[Maceman]

I'm so old I actually remember when it was enjoyable to fly ...

My parents did a lot of commercial flying in the late 1940s.

There was no first-class, because if you were flying, you WERE first-class.

When you crossed the international dateline, you got an elaborate certificate suitable for framing, with drawn images of the four winds blowing, one in each corner (my mom still has one in the family albums).

And all the passengers got engraved passenger lists so they would know the names of the other passengers on the plane.

[oh8eleven]

My parents did a lot of commercial flying in the late 1940s.
Wow, real pioneers. I started in the mid 1960s and my first flight was a puddle jumper from New Bern to Wash DC. Not impressed at all.
But the next flight - from DC to home- was a jet that had real stewardesses, 2 free drinks and everyone wore suits/ties or dresses.
I was in uniform and some passengers actually thanked me for my service.