Amazing differences according to this: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6l53f/w...ikeinthe1960s/

A few of the majors:
1) All airfares to a particular destination were exactly the same.

2) no security of any form. You could even go out on the tarmac to board your plane unattended, or watch the planes on an observation deck.

3) Wearing a t-shirt or jeans would have caused a major disruption

4) fliers were mostly men and the stewardesses would dress sexy to entertain them

Regarding flying in the 60s and 70s, you might get a kick out of this post:

TWA FIRST CLASS DEN-JFK 1972 ~ The Good Old Days

many of those same stews are still flying today, but with updated uniforms and job titles.

Kids (as I was then) got junior pilot wings and anyone could get decks of playing cards with the airline logo.

We had to dress up in "school clothes" just to enter the airport (ICT) to meet our dad coming back from a business trip. If we were in "play clothes", we had to stay in the car.

Another huge difference: The very first time Yours Truly flew on an airplane she was bumped up to First Class. Braniff ICT to Love Field in Dallas, 1966.

coach seats were fine.....6' 3" 200 lb.....sat in back of a stretch dc8 on weekly transcons, no prob.....did a $15 ug to 1st & thought it wasn't worth it....

the carriers were regulated & the employees loved it.....

Airports need more observation decks. They have them at most airports in Japan.

Fill in the blanks
With abundance of caution..........................................
New FAA regulation........................................ ....
In interest of national security........................
For your safety and that of your fellow passengers......................
In order to ensure aviation safety................................
In post 9/11 world.................................
I don't want to pay more in PFCs than already do.

I loved the obsevation decks. CLE, CMH, PIT, DCA. I can still smell the jet fuel.

I flew for the first time in 1972, when I was 2 months old. My parents were going on a trip and sent me to stay with an aunt and uncle for a week. My dad had an ex girlfriend who was a stewardess. She picked me up on her way to the airport and "flew me" to my aunt and uncle's city-they picked me up from her at the airport.

I can't believe this happened and certainly don't think it would ever happen today!

--Standby prices @ 50% of regulated coach fees
--Folks dressing up to fly
--Cabin bags (a smaller version of messenger bags) for flights over 4 hours, paid for and delivered by your travel agent (remember them?)
--Decks of cards
--Drinks in all classes
--Champagne upon boarding for flights from PHL to the islands, even in coach
--Tables at some of the seats, real tables with folks sitting facing each other
--Some empty seats on flights
--No screening or security of any kind
--Baggage checked at the curb and delivered within a few minutes of landing
--Visits to the cockpit
--A much nicer feel that travel was, indeed, special as were you as the flyer

and on and on.

In the early 70's I was flying PSA for $12 on their nightly Midnight Special between LAX and SFO.

Complimentary cigarettes.

Then - the 4 engines 707's and 747 (flew my 1st. one in 1971 on AA) in the non-smoking section, boarding from the rear (up the stairs on the 707 and via jetbridge for the 747, SFO-JFK) 2 pc. of checked luggage up to like 28"+ free.
Cashew nuts/peanuts, soda/coffee or tea to be followed by meal services, etc. in any class of services.

Now - the 747's are still flying, updated but still rule the skies as far as I am concerned. Non-smoking flights only. Practically nothing is free & everything else is extra (okay, elite/status flyers having flown a million miles & the carrier is still in business) Peanuts & edible meals in coach - NOT on North America routes.

The few things I remember as a child then.

Horrible cigarette smoke in the main cabin. I never flew first as a kid. But probably smoke there as well.

Hats on the Stewardesses. Nice dresses. High heels. Manors from EVERYONE flying. Oh, many men wore hats too, but took them off on the plane.
Yep, we walked right out to the plane. No security. Nothing. Like boarding a pleasure boat.

Mom and dad and all other passengers dressed to the nines. It was a special thing to fly. Like going to church. Guys wore suits. Women wore dresses or skirts (too young to remember exactly what).

Pilots all looked like they were out of Esquire magazine. To a kid anyway.

Hey, this could be just the distant memories of a kid in the 60's. But that's what I remember.

Couldn't tell you - us lay people couldn't afford to fly back then. My father had a friend who traveled for work a couple times a year - even for him it was a big deal that required lots of prep time and planning. I cant imagine doing it regularly back in those days - would be so much work.

It definitely was more romantic, and I do remember going to the airport and not having to go through security - I remember dropping someone off - forget who - but not only could we walk straight through security - they even let us on the plane to get to see what pone of them looked liked inside! I did fly shortly after deregulation. I remember loading being a much longer but much more relaxed and comfortable process. That could of course also be because planes were rarely over 2/3rds filled. Never an issue with carryons. Always got meals. That's why they still have such a bad reputation. Of course I also remember that a short flight from BOS to IAD at least got a sandwich if not a meal.

But I also think that we probably block a lot of the more unpleasant bits - the fact few people could even afford to fly and a trip to Florida was once in a lifetime. Flying was great if you were a straight white male, but if you were a single female, well, just watch it. Hope you didn't want to breathe, because there was smoking and might as well be smoking class. Luggage was a pain to carry, connections required changing airlines, safety was certainly more lax, and buying a ticket and selecting a seat took a few days and required professional assistance!