Photos reveal how much flying has changed since its 'Golden Age'

Best flight, 747 enroute to Saudi in 1991. Worst flight, C141 returning from Germany, 1986. I had a raging head cold, and we had to land for fuel at the Azores. Going from 30K ft to sea level was exceedingly painful, and I was deaf for most of the time we were on the ground. Climbing out was just as bad.

I've been flying since I was 6 months old (1970). When my parents divorced, my brother and I flew between New York and Florida several times per year, often alone (as Unaccompanied Minors). Most of the airlines we flew are no longer (Eastern, Southeast, etc.). Back in the 70s, people were more civilized when flying, and wore nice clothes. These days, flying on airlines like Southwest is like walking into a Wal-Mart; you never know what you're going to see. People are rude, and lack basic civility towards one another. When I got older, I flew a lot too, and some of my favorite airlines (Midway, AirTran, Northwest, TWA) disappeared as well. My first wife lived in Oregon and I lived in Florida. I did a lot of trans-con flights on Northwest, some in First Class. I miss real silverware, real plates, and linen napkins and table coverings. These days with everyone afraid of C19, you don't even get a meal, regardless of how long your flight is; at best you get a tiny bag of pretzels.

I wish for the return of civilized flying, before 9/11/01, before the plandemic. When I was younger, the biggest threat was a whackjob with a knife wanting to go to Cuba. A few hours out of your way, but everyone went home after the whackjob was deposited in Cuba. Like everything else, flying has become another hassle that I try to avoid.

The most fun flight I had was when my family was vacationing in Puerto Rico while my grandfather conducted his business there (he was in the oil refining business). He was urgently called back to NY, so we were put on a customized Pan-Am Boeing 747SP (shortened version of the 747) that had low, round tables in the middle, where the middle row seats would normally be, surrounded by swiveling captain's chairs. All the kids on the flight gathered around the tables and we all played cards for the whole flight back. I wasn't sure (and still am not) but I think there weren't more than about 20 people on that flight.