The "Travel Through The Ages" Story

A favorite TV show of mine.

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with my wife about the TV show that we enjoyed that only lasted for a few short months, Pan Am.  Show was based on Pan American Airlines as it operated in the early 1960s at the beginning of the commercial Jet Age.  We never had the chance to fly anywhere until the mid-1980s when our children were old enough to travel to Disney World in Florida.  We never thought we would be able to afford to fly, but by that time in history, flying was more affordable to the America family than ever before.  I recently read a summary of travel throughout history beginning in the 1900's.  120 years ago about the only means of transportation was the horse and buggy.  In the 1910's travel was possible across the oceans on ocean liners and when Henry Ford began mass producing his automobile, land transportation soon became easier for those that could afford the luxury of an automobile.  In the 1920's travel became affordable on the rails.  In the 1930s the airplane became accessible to the masses, but was still expensive.  The 40's found that most families could afford to purchase a family car for the first time.  The 1950's ushered in an era when the car was still the preferred and most inexpensive way of travel, but flying became cheaper.  In the 60's, even with plane tickets costing on the average of 40% more than they are today, it was still a neat way to travel.  The 70's saw a slight shift away from flying due to the thought that flying was a luxurious method of transportation.  That, plus the airlines began moving their seats closer together so they could get more people on the plane.  Oh for the 70's and the amount of leg space they had back then, even with the reduced amount.  Affordable flying came about in the 1980's when the average American family, such as mine, could afford airline tickets to go to Disney World.  Once again the leg space was reduced to make up for the cheaper prices.  

You just knew they weren't going to make less money, right!  The economy seat frenzy began in the 1990's and smoking was no longer allowed on planes, even in the restroom.  Flying became almost a normal thing to do for the average American.  Airport security changed after 9/11/01 with long lines at check-in as they searched both the suitcases as well as the body.  Economy seating exploded making it harder and harder to enjoy a luxurious experience unless you could afford the more than double-the-price 1st class tickets.  We are now in the Modern Age of flying with in-flight connectivity offered along with satellite entertainment options; naturally with an additional cost.  The older airplanes are now being put to rest and newer ones are in the air.  The modern renaissance of flying has begun.  But, you know, Carol and I still loved the Pan Am TV show and seeing how it used to be.  Made us realize how good we have it today even if you did have more leg room and a finer meal back in the late 50's and early 60's.  It was a more simpler way of life.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.