My first few flying experiences were in the late 70s. I seem to recall crappy food and cramped seating in economy. I remember in 1981 just about the most cramped plane I was ever on ... a BA 747. I remember being served frozen fried chicken on CO (with ice crystals). I remember chaos because of DC10 groundings. I was in my teens, and there were no FF programs. I remember standing in lines to get a little sticker off of a seatmap. I remember turbulance being a lot worse flying through rather than just around storms.

That said, some recent travels have been most unpleasant. But if you REALLY look back, other than perhaps the very early days of luxury air travel, or you were a frequent F passenger in the pre-FF days, your earlier travels were no luxury funfilled ride in the park.