Ord From United States, joined Jul 1999, 1315 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 6047 times:
Quoting Khobar (Reply 2): Did you notice the 2x4x2 seating, even in 1982?
I think the date of the commercial is wrong. United, like nearly every other airline with DC-10s and L-1011s, changed from 2-4-2 seating to 2-5-2 around 1978. By 1982 United did not have 2-4-2 seating on their DC-10s.
Ord From United States, joined Jul 1999, 1315 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 5872 times:
Quoting USADreamliner (Reply 5): the first commercial is from 1971, the second from 1982.
In the second commercial, it looks like the seating is 2-4-2. My point was if that's the case, then the date is wrong. The commercial would have been earlier than 1982. United switched thier DC-10s to 2-5-2 around 1978.
WA707atMSP From United States, joined Oct 2006, 1066 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 5777 times:
When the DC-10, L-1011, and 747 went into service, they were so much bigger than the 707s and DC-8s they replaced that the airlines had a very hard time filling up all their seats.
Most of the US airlines took out seats that would otherwise have been empty, and put in lounges, in hopes of getting passengers to fly the wide body aircraft because they were more comfortable. I think AA's DC-10s at one point had just 208 seats, with the remaining space filled with lounges.
Most airlines replaced their lounges with seats by the mid-1970s, then went from 2x4x2 to 2x5x2 on their DC-10s and L-1011s, and from 3x3x3 to 3x4x3 on their 747s, in 1978/1979.
Tjwgrr From United States, joined Mar 2000, 1829 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 5711 times:
Cool- that's Dr. Kelly Brackett in the 1971 commercial. He must have been moon-lighting for United when he wasn't at Rampart with Dixie and Dr. Joe Early
Direct KNOBS, maintain 2700' until established on the localizer, cleared ILS runway 26 left approach.
Why is this so hard to believe? They are only 3rd behind AA and AF/KL in system traffic today. If AF and KL had not merged they would still probably be number two in the world today.
Pacifica From Canada, joined May 2006, 147 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 5553 times:
Quoting Junction (Reply 9): Why is this so hard to believe? They are only 3rd behind AA and AF/KL in system traffic today. If AF and KL had not merged they would still probably be number two in the world today.
Actually I think he's laughing at the fact United is, at least in my opinion, poking fun at the Soviets since this commercial aired during the cold war or shortly after? Hence, United is the largest airline in the 'free world', just another pro-american way of thinking to help build patriotism at the time and find any way to knock at the Russians. I could be way off, but I found it humorous nonetheless.
Junction From United States, joined Mar 2005, 609 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 5539 times:
Quoting Pacifica (Reply 10): United is the largest airline in the 'free world'
Now I get it. You're right. Aeroflot would have of course been the largest airline in the world then, so UA would have had to disclaim it by saying "free world". That is a term I haven’t heard in a long time.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 10807 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 5326 times:
Quoting Ord (Reply 3): Quoting Khobar (Reply 2):
Did you notice the 2x4x2 seating, even in 1982?
I think the date of the commercial is wrong. United, like nearly every other airline with DC-10s and L-1011s, changed from 2-4-2 seating to 2-5-2 around 1978. By 1982 United did not have 2-4-2 seating on their DC-10s.
I agree with you. I'm sure that 2nd commercial is older than 1982. I can't recall any DC-10s or L-1011's that late still with 8-abreast Y class seating (or 747s with the original 9-abreast). Most early 747s were converted from 9 to 10 abreast in the mid-1970s.
EWRCabincrew From Canada, joined May 2006, 5347 posts, RR: 60 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 5210 times:
Quoting N702ML (Reply 4): Well, here is an ad for Continental Airlines bringing the pub back in 1983....
The specifications say the pub is 308 square feet. That had to be a good amount of the cabin used in post-deregulation days.
Our pub was onboard our DC-10-10 aircraft. Located at the door 2 area. It had a bar, 4 bar stools, a booth for seating of 4 and another row for a seating of 4, as well. It was, in a word, awesome. The bar was an extension of the first class galley. It is SORELY missed. Big time.
SASDC8 From Norway, joined Mar 2006, 355 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 3866 times:
Quoting EWRCabincrew (Reply 13): Our pub was onboard our DC-10-10 aircraft. Located at the door 2 area. It had a bar, 4 bar stools, a booth for seating of 4 and another row for a seating of 4, as well. It was, in a word, awesome. The bar was an extension of the first class galley. It is SORELY missed. Big time.
