the days of the DC-10’s high ceilings, wide cabins and comfortable seats.

My former flight instructor used to be bartender at the pub. He loved working there. When the pub was gone, he applied for pilot position with Continental Express and he flew ERJ145 as captain.

Continental was the premier jet airline. Beginning in 1959, we took away a lot of business from the big-3 out of our DEN base with our golden tails. We always had the best meals and service. We were the first to offer 3 class service and, after beginning international service across the Pacific, were the first A/L approved to fly without a navigator. We were the first to offer movies on domestic flights with special short movies from DEN to LAX and ORD. It was fun and challenging to work there.

What an airline, HOLY COW!

Totally miss Continental

Continental had the best ads by far, Western was a distant 2nd, every other carrier was wasting their cash. Yes, the DC-10 first class section on late evening flights was quiet, darkened , perfect for 40 winks and unwinding. I would put off flying to LA from Denver to the last flight Sunday night which was a DC-10 at 9:00p arriving at 9:40p. It was perfect

I have on my desk a Continental Statesman desk pen holder with all 13 medals I got when I was flying every week and many, many miles , they always treated with great service.

Who knew a flight attendant could toss the salad at 1:20. Haha!

Hi Mr Branch checking in. Looks great. Great to see again. Deffinetley Brightens my day. Hello Everyone great to see. Mr. D. L. Branch

I flew Continental from LAX to Denver in late 1971. I thought it would be on a DC-9 or a 727. Boy, was I surprised when I saw that my flight was on a 747. It was the only time that I ever flew on Continental. I loved that airline back then. I hate them all now. The quality of service died when they did away with the C.A.B. (civil aeronatics board) If you bring them back, you'll revive quality in air travel service in the USA.

These ads are so emotive--I loved them back then so much I thought flying on an airliner would actually be like this. Thanks for this great compilation, Aviation Explorer.

Just retired at 42 years, of course the best years were at Continental before the merger. Loved loved LOVED being a flight attendant and LOVED my Continental!!! We were the best in the sky

So nostalgic! Worked with Continental Airlines @ HNLRRCO throughout the 1970s.

I miss the old DC-10, they look very impressive, as matter of fact, to me they look more impressive than a 777, so that extra engine makes a differents. I very much took them for granted when they where in main line service, but now I miss those big trijets with three man cockpits.

At Six's insistence, Continental (with Pan Am and Trans World Airlines) was a launch airline for the Boeing 747 aircraft. On June 26, 1970, Continental became the second carrier (after TWA) to put the 747 into U.S. domestic service. Its upper-deck first class lounge and main deck "Polynesian Pub" won awards worldwide for the most refined cabin interior among all airlines, as did meal services developed by Continental's Cordon Bleu-trained executive chef, Lucien DeKeyser.

A golden tail, a golden tale

Class 75/5 man those were the good old days. Some of the best years of my life

Good days...

The safety videos were some of the best anime of all time

Back in the 80s when I was a little kid, I got to fly continental a couple times. To this day, it was the only airline that gave me and my little sister a pair of pin on wings and extra snacks every time we flew lol....was always my favorite.

I was a million-miler on Continental. On United, I am treated like a roasted turd.

What an airline, holy cow!

Back when flying was fun.

Wonderful DC-10. Only got to fly it with Northwest!

This was when Fares were set by government edict and airlines had to use service to get customers.

Don't see ads like this anymore plus a few freebies back then, I've not flown in a few or more years but I'm thinking Airlines don't give anything easy these days. Was fun to fly in the 80's and 90's.

Back then it was all about the customer... Now it's all about the company and $$$. How many seats can we jam into this thing, no food, no "coach pub" and damn it.... NO PONG GAME!

aaah back in the day where airline travel was civilized...

First flew with continental in 1975. 90 minute flight in coach. served a steak dinner.

I wish this airline was still around:(

We really move our tail for you..? Wow is good to investigate the past of everything..! I didn't have idea about the history of this airline, this is a tremendous material, thanks for upload it and to show us to the new generations about the history of one of the best airlines of America, Simply Continental..!

Boy them days are gone.

Good old days

You can tell everyone in the commercials were genuinely proud of the company they worked for. "The airline pride built" it's truly a shame United gobbled them up and is what they are now.

I wish flying was like that these days.

Busby Berkeley brought me here. Continental sure knew how to choreograph their ads!

Back when flying as a passenger was a great and special experience. Now everybody thinks they are entitled to fly for just about free.

My dad flew for Continental from 1946 to 1980. My mom was a stew in the 50's. The sad irony of it is that growing up in the Continental family, United Airlines was a dirty word in our house. I am certain today Bob Six is spinning in his grave.

Good video! I like the DC-10!

Love these blessed commercial I Cool.

4:14 to 5:14 features legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.

In first commercial the secretary was Barrie Youngfellow. She later starred in It's A Living.

Flew Continental since I was a youngster. They were my favorite airline. United needs to re-train the majority of their staff on their customer service skills to even try to embody a portion of what Continental was.

