Originally Posted by jlemon

2. Which airline advertised “Steak and Karats” on some of its longer meal flights?

Alaska Airlines. I seem to remember a promotion where I think AS was handing out little gold bars (the "karats"). And I certainly recall the excellent steak dinner service in first on board their B727-200 aircraft between SEA and ANC back in the day.

You've a good memory, Mr. Lemon! I received one of those 1 gram gold ingots while flying First Class aboard a brand new 727-290 between San Francisco and Seattle back in 1979. We were served a three course meal but the meat was more like a beef brisket than a sirloin steak. It was still a good feed though - especially for an hour and forty-five minute flight - and those old First Class seats were alot more comfortable and spacious than those found aboard Alaska's 737s today. (They were probably alot heavier, as well)




4. In January of 1973, how many daily 747s were scheduled on nonstop flights between New York and Los Angeles? Which airlines operated them?

I'll make a wild guess. American, TWA and United with two (2) B747 flights each per day (total of six per day between the three carriers).

That's all I could ask for on a question like this. You've got the airlines correct but the total number was five ~ two each for AA and TW, and just one for UA.

10. What U.S. airline was the launch customer for the Convair 880? Additionally, what was the second U.S. airline to place the 880 into service? And the third?

I think the first U.S. carrier to introduce the Convair 880 was actually Delta. I flew on an 880 just once. It was a DL flight from IAH to ATL.

And you would be correct! Northeast was second, and TWA third. There's an interesting article detailing all of this right HERE. I was fortunate to have logged two flights aboard 880s, both of them aboard TWA. I remember my last one between Denver and New York-JFK because the Captain announced over the PA that we had a ground speed of over 700 mph. You can only imagine my disappointment when we subsequently arrived in New York almost 40 minutes early!

19. Through the sixties, many airlines proudly touted becoming an all-jet fleet. What was the first airline to operate an “all-Turbofan Fleet” and in what year was this accomplished?

"Northwest: The Fanjet Airline". I'm not sure of the year but it was probably right after NW phased out their Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprops.

Right, you are! According to this short history, the year would have been 1963. The "article" incorrectly states that NW had retired its last propellor aircraft by 1963 (They did retire their purejet DC-8s in late 1963) but as we all know, Northwest was still operating Electras into the late 1960s, so I assume the "Fan-Jet Airline" would have applied only to Northwest Orient's jets. That said, the question did state all turbo-fan fleet, so I may have jumped the gun a bit with this question. While it may have been Northwest, I'd welcome any other thoughts on who might have operated the first "all turbo-fan fleet"

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these airlines never offered a First Class cabin? (The may be more than one…)

Jet America
New York Air
People Express
Ozark
North Central
Trans-Texas
Frontier
Air Florida
Southern

Southern Airways. Even though SO was the "Route of the Aristocrats", I believe they only offered coach on their DC9 and D9S aircraft, which they called Standard (S) class.

Southern would be correct, however there was another airline or perhaps even airlines that also did not ever offer First or Business Class.