Glimpse into the Past Vintage Photos of Air Travel Revealing Unthinkable In-Flight Practices Today

Unforgettable Vintage Photos of Air Travel Things You'd Never Get Away with on a Plane Today

The Golden Age of Flying: A Hilarious Flashback

Smoking, Typewriters, and Carving Knives: Oh My!

A flight attendant lights a passenger’s cigar on a plane. Image source: Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Remember those good old days of flying, when passengers were in for a wild ride? Smoking on planes was as common as choosing between peanuts and pretzels. In fact, flight attendants even provided a personal cigar-lighting service. Talk about inflight luxury! But alas, our beloved cigars went up in smoke when smoking got the boot in the year 2000. Farewell, aromatic clouds!

And it doesn’t stop there. The cockpit used to be an open playground for enthusiasts. Pilots happily gave tours and posed for selfies. Can you imagine the “cockpit selfie” trend in today’s age of Instagram? #HighFlyingFun #CockpitConfessions

A pilot holds a flask of whisky before flying in Croydon, UK. Image source: Gamma Keystone-France/Getty Images

But let’s have a toast to the days when pilots were true “high-fliers.” Irish aviator Lady Mary Heath, the queen of the sky, didn’t just fly high; she took a swig of whisky at a staggering altitude of 20,000 feet. Cheers to you, Lady Heath! In those golden days, pilot alcohol regulations were as loose as a Hawaiian shirt on vacation. Today, pilots must stay sober, with no more than a 0.04 blood alcohol level. So long, whiskey-fueled adventures!

A secretary on a KLM flight in 1955. Image source: Richard Koll/picture alliance via Getty Images

Did you know that airplanes used to be airborne offices? Before the invention of laptops, dedicated workers lugged around their trusty typewriters. Typing away amidst turbulence, a KLM secretary proved that nothing could stop her from getting the job done. Who needs a desk when you have a window seat? #TypeOnTheFly

Passengers smoke on a plane in the 1950s. Image source: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

But let’s not forget the skies filled with smoke. Ah, the good old smoking sections. Passengers had the freedom to choose between inhaling fresh air or recreating a scene from a film noir with a haze of smoke. A flight attendant would even come to your rescue, elegantly lighting your cigar. Flying through the clouds has never been so trendy. But alas, health concerns and clean air advocates gained the upper hand, and smoking was banned from flights. Goodbye, smokey mysteries!

Passengers dine on a plane in the 1950s. Image source: Touring Club Italiano/Marka/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Let’s have a “cutting-edge” moment as we dig into the past. Remember when passengers enjoyed lavish meals with real metal cutlery? Forget about those flimsy plastic forks and knives of today. Carving knives were the real stars of the inflight dining experience. Picture a passenger triumphantly cutting the juiciest Thanksgiving turkey on their lap. It was a feast fit for the skies!

A United Airlines flight attendant shows a passenger the interior of the cockpit circa 1950. Image source: Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images

Fasten your seatbelts for this one! Ever dream of a cockpit tour? Before the tragic events of 9/11, pilots happily welcomed passengers with open doors and even allowed photo-ops. Oh, the memories we could have captured! But as time went on, strict security measures kicked in, and today, unlocking the cockpit door from the outside is practically as impossible as finding the fountain of youth. #CockpitChronicles

In this modern era of aviation, we bid farewell to the “good old days” of unlimited smoking, typewriter clacking, and exploring the cockpit. While we can’t turn back time, we can cherish these moments and fly through them in our nostalgic daydreams. So get ready to fasten your seatbelts, because the golden age of flying may be behind us, but the memories and laughter stay with us forever. Bon voyage, fashionistas of the skies!

Which of these vintage inflight experiences would you love to try? Let us know in the comments below! ✈️