The incredible Pan Am Experience at Air Hollywood
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,757
Wow what an awesome experience that must have been. I could have been there all day and have to be dragged from that place.
Question....13th photo from the top....Jon Taffer? LOL
Question....13th photo from the top....Jon Taffer? LOL
#21
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,590
Thanks so much for this, SFO777!
Never flew PanAm in the good old days, but flew TWA Ambassador Class in L-1011s a lot in the 80s until they folded in 1991. Brought it all back!
Never flew PanAm in the good old days, but flew TWA Ambassador Class in L-1011s a lot in the 80s until they folded in 1991. Brought it all back!
#23
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
Here is a link to some photos from the Pan Am Experience website.
I did this back in February 2016 with fellow FlyerTalk member klashn. It wasn't full the night we were there, so they were able to "upgrade" everyone on the upper deck. ^
Even if you can't get tickets for the upper deck, I don't think there are any bad seats on this plane, and each section offers a unique experience.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,555
On board the Pan Am Experience
We were welcomed on board by one of the many lovely Pan Am stewardesses on today's flight. With CEO Talaat Captan just behind her.
The nose of the 747. A far cry from today's international First Class seats but very comfy in its day. This is where I had really hoped to sit and would recommend to a couple, but tickets were sold out
The Upper Deck which was more of a party atmosphere and a lot less comfortable seats for a three hour visit.
The Pan Am experience is part restaurant, part theater, part comedy show with each of the "stewardesses" able to perform and connect with the passengers. And lots of hilarious announcements throughout the evening. And enjoyable 70's music although the speaker right over Mrs. SFO777's head made our seats not the best choice.
And the magazine cart...
... with vintage 1977 period magazines.
With the tobacco industry the biggest advertisers back then. LOL.
And Allegheny Airlines, flying as far west as Minneapolis and St. Louis!!
Drinks and nuts to start...
Our Purser presenting the menu.
Showtime, Pan Am style.
Cool hot towel service with dry ice.
Caviar service.
With chilled vodka.
Between courses, one of the many fashion shows with our stewardesses wearing Pan Am uniforms thru the ages.
And offering prop cigarettes. LOL.
During a pause in service, I popped downstairs to take some pics of the front cabin...
And Clipper Class, which looks pretty comfortable for Business.
And ready for the main show with Chateaubriand carved tableside.
Yes, perfectly prepared.
And another fashion show of vintage Pan Am uniforms with hilarious play-by-lay commentary over the speaker system.
Even a "Duty Free" cart...
... stocked with perfumes popular in that era...
By this time, Mrs. SFO777 had pretty much had enough of the Pan An experience especially in the uncomfortable lounge chairs. So we had a little fruit and cheese...
... and left before dessert as we had a 90 minute drive back to The OC.
For an airline geek, this is a really cool experience and I would highly recommend. For the non-geek, not so much. The meal drags on way too long especially in the uncomfortable lounge seats on the Upper Deck. And neither the food nor wines are that memorable. Mrs. SFO777 reached her limited about mid-way thru. If you are interested in visiting as a couple, I would recommend holding out for the Lower Deck First Class seats which are going to be far more comfortable.
For more information on this fun experience, visit panamexperience.com.
And for more pics and an HD version of this report, please visit SFO777.com where I've posted the onboard and dinner installment.
We were welcomed on board by one of the many lovely Pan Am stewardesses on today's flight. With CEO Talaat Captan just behind her.
The nose of the 747. A far cry from today's international First Class seats but very comfy in its day. This is where I had really hoped to sit and would recommend to a couple, but tickets were sold out
The Upper Deck which was more of a party atmosphere and a lot less comfortable seats for a three hour visit.
The Pan Am experience is part restaurant, part theater, part comedy show with each of the "stewardesses" able to perform and connect with the passengers. And lots of hilarious announcements throughout the evening. And enjoyable 70's music although the speaker right over Mrs. SFO777's head made our seats not the best choice.
And the magazine cart...
... with vintage 1977 period magazines.
With the tobacco industry the biggest advertisers back then. LOL.
And Allegheny Airlines, flying as far west as Minneapolis and St. Louis!!
Drinks and nuts to start...
Our Purser presenting the menu.
Showtime, Pan Am style.
Cool hot towel service with dry ice.
Caviar service.
With chilled vodka.
Between courses, one of the many fashion shows with our stewardesses wearing Pan Am uniforms thru the ages.
And offering prop cigarettes. LOL.
During a pause in service, I popped downstairs to take some pics of the front cabin...
And Clipper Class, which looks pretty comfortable for Business.
And ready for the main show with Chateaubriand carved tableside.
Yes, perfectly prepared.
And another fashion show of vintage Pan Am uniforms with hilarious play-by-lay commentary over the speaker system.
Even a "Duty Free" cart...
... stocked with perfumes popular in that era...
By this time, Mrs. SFO777 had pretty much had enough of the Pan An experience especially in the uncomfortable lounge chairs. So we had a little fruit and cheese...
... and left before dessert as we had a 90 minute drive back to The OC.
For an airline geek, this is a really cool experience and I would highly recommend. For the non-geek, not so much. The meal drags on way too long especially in the uncomfortable lounge seats on the Upper Deck. And neither the food nor wines are that memorable. Mrs. SFO777 reached her limited about mid-way thru. If you are interested in visiting as a couple, I would recommend holding out for the Lower Deck First Class seats which are going to be far more comfortable.
For more information on this fun experience, visit panamexperience.com.
And for more pics and an HD version of this report, please visit SFO777.com where I've posted the onboard and dinner installment.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,555
Thank you lb8001.
The upper level is one of three dining areas. You can choose the Upper Deck Lounge, Main Deck First Class, or the Clipper Cabin Dining Room. I think the only difference between the upper deck and the other two options in terms of the food is the caviar.
Even if you can't get tickets for the upper deck, I don't think there are any bad seats on this plane, and each section offers a unique experience.
Even if you can't get tickets for the upper deck, I don't think there are any bad seats on this plane, and each section offers a unique experience.
Thanks very much NoY.
#28
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
SFO 777 A well deserved Birthday celebration.
Out of all your TRs, this one touched many a memory chords !
My dad in Mumbai after the private airlines were nationalized in India was a premier Travel Agent for PanAM. Met even Najeeb Halaby.
Among many keepsakes we most waited for the annual calendars with the most beautiful photos of various locations around the world. Neighbors used to satrt asking for these by November !
The poster of Rio you showed was my most favorite so really took me back to my childhood.
We also met some of the PanAm stewardesses. Imagine a teenager meeting these gorgeous creatures...many fantasies later did meet them when I flew PanAm in my later life.
Thank you.
Out of all your TRs, this one touched many a memory chords !
My dad in Mumbai after the private airlines were nationalized in India was a premier Travel Agent for PanAM. Met even Najeeb Halaby.
Among many keepsakes we most waited for the annual calendars with the most beautiful photos of various locations around the world. Neighbors used to satrt asking for these by November !
The poster of Rio you showed was my most favorite so really took me back to my childhood.
We also met some of the PanAm stewardesses. Imagine a teenager meeting these gorgeous creatures...many fantasies later did meet them when I flew PanAm in my later life.
Thank you.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027