invisible

Quite an interesting blog post (in Russian) about history of first class on planes starting from 20ies.

Starting from photo #34 it shows first class on soviet aeroflot planes on international routes (on domestic routes there was only single class) - really interesting photos with some marketing material as well.

lhrsfo

It looks like it needs to be updated with Emirates and Etihad's new products as well as the amazing BA interiors.

hannisen

Not sure why, but something about different classes on a Soviet airline just doesn't seem right to me..

Photos were great tho.

wendyg

I had occasion to fly first class on SIN in 2008, and it was quite the experience (lots of frequent flyer miles to burn); one of the most interesting parts was meeting a New Zealand couple (importer/exporter, I think) who had been flying first class for decades and who had amassed a houseful of free gifts from the experience. I told them they ought to create a blog posting photos, because some of it was quite amazing: luxury watches (four each, one month), tailored pyjamas so finely made the tops could have passed for dress shirts, you name it. I wish they had...

One thing that's interesting in these photos is that flying was much more dangerous then and yet they all look so much more casual about it - dressed up, relaxed seating and standing with drinks, etc. Very far from the strap yourself in at all times ethos of the present.

wg

invisible

For most people it was once a lifetime experience those days (>50 years ago).

It is pretty much the same way if you got ticket in first class on Queen Mary II for around the world journey. I think most people would dress up.

andreirublev

Those wicker chairs in the 1+1 config look far more comfy than any ERJ/CRJ seats.

WHBM

All the photos prior to #34 are of pre-war European/US aircraft (including those loose wicker chairs, which I think may be a 1933 Curtiss Condor). The Soviet postwar types in the latter half are generally recognisable by the large, circular, slanted portholes.

Regarding the clothing, I think almost all are staged publicity shots with actors (although #44 is Soviet General Secretary Kruschev in an Ilyushin 18).

International flights only, and generally only a 4 or 8 seat front cabin. Only senior government people could really get in there, notwithstanding that fares appeared in international Aeroflot timetables. International flights generally were only available to those authorised by the government, always on Aeroflot as far as was possible.

HMO

I was wondering exactly the same...

Ber2dca

Everyone was equal in Soviet Communism, some people were just a bit more equal than others.

Box5

I never knowing click on a Russian website or a website that ends in .ru

WHBM

Do not confuse the Soviet approach to "socialism" with egalitarianism. About the only thing that could be said for it was that it was actually better than what went before, but such government has no checks on madmen getting in to power.

I wonder, however, how The Czar's Russia would have stood up to the Nazis.

platbrownguy

The prices are fascinating. Such a small delta between tourist and first class... but >$3k in today's dollars for the tourist class ticket (presumably one way). I'd dress up too.

ROCAT

In that era you also got free cotton balls, chewing gum and aspirin with your ticket.

GrayAnderson

The chewing gum and asprin make sense...cotton balls for the ears?

ROCAT

Yep, to try and mute the noise which was very bad, the asprin was do to the cotton not working that well.