Remember the days when the airline industry was considered "glamorous"? Pilots were almost worshiped by the public, cutting a most dashing image in their double-breasted uniforms. And the flight attendants, or "stewardesses" as we called them back then, were so gorgeous they put movie stars and fashion models to shame.
Even the food was good. Of course, they were catering to a most discriminating customer back then, too. Flying was expensive, and when you flew it was an "occasion" and you dressed in your Sunday finest.
As with everything, times have changed, and this time for the worse. Now pilots are sniffed as they get on board looking for evidence of alcohol. Flight attendants fly into their 60's and even their 70's, and customers routinely show up in gym shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. (Git er done!)
Airline food ceased being edible years ago, and today on most flights ceases to even exist at all. They'll sell you a cold, hard sandwich at the gate, but the smart traveler buys their own and brings it on board with them. While our posteriors have gotten larger and we've grown taller, seat width and legroom has shrunk. Today it's "coffee?", "tea?", "seat belt extender?"
I've even heard some of the lowest cost "low cost carriers" are considering bringing back pay toilets. ("Hey buddy....can you spare a quarter?" takes on a whole new meaning.) Even getting on the plane is an ordeal today, thanks to the TSA.
Now it seems you're advised to bring your own tool kit on board with you, too. That's so you can make sure your seat is properly bolted to the floor. Apparently, on American Airlines at least, that's something you can't take for granted anymore as three of their planes had to make emergency landings yesterday after entire rows of occupied seats just flopped over. (Labor strife / sabotage?)
What's next? How low can they go?
Just a thought: If you see your pilot board wearing a parachute, de-plane and take the bus instead!
S
I've only flown three times and it really didn't make me want to do it again for all the reasons you described. Of course I'm not old enough to remember "the good ol days" either.
ReplyDeleteAA is offering "subway" straps for an extra charge.
ReplyDeleteWhen our son Joe was flying for a Vietnamese airline last year it was like stepping back in time. They were treated with respect and looked up to. They had good food even on short flights and the attendants were nice and brought food and coffee to the cockpit. In turn Joe would help them with their bags. Courtesy is contagious.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall the magical moments of flight you're describing and I think I'm close to the same age as you. Maybe the forties and fifties were glamorous, but I flew many times on PSA in my college years and it wasn't glamorous. But you do make a good point; today, air travel is outright unpleasant.
ReplyDeleteMy Dadio was a pilot for Delta back in those glory days. He was a rock star and got treated as such. I know. I got to fly with him in the jump seat as a kid when the baby sitter didn't show up on time. And the "Stu's" were like movie stars. My brother Jimbo was flying for ASA (a low cost commuter de Delta) and he says he was treated like a glorified bus driver. Jimbo left ASA to fly as a corporate pilot for some rich dude out of South Carolina flying Citations. My CFI (20+ years ago) was wanting to to build hours to get his ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) but slowly changed to wanting to fly corporate like my brother. It's not like it use to be.
ReplyDeleteY'know, I was just thinking: nothing is like it used to be.
ReplyDeleteAaaah, the good olde days when a Pan Am stewardess could get fired for getting too heavy, too old, too ugly, or too married.
ReplyDeletePeeper....what was their average tenure? Something like 3 years?
ReplyDeleteS
I remember ashtrays in the arm rests, and now you get a hard time for trying to carry fifteen lighters on board, actually a true story Ha Ha
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