The golden age of air travel in pictures

A flight back in time

Long before budget airlines, intense security protocols, blockbuster in-flight movies and plastic tray tables for reheated in-flight meals, travelling by plane was a luxurious experience reserved for the wealthy and the socially connected. Fasten your seatbelts and join us for a trip back in time to when travelling by aeroplane was much more than just a means to an end.

Read on to see fascinating photos from the early days of flying...

1920s: the beginnings of air travel

The first scheduled passenger flight set off in 1914, flying between the US cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg in Florida. Commercial air travel didn't take off immediately, but by the 1920s more airlines began emerging. This image from August 1926 shows passengers on a runway, waiting to board a Handley Page W.9 biplane at Croydon Airport, England. From a safety point of view, it's hard to imagine being allowed to linger on the tarmac these days, as crew members refuel the plane.

1920s: a passenger compartment from the 1920s

Once upon a time those wanting to take to the skies had to put up with rather uncomfortable set-ups and not much in the way of safety equipment (aviation requirements for basic safety features, such as seat belts, were only enforced in 1972). This passenger compartment from a Farman F.60 Goliath transport biplane, considered the most important early European mode of transport, resembles an old school bus and reveals the bare interiors that many very early planes had. Think paper-thin windows, non-padded seating and rattling surroundings.

1920s: inside a Transcontinental Air Transport plane

Planes were simple and uninsulated metal cans, rendering them extremely cold, draughty and noisy. During flight, everything would shake violently, which wouldn't exactly make for a very relaxing journey. This image from 1929 shows a steward on a Transcontinental Air Transport flight unable to stand up straight. The pilots can also be seen via the see-through cabin doors – unimaginable today.

1920s: bed compartments of a German Junker aircraft

Not all planes were built the same, though. The German Junker aircraft, seen here sometime between 1915 and 1920, came equipped with leather seats, ample leg room and comfortable bed compartments. Generally, early planes could hold less than 20 passengers and would cruise at a mere 3,000 feet (914m) or less, making for a lot of turbulence. Airlines reasoned that with the right service and interior design, paying travellers would see past all the downsides.

1920s: a flight attendant serves drinks on a French Airliner service

In the early days, regulations were put in place to protect and promote the air travel industry. Price restrictions were enforced, making all journeys along the same routes the same price, no matter the airline. As more companies began offering their services, there was only one way to encourage passengers to travel with them – luxurious extras. This image from 1929 shows the comfortable set-up aboard a French Airliner service, with inviting seats and Champagne on demand.

1920s: an early German Deutsche Luft Hansa plane

This photograph was taken in the mid- to late-1920s and shows the inside of a German Deutsche Luft Hansa plane. On board, passengers were treated to ample leg room, as well as restaurant-style seating, crisp white tablecloths and full waiter service. Much like modern trains, luggage racks above the seats allowed those on board to store their belongings safely.

1920s: the Dornier Do X dining salon

The Dornier Do X – the largest and most powerful flying boat of its time – was another German innovation and looked more like a high-end gentleman's club than an aeroplane. Instead of rows upon rows of seats, the aircraft featured a lounge-like arrangement with sofas, coffee tables and gorgeous decor. This image, from around 1929, shows just how refined the Dornier Do X plane was. Set over three decks, it benefited from a smoking room, a dining salon (pictured) and seating for up to 66 passengers, which could be converted into sleeping berths at night.

1920s: the first ever in-flight movie

Before digital screens and a huge catalogue of movies for passengers to choose from, in-flight entertainment looked rather different too. This fascinating image was captured on 6 April 1925 and shows a group of men gathered around a single screen about to watch the first ever in-flight film. It's thought that one of the earliest films to be shown up high was The Lost World, a silent adventure movie adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 novel of the same name.

