Probably the biggest difference is that I can actually sit in first class today and not pay full fare to do it.

I can remember looking "behind the curtain" every so often and thinking about how how nice it was and also how much it must cost.

Granted, first class today is worlds apart from first class back then but it's still a great feeling sitting in first on a Chicago to Tokyo flight next to someone who may have paid $12,000 for their ticket and I paid $1800 and used miles.

I also remember how planes were hijacked in the 70's and flown to Cuba. This is definately a different topic today, but I can remember thinking a lot about hijacking when I got on a plane back then.