- [Waiter] Excuse me, ma'am, you had the lobster?
- [Waiter] Excuse me, ma'am, you had the lobster?

- Ah, yes.
- Ah, yes.

- [Waiter] Some champagne?
- [Waiter] Some champagne?

- Yes, please.
- Yes, please.

- [Waiter] Peanuts?
- [Waiter] Peanuts?

- Peanuts?
- Peanuts?

(baby crying)
(baby crying)

- Where's my lobster?
- Where's my lobster?

- [Pilot] Ladies and gentleman,
- [Pilot] Ladies and gentleman,

this is your captain speaking.
this is your captain speaking.

We just wanna thank you for arriving at the airport
We just wanna thank you for arriving at the airport

two hours before your flight
two hours before your flight

and enduring all those long lines.
and enduring all those long lines.

You'll be pleased to know we've already
You'll be pleased to know we've already

charged your credit card
charged your credit card

for that awful turkey sandwich you ordered,
for that awful turkey sandwich you ordered,

but don't worry about the peanuts, those are on the house.
but don't worry about the peanuts, those are on the house.

- I'll take 'em.
- I'll take 'em.

- Flying wasn't always the headache it is today.
- Flying wasn't always the headache it is today.

Airlines used to look more like cocktail parties,
Airlines used to look more like cocktail parties,

where everyone dressed up.
where everyone dressed up.

Three course meals were served
Three course meals were served

and you walked off the plane with travel bags,
and you walked off the plane with travel bags,

filled with toothpaste, deodorant and other life essentials.
filled with toothpaste, deodorant and other life essentials.

- Why did it change?
- Why did it change?

To answer that we'll need to take a trip
To answer that we'll need to take a trip

through history, economics, and politics.
through history, economics, and politics.

So fasten your seat belts and prepare for takeoff.
So fasten your seat belts and prepare for takeoff.

(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)

- Flying didn't become popular
- Flying didn't become popular

until what many call the golden age of aviation.
until what many call the golden age of aviation.

There's no clear consensus on when this began.
There's no clear consensus on when this began.

Some historians date it back to the 1930s or even earlier.
Some historians date it back to the 1930s or even earlier.

While others think it started in the late fifties,
While others think it started in the late fifties,

when jets were integrated into the market.
when jets were integrated into the market.

Regardless of its origins,
Regardless of its origins,

passengers during this time were treated like royalty.
passengers during this time were treated like royalty.

Meals included dishes such as smoked salmon and caviar.
Meals included dishes such as smoked salmon and caviar.

Drink offerings ranged from fancy cocktails to French wines.
Drink offerings ranged from fancy cocktails to French wines.

Some planes even had a winding staircases
Some planes even had a winding staircases

into separate rooms.
into separate rooms.

It was like a better version of first-class
It was like a better version of first-class

except pretty much everyone was first class.
except pretty much everyone was first class.

- As far back as 1938, most domestic flights in America
- As far back as 1938, most domestic flights in America

were regulated by the government.
were regulated by the government.

They had control over fares, routes, schedules,
They had control over fares, routes, schedules,

investigations, certifications,
investigations, certifications,

market entry of new airlines.
market entry of new airlines.

So pretty much everything.
So pretty much everything.

But with federal regulation came a lot of turbulence.
But with federal regulation came a lot of turbulence.

One of the biggest problems during this time was cost.
One of the biggest problems during this time was cost.

The government wanted to make sure airlines made more
The government wanted to make sure airlines made more

than enough money.
than enough money.

So unless it was a short trip,
So unless it was a short trip,

you could expect some pretty outrageous prices.
you could expect some pretty outrageous prices.

- How much exactly?
- How much exactly?

To give you an idea, a flight from Los Angeles to New York
To give you an idea, a flight from Los Angeles to New York

in June of 1959 costs about $170.
in June of 1959 costs about $170.

Sounds like a deal, right?
Sounds like a deal, right?

Not if you adjust for inflation.
Not if you adjust for inflation.

In 2021 dollars, that comes out to over $1,500.
In 2021 dollars, that comes out to over $1,500.

No wonder the service was so great.
No wonder the service was so great.

