Jingle All the Way: Your Guide to Holiday Travel in the Jet Age
For modern-day travelers, the process of slugging through airport security and squeezing onto a cattle car of an airplane is one of the least thrilling parts of the holiday season. But commercial air travel hasn’t always been this way, and since Christmas is considered to be a time for nostalgia and recalling “the glories of Christmases long, long ago,” let’s take a moment to reminisce about the Golden Age of Air Travel with REBEAT’s holiday guide to flying in the Jet Age and how you can recapture some of the magic on your next flight.
1) Wear your Christmas best
In the 1950s and ’60s, commercial air travel was still fairly new and much more expensive than it is today, so not everybody had the opportunity to fly to grandma’s house for Christmas. Others were simply too afraid to set foot on a flying, metal deathtrap, and these folks could actually purchase a one-flight life insurance policy at the airport! At any rate, fewer flyers not only meant less hectic terminals during the holidays, but also that flying was a high-class, special occasion, and travelers wanted to look their best.
Jet Age Today: Put on your finest suit and tie or your Chanel blazer and favorite Christmas brooch, and get ready to strut your stuff on your way to the gate.
2) Pick up some last-minute gifts at the airport
In the current era of high-tech X-ray machines and strict TSA officials, it’s hard to imagine a time when airport security was practically non-existent. But in fact, airports used to be somewhat similar to shopping malls. Anyone could walk right in, and some people would head to the airport just to hang out, browse the stores, and watch the planes take off without any intention of boarding one. Family and friends could easily walk with you to the gate to see you off, and if you arrived early, you had plenty of time to relax before catching your flight, since you didn’t have to take miserably long security lines into account.
Jet Age Today: While you wait for boarding to begin, take a moment to search the shops for those last few items on your Christmas list.
3) Santa, bring your pipe
Public smoking has become increasingly discouraged over the years, and nowadays it’s completely forbidden on planes. But back in the day, smoking was actually encouraged on flights, and passengers enjoyed everything from cigarettes to pipes to cigars. Planes did designate smoking and non-smoking sections, though these divisions were not always effective. And while such a thought might make non-smokers cringe, remember that this was an era where smoking was extremely common both on and off airplanes, so it wasn’t necessarily viewed as the nuisance it is today. Smokers, rejoice!
Jet Age Today: Afraid this one is lost to history, but as you ascend to cruising altitude, take a look above your seat at the illuminated “No Smoking” symbol and imagine it dinging off and everyone around you lighting up. Actually, maybe that’ll explain why it was banned…
4) Let the egg nog flow
It may be hard to believe, but once the cabin doors were sealed, you were pretty much free to drink to your heart’s content — free of charge. Although this might make one a bit concerned about the possibility of rowdy passengers, drinking rarely turned into violence, and many stewardesses’ memoirs describe only harmlessly tipsy passengers who didn’t prove too difficult to handle.
Jet Age Today: Let those holiday stresses go and and kick back with a ($9 or $10) scotch while the pilot takes over.
5) And to all a good flight
Part of the reason for the decline in airline prices over time has to do with fewer amenities on modern flights. Back in the day, even passengers flying economy received plenty of conveniences totally free of charge. For example, the legroom of an economy seat was comparable to what you might receive in business class today. Moreover, checking bags was included, so there was no need to stuff carry-ons under the seat in front of you, nor did you have to battle other passengers for the limited space in the overhead compartment. All anyone had to stash on board were a few coats, purses, and briefcases.
Hospitality was also stressed as a highly important aspect of the flying experience. Stewardesses were trained to be professional and accommodating towards all passengers, meaning you were far less likely to encounter a rude or incompetent flight attendant than you are today. There were also fewer passengers per plane, meaning that stewardesses were able to provide more individualized attention to everyone. On Pan Am flights, stewardesses were actually given a list of passengers’ names so that they could address them more personally, and it was not uncommon for a stewardess to engage you in casual conversation. In fact, such interactions were encouraged by employers to make passengers feel more welcome.
Jet Age Today: When you enter the plane, smile and similarly greet the flight attendant as he or she welcomes you aboard. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll receive a full-course dinner (unless you’re on a long-haul flight), your rapport with the crew might just score you an extra bag of pretzels.
6) A mile-high feast
Depending on the airline, the quality of in-flight food tended to be better than it is today. Snacks and meals didn’t cost extra and would even be served on short flights. Pan Am stewardesses in particular prepared full-course, gourmet meals basically from scratch (in her memoir, Betty Reigel recalls the difficult task of making scrambled eggs in a tureen admist turbulence) and provided tableside service like you would find in a 5-star restaurant. Plus, you got to eat off real dishes with real silverware. Talk about luxury!
Jet Age Today: Your best bet for a substantial meal is found inside the concourse on your way to a gate. Stop off at the Au Bon Pain and get yourself something to snack on, preferably something you can eat with a fork and knife during your flight.
7) Greet your neighbors
Without smart phones, wi-fi, and TV screens on the back of each seat, in-flight entertainment was a bit more limited than it is today. Although by the early ’70s, many passengers could to listen to a small selection of airline-provided music via headphones, the choice of activities was essentially between reading and conversing with other flyers. Fortunately, some planes had lounges which allowed their passengers to move around and socialize. Even if you were seated next to someone you didn’t like, you could easily leave to find another person to talk to, which is an option many of us would still like to have.
Jet Age Today: Some folks are sensitive about seatmates striking up a conversation, but it doesn’t hurt to say hello when you reach your seat. No one likes sitting next to a sourpuss emitting bad vibes, so at least try to manage a smile. After all, you’re all wedged into the cramped airplane quarters together.
8) Spread some cheer
Besides all of the nice amenities, the primary difference between flying today and flying during the Jet Age was the atmosphere. Because a plane ride was an exciting, special event, designed to be enjoyed, instead of just a means of shuffling as many people as possible from point A to point B, both employees and fellow passengers were overall more cheerful and courteous than they are today, making the experience far more pleasant on the whole. Even though there were some less-than-stellar parts of flying during the Golden Age, such as steep ticket prices, smoky cabins, limited routes, and fewer entertainment options, you were always greeted with a friendly face when you got on board. And in many cases, kind travelling companions can really make the difference between a great trip and an awful one.
Jet Age Today: As tedious as the process of air travel might be, try to enjoy it! Think about how amazing it is to cross the country or the ocean in a matter of hours, and treat your flight like a once-in-a-lifetime experience — even if you’re boarding the same flight back in a week.
Although luxurious air travel may not be waiting for those of us boarding a flight this December, we can still take a tip from the airlines of yesteryear by remembering to be pleasant and polite to our fellow travelers and flight attendants. After all, spreading good cheer to strangers is a big part of what the holidays are all about, and nothing feels better than giving a smile to someone who really needs it. That and being the best-dressed person in your cabin, of course.
