This week made me realize how incredibly thankful I am to be able to travel the world so freely and the amazing gift we enjoy to be whisked around the world in the comfort and speed of modern jetliner.
Travel In The Jet Age Is A Beautiful Thing
Think about it. When Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952, a transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles took more than a full day. Nonstop travel was not possible and a London to New York flight alone on a Lockheed Constellation took more than 17 hours.
On Thursday, I woke up early and had a lovely walk through the empty streets of London’s City of Westminster. I enjoyed a leisurely English Breakfast (including blood pudding…), worked out, then spent the next four hours celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Then I hopped on a train to London Heathrow, spent another hour relaxing in the lounge, then boarded an 11-hour flight that would take me nonstop back to Los Angeles.
The flight left at 4:30pm and arrived at 7:30pm. During the flight I enjoyed dinner, watched a movie, slept for five hours, worked, and had another snack. We landed to a lovely “May Gray” (cloudy) evening in Los Angeles. It was still Thursday.
I hopped in my car and drove home. My children were still awake and I was able to read a bedtime story (we are currently reading The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis) to my son.
My wife and I then went for a brief walk and had a lovely chat in our garden. At dusk, I lit a beacon in honor of the Queen.
What a wonderful day. And it was possible because of jet travel.
This is a blog that takes a critical eye to airline premium cabins and hotels. But even as I nitpick about the type of Champagne served or the contents of an amenity kit, sometimes it is appropriate just to take a step back and realize what a gift jet travel is.
CONCLUSION
As I look upon the Queen with thanksgiving, I marvel at how the world has changed since 1952. Some changes have been for the best, some for the worst, but when it comes to jet travel, even without supersonic service we have the ability to navigate the planet with relative ease. That’s an amazing thing.
I fully expect you to read your children Ballet Shoes and Circus Shoes by Mary Noel Streatfeild next.
@Matthew, it’s not just the speed but also the experience. It’s no wonder that they fed you so much back then; you had nothing else to do for hours on end. Heck, even ~25 years ago, you were stuck with the overhead projector movies on most airlines. I still remember crossing my fingers and hoping to get a “new” C class seat with PTVs (looped channels, though). Or, getting to fly F, which had cassette videotapes, so you could watch on-demand! 😮
Hmm… maybe I should rewatch some old movies that showed what air travel was like in the 80s and 90s. Mission Impossible (videotapes & smoking) and Die Hard 2 (airphones) come to mind. 😉
Smoking in the cabin was the worst part for me. I am allergic to cigarette smoke so I was overjoyed when it was finally gone. Thank you to the FA unions that (I think) got it banned and this spread to most other flights both national and domestic.
Thanks for trying to be positive about travelling in an airplane these days.
Flying used to be luxurious. Caviar. Open cockpit. Take offs and landings.
Chateaubriand, tossed salads, lobster tails.
No miserable security. Stewardesses, no concentration camp flight matrons. Big beautiful seats.
No windows that darken without your permission.
I fail to see anything luxurious today as a bed is not my priority nor a lounge which has been dumbed down.
I remember the glorious days of flying. But thanks for the upbeat tempo.
Btw I am not going anywhere with a muzzle over my face nor the eyesore of seeing others addicted to them.
Love that picture showing the captain chatting with elegantly dressed passengers. Despite huge improvements in the cabin, it remains pretty tough/uncomfortable to fly with a suit on these days
Well said Matthew!