Manfredj From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 1132 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 8236 times:
It's all too often we take things for granted in our industry. I've compiled a top ten list of things we should savor about the airline industry before one day they cease to exist. Please feel free to add your favorites.
Top Ten:
10) Paper Tickets: It's not too long before we download our boarding tickets into our cell phones, making paper tickets a thing of the past.
9) Flight Engineers: Just a few cockpits you can visit that still have an engineer station. Take a trip to the flight deck of a classic 747 and stare at the sheer size of the flight deck.
8) The Approach To DCA: Observation areas are getting rare. With increased security at our airports, the Feds have closed down many of them. Visit the park adjacent to Ronald Reagan Airport and watch the most amazing approaches of your life.
7) The Sound Of A JT8D: Savor a sound of the past. Go to Miami International and listen as a DC-9 or 727 takes to the sky.
6) Free Food: It may not taste great but eat it while it's free. It's the norm not the exception to pay for food these days.
5) Three Holers: The DC-10/Md-11/L10-11 are a dying breed. With no new three holers on the books from Boeing or Airbus, fly them while you can.
4) The Smell Of Kerosene: You know your at an airport when the pungent smell of Jet A graces your nostrils. They really should bottle the stuff and make it into a perfume. Continental and Virgin are already experimenting with alternative fuels making the smell of Jet A a thing of the past.
3) Air Shows: They are an expensive show to put on. With the current economy, our government will be spending less on air shows. Get online and find one near you this summer.
2) The Beach at St. Maarten: We took Kai Tek for granted all those years. Did you really appreciate it before it went away? Would you give anything to see one more landing? Visit the beach at St. Maarten and get some sand in your face. Who knows how long it will last.
1) The Spectacle: Flying used to be a glamorous and romantic way to travel, only reserved for the wealthy. Good service, fine food and glamorous crew were waiting for you when you boarded the airplane. All is not lost, however. Spend the extra money to fly first class on a premium airline. Experience what it's like to be treated like a king at 35,000 ft.
Max550 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 1111 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 8136 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 8) The Approach To DCA: Observation areas are getting rare. With increased security at our airports, the Feds have closed down many of them. Visit the park adjacent to Ronald Reagan Airport and watch the most amazing approaches of your life.
One of my personal favorite places to go. Anyone who spends anytime in the DC area has to make the stop there.
Ckfred From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 4651 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 8087 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 7) The Sound Of A JT8D: Savor a sound of the past. Go to Miami International and listen as a DC-9 or 727 takes to the sky.
Book a ticket on an AA mainline flight, other than one into or out of MIA. There is a fairly good chance of being on an MD-80 with an updated JT8D. A bit quieter than the older models, but it still sounds good. Or you can go to MSP or DTW and listen to former NW DC-9s.
Trystero From Portugal, joined Oct 2008, 243 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 8067 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 6) Free Food: It may not taste great but eat it while it's free. It's the norm not the exception to pay for food these days.
Yes, and if you travel in low-cost, pay a very high price for very low quality. Also, beat the other hunters to the prey, if you're in the middle of the plane and no food gets there, you're stuck with two hours of complaining from your eight years old kids...
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21464 posts, RR: 24 Reply 7, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 7982 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 6) Free Food: It may not taste great but eat it while it's free. It's the norm not the exception to pay for food these days.
That's generally true only in North America. It's the exception in most of the rest of the world. In Europe, with a few exceptions like SK/IB/EI which have been buy-on-board for some time, you only pay for food/drink on low-cost carriers. It's still free on LH/LX/BA/KL/AF/OS and others. It may not be much in Y class (e.g. a sandwich on flights during meal hours) but at least it's free, as is bar and beverage service.
Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18823 posts, RR: 54 Reply 8, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7971 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 8) The Approach To DCA: Observation areas are getting rare. With increased security at our airports, the Feds have closed down many of them. Visit the park adjacent to Ronald Reagan Airport and watch the most amazing approaches of your life.
I'll be in Washington D.C. next week. I'll be arriving and departing from DCA, but I won't have enough time to visit this place.
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 6) Free Food: It may not taste great but eat it while it's free. It's the norm not the exception to pay for food these days.
Of course, it's not free but rather included within the price of your ticket.
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
Isitsafenow From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4984 posts, RR: 26 Reply 9, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7939 times:
For me, most are already gone.....
