In the 80s, my family used to go out on Sunday afternoons at the airport parking lot watching commercial planes take off. Very few of us needed to worry about tight security back then. This was a brilliant retrospective about life that was much less complicated. Big Thanks! 😊

I am 77. We have lost so many good things over the years...

Then: Luxury airliner with generous amenities. Now: Greyhound bus with wings.

I spent 45 years in the airlines and retired as a senior wide body captain. Modern air travel is disgusting. I’m glad I got to spend some of my time flying in those years.

Flying used to be a fun part of any vacation or trip. I found the food, even in coach, to be surprisingly tasty. Watching an in-flight movie with a cabin full of passengers felt like an evening at the theater. Most folks enjoyed talking with the stranger next to them! Socializing was VALUED. Today, it seems, more people prefer to isolate themselves and disappear into their phones, making air travel just a "necessary evil" that gets them to a destination.

Respectful, considerate and well mannered passengers have sadly become less common

The number one thing people lost was CLASS. Flying now is like flying in a sardine can full of zoo animals and bar folks.

I remember Moms dressing us all up for my first flight in 1979 because it was an experience to take a plane trip. Today in 2024 it's like taking the city bus to your destination.

I'm 57yrs old now. My father worked for United Air Lines from the time I was born and retired from there. So, needless to say, we flew everywhere and often. I grew up on air travel. He was Chief Cargo Agent for Newark International and then LAX in Los Angeles. So, we got many special privileges associated with air travel. We got to have a personal tour of the massive 747 Boeing Assembly Plant in Everett, Washington when Boeing was at it's peak. We flew 1st class to Hawaii in the brand new 747-800 and were the only family traveling on an exclusive trial executive flight, so we had the entire Hawaii themed upper luxury deck to ourselves as a survey for the airline. We also flew often in executive cabins on cargo flights which were almost like flying on a private jet. As far as the United swag, my dad would bring home tons of United Airlines promotions. From bags to clothing and toys. We had everything United Airlines. This has really brought back fond memories for me as do all of your videos. But, I must say, this one is extra special since I grew up flying more times than I can count.

The pilot no longer gets on the intercom and lets you know what you're flying over. They used to say "if you look out your left"...

I started flying in the 60s. Air travel has changed tremendously!

I was 7 in 1972 and was fortunate to experience my very first plane ride at a young age. Took a Pan Am Boeing 747 with my mom roundtrip from Manila to Los Angeles. It was so glamorous! I remember my mom getting me a nice outfit for the flight. It was a short sleeved suit for boys with a matching neck tie. During those days with Pan Am all the kids get a junior flyer goodie bag with a metal Pan Am pin, stickers & coloring book. It was amazing! So lucky to have experienced that.

Flying was once a special occasion. Today it is just another mode of transportation.

Being Irish and being born in 1970, I’ve seen old photos and footage of our national airline Aer Lingus at Dublin and it’s a terrible shame how airlines have lost their sense of style, class and sophistication 🇮🇪☘️🇮🇪❤️

I am in my 70’s and can remember when flying was a classy, elegant experience. People dressed up for their flights and were on their best behavior. Deregulation ruined flying. Airlines no longer competed on the basis of service, but on the basis of price. The race to the bottom was on. The golden days of air travel were replaced by the aviation equivalent of the Hunger Games.

I remember flying on half-empty 747s and L1011s in the '80s and early '90s--delightful! I also loved all the magazines they would have on board. It was such a treat

At that time you were dressed formally no matter where you flew too. As you boarded, you received a large flight bag with your airlines logo, and your meals were a tray full of hot, delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. My how things have changed.

The movie Airplane is a favorite of mine. “Don’t call me Shirley,” 😅

I traveled a lot when I was in the US Army 1980's and 90's,.. The one single thing I miss from those sometimes LONG flights is the "steamed towels"

You can still see the mechanical departure/arrival signs in train stations. That is such a memorable sound.

I remember almost all of these things ❤ Oh - but you forgot the shoeshine stand at the entry point to the various gateways.

One thing you did not mention that has changed a lot in air travel is luggage. It seems to me that in my earlier days of flying there was less emphasis on carry-on luggage. People might bring a small bag, coat, or ladies a huge pocketbook on board for the overhead bins. But when airlines started limiting luggage there were more and more carry-ons. And now days with airlines charging for luggage the overhead bins are packed and all of the carry-ons make it more difficult to get on the plane.