They were desperately trying to get people to dish out
They were desperately trying to get people to dish out

what, back then, was a good chunk of their income.
what, back then, was a good chunk of their income.

- Unfortunately, high cost wasn't the only problem.
- Unfortunately, high cost wasn't the only problem.

It also took longer to reach your destination.
It also took longer to reach your destination.

These days you can fly cross country direct
These days you can fly cross country direct

or at worst a stop or two.
or at worst a stop or two.

But back then, one cross country trip
But back then, one cross country trip

could have as many as five layovers.
could have as many as five layovers.

That could double your travel time.
That could double your travel time.

- And if you missed your flight,
- And if you missed your flight,

you probably couldn't catch another one until the next day
you probably couldn't catch another one until the next day

or even the following week.
or even the following week.

Fewer flights existed back then,
Fewer flights existed back then,

and airlines had to apply for new routes,
and airlines had to apply for new routes,

which in some cases took years to get approved.
which in some cases took years to get approved.

If they got approved at all.
If they got approved at all.

On top of that, you had to deal with passengers smoking.
On top of that, you had to deal with passengers smoking.

Something that wasn't completely outlawed
Something that wasn't completely outlawed

until the year 2000.
until the year 2000.

Planes also tended to be much louder back then,
Planes also tended to be much louder back then,

and many weren't able to fly over extreme weather.
and many weren't able to fly over extreme weather.

So it wasn't uncommon for turbulence
So it wasn't uncommon for turbulence

to cause broken glass, injuries and air sickness.
to cause broken glass, injuries and air sickness.

- Safety was another major concern.
- Safety was another major concern.

Today it's incredibly rare
Today it's incredibly rare

for a commercial airline to crash.
for a commercial airline to crash.

Back then it happened half a dozen times a year.
Back then it happened half a dozen times a year.

And in some years, hijackings happened on a weekly basis.
And in some years, hijackings happened on a weekly basis.

- Thankfully in the 1970s, politicians said
- Thankfully in the 1970s, politicians said

enough is enough.
enough is enough.

The recent bankruptcy of the heavily regulated railroads
The recent bankruptcy of the heavily regulated railroads

convinced Congress of what economists
convinced Congress of what economists

had been seeing for decades,
had been seeing for decades,

that it was the regulation itself
that it was the regulation itself

causing higher costs and inefficiencies.
causing higher costs and inefficiencies.

- The Carter administration finally agreed
- The Carter administration finally agreed

that everyone would benefit from new players in the market,
that everyone would benefit from new players in the market,

less control over routes,
less control over routes,

and the abolishment of price regulations.
and the abolishment of price regulations.

But this didn't sit well with the airlines
But this didn't sit well with the airlines

since it meant their income wouldn't be guaranteed.
since it meant their income wouldn't be guaranteed.

- But their plea to maintain the rigid status quo
- But their plea to maintain the rigid status quo

was unconvincing.
was unconvincing.

And in 1978, the government began its departure
And in 1978, the government began its departure

out of the airline industry.
out of the airline industry.

Well, aside from safety inspections and air traffic control,
Well, aside from safety inspections and air traffic control,

which it still handles to this day.
which it still handles to this day.

- As expected deregulation led to competition
- As expected deregulation led to competition

in the marketplace,
in the marketplace,

which naturally led to lower costs
which naturally led to lower costs

since everyone was competing for customers.
since everyone was competing for customers.

Plane tickets, including fees, dropped by 50%
Plane tickets, including fees, dropped by 50%

between 1979 and 2011.
between 1979 and 2011.

Causing the number of passengers to triple,
Causing the number of passengers to triple,

which is great for fliers, not so much for the airlines.
which is great for fliers, not so much for the airlines.

Eight major carriers and over 100 smaller ones
Eight major carriers and over 100 smaller ones

went bankrupt or were liquidated by 2001.
went bankrupt or were liquidated by 2001.

And the ones who survived has struggled to be profitable.
And the ones who survived has struggled to be profitable.

Sometimes even requiring government bailouts.
Sometimes even requiring government bailouts.

- They've tried to make it up in fees.
- They've tried to make it up in fees.

