To miss refined air travel?

Never mind the dressing up part . What I miss is the treatment of passengers as a valued customer. Things were designed for people 's comfort . So no carrying your own bag as luggage was included in price , air bridges instead of making your way out to tarmac in all weathers up a rickety staircase . Free drinks , snacks , pillows , blankets , earphones for movies

I think a lot of this is still included in many long haul flights - perhaps not the luggage thing, but on the last few flights I've been on we've certainly had drinks, snacks, pillows, blankets and earphones all included. Perhaps it depends on the airline. And there was no walking across the tarmac.

I agree it's perhaps a bit different for short haul budget airlines - luggage is a huge issue, with bag sizers etc, no free meal (used to love that as a child, less bothered now!). But I don't think there were ever free blankets, snacks etc on short haul. No need for earphones - we were lucky in those days if there was any inflight entertainment at all - so that hasn't changed much. And I definitely remember walking across tarmac on numerous flights as a child, as I thought it was so exciting being able to see the plane up close.

I guess at the end of the day, it comes down to cost. Flying is relatively so much cheaper than it was when I was a child. So it stands to reason that some corners have been cut (number of olives in a BA martini ! ), and that the 'class', if you want to put it that way, of customer has changed over the years.

I get what you mean, because I feel the same as you. But you just have to learn to ignore what other people are doing and focus your energy on making your OWN travel experience as luxurious and refined as you possibly can. Get dressed up. Splurge for the extras that make travelling more comfortable. Set some time aside for shopping and eating. Everyone else is nothing to do with you, and shouldn't impact how you experience travelling.

It's the eggs.....THEY'RE NOT ORGANIC!!!

😂

I think both her daughters in fly private planes. OP is slumming it in first class and easyjet.

Then you’re possibly in the ‘first galleries’ which are not for actual first class ticket holders but for flyers of certain status. The Concorde Room is for first ticket holders only (not business, only first and suites) and I’ve never known it to be busy except during widespread delays.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Gatwick First Lounge is rarely busy so must have been an unlucky day.

This is quite a good one, actually. I like it.

@BABaby88

I don't recognise what you are describing at all. Nor do I remember 'refined air travel.'

You sound like a snob to be honest. With your 'council estate' comment, and talking about people 'stuffing their face,' (ie; just eating!) and wearing tracksuits and flip flops and the like. My God, the horror! 😱

People are dressing comfortably for a flight. Why does this bother you so much?

What a peculiar thread!

.

Doesn’t bother me one bit what other people are wearing. I enjoy looking at people’s different outfits at places where it is customary to dress up (which airports aren’t, regardless of which class you’re travelling), but if people choose not to dress up that’s their own business. I also don’t care how many crisps they’re eating. Life is much nicer when you just….. let people be.

Careful you don't bump into the paupers OP. You won't see them with your nose in the air

Your poor children will now never show support for their favourite team for fear of being called uncouth

I worked for Virgin Atlantic as cabin crew for years. Saw people fly wearing all sorts. Never bothered me.
You want to fly with Ethiad on The Residence suites they have. You're waited upon (in your own space) from the minute you arrive to the minute you land at your destination. Although the price is eye watering, it's a lavish and luxurious experience.

And you said “well we aren’t at school so the rules are different here” and are going to teach your kids to be less judgemental in future. No thought not!

You horrible snob. I am so proud I have got to a place in my life, as a woman where I don’t really care how I look or what others think about how I look. I feel sorry for you that you care.

At 38, you are hardly old enough to remember refined air travel. FFS.

Yes, there's been a race to the bottom over the last 15+ years and it's accelerated since covid. But honestly you are massively romantacising things OP.

This 💯% ! Peoples’ inability to think of others / put themselves in others’ shoes drives me nuts and makes me sad. It just seems to get worse as time goes on.

Yeah, I have to say that's my only criticism. They should have made themselves older. I guess they wanted the kids to be young?

I’m honestly a complete snob too with things like this. I love seeing old images where people would dress in their suits to watch he football. I like a bit of class.

Listen to yourself, Margot Leadbetter!

Hi Katherine

It's not 1947. Times move on. People prefer to dress for comfort now, so what?

You can guest someone into the Concorde lounge if you have enough TPs yourself or fly first class as you claim, so I think a few porkies are being told on this thread 😂.

I can also remember when flying certainly was an occasion, budget airlines didn’t exist and flying with the major carriers (BOAC, BEA, MEA, AIR FRANCE etc) was expensive. People used to dress up a bit, not necessarily suits but certainly not jeans and I remember going shopping with my Mum to buy clothes ‘for the flight’. (lived abroad but travelled to the UK regularly.)
I have photos of me aged about 15 coming down the aircraft steps wearing a skirt suit! (And looking about 35. At some airports photographers were waiting to take your photo as you exited the plane, They would hand you a little card for you to send off and get the picture later. )
I think as long as people are clean and decent that’s all that really matters.

Im in my 80s now and back in the 1960s when I began travelling people did "dress up" even for economy. I was flying out to stay with friends in Morocco and I had to wear stockings because my sister had stolen my last pair of tights. It was not a comfortable flight.

I can't remember the last time I wore tights or stockings.

What a shame you can only afford to fly commercial.