One of the biggest changes has been the consolidation of the industry and the loss of so many huge names like Northwest, Continental, USAir, etc. I’ve been a flight attendant for 26 years. I was always obsessed with commercial aviation and spent much of my teens collecting airline memorabilia. The industry has lots its charm and has become very sterile and generic, and is run by bean counters. Aside from the changes in technology (paper tickets, etc.), the experience onboard is just a shadow of how it used to be - from the gorgeously designed cabins airlines used to have to the food we use to serve. Airplanes themselves have also become all in the same - twin engine. Back in the day, you could easily identify a DC10, 727, MD80, etc. There was SO much variety. Pass riding as an employee was also much easier years ago and you’d likely get upgraded. Now, flights are packed and standby travel isn’t worth it. Like many things now, it’s just lost it’s charm and mystique. But, I still love to fly ❤

Yea, I remember when you could smoke on an airplane. But, back then we dressed respectfully.

Things changed much earlier than 9/11. In the early 1970s, when airliners were hijacked to Cuba, that's when the changes began.

Prior to a bunch of airline hijackings to Cuba in the 1960s and early 1970s, there were no airport security checkpoints to speak of at all. You just walked to your gate and boarded the plane.

This takes me back, during the 60s thur the 80s I had the pleasure and honor to work for several airlines. From a ramp helper to baggage handler to Sky Cap. Most of those jobs were connected thur my father, Mr. Tommy Grimes, I wanted to follow in my Dads footsteps. I did for a while, thur high school and college working my way through school. He was employed, Western Airlines TWA also Delta Airlines. I remember the flight bags from western airlines also from Pan Am. I can go on and on. This video brought back to many memories of my Father and myself sometimes working side by side with him. Summers my brother and myself just right before we both went off to college working with my Dad, those were the days. Thank You for reminding of those memories….

Remember Braniff airlines? M first ever air flight trip was on that airline in 1967. Quite an adventure for a young kid, back then.

I remember in the early 80s taking Pan Am to Italy with my parents on a 747. It was really spacious on the inside and had a cocktail bar upstairs going up a spiral staircase. I also remember Eastern Airlines, and National Airlines back then.

My dad worked for Piedmont Airlines from 1964. We used to fly quite a bit since my mom's family is from Texas. It was fun back then, and having a dad who knew the pilots, crew, etc. since I could go in the cockpit and behind the scenes in the hangars, see the flight simulators and such. He went to Holland to help negotiate the purchase of their Fokker F28 planes. Fun fact- the plane that DB Cooper jumped out of was bought by Piedmont and the number on it changed to prevent outsiders from knowing which plane it was. The thing I miss most is comfortable seating and more space on planes. I have back issues so it's literally physically painful for me to fly with my face 3 inches from the seat in front of me, and not being able to recline or stretch out.🙁

In the late 80’s and up to that really bad day in 2001, planes flew half empty. Once the flight leveled off. Passengers would migrate to empty rows and stretch out. That also made it easy to get a flight on a spur of the moment. And you forgot that one didn’t have to get to the airport hours before my flight. My dad would leave at the absolute last nanosecond, insisted on driving my car and recreating GTA and fast and the furious to the airport. Then run thru security and right thru the open gate to his seat. (Never knew my ‘66 mustang with the inline 6 was such a capable car)

The last flight I took at Christmas last year several people brought dogs on the plane and took the dogs out to sit on their laps. Never used to see that in the old days.

I'm 70..flying used to be a classy experience. Now it's a glorified greyhound bus.

Back then tickets were much more expensive when adjusted for inflation. Yes as we pay less we get less

Modern flying is a dingy Greyhound bus with wings and tiny seats. I used to love flying when I was younger. I now fly as absolutely as little as possible.

Going to see my Dad off on a trip used to be a treat. There were no metal detectors, and we could go through the gate with him.

I'd like to go back to the way we flew in the 60's and 70's (EXCEPT for the cigarette smoking). It was a golden age and really fun to fly.

Airlines are such a joke, now. As people have gotten heavier, plane seats have shrunk. It’s really uncomfortable to fly now.

My 2 most thrilling moments of flying In the "golden age of flying" were visiting the lower galley of a DC10 and a 747. I was mesmerized by the elevator and cart lift! Those were the days!😊

Aah, the heyday of leisure aviation 😊

I'm 71 and still remember my flight from NY to CA. What I wore and watching the movie The Odd Couple. 😊

As a pilot for a jet charter company, several of these things still exist in the private world. For example, we leave the cockpit doors open and invite our passengers (especially kids) to come up during flight and check everything out. Being 52, I definitely remember nearly all of the things mentioned in this video.

TWA was my fave airline company and one of our last flights with them was their last day. We did sing alongs and all the kids got wings. Boy, I miss that legroom! America West was our 2nd favorite for hot/warm meals with utensils until being swallowed up by US Air.

