BA’s former “Elizabethan Service’
#16
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,925
The Golden Age of air travel, I am so sad to have missed that!
Some amarcord pictures here of proper premium service, particularly love the complimentary cigarettes: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...-40-years.html
PS Before the thought-polizei opens fire on me, no I am not a Daily Mail reader, I found the article via Google.
Some amarcord pictures here of proper premium service, particularly love the complimentary cigarettes: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/a...-40-years.html
PS Before the thought-polizei opens fire on me, no I am not a Daily Mail reader, I found the article via Google.
#17
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
This might be an unpopular opinion but we are currently living in the golden age of air travel. Yes, catering used to be much better than what you'd get today but flying was significantly more dangerous (particularly if we go back to the 1950s-1960s), flying was significantly more expensive and the hard product wasn't quite as impressive as the best F/J cabins currently available.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Sixt Gold
Posts: 418
Golden Age: I agree today we fly with better quality and safety standards. Above all, we enjoy lie flat seats which are a game changer IMO. I was referring to the allure of flying, the fact that you "dressed up" to fly rather than presenting yourself in an Adidas sweatsuit when flying long haul. There was something special about flying and in particular flying premium. Today, you have to reach for ultra luxury fares to recreate that feeling IMO.
PS LOL I did not imagine the thought-SS to even police links one clicks on! And yes, I indeed enjoyed the pics!
PS LOL I did not imagine the thought-SS to even police links one clicks on! And yes, I indeed enjoyed the pics!
#20
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Gold/HH Diamond/IC Plat Amba
Posts: 5,988
This might be an unpopular opinion but we are currently living in the golden age of air travel. Yes, catering used to be much better than what you'd get today but flying was significantly more dangerous (particularly if we go back to the 1950s-1960s), flying was significantly more expensive and the hard product wasn't quite as impressive as the best F/J cabins currently available.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 494
Be careful what you wish for. AC may get the wrong end of the stick and bring back the "Elizabethans" There would be some moaning then.
I seem to recall that the "Elizabethan" menus were introduced at about the same time as the 747-100, were network-wide and there were versions in both First and Economy. Business class was not introduced until a little later
#22
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,264
Though the caterers have gotten pretty good at special meals when they've got some time to work on them. Need or want a gluten-free dairy-free halal South American main course that was not made in a facility with tree nuts? The airline can likely arrange it on request with enough lead time.
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
This might be an unpopular opinion but we are currently living in the golden age of air travel. Yes, catering used to be much better than what you'd get today but flying was significantly more dangerous (particularly if we go back to the 1950s-1960s), flying was significantly more expensive and the hard product wasn't quite as impressive as the best F/J cabins currently available.
#24
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
I much prefer the word we are in now where I can fly nonstop on routes over 8000 miles at inexpensive fares allowing me to hop back and forth between North America and Asia and other similar stage lengths. If now is the golden age, I suppose the Platinum age is still yet to come when we can see routes like LHR-SYD, JFK-SYD nonstop with at least 3X frequency per day to provide the best possible schedules.
#25
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Around 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee?
It was Y, but was a small separate cabin behind F on the 747s, I think. No films were shown on the big screen.
Not sure how passengers sat there instead of normal Y, so perhaps there was premium.
History of the introduction of rules/services on BA... Post 55
It was Y, but was a small separate cabin behind F on the 747s, I think. No films were shown on the big screen.
Not sure how passengers sat there instead of normal Y, so perhaps there was premium.
History of the introduction of rules/services on BA... Post 55
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,087
We only had First Class and economy back in the day, you may remember the picture on the reverse of the film screen had an Elizabethan theme?
We did show a films in all cabins but not until the meal service was finished and most of the time the film stopped working half way through.
We did show a films in all cabins but not until the meal service was finished and most of the time the film stopped working half way through.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 85
By the end of the first chorus over half the cabin was clapping and singing along, it was a lovely moment and everyone was in a noticeably better mood afterwards. Though if we'd had flyertalk then there would doubtless have been multiple posts the next morning about the acceptability or otherwise of such public displays of rhythm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,271
A skillful carving of beef at your seat in F was a great treat. Properly cooked beef with Lynch Bages of a decent vintage. A decent way to use some time on the longer-haul flights.
F is expensive - there is no reason why good food cannot be served........................but the bean-counters will not allow it.
F is expensive - there is no reason why good food cannot be served........................but the bean-counters will not allow it.