1920s: enjoying breakfast at 3,000 feet (914m)

In real stark contract to the onboard experience we know today, this image from 1928 shows a woman enjoying a lavish breakfast aboard a Deutsche Luft Hansa plane. From the food platter to silverware, floral centrepieces and huge windows allowing for jaw-dropping scenery, this journey would have been one the passengers never forgot.

1920s: passengers get weighed before their flight

In fact, the airport experience has changed drastically too. Forget high-tech check-in desks and digital boarding passes, because there was a time when arriving at the airport was a straightforward affair. Take this image, for example. Dating back to April 1929, it shows passengers checking in before the inaugural French Airliners flight. Amazingly, you can see one man being weighed. Weighing passengers was the norm, since early planes were small and had very strict load limits.

1930s: passengers climb aboard a plane at Croydon Airport, England

In the 1920s and 1930s, passengers could pretty much turn up at the airport and climb straight aboard their plane, without having to wait for hours in uncomfortable departure lounges. There were no portable staircases or passenger boarding bridges, because most early planes, like this one from 1930, were so low that people could simply step inside from the runway itself. Hopping aboard a plane was essentially the same as catching a bus.

1930s: crew members check bags before a flight to LA

Back in the day there were no see-through toiletry bags or full-body scanners either. This was basically the extent of customs measures when getting ready to fly. This image was taken in around 1930 and shows passengers of a plane from Mexico to Los Angeles having their items checked right in front of the plane itself.

1930s: the check-in desk at newly opened Gatwick Airport

As flying became more common, airports began offering more services for passengers. This photograph, taken in May 1936, is of the check-in desk at the newly opened Gatwick Airport near London. It started life as a small flyers club, offering comfort and amenities to passengers before their flights to Paris (the only regular route on offer back then). Some early airports, such as the Heston Aerodrome in West London, had a bar available for thirsty travellers.

1930s: an early plane with wicker seats

Initially, many planes – and flying boats – were kitted out with extremely basic interiors, like the simple wicker chairs pictured from around 1930. Of course, plush upholstery and comfortable seating followed as demand (and cost) eventually grew.

1930s: the comfortable seats of a Handley Page HP42

Aircraft interiors changed many times, as this image from circa 1931 shows. Pictured is a Handley Page HP42 London-Paris passenger plane, considered very luxurious and was said to have been styled to resemble Pullman railway carriages on the Orient Express, perhaps the most lavish train of all time. Inside, you'll spot candelabra wall sconces and highly decorative window dressings.

1930s: a plush Imperial Airways cabin

Commercial airlines did everything they could to make passengers feel comfortable. This Imperial Airways cabin had pillowy floral seats, ornate Art Deco wall panels and decorative trims. What's more, the vehicle's lavish service included seven-course meals and a stand-up bar on its regular route between Paris and London.

1930s: passengers aboard the Douglas DC-1

Even though the layout on this Transcontinental and Western Air Douglas DC-1 plane, in operation throughout the 1930s, is fairly similar to what we see today, it's clear that customer comfort quickly became a priority. Plane interiors went from confined and stripped back to luxuriously designed. This particular aircraft offered reclining seats, upholstered armrests and curtains at every window.

1930s: a flight attendant serves tea in bed

Other planes, like this KLM model from circa 1935, came equipped with basic beds that still offered plenty of comfort. Here, you can see a male flight attendant serving guests tea in bed. Dating back to 1919, KLM is one of the world's oldest airlines still offering flights today, although its planes have changed quite a lot since then.

1930s: ladies travelling on an Eastern Air Transport plane

This image truly captures the relaxed and luxurious experience that was air travel in the 1920s and 1930s. You can see a flight attendant serving high tea to a group of well-dressed ladies, journeying between Washington DC and New York on an Eastern Air Transport plane. From china cups and saucers to elegant seating, it was all about inviting air passengers to sit back and enjoy the ride.

1930s: chefs load up a plane with homemade treats

Some airlines also really focused on the food. During National Air Travel Week back in 1938, passengers travelling by Eastern Airlines were given a special treat – cakes baked by chefs from the leading hotels in Washington DC.

