My first long-haul was MCI-JFK-FCO on TWA in 1977. Of course, we had to stay overnight in New York... I believe we were on an L-10-11 on the long-haul.

Ticket price was $550 R/T in the summer, or approximately $2100 in today's dollars. There was no FFP.

I'm sure the soft product was better in every cabin, but I have no idea whether the hard product was. Did that L-10-11 have 35" coach seats like today's UA Economy Plus? Or were they 31-32" like today's E-? I don't know... Did J and F have lie-flats? Definitely not, but I actually preferred the big recliners over the cramped little lie-flats that you have to curl up to fit into.

Biggest difference now (IMHO) is that the $550 ticket in 1977 didn't drop to $150-175 R/T in the winter, akin to our winter bargain fares of $550-700 R/T in today's dollars. It was $550 (or close to it) year-round then.