ahhh, how time has changed... I was a lowly freshman many moons ago (early 80s), an International student going home for the summer flying on Pan AM from JFK to JNB (i think I got the code right - Jo'burg, SA). Got to JFK late and rushed through check-in (too cheap to check-in the 2nd bag for a fee) so I proceeded to security with my golf bag (wearing a 3 pc suite). Security gave me hard time and I told them I don't have time to go back and check-in my clubs. They let me go and I ran to the gate and the pilot and FAs (then stewardess) all waiting at the plane door and very nicely said that they will find room for my club and they were real nice. Plane was practically empty - booze was free and I got the entire middle row by myself and I stretched out to sleep. Service, then in coach, was great... ahh, good old times...