When you board a modern commercial airliner, you spend most of your flight trying to get comfortable or sneak a few extra snacks from the food cart. It’s hard to imagine air travel being anything but a bus in the sky, but back in the 1960s, plane travel was more akin to attending a nightclub.
1960s commercial airline flights were luxurious, glamorous, and elegant. Seating and legroom were ample, food was served in feast-like proportions, and everyone was dressed their best. A lot has changed in half a century when it comes to air travel. Let’s take a look at 1960s air travel vs. today, with images that show the big difference. (For flights that ended in tragedy, discover the deadliest commercial airline disasters of the past 50 years.)
To compile an article explaining the big difference between 1960s air travel and today, 24/7 Tempo consulted several sources. These included Skyscanner.au, Metropolitan Airport News, and Simpleflying.com. After that, we confirmed aspects of our research using sites like IAMAT.org and CNN.com.
Planes
1960s
Though the modern jet entered the aviation world in the late 1950s, most commercial airlines of the period still relied on propeller engines. Some planes had modern amenities like air-conditioning and reclining seats. For the most part, however, 1960s planes were noisy and slower than current equivalents.
Now
Nowadays, commercial airline jets are fast, large, and chock full of features. Thanks to the widespread adoption of jet engines, airplanes are quiet, fast, and sleek. There are even Airbus models, which can hold hundreds of passengers and fly around the globe in a single trip.
Onboard Experience
1960s
Even though air travel was invented way back in the early 1900s, commercial airlines were still a novelty in the 1960s. Companies offered lavish amenities and spacious, luxurious cabins that evoked elegance and beauty. There weren’t different classes back then either. Instead, the entire plane shared the cabin, enjoying spacious legroom, and even picture frames hanging on the walls.
Now
As air travel became increasingly commercialized, and therefore accessible to the average consumer, airlines reined in the luxury. They opted for convenience and money instead. A modern airline features different tiers with prices corresponding to their features. You may get some of the old-school amenities if you’re flying first class, but contemporary economy class features tight, uncomfortable seats and scarce legroom.
Dress
1960s
Flying in the 1960s was considered a true privilege. People were incentivized to wear their Sunday best when taking a commercial airline flight. Typically, men wore three-piece suits and women wore dresses, heels, and jewelry. Furthermore, air hostesses or stewardesses in the 1960s were treated like movie stars. Not only were they hired for their looks, they were required to dress to the nines, often wearing hats and gloves to evoke an image of luxury and glamor.
Now
Nowadays, airline travel is far too normalized to be considered luxurious. It serves as a necessary tool to get across the world. As such, most people dress casually, if not in their pajamas, when flying on planes. Since modern planes function more as buses than luxury train cars, comfort is key. That’s why modern flights are filled with a sea of neck pillows, sweatpants, and other cozy apparel items. (For other modes of transportation, discover the most iconic muscle cars of the 1950s and ’60s.)
Food and Drink
1960s
Back in the 1960s, commercial airline flights were expensive across the board. As such, the food and drink offerings matched the price. Think of the most expensive meals you can and envision them on a flight. Champagne flowed like water and lobster and high-quality steaks were served. Abundance was the word, and buffet-style meals on flights would sometimes last hours. Imagine that.
Now
Nowadays, the pickings are slim when it comes to inflight meals. Typically, a short-route flight say from state to state will feature no more than a soda and a small package of peanuts or trail mix. Longer flights, like those across oceans, feature several meals, but they pale in comparison to the four-star dining options in the 1960s.
Entertainment
1960s
Suffice it to say, the modern commercial airline flight holds an advantage over the 1960s when it comes to entertainment. There weren’t in-flight movies or screens on the back of the seat in front of you. Instead, ’60s airline flight passengers typically passed the time by reading or filling out postcards. You could still smoke on planes back then, however.
Now
The modern airline features amenities that would have made a 1960s passenger’s head spin. There are screens affixed to the back of every seat offering up a laundry list of movies, games, and other entertainment options. More recently, airlines have been offering free Wi-Fi so you can surf the web from the comfort of your seat.
Safety
1960s
There’s no doubt about it; flights were far less safe back in the 1960s. Safety features in planes back then were ill-formed and unable to bear the brunt of dangerous situations. Seatbelts were loose-fitting and cabins featured sharp, potentially deadly edges. There were also far fewer regulations surrounding pilot training. Statistically speaking, you were in more danger of flying on a commercial airliner in the 1960s.
Now
Thanks to strides in airplane technology and a better understanding of unforeseen incidents, planes are safer than ever. Regulations are air-tight, and pilots often undergo thousands of hours of training before taking the helm of a commercial jet. Security is also a world apart from the 1960s. You can’t wander into the cockpit anymore and ask the pilot questions, but you can rest assured, knowing you are in safe hands. (For dwindling locales, discover travel destinations that may not be around in as little as a decade.)