Extinct Airline Perks

[flopnfly]

How much did that pillow cost?

Thanks to increasing competition among airlines battling staycations - the stay-at-home travel trend that's left plane seats empty - air fares are cheaper now than they have been in years.

However, costly extras, from inflight meals to pillows, often drive up costs to passengers and are no doubt an unpleasant surprise for travellers who used to enjoy these comforts for free.

Travel website CheapFlights.ca has compiled a list of 10 perks you'll certainly have trouble finding on planes these days:

1. Smoking. When could we ever smoke on flights?

2. A hard candy before take-off and landing. To protect the ears. Anyone remember a heart-shaped chocolate on Valentine's Day?

3. Peanuts! One of the first instalments of the inflight service. A small packet of peanuts and a drink just after take off.

4. A smile from the flight attendants. Bit unfair?

5. Free food and drink. We remember when you could enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine at your seat.

6. Baggage allowance. Now we pay to check luggage on some airlines.

7. Meet and greet the captain. A tour of the cockpit was a dream come true for tiny travellers.

8. Free branded merchandise - labels, stickers, a toy plane.

9. Legroom. Used to be ample, before airlines started squeezing more seats on to aircraft.

10. Headsets, used to be complimentary, now pony up a couple of bucks for them.

[travelchick]

 

[Bulldog]

Ahhhh the good old days 

[Gambitt]

1. Smoking. When could we ever smoke on flights?

1979 The "upper deck" on on a 747 was the "smoking area".  It got so bad that the pilot had to post a Steward at the bottom of the stairs, because the plane was getting "top heavy" and hard to fly  (Hello, take a hint today... charge a premium)

1979  Flying back on Lufthansa, I spent most of the trip home in the cockpit, due to turbulents.