From Ashtrays to Wi-Fi: How Air Travel’s So-Called Golden Age Morphed into Today’s Sky Journeys – View from the Wing

From Ashtrays to Wi-Fi: How Air Travel’s So-Called Golden Age Morphed into Today’s Sky Journeys

by Gary Leff on May 30, 2024

American Airlines produced a film to promote travel by air in 1933. They promoted core selling propositions of the airline — to save time and money and experience comfort.

This is from the year before the carrier changed its name to American Airlines. There’s no question that the aircraft and procedures have advanced markedly since then. And some of the features the airline promotes are.. dated like, “Individual ash trays as you blow smoke rings and thrill to the beauty of the vanishing vistas below.” Then there are the values and goals they promoted. Some highlights.

The American Airways Way… a friendly kind of service, service with a smile

American Airways limousines take you straight to the airport

You’ll never know the meaning of travel comfort and convenience and economy until you’ve taken a trip on one of these modern airliners

Is this an airplane? Why it looks just like a living room! And that’s just what it is a cozy and inviting living room with wings.

All American Airways planes are cheerfully and tastefully decorated. No expense has been spared to provide a luxury travel service that is today the standard of the world.

You sink down into soft roomy seats that are built for comfort. The stewardess will adjust them to suit you. All seats are first class seats, all passengers are first class passengers.

If it’s a bit cool the stewardess will turn the heat on. If it’s too warm she’ll open up the ventilator to let in the cool fresh air..

Is it any wonder American Airways planes have become famous for delicious food?

It was interesting to see American describe its interiors as like a “living room with wings” 91 years ago since 6 years ago American promoted its new domestic interiors, without seat back video but offering streaming to your own device, as recreating the ‘living room experience’.

There were low lights to the video as well, speaking to how society has changed in 90 years.

• “You’ll want to linger in Memphis if you like the picture of darkies loading cotton.” (omg)
• Referring to a father as “our fat friend”

During the pandemic, then-American Airlines CEO Doug Parker noted that the passengers they were carrying were ‘somewhat different from our normal clientele.’ I described the phenomenon of pandemic-era leisure travelers and no business travel as “all airline passengers are Spirit Airlines passengers now.”

In contrast, in 1933, few could afford to fly. American declared, “All seats are first class seats, all passengers first class passengers.” Back then “One of the grandest voyages imaginable is this trip from Chicago to New York.”

Unquestionably air travel is more affordable and accessible than ever before. This video is aimed at business travelers and celebrities, not families.

And travel is better today. It’s safer and faster transportation. And in many ways it is more comfortable. The limitations of service at the time are highlighted by the marketing point that “you’ll find cool drinking water constantly on tap.” (Then again recall that US Airways sought to charge for water.)

Working for an airline was very different, too! Being a pilot is prestigious and well-paying. Back then being the co-pilot? Not so much. The following is an excerpt of a letter sent to all American Airlines (née American Airways) co-pilots in 1930 (.pdf):

This letter – and do read the whole thing – appears to be authentic. Jerry Marshall, the signer, was indeed the airline’s Operations Manager in 1930. Much has changed in the airline industry over the past 94 years.

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