Those were the days!

[Christiern]

In the 1960s, I used to make a monthly trip from NYC to California. First Class was only $15 more, so that's how I traveled, but Coach was not to be sneezed at. Here's the text from the back of this promotion:

• See it with your own eyes.
  It's bigger than most living rooms, has soft, cushiony seats all around, a stand-up bar in the middle...
  and not only is it on an airplane, but it's in coach.
  The American Airlines Coach Lounge.
  Take a walk to it, through it, around it. Stretch your legs.
  Relax, it's a place where you can mingle, make new friends, have some fun. Whatever.
  You can even give yourself a going away party while you're going away. By far, it's the most wonderful thing ever to happen to a coach passenger. But this new standard of comfort does not stop with our lounge. You'll notice it everywhere, from nose to tail.
  In our new 747 LuxuryLiner.
  
  In coach, for instance, we've taken out rows of seats and rearranged the layout do each passenger gets extra leg room. In first class, you can reserve a table for four. Dine with friends as you would in a restaurant on the ground. Play cards. Hold a business meeting. And upstairs is our redecorated first class lounge, a plush intimate spot where you can pour your own champagne and liqueurs.
  All this, plus our new transcontinental Flagship Service, featuring delicious Polynesian food served by our stewardesses in their pretty new outfits.
  If this sounds like a plane of the future, it isn't. Most of our 747s already have all these comforts, including the Coach Lounge.
  By May 2, every one will be a LuxuryLiner.
  

They were not exaggerating. I might add that, upon making the reservation, one was given the choice of lobster, steak or chicken, that one's name was printed in gold on a card that identified one's seat, and the service was incredible. I often took AA's flight 21, which served food from NYC's 21 Club. This was a time when people still dressed up for a flight, a time when jeans and backpacks were something that one saw only on Iceland Air.

[Dan Gould]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, a reminder when Boeing's new plane was something to marvel at, just like the new Airbus plane is marvelled at today.

[catesta]

American still uses the "Luxury Liner" name on some of their planes.

Thanks for posting that Chris. Too bad the airlines will never return to the glory days.

[Robert J]

Looks like the set design from 2001: A Space Odyssey!

Ad copy we'll never see again:

served by our stewardesses in their pretty new outfits

[brownie]

This was a time when people still dressed up for a flight, a time when jeans and backpacks were something that one saw only on Iceland Air.

Iceland Air? You mean Loftleidir.

I flew the company when I crossed the Atlantic (with stopover in Reykjavik) in the sixties. No lobster on the Loftleidir menu!

I did not have bluejeans or backpack then but a number of fellow travelers did!

http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ll.htm

[sheldonm]

In the 1960s, I used to make a monthly trip from NYC to California. First Class was only $15 more, so that's how I traveled, but Coach was not to be sneezed at. Here's the text from the back of this promotion:

• See it with your own eyes.
  It's bigger than most living rooms, has soft, cushiony seats all around, a stand-up bar in the middle...
  and not only is it on an airplane, but it's in coach.
  The American Airlines Coach Lounge.
  Take a walk to it, through it, around it. Stretch your legs.
  Relax, it's a place where you can mingle, make new friends, have some fun. Whatever.
  You can even give yourself a going away party while you're going away. By far, it's the most wonderful thing ever to happen to a coach passenger. But this new standard of comfort does not stop with our lounge. You'll notice it everywhere, from nose to tail.
  In our new 747 LuxuryLiner.
  
  In coach, for instance, we've taken out rows of seats and rearranged the layout do each passenger gets extra leg room. In first class, you can reserve a table for four. Dine with friends as you would in a restaurant on the ground. Play cards. Hold a business meeting. And upstairs is our redecorated first class lounge, a plush intimate spot where you can pour your own champagne and liqueurs.
  All this, plus our new transcontinental Flagship Service, featuring delicious Polynesian food served by our stewardesses in their pretty new outfits.
  If this sounds like a plane of the future, it isn't. Most of our 747s already have all these comforts, including the Coach Lounge.
  By May 2, every one will be a LuxuryLiner.
  

They were not exaggerating. I might add that, upon making the reservation, one was given the choice of lobster, steak or chicken, that one's name was printed in gold on a card that identified one's seat, and the service was incredible. I often took AA's flight 21, which served food from NYC's 21 Club. This was a time when people still dressed up for a flight, a time when jeans and backpacks were something that one saw only on Iceland Air.

daaaaaaamn! That's a lot of space!

[JSngry]

Didn't some of the flights even have a pianist in the lounge?

[Christiern]

Yes, Jim, a piano bar!

And you're right, brownie, it was Loftleiðir. Iceland had two airlines in those days, the other being Flugfélag Íslands, also known as Iceland Air.

[BruceH]

Taking out rows of seats and rearanging the layout so each passinger gets extra leg room....what a concept!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vibes]

I had no idea such things even existed. I guess I'm too young. Thanks for sharing, Chris.

[Free For All]

I sure wish it was like that now.

Flying is a very unpleasant experience now (unless you can afford first class). Tiny seats, no leg room, no perks of any kind, no service. A total drag.

Rarely has a trip gone without some type of snafu- delayed/cancelled flights, screwed-up seat assignments, luggage/instrument hassles etc.

But, unfortunately, flying is a necessity.

Edited May 6, 2005 by Free For All

[BERIGAN]

Great ad Chris! I don't recall Delta's 747's being anywhere near as spacious!

My Mom worked for Delta for many years, and back in the 70's into the mid 80's, no one flew 1st class it seemed. That's where they "stuck" us Non-rev passengers.

When more businessmen started to upgrade their tickets/use frequent flyer miles. and rich folk forked over the money more freely, we got stuck, truly stuck in Coach, most of the time. Could not believe people paid so much money to be jammed in like sardines. At 6 foot, 200+ pounds, I felt like a giant, and of course, was always the "skinny" guy in the middle seat!

At least the service was pretty good, up to a few years ago, now, no one seems to care. And now, most airlines don't even have pillows, and Delta has cut back on meals on most of their domestic flights!

Delta's 747's don't seem quite as nice as AA, but still, better than today. Can't you just see bean counters a few years later saying..."But, we can put more rows in, many more!"

[7/4]

Didn't some of the flights even have a pianist in the lounge?

I sure hope they bolted the damm thing down.

Taking off - Everyone to the front of the plane...

Landing - watch out up front!