Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Airlines + Airports
  3. 12 Photos That Make Us Miss the Golden Age of Flying

12 Photos That Make Us Miss the Golden Age of Flying

By Jordi Lippe and Jordi Lippe-McGraw
May 10, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway
With so many complaints about airlines today from baggage fees to limited in-flight service, it seems nearly impossible to imagine a time where flying was luxurious. But in honor of Scandinavian Airlines’ 70th anniversary, the company has released select images showing off the Golden Age of plane travel.

Taken in the 1950s through 1980s, these photos reveal the lengths they would go to provide a fine dining experience—a far cry from the microwave meals we have today. The pictures show smiling guests as they are greeted by flight attendants who are carting everything from caviar and lobster to a whole leg of carved ham.

The cabin crew is seen using real knives, clearly a sign that these flights were before the days of constant security threats. And there would even be a chef in formal garb, down to the toques, preparing a seafood platter for the passengers.

Other features of this nostalgic time included the use of porcelain teacups, and guests were offered a wide variety of drinks including beer, wine, and champagne to complement their trips. In addition, many of these photos were taken before there were different classes on the airplanes, so everyone got the royal treatment.

Menu items (yes they had menus) at that time featured things like consommé, roast chicken, crepes with mushrooms and bacon, and Bavarian cream with rum.

More images are set to be released closer to the anniversary, but take a look through these incredible images of the Golden Age of flying in the meantime. 
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Typical Meal

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Meals of the Golden Age barely resemble today's food service.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Top-Notch Service

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

While cabin crews today are quite lovely, these flight attendants were tasked with creating a luxurious experience for every passenger.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Onboard Sommelier

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Not only did you get your choice of beverage, but there was an in-flight sommelier to make sure you chose the best wine, too.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Waiter Service

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Passengers were served by waiters in white coats like in any high-end restaurant.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Entering the Modern Era

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

By the 1980s economy class had been established and resembled what we might find today—though there are still pretty hefty portions on those plates.

5 of 12

6 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

In-Flight Delicacies 

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Caviar was just one of the many things offered on flights in the 1980s.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Fresh Fruit

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Passengers had their choice of fresh fruits to munch on.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Complimentary Perks

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Champagne was a given when it came to beverage service.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Seafood Cart

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

A seafood platter including whole lobster was rolled through the cabin.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chef Service

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

An actual chef would be on board to prep your meal during the Golden Age.

10 of 12

11 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Luxurious Economy

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

A typical economy meal in the 1970s would feature prawns and smoked salmon.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Dressed to Fly

Credit: © SAS Museum/Courtesy of The SAS Museum Oslo airport Norway

Not a time for sweatpants or pjamas, the folks traveling in the Golden Age would get dressed for their flight.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jordi Lippe and Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 12 A Typical Meal
2 of 12 Top-Notch Service
3 of 12 Onboard Sommelier
4 of 12 Waiter Service
5 of 12 Entering the Modern Era
6 of 12 In-Flight Delicacies 
7 of 12 Fresh Fruit
8 of 12 Complimentary Perks
9 of 12 Seafood Cart
10 of 12 Chef Service
11 of 12 Luxurious Economy
12 of 12 Dressed to Fly

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

12 Photos That Make Us Miss the Golden Age of Flying
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.