I was born in 63 and remember all of this. Back then airlines also gave toy airplanes to kids. I also had an uncle who was a pilot for Delta airlines and I got all kinds of benefits, such as super low fares which was nice in my late teens and twenties.

We have lost several airlines. Such as Eastern, TWA, PanAm, Ozark, etc.

I really miss the observation decks. They were great for an aviation enthusiast like me. I have slides at 57 I took as a kid.

We actually had a family in our church that the father in the family was killed while changing a flat tire on his car headed to the airport to fly out on a business trip and the flight insurance he had paid his family left behind a very large sum of money. His wife would scold him through the years for always purchasing long term flight insurance. After his fatal accident she became an advocate for the flight insurance policies.

My Dad worked for Pan American from the days the flew the China Clipper. Though the China Clipper was replaced before I flew as a child it still holds memories for me. It was such a blessing to fly. I miss the 707 and the 747. I still have a travel bag and wish I never got rid of the cards.

I'm old enough to remember when it was really special to fly, and we dressed nicely for it. I had my first (legal!) drink onboard an Eastern flight in 1979, having turned 18 just the day before!

The quality of people that travel today. Rude, no manners and obnoxious. No dress etiquette, unruly children and parents that do not know how to behave themselves.

Flying coach you get to experience how sardines feel!!

For those who are fond of air travel agencies there is one in Gatineau, Québec, where I live, celebrating 100 years of helping travelers. It's name is Club de Voyage Guertin! Happy 100!

There was a time decades ago when there was no charge to park in the airport's surface lot.

As a kid in the 60s, I remember people being nicely dressed to fly (my brothers and I all had to wear ties and jackets) and it was a big deal to travel. I also remember the stewardesses (as they were called then) handing out wings and offering chewing gum or hard candies to us to help prevent our ears from popping. In later years, I was a smoker (put down your pitchforks, I quit) and admit it was much nicer when it was banned from flights. I also remember, though, that people were not as knee-jerk 'outraged' over it or other things like they seem to be now.

I still have a vintage red and white TWA beanie that was given to my dad, back in the 60’s I think? And it’s one of my most favorite possessions.

As a child we used to fly all the time out of New York. I learned to love flying. The smell of jet fuel made me think of flying off somewhere special and it was. Loved it so much I became a Flight Attendant at 40 in 2000. I know that sounds “old” but I was actually one of the younger ones in training. I loved my 15 years flying. 9/11 ruined most of the fun in working in the airline industry but I’ll never forget my flying “family”. Forever Friendships formed working the skies❤

I remember in the 1960s my Dad taking me to watch the planes take off at our local airport. We stood at the fence right next to the gate where passengers were walking out to board the plane. The Regional flights still used mostly prop-engined planes. People would smile at little 6 yr old me and wave good bye. Fun memories!

Son of a Pan Am employee here. The late 60s thru the 80s were a great time to travel. I'll never forget the canals of bangkok. And when you said you traveled on Pan Am oh wow was the reaction something else.

I remember the flight bags, wings, meals with tiny cutlery! Sigh,....

I fly weekly. Flying now is like taking a greyhound bus in the 1970’s, ugh! Sad that 1962 at 12:12 is nicer than anything we have in 2024!

Flying is like taking the bus now.just the essentials and nothing extra.

One thing some forget about is the switch from propeller to jet engines. My dad was traveling business at that peak 1960s time. He even got a plaque from United as one of their elite 100,000 mile club. Kind of equivalent to youtube 'buttons'. 5 of us kids would walk right out to Dad's O'Hare gate and sometimes as a family we went out there to watch 'jumbo jets' ie 747s take off and land. Great fun. And the requirements to be a stewardess were min 5'6" height and 120lbs. Every 'extra pound' added to the weight of the plane, dont you know. Wink wink. Sure.

I traveled a lot on business mostly out of JFK and LaGuardia. You could arrive 30 minutes before your flight run to the gate and still make it. Those were the days my friend, We thought they'd never end.

My mom worked for Eastern airlines in the 60’s and 70’s first class was truly first class flew pan am was like dining in a 5 star restaurant now its a Burger King with wings

I worked as a ticketing/gate agent for Eastern for their last 10 years at Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver airports. Few people realize how many parts of the country were left without any air transportation after Eastern’s failure.

Have a great weekend Recollection Road😃Thank you for all you do🙏🏻ROCK ON!!!!!!!!🤘🏻🤙🏻✌🏻

San Antonio airport has still has curbside check-in especially during busy hours. My first flight was a sophomore in college going to a conference in Casper, Wyoming. Everyone was dressed up (I wore a suit and tie there and back). Much more civilized.

