I'm guessing that when Tango and FTraveler talk about FC being better now than it was in the old days, they are referring only to international travel. In the sixties and seventies, FC passengers on domestic flights were treated as special customers, and the seating was much better (more seat pitch).
In those days, I only flew FC domestically, and my experience with international FC was restricted to PanAm #1, which had the last leg of its RTW flight leave IAH at about 145PM enroute to JFK. On that flight, the food and drink (Champagne and caviar for sure) flowed freely and the seating was very much the equivalent of today's CO Business First or NW WBC (albeit with manual seat controls).
You can imagine the schedule juggling that was needed in order to get an early meeting on the last day in Houston to get everything done by noon so that I could get out to the airport in time for that PanAm beauty.

It depends on how far back you want to go. First Class on the trans Atlantic DC-7's got you a fold down bed with curtains in the rear of the plane. Not all First Class cabins today are equal. If you fly on one of the better first class products today (with full sleeper seat), the service is much better than the FC of the early 80's when the current FF programs were rolled out.

Flying coach in the 70's was a better product than today's coach. Seat pitch and the number of seats per row alone made flying more enjoyable. Seat maps of the Y cabin of 747's show 1 less seat in the middle row! Some airlines even had piano bars in the coach cabin.

Most people did not fly in the 70's---it was still an exclusive club no matter what class you flew in. It was not until the likes of People's express and Southwest that drove the masses into flying with their cheap fares.

The one thing I do not miss are the headsets with the hollow plastic tubes and suction like ear pieces--.

How far back do you want to go??? My dad is 84 and began flying extensively in the 1950's. As an executive, he always flew first class. In those days, the entire plane was designated first or economy (no such thing as business class). Since it was the 50's the passengers were all men, carefully tended by gorgeous stewardesses. They got all the amenities - like socks, etc., smoked cigars, drank a ton of booze, played poker and otherwise did guy things. There was a lounge area on the plane where the guys could play cards and my dad was a shark, making money at gin or cribbage on every flight. Once, my mother, brother and I flew economy red eye to meet my dad in LA. Our plane had engine problems in Dallas so we were switched to a first class plane. We were so excited!! Even got hot breakfast...Both my dad and husband were multiple million milers under the old plan.

Ah yes, People Express. I took it twice (in emergency situations) in the early 80's and could not believe the seat pitch. I think it was 29 inches and can only remember sitting with my chin on my knees both times.
Today's 31 ia not a whole lot better, but then again, for most of the crowd on these boards, coach travel should only happen in emergencies.

Just a point of clarification . . .

Eastern Airlines folded in January, 1991 as opposed to the year 1989 mentioned above.
1989 was the year that the airline suffered a major strike (mechanics??) which certainly accelerated the downward spiral and death of Eastern.

Thanks, hackensacknj. The memory has gotten fuzzy about things like that. All I can recall is that the last discounted 10 trip shuttle ticket book (remember that goody?) between LGA and DCA that EA sold me was in 88 or 89. Be assured that I flew them until the day they were killed by CO as their theme song became "We need to sell a plane everyday."

[This message has been edited by monitor (edited 03-09-2001).]

I started flying on business in 1970, primarily from New York to Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit. Before the advent of frequent flyer programs, I upgraded by paying full coach fare plus 20%. Fortunately, I was with a corporation that paid the difference -- even for a young whippersnapper like me. The first airline club I visited was Eastern Airline's Ionosphere at LGA in 1976.

I remeber my first trip in business trans atlantic with Northwest in 1981. I was off to the USA to look at a new project and being new to the Company and rather young settled down into the 747 for the full treatment and the start of an adventure. Shortly after take off a crew member approached me enquiring as to my age. "20" I replied in a somewhat taken aback way. The response was a rather apologetic one of " I'm sorry but US rules do not allow us to serve alcohol to under 21's" 9 hours and no wine etc. In those days I did look rather young, see members gallery for the ravages of time!!

Back in the 70's for Domestic flights, the additional cost of First Class was 20%, simple as that, and the red-eye flights (departing after 10pm I think) automatically reduce cost by 20% so flying First was the same as flying Coach on a Daytime flight.

I often paid the 20% with my own money, sitting in the upstairs bar in the old 747's was a great experience. Had a great experience in a Continental piano bar one new years eve - flying accross the date line, landing in HNL the year before I departed!!

Can't recall how one got into the clubs, but they were different. The Clipper Club at JFK back then had a special apeal for me, it was when flying was "special".

Then one day United and American started to hand out 50% discount coupons which started the FF programs, life's never been the same again....