Times sure have changed

[Aloha]

I never really flew much but I do remember when you could smoke aboard the airplane and they served the meal with METAL utensils.  Here are a couple from AA. 

[jzmtl]

And I took my SAK onboard not that long ago too.

[kirk13]

Sorry smokers,but I think the smoking ban on flights was brilliant!

One flight I was on as a kid,I was stuck in the smoking section,Joburg to London,non stop,behind a bunch of Scots mining engineers who drank like fish,and smoked like chimeleys

[PTRSAK]

When I was working for Air New Zealand, all the cutlery in the Staff Cafeteria was tha same as the in-flight stuff. All metal. Back then I think they even had steak knives in first class.

[dks]

I remember buying SAKs from airport duty frees too.

As for the metal utensils I also remember when many people would try to take  them as souvenirs... I think that is why the airlines stopped using them, long before the ban on knives etc. on airplanes.

[PTRSAK]

I remember buying SAKs from airport duty frees too.

As for the metal utensils I also remember when many people would try to take  them as souvenirs... I think that is why the airlines stopped using them, long before the ban on knives etc. on airplanes.

Actually one of the driving forces behind moving to plastic cutlery and crockery was weight.
The difference over 300-400 sets of knives, forks, spoons, plates, bowls, cups, glasses etc is quite large and in a situation where every kilo of dead weight saved can be transferred into revenue earning kilos on weight limited flights or "just" fuel savings you wouldn't believe how hard airlines chase weight savings.

[Etherealicer]

I remember buying SAKs from airport duty frees too.

You still can at Zurich Airport and then you can carry them onto the plain, unless you are flying to the USA its all good.

[Grant Lamontagne]

My grandfather used to visit from Scotland every year.  One year he decided to buy a chainsaw because they were cheaper here than at home.  He brought it back to Scotland as carry on.  No word of a lie.  They stopped him and asked if there was any gas in it, he said no so they let him board the plane with it.

How times have changed indeed....

Def

[pfrsantos]

Isn't it ironic that the more you restrict what people can carry in airplanes, the more problems with security there is?...

 

[Etherealicer]

Isn't it ironic that the more you restrict what people can carry in airplanes, the more problems with security there is?...

 

I'm not sure you can draw this correlation as far more people travel by air nowadays.

[pfrsantos]

Isn't it ironic that the more you restrict what people can carry in airplanes, the more problems with security there is?...

 

I'm not sure you can draw this correlation as far more people travel by air nowadays.

Still, if we look at the statistics, it might be interesting.

One of these days we're going to be talking about "the days when you could travel by plane with shoelaces and ties and belts and your house keys and a paper notepad or book*..."

 




*paper cuts are nasty...
 

[Etherealicer]

Isn't it ironic that the more you restrict what people can carry in airplanes, the more problems with security there is?...

 

I'm not sure you can draw this correlation as far more people travel by air nowadays.

Still, if we look at the statistics, it might be interesting.

One of these days we're going to be talking about "the days when you could travel by plane with shoelaces and ties and belts and your house keys and a paper notepad or book*..."

 




*paper cuts are nasty...
 

Well, its not that simple, once you reach a critical mass problems start to multiply. People tend to get aggressive for no good reason like a long line in front of the bathroom.
Personally I believe that air travel is on of the safest ways to travel. Especially if you break it down to the distance traveled.

I think air travel safety does not decrease because of the increased security but because airlines try to save more money on maintenance. Last time I flew Cyprus Air, a whole section of the ceiling was not covered and you could see the cables, half the tv-screens were dead or dying (from like a dozen tiny screens mounted in the corridor), and tons of reading lights were not operational.

[bmot]

Well, its not that simple, once you reach a critical mass problems start to multiply. People tend to get aggressive for no good reason like a long line in front of the bathroom.
Personally I believe that air travel is on of the safest ways to travel. Especially if you break it down to the distance traveled.

I think air travel safety does not decrease because of the increased security but because airlines try to save more money on maintenance. Last time I flew Cyprus Air, a whole section of the ceiling was not covered and you could see the cables, half the tv-screens were dead or dying (from like a dozen tiny screens mounted in the corridor), and tons of reading lights were not operational.

Of course, those really aren't parts required for flying (though the ceiling thing is a bit worrying...)