Four engine props and turboprops, first generation jets with their noise and REAL kero smell. Todays turbine fuel is a different blend than the 60's.
Old aiprort terminals where anyone could go down the concourse and watch planes.....anyone could go down the jetway
or up the stairs and see the planes insides(this is a story itself).
Visits to the control tower.
Real meals on the plane in COACH...
Something that I will miss............
Northwest .......I already miss Braniff International and Trans World....
the multi colored fleet and the twin globes on the vertical stab.....
and this time next year.........red tails
sad sad sad.
safe.
If two people agree on EVERYTHING, then one isn't necessary.
Skygirl From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 451 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7878 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 8) The Approach To DCA: Observation areas are getting rare. With increased security at our airports, the Feds have closed down many of them. Visit the park adjacent to Ronald Reagan Airport and watch the most amazing approaches of your life.
Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. They never dropped the Washington from the airport name, but everyone else does. A lot of people in the area refuse to even acknowledge the name change. I've actually had pax deplane telling me not to welcome them to Reagan National.
That said, I spent many a day at DCA. Pack a picnic lunch, a camera, and a comfy lounge chair, and watch airplanes take off and fly. I can't wait til I move back to the area cause that is one of the first things I am going to go out and do.
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 4) The Smell Of Kerosene: You know your at an airport when the pungent smell of Jet A graces your nostrils. They really should bottle the stuff and make it into a perfume.
I actually have a bumper sticker that says Jet-A is my perfume. I love it when I come home from a trip smelling like galley - a strange combination of coffee and jet fuel.
...Now they face an even greater danger...Tyrannousaurs in F-14's!!
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10241 posts, RR: 40 Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7864 times:
Quoting TK787 (Reply 1): It is hard to believe that it is too late for the Concorde to make this list.
I was thinking the exact same thing while reading the first post. Talk about luxury in the sky and being given a royal treatment!
Just like the QE2 (Concorde of the Seas) the Pointy Ladies were taken out of service way too soon. They could have done several more years of service...
Happy 40th Anniversary Concorde! You will live fforever in our memories...
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Adam42185 From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 395 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7788 times:
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): Old aiprort terminals where anyone could go down the concourse and watch planes.....anyone could go down the jetway
I miss these days as well. These were still around when I was very young and I miss them so much! I wish i could go see people off at the jetway, or meet them coming off -- I used to spend hours at the observation deck at Logan which has been no more for a loooooong time now. If I remember correctly there was even a bar up there. What a shame it isnt there any more. And I remember getting served food such as sandwiches on flights as short as an hour and a half.
Vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 8200 posts, RR: 28 Reply 13, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7746 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW PHOTO SCREENER
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 10) Paper Tickets: It's not too long before we download our boarding tickets into our cell phones, making paper tickets a thing of the past.
I haven't gotten a paper ticket in god-knows-how-long. And maybe I'm the only one, but I like it that way!
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 1) The Spectacle: Flying used to be a glamorous and romantic way to travel, only reserved for the wealthy. Good service, fine food and glamorous crew were waiting for you when you boarded the airplane. All is not lost, however. Spend the extra money to fly first class on a premium airline. Experience what it's like to be treated like a king at 35,000 ft.
To me, the fact that flying isn't restricted to the wealthy anymore is actually the real miracle of it. Hell, I'm not wealthy - I wouldn't have been able to fly 50 years ago!
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): Old aiprort terminals where anyone could go down the concourse and watch planes....
THAT is one that I miss very much.
Not to mention, it makes it quite difficult when you're dropping your 85-year-old grandmother off at the airport, and you can't help her carry her carry-on to the gate, or make sure she knows where she's going, etc....
Quoting Skygirl (Reply 10): Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. They never dropped the Washington from the airport name, but everyone else does. A lot of people in the area refuse to even acknowledge the name change. I've actually had pax deplane telling me not to welcome them to Reagan National.
Skymiler From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 469 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7702 times:
Can we still get the crackle and roar from a pair (or 3!!) of RR Speys? I know that the BA Trident 3B's are gone (best of the bunch!!), but are there any non hush-kitted BAC 1-11's still airworthy?
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7665 times:
1) Customer Service Agents. Talking to real people and not the computer will slowly and surely disappear.