1930s: women in their finest attire wait to board a plane

These days, travellers tend to favour elasticated trousers, oversized jumpers and trainers when heading to the airport, but back in the glory days of air travel, nothing but your finest attire would do. This photograph was captured in January 1932 and shows a group of dressed-up women, waiting to board a Ludington Airlines plane. Of course, as flights became run-of-the-mill, the need for formal attire all but disappeared.

1930s: passengers listen to a broadcast aboard a flight

Airlines also considered not only the comfort of their passengers but also came up with more creative ways to entertain. Some, like this aeroplane from 1931, invited its passengers to listen to the radio during their journey. This particular image shows travellers listening to the annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities, the first of which took place in June 1829. Perhaps this was the first time airline customers were given a complimentary pair of headphones...

Early 1940s: passengers on board the Junkers G.38 plane

Food and entertainment aside, planes improved structurally too. Many originally boasted square windows, but these soon caused issues. Due to the windows' sharp angles, planes were hit by enormous amounts of pressure, which caused some to literally fall to pieces mid-flight. So, from the 1940s onwards, all new planes were designed with round windows, to even out the pressure. At least this Junkers G.38 plane featured double glazing.

1940s: day cabins inside an Imperial Airways flying boat

You can see the use of round windows on board this Imperial Airways flying boat, most likely the Short Empire. Far from being cold and loud, planes in the 1930s were soundproofed and heated, making them much more comfortable. Planes could also fly much higher, 20,000 feet (6,096m) on average, which helped to reduce turbulence. Airlines continued to attract customers with their onboard offering and Imperial Airways opted for lounge-like day cabins, pillows and delicious food.

1940s: interior of a McDonnell Douglas DC-6

By the 1940s, many planes introduced cabin beds, like these ones on the McDonnell Douglas DC-6 from 1945. Like our assigned seats of today, passengers were given their own compartment for reading or sleeping. Each pod came with storage space, a privacy curtain and crisp bedding.

1940s: inside a Sikorsky S-40 flying boat

The Sikorsky S-40 flying boat was another lavish mode of transport, operating in the early 1930s for Pan American Airways. The vehicle was one of the first pressurised commercial transport aircrafts in the world and was introduced in 1938. Cabins were roomier and the seating was more creative. Some planes even had reclining seats or swivel chairs, not to mention tables, endless head height, wall art, hat racks and carpets. Here, passengers play cards are captured in the 1940s.

Late 1930s: the early days of Pan Am

Pan American Airways (later called Pan American World Airways) invested in 12 of these lavish flying boats between 1938 and 1941 and amazingly, they had the ability to travel 3,500 miles (5,632km), enabling them to cross both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The first one made its maiden transatlantic journey on 28 June 1939 and on board there was space for 74 passengers and 10 crew members. On overnight flights, the plane's seats would be turned into 40 bunks for sleeping.

1940s: Pan American Airlines' Boeing 314 Clipper sets off

In the early 20th century it was common for commercial airlines to also invest in seaplanes. This amazing image from April 1941 shows people waving their loved ones off from the seaplane base at LaGuardia Field, which is now LaGuardia Airport in New York City, one of the busiest airports in the world. The Pan American Airlines' Boeing 314 Clipper, also known as the Dixie Clipper, was one of the largest aircrafts at the time and the service onboard was reportedly of the highest standard.

1940s: inside the Boeing 314 flying boat

About 300 lbs (136kg) of food would have been loaded onto the Dixie Clipper for transatlantic flights, with all the in-flight meals being prepared by two stewards. This image is dated January 1943 and shows former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt celebrating his 61st birthday on board.

1940s: it wasn't cheap to fly aboard the Boeing 314

The plane was ornately decorated with plush materials, such as wood and brass. It even came equipped with a 50-foot-long (15m) main aisle and Art Deco finishes. Such luxury didn't come cheap and according to Simple Flying, a return ticket between New York City and Southampton, UK, would have set passengers back $675 (£515). In today's money, that's around $12,000 (£9,200). Here, you can see passengers doing a jigsaw and relaxing in truly plush surrounds.

