There was a time when going to the airport did not mean arriving three hours early, removing your shoes, unpacking half your handbag at security and then sprinting towards Gate 42 because the boarding announcement happened 30 seconds ago. Flying in the 1960s was an entirely different experience. It was expensive, exciting and, frankly, looked like everyone had accidentally walked onto the set of a very chic film.
You Actually Dressed Up To Fly
The airport outfit was not an oversized sweatshirt, sneakers and noise-cancelling headphones. Men boarded planes in tailored suits, while women arrived in dresses, gloves, pearls, hats and perfectly styled hair.
Flying was still enough of an event to warrant dressing for the occasion. Even walking up the aircraft stairs with a suitcase looked like a fashion editorial!
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The Meal Was Part Of The Experience
Once you settled into your seat, a proper meal was not some tiny packet of peanuts accompanied by a beverage you had to ask for three times.
Passengers could expect full meals, often served on actual crockery with proper cutlery and drinks in glasses. The photographs from the era show cabin crew moving through the aisles with trays of food while passengers sat down for something resembling a restaurant meal at 30,000 feet.
Honestly, where did that energy go?
Seats Were Seriously Spacious
The seats look almost suspiciously large by today’s standards. There was room between rows, broad armrests and enough legroom to sit without immediately negotiating territory with the person in front of you.
The cabin itself had a more intimate feel. Flying was not yet the mass-transit experience of packed rows, overhead-bin warfare and someone inevitably reclining into your face.
One of the wildest details is how accessible the cockpit could be. Children could sometimes visit the pilots, and cockpit doors were not surrounded by the level of security passengers are accustomed to today.
Security at airports was also considerably lighter than the elaborate screening process we know now. That changed significantly later in the decade as aviation security concerns, particularly hijackings, grew.
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And Then Came The Price Tag
Here is the part that makes the whole fantasy slightly less dreamy!
A 1960 New York-London round-trip economy ticket shown in the viral Goodlife post is listed at $350, equivalent to roughly $3,800 in today’s money according to the post. In other words, flying was hardly an everyday impulse purchase.
When getting on a plane cost that much, flying was not simply a way to get from Mumbai to Delhi or New York to London. It was the occasion. You dressed up for it, ate a proper meal, sat in a roomy cabin and probably spent half the journey feeling like the main character.
Today, we complain when our flight is 20 minutes late. Back then, you apparently dressed like you were meeting the Queen.
Cover Image Courtesy: flyingmaniac/Reddit
FAQs
What was flying like in the 1960s?
Flying in the 1960s was generally more formal and expensive than modern air travel. Passengers often dressed up, airline meals were more elaborate and aircraft cabins offered more space.
What did people wear when flying in the 1960s?
Passengers commonly dressed more formally for air travel. Men often wore suits, while women could be seen in dresses, hats, gloves and other polished outfits.
Was airline food better in the 1960s?
Many airlines served full meals on flights, often using proper crockery and cutlery. The quality and service varied by airline, route and ticket class.
