<strong>Fun times: </strong>This gallery of aviation photos seems to show flying was more fun before in-flight movies. But was it really, or were French guidebooks just way, way more hilarious back in the day?
Fun times: This gallery of aviation photos seems to show flying was more fun before in-flight movies. But was it really, or were French guidebooks just way, way more hilarious back in the day?
Boeing Historical Archives
<strong>Young fliers: </strong>Entertaining the kids? No problem when the highly trained captain is on hand to put on a puppet show. No doubt such multi-tasking helped save money for other areas, such as jazzy curtains.
Young fliers: Entertaining the kids? No problem when the highly trained captain is on hand to put on a puppet show. No doubt such multi-tasking helped save money for other areas, such as jazzy curtains.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Card castle: </strong>Could be a PR stunt to demonstrate the smoothness of new high-flying jets. Could be a way to stop junior from kicking the table.
Card castle: Could be a PR stunt to demonstrate the smoothness of new high-flying jets. Could be a way to stop junior from kicking the table.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Down a rabbit hole: </strong>Today's passengers can immerse themselves in a real-life "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" thanks to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2017%2F07%2F29%2Fnews%2Fcompanies%2Ffaa-airline-seat-sizes%2Findex.html">incredible shrinking airline seats</a>.
Down a rabbit hole: Today's passengers can immerse themselves in a real-life "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" thanks to incredible shrinking airline seats.
Boeing Historical Archive
<strong>In stitches: </strong>Knitting always provided wholesome entertainment and was useful -- you could knock up your own window blind on a long haul flight. The needles wouldn't be allowed these days, although they're not as sharp as this man's suit.
In stitches: Knitting always provided wholesome entertainment and was useful -- you could knock up your own window blind on a long haul flight. The needles wouldn't be allowed these days, although they're not as sharp as this man's suit.
Boeing Historical Archives
<strong>Card sharps: </strong>Either Graybeard is mansplaining the rules of Poker, or he's been caught in an elaborate sting as the woman in the blue dress signals his hand to her fellow hustler.
Card sharps: Either Graybeard is mansplaining the rules of Poker, or he's been caught in an elaborate sting as the woman in the blue dress signals his hand to her fellow hustler.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Lounge bar:</strong> The photographer probably wasn't the only one struggling to focus after the drinks tray had swung by a couple of times.
Lounge bar: The photographer probably wasn't the only one struggling to focus after the drinks tray had swung by a couple of times.
Boeing Historical Archives
<strong>Balancing act: </strong>A glass bottle, a stack of flammable matches and burning cigarette -- not to mention the combustible hairspray holding up mom's blow-dry. No wonder dad's lost interest in his thriller.
Balancing act: A glass bottle, a stack of flammable matches and burning cigarette -- not to mention the combustible hairspray holding up mom's blow-dry. No wonder dad's lost interest in his thriller.
British Airways/Colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>Chow time: </strong>The food wasn't any better, but meal times could be livened up by serving coffee to the kids.
Chow time: The food wasn't any better, but meal times could be livened up by serving coffee to the kids.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Waiting games: </strong>What's more fun than playing Solitaire while the plane is still on the ground? Watching someone play Solitaire while the plane's still on the ground, that's what.
Waiting games: What's more fun than playing Solitaire while the plane is still on the ground? Watching someone play Solitaire while the plane's still on the ground, that's what.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Business travel:</strong> "First one to blink has to deliver the layoffs announcement when we land in St. Louis."
Business travel: "First one to blink has to deliver the layoffs announcement when we land in St. Louis."
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Air amusement: </strong>Alec Baldwin in his pre-Trump days was a regular fixture in Business, rolling out his funny air steward character for anyone who would listen.
Air amusement: Alec Baldwin in his pre-Trump days was a regular fixture in Business, rolling out his funny air steward character for anyone who would listen.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Unusual eats: </strong>The colonel isn't the only one who deserves a medal if they're brave enough eat that.
Unusual eats: The colonel isn't the only one who deserves a medal if they're brave enough eat that.
AirlineRatings.com collection
<strong>Flat out: </strong>After the kid is tucked up in a lavish, fully-flat bed, mom can go to the ball.
Flat out: After the kid is tucked up in a lavish, fully-flat bed, mom can go to the ball.
British Airways/Colorized by Benoit Vienne
<strong>Reading material: </strong>Free magazines were a real highlight, although they were so well read some people chose to handle them with gloves for hygiene reasons.
Reading material: Free magazines were a real highlight, although they were so well read some people chose to handle them with gloves for hygiene reasons.
AirlineRatings.com collection