What In-Flight Meals Were Like 50 Years Ago

[Callalily]

I find this article very fascinating. My, my, how things have changed.

https://dailypassport.com/what-in-flight-meals-were-like-50-years-ago/?lctg=6a3f13b9-52ff-40c3-9c9f-88930a445f55

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I remember this

My parents regularly put us on direct flights to California and Alabama to visit our Grands. My brother and I would fly 1st Class - due to our miles alone. We also racked up miles/frequent flyer status when we lived in West Germany.

I also remember them giving us candy cigarettes and shirley temples post meal time when we were little!

I have some of my inflight activity kits intact - never opened from TWA.

[LisaM]

5. Candy cigarettes and Shirley Temples!

That's hilarious.

I would guess your plane manners rose to the occasion, with the flight attendants treating you like that. I see kids on flights now that seem to need a full bag of stuff, plus phones, just for a four hour flight.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Pre 9/11

And our parents were just out here sending us here and there!

[LisaM]

9. I sat next to a little girl travelling alone once

Her brother had an asthma attack and she was left to go to Atlanta by herself (she was connecting in Detroit). I was seated next to her. We had a good time, I showed her how to track our flight on the plane, we chatted about her family, and she pulled out a book and asked me to read it to her (she was about 7). She didn't know, of course, that I used to work in a daycare, and was very practiced in reading out loud and asking questions about the book, so that was fun. We spent the entire flight as friends.

As we began to land, the flight attendant ran up to me and asked me if I liked wine. I said yes, she asked 'red or white?' and handed me a nice bottle of red from First Class, wrapped in a Delta Airlines cloth napkin.

[Brainstormy]

2. And folks dressed!

You didn't get on an airplane unless you looked like you might be going to church.

[PJMcK]

3. Even 20 years ago

In the '90s and early 2000s I traveled a lot on business racking up lots of frequent flier miles. This provided me with many upgrades to business class. I could pre-order a special meal, often a seafood platter with lobster, shrimp and some fish. Liquor was included and the flight attendants would frequently give out "roadies" to take to our hotels.

No more. Flying today sucks but it's a necessary evil.

[Polly Hennessey]

4. I remember being served champagne in regular class

and the food was not bad. Also, we all looked presentable. Now it seems everyone looks like they just climbed out of bed.

[twodogsbarking]

6. And people smoked and only the well off could fly. They paid for that meal, many times over.

[llmart]

7. My very first flight was in 1967.

They handed out a free small pack of cigarettes to anyone who wanted them. LOL

And yes, the food was like going to a restaurant with real cutlery and I dressed up as if I was going to the office to work. It was a real adventure to fly. These days I do very little of it. It's just so unpleasant. If I did go anywhere I would definitely splurge on Business Class.

[LisaM]

10. I always upgrade if I can.

I will tell you, every penny I ever spent for Delta Airlines Amex Reserve was well worth it when we had to spend two days in the Minneapolis airport waiting to get to an iced-in Grand Forks. Sky Club forever.