White-Glove Service
Fifty years ago, flying had a certain glamour: the luxurious seats, the doting (and beautiful) flight attendants, the gourmet meals... Today, most of the majesty of commercial air travel has been scrapped thanks to cutbacks and tight security. Miss the old days? LIFE looks back at what it used to mean to fly commercially. Pictured: In 1968, two Pan Am flight attendants embrace before their first transatlantic flight from New York to Moscow.
More Bubbly, Sir?
This giant double-decker Boeing 747 seems light-years away from the cramped, leg-crunching cabins of today. Pictured: A Pan Am stewardess serves champagne.
A Tempting Third Course
In-flight fare once included gourmet food delivered on fine china and unlimited drinks — the alcoholic kind, with cutesy names like "Passion Punch" and "Love Potion." Today, unless you're lucky enough to be in first class, you get a bag of peanuts and/or pretzels, and one (non-alcoholic) beverage. Maybe.
Hot on the Job
Women all over the world aspired to be fight attendants ("stewardesses, " as they were once called). On Southwest Airlines (pictured), the motto was "sex sells seats" — and, for better or for worse, the attendants' outfits were fully in accordance.
A Proper Goodbye
Dropping a friend or family member off at the airport was an adventure in itself. People would actually park their cars, escort their traveler to the departure gate, and watch the plane until it was just a tiny speck in the sky.
Dressed to the Nines
Forget the T-shirt and sweatpants — flying was a formal occasion. Pictured: Gossip columnist Cindy Adams and her husband, comedian Joey Adams, are dressed to the nines as they board a flight to Indonesia, 1966.
Going Up
In 1970, an air hostess greets a passenger before heading up to an upper deck lounge. That's right: an upper deck lounge.
Customs? Relatively Calm!
No X-ray machines, no metal detectors, no taking off of shoes: Customs purely served as a luggage check. Hard to believe, but this is a 1964 photo of the customs area at the New York International Airport (the madhouse known today as JFK).
From Aisle to Runway
Going through security check in a wedding dress today would prove to be a nightmare, but back in 1965, a newlywed London couple wastes no time heading off to their honeymoon after tying the knot.
Superstars Mingled With Us Common Folk
In the days before the influx of private planes, even the Beatles traveled on commercial flights. Plus: fun, unconvincing costumes! (That's George Harrison pushing John Lennon, in 1965.)
Roomy!
On a 1968 Boeing 747, passengers could stand tall without ducking, have decent legroom, and sink into plush seats.
A General Excitement About the Future
Way back when, it seemed anything was possible in air travel — including a superfast transatlantic jet. Pictured: In '69, a French model wears a hairstyle and makeup in tribute to the Concorde, which has now been retired.