Another superb video that brought back many memories. My first flight at age 9 on an EAL DC7B “Golden Falcon” I fondly remember, all dressed up in my suit and bow tie. I had flight bags from Eastern, PanAm and TWA that are sadly long gone. Didn’t realize when I got rid of them that they were collectible and actually had sentimental value to me as I remember them now. I flew countless times during my business career, watching as it became less glamorous and more tedious. I’m actually glad at age 77 not to have to fly much nowadays. The iconic airlines and even aircraft have been replaced by cookie-cutter carriers and 2-engine jets that all look very much the same.

Back in the day you could fly unaccompanied at 5 years old late 60s

Thanks for this video of memories. I had totally forgotten about the decks of cards. It use to be quit common to see various airlines playing cards laying around the house of people who traveled a lot.

My first flight was April 1958 from Palm Beach, Fla to New York

Ouch. You just referred to "The 20th Century" like it was a long time ago. (8:12) Geez, way to make an old guy feel old.

Thanks for another great video! You forgot the Chiclets; are those even made today?

Back in the day, my wife and I flew a lot on business. If you ordered a drink it would have a plastic stirrer with the airline logo embossed on it. Over the years we built up a fine collection. I miss those days.

I miss Sky Caps they are a blessing. They worked so hard and we would tip them well. It was amazing. Pre Check In, Baggage Handlers - It was wonderful

I can still remember visiting the cockpit when I was 5yrs old. One of the attendants asked me if I wanted to see it. My parents said yes, and off I went. I do not remember what the pilots said to me as they showed some of the controls. But I do remember being mesmerized, in total awe of this flying plane and that I was there with the captain. There was no view from the front windows as I was small of course and it was a night flight. I don't remember getting a pin though. The memory is what lasts and has the most value to me.

We didn't fly commercial when I was a kid in the 60s because we couldn't afford it. But I remember picking up my aunt right at the plane!

I'm old enough to remember when air travel was nice. Not the literal "air bus" it is now.

Deregulation lowered airfares, but also created the crowded seating we have now. While it would cost a bit more than a regular flight, you would think there could be a market for an airline that can offer the legroom and amenities of airlines of the past.

In the 1970's when I started flying, BDL was an open airport. With red carpeting on the passageways to the gates. You could walk anywhere in the airport area. BDL also had huge plate glass windows overlooking the apron and the tarmac in a lounge on the check in concourse area, so you did not have to go outside. Eastern Airlines was the choice from BDL to MIA. In the 1980's I became a travel agent, (In Miami) with Eastern Airlines System One computers in the office. Prior to that I worked in a "manual travel office," we did everything on paper/phone/air schedule travel books and hand writing tickets, and the more exotic the ticket, the (Fare Ladders) came out to add extra segments to a 4 segment hand written ticket stock. We used to hand write tickets before computer printers came online. We used a Credit Card Swipe Machine to process Airline tickets with the necessary IATA codes and Airline ID stamps. We could get around government (rules/embargos) for certain cities when handwriting tickets. (like CUBA). We hand wrote tickets with Third Country connections, so that the tickets would not reflect a US departure to Cuba and back. Because I worked along side the Cuban Immigrant community in Miami, before their offices were firebombed and destroyed. We made a lot of money, and were afforded lots of First Class Passes on Varig and Pan Am. When the Concorde began flying out of Miami, we used to print up dummy boarding passes, so we could get into the Concorde international terminal building, to see her, and to watch her take off from the out door patio above the international departures building. Getting into and out of MIA was much simpler before 9-11. We Flew Pan Am to Europe, and all across the U.S. and Varig to South America. Every week I would process the IATA reports on the weekly ticket sales that went to the ARC, (Airline Reporting Company) that tracked all land based ticket sales by agencies. And with that report your revenue could be used to procure Free Passes from Airline Companies like Varig and Pan Am, or other airlines you sold so many tickets in a given quarter, based on your sales.

It's a wonderful Vlog. As a frequent traveler; I remember most of these exclusive features. Your Vlog dragged me to sweet memories of olden times and saddened me. However, this type of sadness is harmless. God bless you!🌹🌹🌹

I'm 64 and remember my first flight like it was yesterday. I flew from STL to EVV on an Eastern Airlines DC 9 14 in August, 1968. The DC-9 had just entered service in 1965 so it was then a very new experience. I remember fondly as a child watching the Convair 440s, and 580s of Delta Airlines, and Lake Central Airlines as well as Eastern Airlines DC 7s and Martin 404s landing and departing from our Dress Memorial Airport, now Evansville Regional Airport, EVV. I remember the excitement when jet service started at our local airport in 1965. Later Lake Central Airlines merged with Allegheny Airlines and we had Convair 580s and then the DC-9 30's. What wonderful memories that I cherish today. I became a travel agent in the early 80s, loved my job immensely, especially all the free travel perks we were given. I wouldn't trade it for anything back then. Due to deregulation and the Internet, I became an elementary school teacher and shared my joy of travel to my students. I was blessed then and now to have experienced all these changes. Thank you for putting this video together, it is a joy to relive these wonderful memories.