2) Free use of the lavatory onboard. Keep an eye on Ryanair - if this dumb idea of on-board pay toilets is successful, it won't be long before it's instituted around the globe.
3) Inclusive tickets. A la carte pricing, the "wave of the future", will soon include nothing.
4) The occasional empty seat. Good luck in ever seeing one of those again!!
Everything else on my list is either almost, completely gone, or never was.
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
Delta2ual From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 575 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7665 times:
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): Something that I will miss............
Northwest .......I already miss Braniff International and Trans World....
the multi colored fleet and the twin globes on the vertical stab.....
and this time next year.........red tails
I miss the OLD Delta. The one that was charming to passengers, strict with employees (anyone remember the supervisors using quarters to make sure the female flight attendants earrings were regulation?), slow to change, and old-fashioned. The "new" Delta is a little too "hip" for me!
From the world's largest airline-to the world's largest airline. Delta2ual
Fanofjets From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 1894 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7552 times:
Quoting Manfredj (Thread starter): 7) The Sound Of A JT8D: Savor a sound of the past. Go to Miami International and listen as a DC-9 or 727 takes to the sky.
I would add to that the sound of the even more rare JT-3D. At least I can still savor that melody on a few YouTube videos.
Even more magical is the sound of a good old-fashioned radial engine. The number of DC-4s, -6s, Connies, and C-46s is fast disappearing. With new safety regulations, the chance to fly aboard a DC-3 may even become a thing of the past.
The aeroplane has unveiled for us the true face of the earth. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5929 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 7552 times:
Quoting BMI727 (Reply 3): Agreed. The best smell in the world is that combination of cleaners, Jet A, and coffee.
Eau d' blue lav juice and stale cigarrette smoke from the last flight, anyone Don't miss that part I'm glad that modern airlines seem to contain toilet odor much better, and that smoking has been banned (for the most part)
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
SeaBosDca From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 4277 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7500 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 8): I'll be in Washington D.C. next week. I'll be arriving and departing from DCA, but I won't have enough time to visit this place.
Make sure to book a seat on the left side of the plane on your way in, and on the right side on your way out.
You never know which direction the flow will be going, but booking those seats will maximize your chance of getting a close-up view of the Monument, the Mall, and downtown.
Most gorgeous aircraft: Tu-204-300, 757-200, A330-200, 777-200LR, 787-8
BMI727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14315 posts, RR: 26 Reply 20, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7463 times:
Quoting Ckfred (Reply 4): There is a fairly good chance of being on an MD-80 with an updated JT8D. A bit quieter than the older models
I was at the In'N'Out Burger at LAX and numerous 747s and other heavies took off while I was there. But the only plane that set off car alarms at about a quarter mile was a YX MD-80.
Why do Aerospace Engineering students have to turn things in on time?
RIX From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7453 times:
Quoting TK787 (Reply 1): it is too late for the Concorde to make this list
- both would make my list of "gone, missed badly", along with variety of manufacturers/configurations we saw in 50-s/60-s and still (which I'm old enough to remember) in 70-s.
Manfredj From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 1132 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7431 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 7): That's generally true only in North America
Yes, I had the most wonderful sandwich on a short 45 minute flight from Israel to Jordon a few years back. No such thing in the states.
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 8): I'll be in Washington D.C. next week. I'll be arriving and departing from DCA, but I won't have enough time to visit this place.
Please! Make the time. You won't forget it. I have spent many a days there...truly a life changing experience.
Hatbutton From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 1451 posts, RR: 15 Reply 23, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 7106 times:
Quoting RIX (Reply 21): - both would make my list of "gone, missed badly", along with variety of manufacturers/configurations we saw in 50-s/60-s and still (which I'm old enough to remember) in 70-s.
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9): For me, most are already gone.....
Four engine props and turboprops, first generation jets with their noise and REAL kero smell. Todays turbine fuel is a different blend than the 60's.
Everts Air in ANC still has a few DC-6s! (And some C-46s) Get up there while you can. NAC recently got rid of theirs.
I think the L-188 is still one of my favorite planes. Wish I had a chance to fly on one when Reeve was still around. I love that rounded nose.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21464 posts, RR: 24 Reply 24, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 6754 times:
Quoting Hatbutton (Reply 23): Everts Air in ANC still has a few DC-6s! (And some C-46s) Get up there while you can. NAC recently got rid of theirs.
