October 7, 2013

Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight, / Make me a child again just for tonight!

captivating_photographs_that_have_quirky_stories_attached_640_21.jpg

Economy Class Seating On A Pan Am 747 In The Late 1960′s

UPDATED: "OK, I'll bite... I hear this complaint a lot from family, friends, and passengers.

"Keep in mind, that the airlines were regulated in those days. Regulation meant the CAB assigned certain routes to certain carriers, who could then make money on that route without worrying about start up carriers nipping at their heels. Jet fuel was unbelievably cheap compared to today's price of $3.50 p/gal. The carriers could afford bigger seats and better food.

"And then came the movement to "let the common man fly." Politically driven Deregulation hit in 1978 and it changed the business forever. The common man is now flying and the public doesn't like it.

"Costs to operate our aircraft never, never, never go down. Our ticket prices can't go up enough because there is no customer loyalty... The internet assures "that" with the cheapest ticket only a click away.

"It is a miraculous thing that the airline chiefs can keep our planes flying at $3.50 gallon. They are very smart dudes regardless of the swill the labor unions spew.

"I fly a heavy work schedule with almost zero problems. Maintenance is good and the schedule is kept 90% of the time. If we are late, it's not by much. A roundtrip ticket to the other coast is ridiculously cheap, so we pack 'em in to make money. If we try to raise prices and give more leg room and edible food, the passengers migrate to the cheaper carriers and whine about the service.

"Yes, the common man is flying... I guess Deregulation was/is a success." Posted by: Captain Dave Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight, / Make me a child again just for tonight! @ AMERICAN DIGEST

Posted by gerardvanderleun at October 7, 2013 1:38 PM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Yeah, back then flying was a luxury and they made the trip as comfortable as possible. Now its misery and you weep openly while suffering the trip, vowing never to do it again.

Not pictured in this image: clouds of smoke from cigarettes. That's the only experience of flying that's gotten better.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at October 7, 2013 3:37 PM

OK, I'll bite... I hear this complaint a lot from family, friends, and passengers.

Keep in mind, that the airlines were regulated in those days. Regulation meant the CAB assigned certain routes to certain carriers, who could then make money on that route without worrying about start up carriers nipping at their heels. Jet fuel was unbelievably cheap compared to today's price of $3.50 p/gal. The carriers could afford bigger seats and better food.

And then came the movement to "let the common man fly." Politically driven Deregulation hit in 1978 and it changed the business forever. The common man is now flying and the public doesn't like it.

Costs to operate our aircraft never, never, never go down. Our ticket prices can't go up enough because there is no customer loyalty... The internet assures "that" with the cheapest ticket only a click away.

It is a miraculous thing that the airline chiefs can keep our planes flying at $3.50 gallon. They are very smart dudes regardless of the swill the labor unions spew.

I fly a heavy work schedule with almost zero problems. Maintenance is good and the schedule is kept 90% of the time. If we are late, it's not by much. A roundtrip ticket to the other coast is ridiculously cheap, so we pack 'em in to make money. If we try to raise prices and give more leg room and edible food, the passengers migrate to the cheaper carriers and whine about the service.

Yes, the common man is flying... I guess Deregulation was/is a success.

Posted by: Captain Dave at October 7, 2013 4:13 PM

Good to hear from you, Capt. Dave!

Any chance of blogging again? I miss you, and others must, too.

Posted by: Sam L. at October 7, 2013 5:46 PM

Good to hear from you, Capt. Dave!

Any chance of blogging again? I miss you, and others must, too.

Posted by: Sam L. at October 7, 2013 5:49 PM

Are you the real Flightlevel390 Capt. Dave? Owner of the best blog-in-the-blogosphere Capt. Dave?

Come back! Let us know how you survived the alien abduction.

Posted by: John at October 7, 2013 6:16 PM

Are you the real Flightlevel390 Capt. Dave? Owner of the best blog-in-the-blogosphere Capt. Dave?

Come back! Let us know how you survived the alien abduction.

Posted by: John at October 7, 2013 6:16 PM

I can assure all and sundry that is the real Capt. Dave.

Posted by: vanderleun at October 7, 2013 6:31 PM

I can't understand anyone thinking that regulation was a success, or that deregulation wasn't--even in spite of the FAA. If you want it like the good old days, fly first class.

Posted by: james wilson at October 7, 2013 6:59 PM

Its not so much that people dislike the common man flying, its that the seats are microscopic, the security process is miserable, and you don't even get food any more. Its like jury duty, in a tiny seat you can't leave for 3 hours, and you catch the flu afterward from breathing everyone's air for the whole time.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at October 7, 2013 7:33 PM

Commercial air travel was said to be deregulated.

What BS

It was just regulated differently

Posted by: itor at October 7, 2013 8:09 PM

Let me add my voice to those calling Captain Dave to come back.

Posted by: Fat Man at October 8, 2013 10:53 AM

I too endorse a Capt. Dave comeback! Your blog is missed.

btw the old URL is still (or again) up but now abused for click gathering purposes.

Posted by: SereW at October 9, 2013 2:02 AM