[Etherealicer]

Well, its not that simple, once you reach a critical mass problems start to multiply. People tend to get aggressive for no good reason like a long line in front of the bathroom.
Personally I believe that air travel is on of the safest ways to travel. Especially if you break it down to the distance traveled.

I think air travel safety does not decrease because of the increased security but because airlines try to save more money on maintenance. Last time I flew Cyprus Air, a whole section of the ceiling was not covered and you could see the cables, half the tv-screens were dead or dying (from like a dozen tiny screens mounted in the corridor), and tons of reading lights were not operational.

Of course, those really aren't parts required for flying (though the ceiling thing is a bit worrying...)

Of course not but it represents the general decline in airline "pride". First they replaced the stewardesses (longest word I know in English that is typed only with your left hand!) with flight attendants, then that, next who knows, no more wings
No, I think it shows the general trend for less maintenance. They don't even pretend that they take care of their plane anymore.

[dks]

They are going the same way as Swissair did a few years ago (I assume you refer to Cyprus airways). There is just too much competition from big groups and budget airlines nowdays so they are making cuts. They have sold a few airplanes and let staff go, but the maintenance level is still quite good. I am surprised at the ceilng part missing though. Maybe they were waiting to get to their base to have it repaired  . You should report such things through their website.

[bmot]

Now I'm suddenly wondering... Would stewardesses have something to do with stew? 

[Etherealicer]

Now I'm suddenly wondering... Would stewardesses have something to do with stew? 

This is a family friendly forum so I won't reply... but I'm now thinking about hot tubs.

[Whoey]

It would be great if things caught up tech wise on all the airlines... in my recent transatlantic jaunt, I had the option of using the air-wifi (for a fee) for the entire duration of the flight on Lufthansa, on the return transatlantic Air Canada flight there was no such option. Yet on the Air Canada flight there were USB and AC plugs for every seat, on the Lufthansa flight they did not have that... which ironically my phone/tablet would probably not have lasted the whole flight with wifi going...

Some airlines say you can't use your phone until inside the terminal, others as soon as the plane is on the ground they announce it's ok... (seems most people ignore what they say in any case)

I like the idea of each seat having a touch entertainment screen, but it'd be great if they all actually worked... I had some that you had to press so long/hard for it to register that you actually annoy the person in front trying to make a basic selection... 

[Aloha]

I don't fly often but it would be nice to see a level of professionalism return.  I understand profit but raise or maintain the level of service and standards of product in the mean time.       

[microbe]

On Saturday I am flying out for 4 days - carryon only - I still don't have the Style PS, I will be so naked!!! 

[enki_ck]

On Saturday I am flying out for 4 days - carryon only - I still don't have the Style PS, I will be so naked!!! 

Buy a SAK as soon as you land. It'll be a great excuse to buy a new tool.

[microbe]

On Saturday I am flying out for 4 days - carryon only - I still don't have the Style PS, I will be so naked!!! 

Buy a SAK as soon as you land. It'll be a great excuse to buy a new tool.

Good call Enki! I feel better already!

[pfrsantos]

On Saturday I am flying out for 4 days - carryon only - I still don't have the Style PS, I will be so naked!!! 

Wow! Four days?! That's a long flight! Are you going to the Moon?...

 

[Whoey]

On Saturday I am flying out for 4 days - carryon only - I still don't have the Style PS, I will be so naked!!! 

Wow! Four days?! That's a long flight! Are you going to the Moon?...

 

It's the economy flight for Westray to Papa Westray (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-stop_flight#Shortest_flights)... you know, where they fly you halfway around the world in the opposite direction to which you want to go to then connect with a flight back (after a 12h layover) towards where you first left?

[microbe]

On Saturday I am flying out for 4 days - carryon only - I still don't have the Style PS, I will be so naked!!! 

Wow! Four days?! That's a long flight! Are you going to the Moon?...

 

Dude, the moon requires checked luggage! I only have carry-on!  Some people!

[dks]

Are astronauts still allowed to carry SAKs or are they illegal on spaceships now too ? 

[PTRSAK]

Are astronauts still allowed to carry SAKs or are they illegal on spaceships now too ? 

They'd have to ask the Russians for permission...

[jzmtl]

Are astronauts still allowed to carry SAKs or are they illegal on spaceships now too ? 

They'd have to ask the Russians for permission...

And promptly laughed at by the Russians for puny knives and given a demonstration of their ballistic knife.   

[Cupboard]

ICBSAK?

[ducttapetech]

Lol!

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