From Piano Bars To Dance Floors: 20 Airline Luxuries That Are Sadly A Relic Of The Past
From Piano Bars To Dance Floors: 20 Airline Luxuries That Are Sadly A Relic Of The Past
Back When Flying Was Grand
There was a time when boarding a plane felt more like stepping into a fancy hotel than a crammed bus with wings. Back then, flights were about savoring the journey every step of the way. White-gloved attendants moved like clockwork, menus read like fine dining catalogs, and every trip carried a sense of magic. Let’s rewind to the golden era that made air travel a luxury unlike any other.
Archives New Zealand from New Zealand on Wikimedia
1. Piano Bars
Tapping your feet to a live piano melody at 35,000 feet was once real life. Pan Am and American Airlines offered piano bars where strangers laughed and sang through turbulence. This was common up until the 1973 oil crisis and deregulation, which ended the golden age of flying.
2. Sleeper Berths
Stretch out, pull a heavy curtain across, and snooze like royalty without emptying your wallet. Economy sleeper berths transformed overnight flights into hotel-like experiences. You could trade cramped seats for personal nooks that made red-eye trips a dream, literally and figuratively.
Sleeper They're Finally Here, Lie-Flat 'Sleeper Seats' for Economy Passengers by b/60
3. First-Class Lounges Onboard
First-class lounges once perched midair like posh living rooms. Think plush couches and elegant stewardesses offering cocktails with a smile. These comfy and spacious lounges hosted everything from business deals to spontaneous social soirées.
Say hello to the New A380 Onboard Lounge | Emirates Airline by Emirates
4. In-Flight Lobster Dinners
A silver platter lifted its lid to reveal buttery lobster tail, fresh lemon slices, and perfectly steamed asparagus. Lobster on flights became the hallmark of prestige. Airlines proudly flaunted these meals, offering passengers an extravagant escape from the typical humdrum dining carts.
5. Spacious Legroom For All Classes
Board a flight today, and you might feel like sardines in a can. But once, even economy seats offered sprawling legroom. Airlines treated every passenger’s comfort seriously by designing cabins where knees never kissed tray tables, and personal space felt sacred.
(Full Flight Review) The JetBlue Mint Experience! by Logan Aviation
6. Onboard Cocktail Lounges
Shaking a martini mid-flight? Absolutely! Onboard cocktail lounges brought the high life to the sky. You could swap seat numbers for barstools, enjoy freshly mixed drinks, and chat up fellow adventurers while turbulence rocked you like a waltzing dance floor.
Qatar Airways A380 First Class and Business Class onboard bar.by Ginger Around The World
7. Free Champagne In Economy
With a glass of golden bubbles in hand, every economy passenger would feel like a VIP. Airlines used complimentary champagne to sweeten the flying experience. Each pop of the cork and sparkling pour turned an ordinary flight into a moment of effortless celebration.
8. Complimentary Cigarette Packs
Believe it or not, stepping onto a plane once meant free cigarettes handed out. Major airlines proudly stocked “smoking kits” on each seat, where they flaunted names like Marlboro and Kent. While shocking today, it reflected a different era’s social norms.
9. Full-Service Meals On Short Flights
Short-haul flights today hand you a bag of pretzels if you’re lucky. Not so in the golden era. You could expect multi-course meals, neatly plated with real cutlery, even on trips barely long enough to finish a movie.
10. Unlimited Checked Luggage
Picture yourself lugging four overstuffed suitcases through the terminal. American Airlines once allowed generous baggage. You could bring home all the gifts and souvenirs your heart desired without facing a financial ambush.
11. Open Flight Deck Visits During Flight
Flight attendants would graciously usher you forward, where pilots explained instruments and mapped out your path across the clouds. This approach built trust and ignited wonder. For young minds, it offered an unforgettable glimpse into the aviation world.
12. Real Silverware In Economy Class
Economy meals felt fancier when your hands gripped solid, gleaming silverware rather than flimsy plastic. Airlines understood that presentation mattered, and it made the simple act of dining midair feel ceremonial. We’re talking real knives and forks.
EMIRATES Economy Class A380 BRUTALLY HONEST Flight Review by Comfy Travels
13. Dedicated Dressing Rooms
If you needed to change clothes before arrival, airlines once offered dedicated dressing rooms. Here, you could freshen up and change into whatever you wished. These rooms added a thoughtful, sophisticated touch to transatlantic journeys.
I Tried the World's Best First Class Seat (with private bedroom and shower) by Kara and Nate
14. In-Flight Chefs Preparing Fresh Meals
The golden era of flying also had actual chefs preparing fresh meals onboard for you. If you wanted your chicken with less salt or oil, you just had to give the instructions. Back then, giving compliments to the chef was a common practice.
Turkish Airlines’ Flying Chefs: A Look at Elite Airplane Food by The Points Guy | Departures
15. Generous Frequent Flyer Rewards
Your loyalty meant more than a hollow “thank you.” Suppose you were a frequent traveler; you would get lavish upgrades, exclusive gifts, and VIP treatment. These perks recognized your loyalty in ways today’s watered-down programs can barely replicate.
16. Sky Lounges With Live Bands
Some airlines went full orchestra mode. For example, transatlantic flights had live bands playing jazz and swing for passengers mid-flight. Imagine clapping along to a sax solo while cruising over the Atlantic. The vibe was pure vintage high life.
17. Complimentary Postcards Mailed From The Sky
Believe it or not, airlines once handed out postcards mid-flight and even mailed them for you. Passengers could scribble a quick note, hand it to a stewardess, and have it stamped “Mailed Aboard Flight XYZ.”
18. Boarding With Red Carpet Treatment
Before airports became security-heavy mazes, a few airlines rolled out literal red carpets for passengers boarding flights. Staff lined the walkways, smiling and welcoming every traveler like a celebrity. The journey felt important before the wheels left the ground.
Gobierno de Chile on Wikimedia
19. Crystal Glassware In All Classes
Flight attendants once placed real crystal glasses into passengers’ hands, even in economy. The clink of ice against the glass and the solid feel in your hand made even a simple soda taste like something special at 30,000 feet.
20. Complimentary Overnight Kits For All Passengers
Airlines once handed out overnight kits packed with essentials like socks, toothbrushes, sleeping masks, and skincare products to all passengers. It made red-eyes far less brutal and showed that even economy seats came with thoughtful care.
