The Art of Flying

Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Taking a trip during the Golden Age of Flying is not all it is cracked up to be. Many people will see photos taken from the flights and think it looks so cute and charming. The reality is, flying back then was for the rich and crazy. Rich because in 1955 it could run you $138 for a round-trip flight from Chicago to Phoenix with TWA, which is equivalent to about $1,168 today. And crazy because well, let’s talk why.

It is obvious and true that flying technology back then was nothing compared to what it is today. In fact, flying today is one of the the safest modes of transportation. Even safer than driving a car or truck. Back then, mid-air collisions and engines falling off were common. Could you imagine boarding a flight knowing that it is possible one of the engines could fall off mid-flight? What is even more disturbing is if one of the plane’s engines fell off and the plane still landed safely, it wasn’t even considered an accident. Yikes!

Besides safety, another large inconvenience (depending on how you look at it) was flying attire. With many, if not all, passengers being wealthy they were all dressed very well. Three piece suits for the men and dresses for the women. It wasn’t necessarily a requirement but you would certainly get looked at differently if you didn’t. That has to be one of the most underappreciated factors of modern day flying. You can board a plane with a nice pair of joggers, comfy sweater, and your freshest kicks and not have to worry about any shade being thrown your way. If you are a traveler that values comfort AND style during your flight, grab some of these Groupon coupons for Eastbay. Revel in your relaxed outfit while the rest of them struggle.

Right now is the true golden age of flight. Movies, decent in-flight meals, and exit row seating deserve more love than they usually receive. Next time you board a plane, think about what you just read and appreciate the fact that you’re wearing Jordan’s and watching that new RomCom. Just try not to think about the engines falling off.

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