Quoting Hatbutton (Reply 23): Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 9):
For me, most are already gone.....
Four engine props and turboprops, first generation jets with their noise and REAL kero smell. Todays turbine fuel is a different blend than the 60's.
Everts Air in ANC still has a few DC-6s! (And some C-46s) Get up there while you can. NAC recently got rid of theirs.
I think the L-188 is still one of my favorite planes. Wish I had a chance to fly on one when Reeve was still around. I love that rounded nose.
Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife (YZF) in Canada's Northwest Territories still has a few DC-3s, DC-4s, C-46s and an L-188 hauling freight, and what must be one of the only DC-3s still operating a scheduled passenger service anywhere in the world, between YZF and YHY (Hay River).
25 BlueElephant: Definately think you should take the time to go there...It's called Gravelly Point Park. If you're at the Airport its literally a 10 minute walk / 3
26 Lufti5525: KAI TEK What memories.... Where all the true airline believers go after death....
27 RIX: Thanks, guys - who knows, may be I'll try one (or both) before it's too late...
28 DocLightning: I guarantee you that DTW and MSP have a lot more DC-9's than MIA.
29 Tommy767: TICKET JACKETS! I flew UA in november and I got one on the outbound from LAX but they didn't carry them anymore at EWR (how dare they.)
30 VH320: Take a flight to Quito, Ecuador in South America and book a short trip UIO-GYE-UIO in a 727 and enjoy an amazing takeoff and approach to Mariscal Sucr
31 Hatbutton: Unfortunately Everts is cargo. But ANC is an amazing place to spot. You can get really close to the ends of all the runways. So seeing a DC-6 come in
32 Txjim: I will never forget when AA brought a 747 to DAL for some event in the very early 70s. My parents took me down to see the thing and we were able to w
33 Txjim: I suppose we can add the ANC stopover as one of the departed air transport events. I was a very regular traveler on KE LAX/SEL flights and would occa
34 FAT5DEP: Add one more and that is the air stairs. Probably wont completely go away but I miss boarding the 727's that way at FAT. We had to be like everybody e
35 UltimateDelta: 1. YX 717s! Pretty soon it's gonna be all Embraers...
36 ThirtyEcho: On dateless Friday nights, a gaggle of us teenage boys would go hang out in the control tower cab late at night. I remember the cautious buzzing of th
37 Flyguy89: 1) Domestic complimentary in-flight meals. Continental could pull the plug at any time, but i'm hoping they'll be around to stay. 2) Not having a tick
38 Readytotaxi: How about as a 9 year old going to the cockpit before takeoff. Peter Pan time.
39 FlyMIA: So true, it is great hearing a 727 or DC-9 fly over my house. I remember watching AA last 727 flight leave to RDU over my house.
40 Baguy: Sadly I have only been in a cockpit twice. A BA ERJ145 5 years ago (to get my BA logbook signed) but the best was a VS 74(2 I think) in mid flight ov
41 DeltAirlines: This is already here - I've used it a couple of times at MSP. Check-in on my Blackberry and off I go - No Paper, No Problem!
42 WESTERN737800: The coach meal was a great thing. In 1989 I was about 12 on a DL732 Rapid City (RAP)- SLC, we got a good sandwich, chips, a cookie, and a coke. It was
43 HorizonGirl: That really is the best scent on this whole entire world. What I would give to see a Dash 7 again, not to mention get on one.. Devon
44 Tango-Bravo: Indeed. The "old" Delta was the best airline in the world, bar none -- both to fly with and to work for. Can also say that three of my co-workers of
45 StarAC17: True I was happy when I got breakfast on a 2 hour flight on QF from CNS-BNE. However on a 4.5 hr LAX-YYZ flight on AA I had to buy on board, although
46 BNE: I don't miss the paper ticket but I am going to miss the old boarding passes. Qantas still serve a meal on morning; lunch and dinner flights, you jus
48 Jeffry747: I already miss the sound of the mighty JT9-D at SDF. UPS retired its last 747 "Classic" in December. Gone are the thunderous, whining, LOUD takeoffs
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Don't miss that part 
I'm glad that modern airlines seem to contain toilet odor much better, and that smoking has been banned (for the most part) 
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