As an OG (older generation) traveler, I have to speak to how travel used to be prior to September 11, 2001. The one thing that many of the NG (newer generation) can't recall as much is the true pleasurable flying experience prior to 2001.
Flying then from my humble opinion was so much better than the airport and airline experience that we have today. By that I mean, we didn't have to be practically stripped and cavity searched at the airport as though we were all criminals. Airplanes had been flying 70 years before that one day (September 11, 2001) that changed the total flying travel experience for everyone.
During the days of the OG (older generation) USA carriers, PanAm, TWA, Eastern Airlines, Continental Airlines, and others the travel experience was a much better experience in my opinion. Yes, there was more competition to hold each carrier accountable and some would boast about their service as a marketing strategy to gain business from consumers. This amongst other variables made the flying experience a lot better than present day.
OG, do you remember being able to go to the gate to watch your family and or friends leave or arrive? That's been in the wind now for over 21 years and that aspect of closeness between airline passengers and their family members and friends was severed.
It was often during those times that we would meet others at the airport and have dinner with them prior to departure or even upon arrival. Now, it is more hassle than anything. Yes, you can still meet your loved one at the airport and have a meal depending on the airport, its layout, security protocols and convenience, or should I say lack of convenience. With all that said, as an OG traveler, I miss that and so much more.
In other posts and articles, I wrote about how as a teenager I would like to go to the airport and watch planes take-off inside or out, depending on the view. These simple pleasures were memories of the airports and flight travel up until that horrific, disastrous day.
The sad thing is that it wasn't just security protocols and airport inconvenience that changed since that time. Airline service became practically obsolete as meal service change drastically. Believe it or not NG, the quality of the food and service on airplanes was so much better in the 80's, and 90's. Portion sizes were ok (nothing to brag about) but if you wanted more, they would often ask, "Would you like anything else sir?". Now it's about them getting through the meal service an sitting down to relax or they only have enough meals and snacks to barely feed the number of passengers on the plane. Why was this not the case before. I'll tell you why? It was more about true quality service to the consumer which has been severely lossed in many cases.
Now we practically have an MRI completed when at the airport to go to our gate to get on our plane, then we board according to all of these different zones, based upon your spending and or how much business you've given to the airline. It has become overwhemingly more devisive than ever. This is what First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class is all about. It like many other aspects of our lives have been predicated upon how much money or privilege you have that will afford you a better "class of service". All of this somewhat subtly, well maybe not so subtly to me; with changes here and there that leads up to an entire flight travel experience that has drastically changed.
Let's not even talk about the retail cost of flight travel. Hence is why we have to travel hack to get good deals, decent fares, and or get upgraded service that used to be closer to the regular service that we once knew.
Anyway NG, what we all experience today for economy seat airline travel is not what we (OG) were accustomed to in the past.
I don't want this to come off as a gripe post but the truth is what it is. All of this to board planes like cattle and get subpar service is just not as appealing as it once was.
Because of my innate desire and love for travel, we try not to let these things bother us to a point where we don't travel.
Perhaps I'm writing this post because of my current experience today going to the airport, waiting in a long ass line for my first Emirates Airline flight,having to rush to get to my gate even though I arrived in more than enough time for what should have been a normal checkin and baggage drop. Don't forget I had to also rush through to get my MRI (security scan) and then go through customs and borders since I am leaving the country only to arrive at a long line at the gate for another check. Yea, I'm possibly writing this post because of my frustration in knowing how travel used to be.
I'll write a separate post regarding this trip which is to Dubai on Emirates Airlines.
Anyway Globetrotters (OG and NG), I miss the OG travel experience.
Let me know if any of you feel the same way or have a different perspective as it pertains to OG flight travel experiences. I look forward to reading your responses as it pertains to OG travel prior to 2001.
Also, after writing this post on the plane I researched the very topic that I'm talking about regarding airline travel before versus today. Take a look at this article about, "What Travel Looked Like In Every Decade". It's and interesting article for both OG and NG. The article was written by Insider https://www.insider.com/air-travel-in-every-decade-2017-8
Happy Reading! Don't forget to comment about your airline travel experiences prior to 2001.
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