Vintage Photos of 1960s Air Travel

Flight Attendants Were at the Forefront of Fashion

In 1964, advertising executive Mary Wells Lawrence worked with Braniff International Airways to launch the airline’s new identity, a rebranding dubbed “End of the Plain Plane.” The stylish campaign started a movement. Airlines quickly began adopting Braniff’s approach to pops of colors and bold prints, and flight attendant uniforms became canvases for fashion designers such as Emilio Pucci and Jean Lewis.

Airlines Encouraged On-Flight Smoking and Served Gourmet Meals

Airline passengers in the 1960s could expect the full restaurant experience, including access to cigarettes. Smoking was only discouraged when on the ground (for fear of igniting refueling fumes), but guests were free to smoke cigarettes, pipes, and cigars while in the air. Gourmet food was just as available: Lobster, ham leg, and caviar were regularly served and even prepared tableside midflight, creating a fine dining experience.

Many Passengers Passed the Time Drinking

The combination of free alcohol and a lack of smartphones led to an abundance of onboard drinking in the ’60s. Champagne was offered to first-class passengers, and upper-deck lounges were equipped with walk-up bars. In 1964, in-flight movies were introduced using closed-circuit technology, offering a necessary alternative to partying at 30,000 feet.

Airport Security Was Almost Nonexistent 

In the 1960s, there was no need to show up to the airport two hours before a flight, as security was much more lax than it is today. In fact, an ID wasn’t even needed to board an airplane until the early 21st century, and you were basically guaranteed to make a flight if you showed up 30 minutes before departure. Friends and family members could escort departing guests right up to their gate, and security screenings weren’t implemented until 1973, when passengers began submitting to metal detectors and bag searches. 

Space and Luxuries Were Plentiful

In the golden age of flight, even passengers in economy experienced today’s business-class legroom and complimentary sustenance. First-class guests, meanwhile, had access to cocktail lounges, reclining seats, six-course meals, and fashion shows put on by flight attendants. Flying in the 1960s was also a much more social experience. Onboard, passengers could schmooze with fellow guests, including celebrities.

Air Travel Was Even More Expensive

Passengers paid premium prices to experience air travel in the 1960s. Before the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the federal government controlled ticket rates and set fees high to ensure airlines would prosper. International flights were four to five times more expensive than they are now, and could cost as much as $500, the equivalent of more than $4,000 today. A round-trip flight within the United States was less, but could set passengers back roughly $100 to $400 (the equivalent of about $800 to $3,000), considerably more than a domestic flight today.

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