I travel a lot. It’s all secret missions, you know. Litigations, defense industry work, secret manufacturing processes, and the like. Don’t tell anyone. Some of my clients insist that I fly first class. Hey, the customer is always right and if that’s what they want, that’s what I do. But first class air travel sure isn’t what it used to be. At least within the US. It used to be that first class meant you got on the airplane first, an attractive young person took your carry on stuff and put it in the overhead bin for you, that same attractive young person would take your jacket and hang it up for you, someone else would bring you a plate of heated nuts (on a real plate, not plastic or paper), they’d ask what kind of drink you’d like (I always went for 100% blue agave Tequila, whatever you have, please), and all this was within maybe 60 seconds of getting to your seat. And the meals…wow, they were heavenly. Like you’d get in a restaurant. Real food. Real dishes. More booze. Cloth napkins. It was real, you know, first class treatment.
Today? You gotta be kidding me, I thought when the guy came around with my “lunch.” It was a cardboard container with maybe four or five cellophane snack bags. Like Mom used to put in my lunch when I went to elementary school. I took the offerings the first time this happened, thinking it was a lot of snacks before they served lunch. As we neared our destination I realized: That was lunch. I asked if their catering service just knocked over a vending machine. I figured if they are giving me a first class snack, I’m going to give them first class sarcasm.
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Yep, those early Pan Am flights were really something.
As an old guy too, our company policy was that a coat and tie were required on any flight, and it was enforced! They gave real hot meals with real silver wear and all it tasted good! The Stewardess’s, as we called the young ladies who served us on the plane in those ancient days, were always pleasant and cheerful. the overall experience was great. People actually were envious of me for being able to fly around the USA and the world. Now when I ride the big BUS in the sky I have easy on and off shoes, loose fitting clothes and carry on bag that looks like it lived thru the 60’s… and I look like everyone else on board.
Heck, they don’t even serve you peanuts on Southwest anymore!
Progress, I think not.
Flying has become an exhausting experience. And with the recent incidences of attacks on flight attendants I’m stunned by how poorly paid they are with awful benefits and conditions.
Airline saving money and blaming it on post-COVID mitigation protocols.
We’re those trips to Area 51 first class? I guess you could tell me, but then. . .
Flying is like riding a bus now, only you get there faster. And yet, prices keep increasing year after year.
What used to be a $700 ticket is now an $1100 ticket. I guess a lot of that is fuel prices. Maybe it will drive the airlines to buy electric airplanes.