What Was Flying in the 1970s Really Like? A Journey From Ticket to Touchdown

Flying in the 1970s sits in a sweet spot in our collective memory. The jumbo jet had just arrived, cabins felt spacious and new, and a trip by air still felt like an event. But lists of “things airlines used to do” only tell part of the story. To understand what it was really like, it helps to follow a single trip from start to finish. Here is a step-by-step look at a typical journey in the 1970s, what has changed since, and how you can relive it today in Los Angeles.

If you would like the bigger picture of the era, including the 1950s and 1960s, start with our guide to the golden age of air travel. This article zooms in on the decade itself.

A decade of big changes

The 1970s opened with a new kind of airliner. The Boeing 747 entered service with Pan Am in 1970, and other wide-body jets followed in the next few years. For the first time, passengers flew in cabins with two aisles, high ceilings and, on the 747, a staircase leading to an upper deck. By the end of the decade, US airline deregulation in 1978 had begun to reshape the industry, opening the door to more competition and, eventually, lower fares. In between, flying looked and felt like nothing before or since.

Step 1: Booking your ticket

There were no websites or apps. Travelers booked by calling the airline, visiting a city ticket office or going through a travel agent, who would look up schedules and fares in printed guides and reservation systems. Tickets were printed on paper, often as a booklet of carbon-copy coupons, one for each leg of the trip. Losing that ticket was a real problem, so it was kept safely with your passport.

Fares in the United States were set by government regulators for most of the decade, so the price of a route was largely the same whichever airline you chose. That made the experience on board the main reason to pick one carrier over another.

Step 2: Getting dressed for the airport

Many travelers still dressed up to fly, especially on long or international trips. Jackets, ties, smart dresses and polished shoes were common sights in terminals, although the decade also brought more relaxed, colorful fashion. Our guide on how to dress for a retro 1970s flight experience covers the styles in detail.

Step 3: At the airport

At the beginning of the decade, many US airports had little or no passenger screening. That changed in early 1973, when screening of passengers and carry-on bags became standard. Even so, the airport experience was simpler than it is today. Friends and family could usually walk with you to the gate to say goodbye or wave you off at the window, and you checked in at a counter where an agent handled everything by hand, from your seat assignment to your baggage tags.

Step 4: Boarding and the cabin

Stepping onto a wide-body jet in the early 1970s was a thrill. The interiors were designed to show off the space: bold colors, patterned fabrics and wood-look panels were popular. Premium cabins had wide seats with generous legroom, and on many 747s the upper deck was used as a lounge or dining room for first-class passengers. Climbing the spiral staircase to get there was part of the adventure.

Flight attendants, then commonly called stewardesses and stewards, greeted passengers at the door in carefully designed uniforms. They were trained in safety first, but airlines also presented them as hosts and the public face of the brand.

Step 5: Smoking, seats and the cabin air

One of the biggest differences from today was smoking. During the 1970s, smoking on board was still permitted, typically in designated rows, but the smoke did not stay put, and the whole cabin shared the air. It is one part of the decade few people miss.

Step 6: Meals and drinks

Food was a highlight, particularly in first class on long flights. Meals could arrive in several courses, served on china with glassware and metal cutlery. Carving a roast from a trolley in the aisle, a cheese course and a dessert cart were all part of the show on many premium routes. Cocktails were mixed in the galley and served before dinner. In economy, the food was simpler, but a hot meal was common on longer flights.

Step 7: In-flight entertainment

There were no seat-back screens. On long flights, a film might be shown on a shared screen at the front of the cabin, with audio delivered through simple headsets plugged into the armrest, along with a few music channels. Many passengers simply read, played cards, wrote postcards or chatted with the people around them. The lounge areas on wide-body jets made that social side of flying part of the appeal.

Step 8: Landing and arrival

After landing, there was no phone to switch on. If someone was meeting you, they were usually waiting right at the gate. Many travelers kept souvenirs from the trip: a printed menu, a ticket jacket, a luggage tag or an airline postcard. Today, those keepsakes are collectors’ items.

What has changed since the 1970s

• Price and access. Flying is far more affordable and common today, so many more people can travel.
• Safety. Aircraft, training, navigation and air traffic control have all improved, and commercial flying is much safer.
• Smoke-free cabins. Smoking on flights has long since been banned on most airlines.
• Technology. Online booking, mobile boarding passes, personal screens and Wi-Fi have replaced paper coupons and shared film screens.
• Service. Multi-course meals carved in the aisle are now rare, even in many premium cabins.

How to experience 1970s flying today

You cannot book a 1970s flight anymore, but you can step into one. The Pan Am Experience recreates a 1970s-style Pan Am “flight” and dinner aboard a detailed Boeing 747 interior at Air Hollywood, the aviation-themed film studio in the Los Angeles area. The cabins are restored to Pan Am’s original décor, with authentic china and glassware and a crew in original-style uniforms.

The evening follows many of the steps above. You check in at the First & Clipper class desk and receive a 70s-style boarding pass, ticket jacket and carry-on tags. You can relax in the Clipper Club lounge among vintage Pan Am memorabilia before boarding “Clipper Juan T. Trippe”, named in tribute to Pan Am’s first Boeing 747. Stewardesses welcome you with a cocktail, perform an in-flight safety demonstration and serve a gourmet five-course meal, with Chateaubriand carved from the trolley and a closing dessert cart. Entertainment can include music, fashion shows and a trivia contest, and you take home keepsakes such as your menu, boarding pass, luggage tag and postcards.

The best part? It keeps the charm and leaves out the rest. The aircraft never leaves the ground, and there is no smoking; any cigarettes you may see in photos are props. Main Deck passengers relax in Sleeperette seats for a quiet dinner, while Upper Deck passengers climb the winding staircase for a more social evening, just like the lounge days of the original 747.

The experience is also available for private events, with seated dinners for up to 48 guests aboard the 747, which makes it a memorable setting for a 1970s-themed birthday, anniversary or company night out.

Frequently asked questions

What was different about flying in the 1970s?

Flights were booked by phone or through travel agents with paper tickets, wide-body jets like the Boeing 747 were brand new, smoking was allowed on board, and premium cabins offered multi-course meals and lounges. Fares were also higher and regulated in the US for most of the decade.

Could you smoke on planes in the 1970s?

Yes. Smoking was permitted on most flights during the 1970s, usually in designated rows. Smoking has since been banned on most airlines.

Was there airport security in the 1970s?

Screening was minimal at the start of the decade. In the United States, screening of passengers and carry-on bags became standard in early 1973, although airports remained much simpler than today.

Where can I experience a 1970s flight in Los Angeles?

The Pan Am Experience at Air Hollywood, 27615 Avenue Hopkins, Valencia, CA 91355, recreates a 1970s Pan Am 747 dinner flight on the ground, from check-in and the Clipper Club lounge to a five-course meal served by uniformed stewardesses.

Take a trip back to the 1970s

Flying in the 1970s was a mix of glamour and quirks, and that is exactly what makes it fun to revisit. Ready to board? Check upcoming Pan Am Experience flight dates (tickets are non-refundable, but you can gift your seats to someone else), browse our frequently asked questions, or call 818-890-0444 with any questions.