1940s: a couple enjoys dinner aboard the Boeing 314

By the time the Second World War ended in 1945, flying boats were no longer necessary since concrete runways had been built to accommodate bombers and huge advancements had been made in aeroplane engineering. The last Dixie Clipper retired in 1946 after flying more than a million miles (1.6 million km) around the world and carrying hundreds of thousands of elite travellers. For many, the retirement of the Clipper was the end of the greatest era in aviation history.

1940s: the early days of Heathrow Airport

It isn't just plane interiors that changed. Long before Heathrow grew to become the UK's largest airport, as well as the busiest airport in Europe, it was nothing more than a tent in a field, kitted out with floral arrangements and garden furniture. This fascinating image was taken in 1946, when the airport first opened. Back then, military tents were used to provide basic facilities for passengers and check-in procedures were carried out on flimsy tables with fold-away chairs.

1940s: Boeing 307 Stratoliner's cocktail lounge

This incredible cocktail bar could be found inside the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, the world’s first high-altitude commercial airliner. Boeing built 10 Stratoliners and in 1940, the 307s began flying routes from Ireland to America. The planes could only accommodate 16 passengers at a time and because of their plush interiors, they became known as the 'flying cocktail lounge'. The Stratoliner was also the first aeroplane to have a flight engineer as a member of the crew.

1940s: the overnight intercontinental service onboard Boeing Stratocruiser

The overnight intercontinental service on the Boeing Stratocruiser was one of the finest options available to the fortunate few. The Stratocruiser's first flight was on 8 July 1947 and each vehicle was designed with the highest levels of comfort in mind. There was a total of 28 berths, as well as smaller upper compartments for those on a budget. The berths were exceptionally spacious, with enough room for two, as well as abundant headroom.

1940s: the communal lounge aboard a Boeing aeroplane

Far from being stuck in a cramped seat with intrusive neighbours, fold-out tray tables and hardly enough leg room for a toddler, early planes offered space and comfort in abundance. This image from circa 1945 shows passengers relaxing in the luxurious lounge of a Boeing aircraft.

1950s: guests relax in an onboard lounge compartment

By the 1950s, some plane interiors could be mistaken for private living rooms. This one, for example, could be found on an airliner designed by Henry Dreyfuss, the American industrial design pioneer. The image was captured in 1955 and shows the beautiful lounge compartment where the plane's lucky guests could relax in style.

1950s: the Sky-Cot aboard a British Overseas Airways Corporation flight

In fact, even youngsters were treated like royalty in the early days of flying. On this British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flight from 1954, you could find specially designed 'Sky-Cots', which clipped to the baggage rack above the plane's seats. Apparently, BOAC was the first to introduce the device on its aircrafts and it allowed children to sleep comfortably during the journey.

1950s: a movie projector on a United Airlines flight

The concept of in-flight entertainment had also moved on and became pretty standardised in the 1960s. Before then, customers on some routes were treated to live music or performances from professional singers. Otherwise, a simple book would suffice. This image, from around 1950, shows cabin crew attempting to set up a movie projector on a United Airlines flight. As you can see, there's barely enough room for the staff and the equipment.

1960s: inflight entertainment in full swing

Huge developments took place and while air travel slowly became less glamorous in the following decades, there were plenty of modern upgrades. The 1960s arrived with economy seating on most commercial flights and passengers were given the choice of high-end plane tickets, or cheaper, more affordable seating. What's more, movies were displayed on one screen at the front of the plane, whether passengers wanted to watch it or not. Those who were interested could listen to the audio through poor-quality headphones. It wasn't until 1988 when modern seatback screens were introduced by Dutch company Airvision, when on-demand movies were at the passengers' disposal.

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