Back in the Golden Age of Travel, flying was as glamorous as a Victoria Beckham photoshoot, with all the bells and whistles that made air travel a truly luxuriant affair.
Contrast that with air travel today, where the glamour has pretty much been stripped clean, making flying purely just a functional A to B mode of transportation.
And don’t get us started on the food – my how things have changed!
Back in the day, the interior of a plane looked like a chic hotel with plush seats occupied by well-dressed flyers, attentive cabin crew styled in vintage sexy uniforms, and – most importantly – a delicious spread of delectable food and top-shelf beverage options – champagne or martini anyone?
(Well, to be fair, some airlines are still dishing up quality 30,000ft in the air!)
Don’t believe us?
Then check out these vintage First Class menus from Pan Am, which was the world’s largest carrier from 1927 until its collapse in 1991.
They should definitely get your mouth watering…
The menu above is from July 20, 1939.
Passengers on this flight were treated to a proper five-course meal, followed by coffee.
In the 1950s, Pan Am decided to leave the food up to the French.
During this period, the former world’s biggest airline had most of its food catered by the famous Parisian restaurant “Maxim’s.”
That’s why most of the menu is in French and why there seems to be infinitely more alcohol options than food.
In the same decade (the 1950s), Pan Am flights from the continental U.S. to Alaska offered menus whose back sides doubled as postcards, like the ones above.
The airline crew would mail them free of charge – now how’s that for service!
Back in the Golden Age of Travel, happy hour on the ground had a glamorous counterpart in the sky: cocktail hour!
Oh so classy!
But enough of First Class for a moment.
Even cattle class – ahem, Economy Class – passengers were treated to an awesome menu up in the sky.
Just check out the menu above.
Not a bad spread, eh?
And check out this bad boy from a New York – Fairbanks – Tokyo flight in the 1970s.
Hell, I’d book this flight every day just for the food! What about you?!
And check out this Christmas Day menu from the 1980s.
It’s just like your momma used to make…