What can I say, it sounds great I am truly sadden by the fact that I was to young, back then, to experience the greatest era in aviation
DL021 From United States, joined May 2004, 11075 posts, RR: 97 Reply 15, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 3341 times:
It's entirely possible that the commercial producers used stock footage and we're discussing accuracy from the media. I'd lay odds that the producers couldn't have told the difference between a DC-10 and an L-1011.
Quoting Pacifica (Reply 10): Actually I think he's laughing at the fact United is, at least in my opinion, poking fun at the Soviets since this commercial aired during the cold war or shortly after? Hence, United is the largest airline in the 'free world', just another pro-american way of thinking to help build patriotism at the time and find any way to knock at the Russians. I could be way off, but I found it humorous nonetheless.
Well, to be fair, it was during the height of the cold war and the majority of ticket purchasers were children of the atom or veterans of WWII and Korea.....the term "free world" was a legitimate one. No one could accurately describe life behind the iron curtain as free. If you do, then please take a trip to Berlin and look at the remnants of the Wall.
You may find it humorous, but it was a fact of life then. It's possibly anachronistic to some now, since only one third of the world lives under the thumb of tyranny of one sort or another, but there you go. Different strokes.
Ord From United States, joined Jul 1999, 1315 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2930 times:
Quoting DL021 (Reply 15): It's entirely possible that the commercial producers used stock footage and we're discussing accuracy from the media.
A good thought, but it is not stock footage of a DC-10. The flight attendant is visible in the entire scene, meaning the commercial was filmed "new" and had to be from the 1970s, not 1982.
AeroWesty From United States, joined Oct 2004, 15634 posts, RR: 66 Reply 17, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2794 times:
United should really bring back the old Friendship/Fly The Friendly Skies themes. Yeah, they were kind of Mary Tyler Moore-ish, but retro is IN!
USADreamliner From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2685 times:
Quoting Junction (Reply 9): Why is this so hard to believe? They are only 3rd behind AA and AF/KL in system traffic today. If AF and KL had not merged they would still probably be number two in the world today.
Rsmith6621a From United States, joined Aug 2005, 149 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2528 times:
It really a tragedy that the CEOs of the airlines of today have made bad decisions and have robbed the MORAL of those who are the first impression the customers see........If there wasn't so much upstairs office GREED we could still have service on our U.S. flights equal to that of the 80s....bad meal or not
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1512 times:
Quoting Pacifica (Reply 10): Actually I think he's laughing at the fact United is, at least in my opinion, poking fun at the Soviets since this commercial aired during the cold war or shortly after? Hence, United is the largest airline in the 'free world', just another pro-american way of thinking to help build patriotism at the time and find any way to knock at the Russians. I could be way off, but I found it humorous nonetheless.
I doubt it was anything that cyncical - UA would loved to have said "the largest airline in the world", except they weren't - that was Aeroflot - SU was the biggest airline by every imaginable measure, in those days.
Riyadhnurse From United States, joined Apr 2006, 99 posts, RR: 6 Reply 22, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1440 times:
That was a nice stroll down "memory lane". I was hoping to see Johnny & Roy,along with Nurse Dixie and Dr, Joe Early.Sad, that those carefree times are gone. Yes,Virginia,there was flight service back in the day. It's also been rumored,that most pax's conducted themselves with manners & decorum.
Tongue-tied and twisted,just an earthbound misfit,I.
LongHauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 1823 posts, RR: 21 Reply 23, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 915 times:
Quoting Rsmith6621a (Reply 19): ........If there wasn't so much upstairs office GREED we could still have service on our U.S. flights equal to that of the 80s....bad meal or not
It is supply and demand.
If the fares are regulated, and they were, then service, schedule and comfort are the only variables. Airlines competed with service, as that was the only thing they could vary.
Today, fares are not regulated, and time and time again, people choose an airline by fare, and little else. When that happens you get just that ... a cheap flight ... and little else. Airlines are just giving people what they want.
Now ... if you regulated fares again, say double the cheapest advanced purchase fare. Service would be what airlines use to compete. Back would come leg room, meals, coach lounges, happy employees, etc etc etc.
So, you tell me .. which economic model is better?
On average, more people are killed yearly by falling coconuts (150), than by sharks (10).
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United States, joined Jan 2006, 246 posts, 
From Canada, joined May 2006, 147 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 10807 posts, 
From Norway, joined Mar 2006, 355 posts, 
I am truly sadden by the fact that I was to young, back then, to experience the greatest era in aviation 
Printer friendly format 
