To miss refined air travel?

We dress up a bit but I dont care what others wear

A bit lost to be honest

dressing for the occasion means dressing comfortably and with layers ready for whatever temperature/ weather you are heading into so people sound appropriately dressed

and what does “everyone’s guys hanging out” mean

and whilst I don’t think we need to eat as frequently as many do - if you have had a 5 hr trip to arrive 3 hrs before your flight , snacks will be needed if not a full dinner

YABU. Travelling shouldn't just be for the rich.

I would be sympathetic about concerns about the environment but not withholding travel from the ordinary folk.

Every time I fly business it still feels luxury. I don’t even notice what other people are wearing in the lounge (are you sure you were in the First lounge and not the Club Business lounge people can pay £30 to access? The actual first class lounges rarely have more than a couple of people in them).

Either way, enjoy the privilege of a luxurious flight that the majority of the Earth will never get the chance to try even once. Most humans will never even go on a plane or leave their local area.

It depends where you are flying, long haul first class, business class is good. Also the airline as well. Short haul you may find a bit tricky, the lounges aren’t as good…as in no seat down meal service (you don’t really see people stuffing their pockets with crisps etc). You eat well in the lounge and you know you’re going to eat a proper meal on the plane too.

I will say it’s still there, especially the gulf airlines when you go through their home lounges and just general feel. Also Singapore home lounge, the people are dressed well, manners all around.

Wow
put them in third class / cattle crates,
so the elite don’t smell them

I was thinking of this and some cards give you and a friend access to certain lounges, but they aren’t the actual real lounges if you catch my drift.

She said guts not guys. Obviously meaning their belly overhang.

Edited to guts I see thank you

I think it’s generally accepted that comfortable clothing is the most suitable for air travel.

Guts hanging out is obviously unacceptable anywhere!

Are you saying that as well as eating whilst in the lounge they are taking food away for later? I’d have thought that wouldn’t be allowed tbh. But also, wouldn’t they be able to get food on the plane for any journey that requires being in a lounge? (Forgive me as I don’t frequently use airport lounges!)

Am I awful to miss the days when non-economy air travel felt a bit like a luxury not an endurance?

I've never been fortunate enough to travel anything but non-economy, I'm sure I would find travelling first class to be a huge luxury.

I have been in the 'pay to enter' lounges though, and I don't recognise the description you are giving - most people were decently dressed, at least smart casual, if not business smart, no one was acting like there was a famine coming. It was all very civilised and quite quiet. I'm sure it would be even quieter in first class lounges. Although to be fair, someone in flip flops wouldn't really bother me at all. Everyone needs to be comfortable when travelling, especially long haul.

You must be quite old and quite rich!

Well aren't you the priveleged one OP

Us working class shall just stay at home in future so as not to offend you

But I grew up travelling in airport lounges and flight decks where people dressed for the occasion.

Travelling isn’t an occasion, it’s merely a necessity to get from A to B.

Lol is this my mother in law. Go on a cruise, you can then eat crisps at the captain's table?

Quite frankly if I’m flying long haul, even in business, I want to be comfortable. Shock horror that I wore my running trainers and shorts last week. How do you feel about airlines giving out pj’s? I even dared change into them for part of the flight

Catherine Tate's posh mum appeared instantly in my mind.

Oh no! The plebs are ruining things again! 🙄

Like I said, you can pay to access the business lounge or if you have say an Amex they have lounges. So you can have access to a lounge but be flying economy. So no snacks for free on the plane.

Im the opposite, I love how easy and simple air travel is now. More than happy to go on a no frills airline, checking in via phone and my boarding pass being a QR code.

I don't massively use lounges, only when travelling long haul, but I can't say I pay much notice to how people are dressed or if they chuck a packet of biscuits in their bag. I care more about if they have comfortable seating, plenty of plug sockets to charge phones and laptop, and have clean toilets and can make a nice cocktail.

Back in the 1980s my dad used to make us all dress smartly for flights, but would then book seats in the smoking section of the plane. Yes the stewardess might have worn stylish silk scarves and had perfect makeup on but believe me most of those flights were grim for me sitting in a fog of fumes. I think your nostalgia has slightly rose tinted glasses.