Why the Golden Age of Flying is Never Coming Back.

Somehow it's never the rent seekers' fault that things get ugly - always the gov't or the childish consumer. Sad that we put up with this kind of corporate piffle.

I'm reminded of a Garrison Keillor (from Lake Wobegone) monologue [from the 1980s] about how he remembers a time when movies were shown in palaces and people dressed up to go to them, rather than concrete boxes wedged into a multiplex at the mall --- "Capitalism is capable of great ugliness" he pointed out.

I'm also reminded of the quote from Vincent Scully about the shameful reconstruction of Penn Station>
"One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat.”

Where should we direct our ire?

https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2021/01/destruction-penn-station-one-entered-city-like-god-one-scuttles-now-like-rat.html

The majority of people during the Golden Age of flying couldn’t afford to fly. I remember when a girl in our 7 grade class took a plane to San Francisco for a vacation. This was in 1970. It was such a big deal everyone wanted to talk to her when she returned. She was, and still is, my friend. I remember thinking how rich they must be for the entire family of 4 to go. They weren’t, her father was a private limo driver who freelanced when his client was away and lived off his last tip. We were a family of 10 and we knew that was never gonna happen.
My mother always dreamed of travel but they never had the funds. They took their first flying vacation on their 25th wedding anniversary to Bermuda. They saved for quite awhile.
So, you can reminisce all you want but I am happy to fly the bus in the sky.

There still are opportunities to separate yourself from the ugliness of mass travel.

In Canada, one can fly Signature Class on Air Canada. Arriving in Toronto on a domestic connector, the traveller is greeted at the aircraft exit and ushered to a waiting personal Porsche Panamera for a tarmac transfer to the International departures wing where upon you make your way to the exclusive Signature Lounge until it's time to board your flight through a dedicated line at the boarding counter.

It just takes cash - no points upgrades, no points garnered through CC churning - nope, it just takes cash.

I never experienced the golden age of travel (born in the 70s in E. Europe), and I'm really glad travel is (relatively) affordable and accessible now for non-elites.

Agnes, I totally disagree with you. You're elite.

Anyway, not to be a Debbie Downer, but I've heard from many long-time travelers that travel is not as fun as it used to be due to congestion, security, and other hassles. Yes, it's wonderful that now hundreds of millions of people can now afford to travel, but at what price to the environment?

Actually, nothing is like it used to be. There was about 200 million people in the US in 1970 compared to 350 Million now. Deregulation of the airlines made it affordable for a lot of people but quality went down. There is always a trade off.

Yes, it's wonderful that now hundreds of millions of people can now afford to travel, but at what price to the environment

Frequent travellers have cast a blind eye on the toll to the environment, myself included.

"We have met the enemy, and he is us!" Very potent observation. It's inevitable that any great new thing, like unregulated commercial flying, social media, and fast food, becomes abused and loses its charm, while changing the rest of society with it. As Steve said, the population of the US is almost twice as big as it was when I first traveled on an airplane - 1964 on a non-elite family trip to England. Yes the experience was life-changing to a young boy. Now, I'm am disturbed that middle-class high school kids get flown en masse to Cancun, etc., for Spring Break like it's no big deal.

Oh, travel was so much more Golden. How many stewardesses got cancer from secondhand smoke? We forgot the smoking on aircraft. I remember smoking all the way to Frankfurt.

@funpig,

I didn't read the article, but I am curious if you have a point in posting a link to it?
My guess is that Generation Z, or whatever they are called, will be posting about the good old days in another few decades.

Let's remember that if you think of clothing, hardware, lumber, or appliances, every time the American Consumer has been asked to choose between .... Price .... and .... Service, we have chosen .... PRICE!

The US government missed a big chance when they took over the cost and hardware of security bag screening from the (sob ... ) poor beleaguered (and already deregulated) airlines. The should have extracted a "one free checked bag" required in exchange. But Lobbyists do the talking, don't they?

How I remember my first cross country plane trip from Boston to San Francisco. It was on a double decker 747
in the summer of 1971. It was so very elegant with its upper level lounge, fillet mignon on china and spacious
seating. Truly, feels like a dream now as one did not take pictures back in the day. Somehow I afforded this on a
recent college grad pay.
Now it is a 15 hour travel day of torture to reach my daughter and her family in Anchorage. Twelve years ago Alaska
Airlines made it bearable but the minute they downsized seating it became the arduous journey it has become.
In contrast, my annual flights across the pond to join my Rick Steves' tour group are still exciting as they are non-
stop for the most part and full of anticipation.

I remain amazed that I can start my day in one part of the world and end it thousands of miles away elsewhere. I have opportunities that previous generations only dreamed of. Dynamics of airline travel may change, but I never forget how privileged I am to be able to travel.

For me the Golden Age was the trains -- City of Portland, Seattle, SFran and LA. Wasn't the fastest way to travel across the mid-west but comfort level and service was high. And the best french toast that I even had was on the Union Pacific. The 7 $ filet mignon was equally superb. Of course, I did pay the extra dollar to have it upgraded to Nebraska corn-fed beef.

1954 -- Train rides from New Jersey to LA and back for my parents, brother and me. Took several days, we slept in our seats, what an adventure!

1955 -- First plane ride for brother and me with Mom, Denver to Chicago to Idlewild (as it then was), props all the way, what an adventure!

Since then long-distance passenger trains have all but disappeared, more useful to hobbyists than to real travelers. But jets fly everywhere every day, just like airborne buses. Affordable for most, fun (maybe) only for those up front, an endless source of annoying delays and baggage hassles, but it is miraculous to cross thousands of miles in a day. And, lest we forget, and some tragedies aside, far far safer than when we boomers were kids.

Saw in the newspaper today, the last 747 just rolled off the production line at Boeing. In production for over 50 years. That upper lounge was part of the golden age.