First flight was Saturn Airlines DC-6, Germany to NYC. Refueled in Iceland (I think), I was 10. It would hit pockets of air at different pressures/temps and drop a hundred feet or more instantly. My first real job was Dobbs House airline catering, in those box trucks with scissor-lifts to reach the galley. We had stiff plastic kiddie-pool-like devices with hundreds of holes that we would place over the engine nacelle if it was a DC-9 while we worked the rear galley. We got to eat the untouched foods that came off, including first-class stuff. The "ovens" were these vertical rectangular boxes with open fronts which they would plug into slots in the galley. My most memorable airplane was a DC8 Super Stretch. Awesome video, I remember it all. thanks

Interesting video & it was nice back in the day. Haven't flown in years & never will again.

Brilliant, Brilliant, You Hit Gold Again!! Thank You!!

In spite of the fact that I had to plan some extra traveling days, my recent trip home was taken on Amtrak. Not saying they are perfect but there’s more room to move around, you can purchase food that is…FOOD! And it was tasty. People were nice, and there was room to move around. I didn’t care for the ride from my city. It was an overnight ride and was crowded. I had to sit by the window which I wouldn’t care about but having to take a water pill and then having to climb over someone to go to the bathroom isn’t fun. But, lessons were learned! Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Their bathrooms left a lot to be desired. And I do mean a lot! I imagine it’s a problem for pretty much any type of public transportation. The one thing they are death on is being on time which is great but a “black tan” clean out doesn’t take long but the railroad is ON TIME!! I really wish they could take a few minutes to clean the bathrooms up!

I'm 78 and haven't flown since the 1980's, From what I read here...I haven't missed much. If I can't drive to where I want to go...I don't go. El Mirage, Arizona

Asian and South American airlines still have slim and cute stewardesses. And long, international flights still serve good, complementary meals.

One more thing that's gone forever. A complimentary glass of champagne.

This was a great reminder video. In the 70’s, my heavily pregnant mom flew w/ my little brother and I JFK - HKG. I remember we had a dedicated stewardess who played with us the entire flight, keeping us busy and not crying, plying us w/ a new toy and food every few hours. We didn’t see our mom the entire flight. Remember leaving the plane with a wide smile and my small hand clutching a bag full of toys.

Also luggage (suitcases and trunks) have changed drastically over the decades.

What memories! Good production. The other things that I remember from the 50s - 60s was the small little packs of cigarettes (Four cig if I recall) which would be handed out. Also the little mini liquor bottles. Usually thrown out after use, my Dad would bring the emptys home and I had some collection!

One thing he didn't mention that we do not miss at all is how few airline crashes there are compared to decades ago. I don't know what the average was back then. 2 jets a year? 1?

Travel now is more like being held hostage for several hours. I miss when travel waa fun and exciting.

I first flew in 1978 when I joined the military. It was a different experience than today. Businessmen doing paperwork with open briefcases. Stewardesses were still a thing and were mostly young and pretty girls. You could smoke and drink your way across the country. As long as you weren't belligerent they'd keep'em coming. Airlines made bucks peddling alcohol at 30000 feet. Flying was a fun thing to do. Excitement at going somewhere by air, even if it was boot camp was real. Over the next 6 years I flew at least once a year, sometimes twice. As I got more used to being away from home I tended to only go home once a year. It was a lot less expensive and going home for two weeks was never long enough to be ready to go back. By staying at the family home for 30 days I was really ready to go back. lol

The extreme of removing shoes is just ridiculous..

I haven't flown since the early 1980s. I won't spoil the good memories by doing it again.

Also, the paper flight schedules (timetables); still have a vast collection for the 70’s and 80’s. In addition. the airlines would let you leave the plane and enter into the terminal and get back on the same plane later if your existing connecting flight took you to a future destination. I spent many days as a 13 year old with my close friend roaming the terminals unattended at Detroit Metro (DTW) and playing pinball and I still have photos taken of airplanes at the observation deck (it cost 10 cents).

I still dressed up when I was flying.

Flying now in the U.S. is a great opportunity to view gross people on a regular basis.