Perhaps you've noticed there are fees for
Perhaps you've noticed there are fees for

everything these days from checking bags
everything these days from checking bags

to changing your flight.
to changing your flight.

This has become a multi-billion dollars side hustle
This has become a multi-billion dollars side hustle

for airlines, but unfortunately for them,
for airlines, but unfortunately for them,

it hasn't been enough.
it hasn't been enough.

The airlines still see thin profit margins,
The airlines still see thin profit margins,

in the years they come out ahead at all.
in the years they come out ahead at all.

- And that's why the amazing service of the golden age
- And that's why the amazing service of the golden age

has declined.
has declined.

Airlines simply don't have the funds
Airlines simply don't have the funds

or incentives to lavish passengers in luxury.
or incentives to lavish passengers in luxury.

But now the costs are so low,
But now the costs are so low,

a lot more people can travel.
a lot more people can travel.

Which has led to crowded airports,
Which has led to crowded airports,

long lines and sitting closer to strangers
long lines and sitting closer to strangers

than any of us would prefer.
than any of us would prefer.

This is the complete opposite of the golden age.
This is the complete opposite of the golden age.

When planes used to be much less packed
When planes used to be much less packed

since only the wealthy could afford it.
since only the wealthy could afford it.

Now you're lucky if this seat next to you is even empty.
Now you're lucky if this seat next to you is even empty.

- Seat pitches have also shrunk over the years.
- Seat pitches have also shrunk over the years.

This is the distance between your seat
This is the distance between your seat

and the seat in front of you.
and the seat in front of you.

It has decreased by four to seven inches in an effort
It has decreased by four to seven inches in an effort

to fit more people on the plane.
to fit more people on the plane.

Goodbye leg room.
Goodbye leg room.

- If you really want to return to the golden age service
- If you really want to return to the golden age service

of the past, you could always fly first class.
of the past, you could always fly first class.

You'll just have to pay golden age prices.
You'll just have to pay golden age prices.

But there are ways around this.
But there are ways around this.

If you try to upgrade a coach ticket to first class
If you try to upgrade a coach ticket to first class

the day of your flight, they might offer you discounts,
the day of your flight, they might offer you discounts,

or you could buy a coach ticket
or you could buy a coach ticket

and use frequent flyer points to cover
and use frequent flyer points to cover

a first class upgrade.
a first class upgrade.

- As we begin our final descent on this episode,
- As we begin our final descent on this episode,

we just wanna say, we get it.
we just wanna say, we get it.

Modern air travel is a drag.
Modern air travel is a drag.

No one wants to arrive at an airport two hours early,
No one wants to arrive at an airport two hours early,

wait in line and sit in uncomfortable seats, eating peanuts.
wait in line and sit in uncomfortable seats, eating peanuts.

That makes it easy to long for the past.
That makes it easy to long for the past.

But don't forget that the past had problems too.
But don't forget that the past had problems too.

From costly fairs to excessive layovers,
From costly fairs to excessive layovers,

to the increased chance of dying in a fiery crash.
to the increased chance of dying in a fiery crash.

- That's quite a perk .
- That's quite a perk .

While we lost fancy cocktails and food served on real China,
While we lost fancy cocktails and food served on real China,

we gained safer, quicker, more affordable air travel
we gained safer, quicker, more affordable air travel

with wifi.
with wifi.

Don't take it for granted.
Don't take it for granted.

- And that's our 2 cents.
- And that's our 2 cents.

Have you ever wondered what makes words, well, words?
Have you ever wondered what makes words, well, words?

Other Words, PBS' newest show about language
Other Words, PBS' newest show about language

and linguistics, has you covered.
and linguistics, has you covered.

- From determining the origins of language
- From determining the origins of language

to whether or not computers can actually talk.
to whether or not computers can actually talk.

Other Words, dives into languages around the world
Other Words, dives into languages around the world

to uncover the fascinating, unexpected,
to uncover the fascinating, unexpected,

and sometimes weird stories behind the human trait
and sometimes weird stories behind the human trait

we all take for granted.
we all take for granted.

Check it out on Storied and be sure to let them know
Check it out on Storied and be sure to let them know

that Two Cents sent you.
that Two Cents sent you.

(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)