THE AIRLINES' GOLDEN AGE wasn't so golden. “Americans today want flying to mirror the image in their heads of the glory days of air travel.... [Y]ou probably envision smartly dressed businessmen reclining in big, comfy seats and enjoying elaborate meals. Meanwhile, attractive young stewardesses fawn[ed] over their customers -- the legendary ‘coffee, tea or me’ days. Those days weren't, however, as glamorous as you might imagine.”

No, they weren’t. And back then, if you weren’t flying on business, you weren’t flying.