Love that promo starting at 5:50

Vin Scully FTW

Nicholas Hammond from "Spider-Man" was a spokesman - interesting!

I flew with Continental in the Late 90s from Düsseldorf to New York Newark By a dc10 lovely flying

5:15 the quintessential Casey Kasem voice-over. "And now we're up to our long distance dedication..." ;) 0:18 the voice of John Connell, an all-time great VO talent.

4:12:Are you kidding? Vin Scully? What a great guy!

I used to fly Continental from Chicago to Panama.

Back when customer service existed, and customers mattered. Made me sad to watch these

Continental golden bird with world airways red and golden DC10-30s were so beautiful gorgeous.

very nice video......

Does anyone remember the dining room lounge on the second floor of 747 planes? Pan Am and a few other airlines had them back in the 70s and 80s.

GREAT!

These old ads are so awesome i wish i could have flown on a dc10 or 727 in the good days alas i was born in 1999 in SATX so the best ive had was a DL 757 in 2007

My grandpa flew the DC 10 for continental

Those were the days, when flying was the best part of your trip. Nobody moves their tail for you today

Sadly, that airlines was destroyed when Frank Lorenzo took it over. And now it gone, merged into a new UA, The new head of UA is doing essentially the same thing that Lorenzo did. It is being stripped of its identity, and turned into a low-budget airline with a heavy cost structure. I give them 5 years until they declare Chapter 11 once again. It is really sad. But at least we have the memories of the past. Thanks for posting this.

I am mad that Continental Airlines folded before I ever got to fly with them! They were the last airlines that gave free meals with every flight!

I got to take a trip in Continental Airlines when I was 7 years old, "the bird with the golden tail".

What? No tats, no ink, no piercings, no elongated ear lobes: These people look like aliens.

If a car rental agency tried to hand me keys to a Ford Pinto, I would’ve asked where the taxi stand was located.

Pong on a DC-10. Well I never expected that. Imagine if airlines put things like that on their aircraft today.

Vin Scully rules! Wonder if CAL served Dodger Dogs in the pub of those diesel 10's?

The Continental Airlines your family knew and worked for disappeared in 1982, when Frank Lorenzo and Texas International Airlines took control in a hostile takeover. After nine banks withdrew a pending $185 million loan offer that Continental's employees had planned to use to purchase their airline and avert the TIA takeover, Continental Chairman & CEO Alvin L. Feldman -- who had encouraged and supported that effort -- shot himself in the head in his office at CO's L.A. headquarters.

Wait - you could call an airline and speak to a human being?!

I remember when you could still SMOKE on airlines... I was 14 MSY to SEA

The DC-10 was an excellent plane, with just a couple of minor flaws. Every new plane has minor flaws that get fixed over time. Unfortunately, those couple of minor flaws on the DC-10 resulted in a few major crashes, so no one wanted to fly on DC-10s anymore. Ironically, when you look at its long-term safety record, the DC-10 has turned out to be a bit safer than a Boeing 747, and it was always cheaper to fly and maintain than the B747. I'd fly on one today, if they weren't all cargo planes.

i flew on this in 1988 from Gatwick to Texas, on my way to Australia .

hahah the video games on board!

These ads are so fantastic. Btw: I'm your 9000th subscriber :-)

Fly n Drive. Can't wait to get into that pinto.. ;/

Does anyone remember a Continental commercial involving the flamingo and DC-10s? It was in the Denver market. The premise was that a mix up had occurred, and an elderly woman had a DC-10 delivered to her front yard. She felt her yard was empty when the DC-10 was removed by Continental, so they bought her a pink flamingo yard ornament so her yard wasn't so empty. I'm not kidding. This was an actual commercial. Does anyone remember it or know where I can view it?

I love how they had a pinto as a rental option.....someone in the advertising liked musicals...a lot of singing going on.

R.I.P. Casey Kasem!!!,4/27/1932-6/15/2014.His voice is totally silenced!

I remember my dad and i flew in continental in 2000 and it was good, but wow they were alot better then

I do not know if I be confortable with a big DC-10 taxi behind me while i am walking.

My late mum (mom) worked for Continental from the mid-`60's to late `72.. in the catering dept' near LAX. Occationaly, she'd bring home a cinnamon Danish pastry for me. Yum! It truly was the; 'Proud Bird w/the Brass Ass!'

The first airline I ever flew on. I was only 4 years old. Not to mention New York Air on the way back from MCO.

They always sing LOL

Muito bom continental airlines fez história

Growing up in the 1970s, the only thing I remember about Continental Airlines was their slogan touting, "We really move our tails for you"...In all honesty, I'm the only member of my family who has never flown on a plane (unless you count the coin op ones that used to be found at entrances of old school box stores such as Community, Topps and Zayre)...would like to fly on a real plane someday though...

nice singing,,,

At least today you can bring your tablet and choose the movie you want to watch 😀. But you have to remember to download it before flying.

I don't remember the "move our tail for you" taglines. Very catchy.

I'm old enough to remember when smoking was allowed on all domestic flights and I've been on dozens of the old 727's

*If you can't fly Continental..* try to have a nice trip anyway.