Thanks, mats!

That your grandmother would desire to save those old menus or that the university would be happy to accept and house them in its transportation library (one of several to have done so, btw) is testament to the value of those menus as a window into our past lives and travel standards.

https://share.google/HwaDqXLgo8f7mzBj0

It's well known and accepted that in the early days of flight, only the very well to do could afford to fly, and as such the onboard services were designed to appeal to and attract them. Complimentary meals were a hugely important means of accomplishing that.

As I'm sure you're aware - but I'll state it for everyone's benefit - here in America, prior to the democratization of air travel via the abolishment of the Civil Aviation Board in 1978, air fares were controlled by the government. Unlike today, where fare sales and airline loyalty programs are a huge factor in airline marketing, back in the day airlines resorted to competing via quality service. I could go into plenty more detail, but suffice it to say that inflight food service was an important part of that effort., as was seating comfort (Anyone remember First Class legroom on all flights with Western and Frontier Airlines, or 5-across seating on 707s, 727s and DC-8s with Continental and United?)

https://share.google/ChvOBJoBHottJaSGl

I have Coach menus that I took off my flights between Denver and New York as a student that describe and offer a greater variety of foods than I've experienced in First Class on many flights of similar distance today.

Indeed, the entire product was special enough that most people actually dressed up for it. With regard to the inflight food service, many people appreciated it enough to memorialize it by taking the menus home with them - or in some cases - collecting them.

And of course, look at how many trip report contributors here cover their inflight dining experiences via written description and/or pictures

As trendy as it is to denigrate or dismiss inflight meal service as trivial, there's little doubt it has been - and continues to be - an important part of our travel experience - all the more so in this era of super long distance flights.

Check out the six episode documentary below. It's on Amazon prime, but you can watch it for free on Tubi

The Inflight Food Trip (TV Mini Series 2019– )

https://share.google/kq20rqa2cnrxqagXe