What do you miss most about old school traveling?

[LuvOrlando]

We are supposed to be headed to WDW soon and as I roll over the things we need to do my mind settles on the things I miss.

For me the biggest is probably the bell services where I'd pull up to an airport and for $5 tip a bag someone would take my bags, pffft I'd pay twice that if it came back in any form... sigh.

 

[fly girl]

Sky Caps still exist at airports! I know Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG) has them.

I pass them all the time when I drop off/pick up my dh at the airport when he gets my curbside service (he loves that over airport employee parking, which I get 100%!)

 

[ronandannette]

Easy one...I've been lamenting it myself just lately. It's the huge decline in the quality of the cruise experience. When we started 20 years ago, even mainstream lines provided a luxurious experience with amazing service, as was basically all-inclusive except liquor and modest gratuities.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have always heard that dressing up for flying is something that has gone away. I think it would have been a nice thing to dress for the occasion.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have always heard that dressing up for flying is something that has gone away. I think it would have been a nice thing to dress for the occasion.

While I also feel the current manner of dressing on airplanes is too "casual" for me, I really don't want to "dress up" for it. I mean nylons, heels and a two piece suit (with fancy jewelry, maybe even a hat)? No thanks.



It's quite possible to dress nicely, though.

 

[tvguy]

Easy one...I've been lamenting it myself just lately. It's the huge decline in the quality of the cruise experience. When we started 20 years ago, even mainstream lines provided a luxurious experience with amazing service, as was basically all-inclusive except liquor and modest gratuities.

Did my first cruise 43 years ago, and yes, cruising has changed.
First cruise in 1980 on Paquet, gourmet food, wine included with lunch and dinner. Formal night REQUIRED a tux, regular nights required a suit.
Last cruise, in 2019 on Celebrity, HARD sell to pay for the extra cost dining room. And while the food in the Main Dining Room was wonderful, I expect the cruise lines best meals to be served there.
In 1983 and 1984 we cruised on NCLs Norway, where the shows on board we entertainers you watched on TV at home on the Tonight Show, etc. Saw the Fifth Dimension, Shields and Yarnell, Norm Crosby, Jack Jones on board, and they hung out with passengers the rest of the week.

 

[barkley]

being able to-

1. go to an airport, see a flight on the board, hand cash to the agent and get a ticket and board a flight-all in under 20 minutes. i dated someone who lived in southern california while i lived in northern-i could show up at 10 at sfo, pay $25 in cash and jump on a flight that had landed for re-fueling on the way to lax.

2. show up 30 minutes before boarding with my luggage, drop it off curbside, walk directly/non stop to the boarding area (no check in, no tsa, kiss whomever was dropping me off goodbye...).

 

[Sweettears]

We are supposed to be headed to WDW soon and as I roll over the things we need to do my mind settles on the things I miss.

For me the biggest is probably the bell services where I'd pull up to an airport and for $5 tip a bag someone would take my bags, pffft I'd pay twice that if it came back in any form... sigh.

I do it every time I fly unless it’s not offered. Fly out of Chicago check at the curb pay $5 or $10 and walk by the huge line of others checking in inside for “free”. My time and peace of mind is more valuable. Nothing worse than wai in a line in an airport whether it be check in or security when your flight time is approaching

 

[NotUrsula]

That would be not having to do the security circus. I remember just arriving at the airport, having a snack in the terminal and heading straight for the gate: there was no such thing as land-side and air-side back then.

Heck, I'd even settle for pre-9/11 security setups; you could throw anything that wasn't a weapon into your bag and just go; you didn't have to obsess on what was packed where.

 

[ford family]

Easy one...I've been lamenting it myself just lately. It's the huge decline in the quality of the cruise experience. When we started 20 years ago, even mainstream lines provided a luxurious experience with amazing service, as was basically all-inclusive except liquor and modest gratuities.

Fully agree!
We are currently on the Majestic Princess between Sydney and Fiji and have been thinking the same thing.
Tomorrow we are planning a beach day on Mystery Island and looked around the cabin for the bag to put the towels etc into. Nope, checked with our steward, no more blue bags!
Okay, it's a first world problem but, nickel and diming, as the Americans say, eats into the experience bit by bit.
Probably won't stop us cruising but it might impact how loyal we remain to specific cruise lines.

ford family

 

[Sweettears]

TSA precheck is well worth the investment

 

[DCLMP]

Nothing. Traveling is much easier with the current technology.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I miss that traveling used to be part of a vacation. More comfortable seats on airplanes, for one. A while back (like 5 or 6 years ago) we flew on a flight that had 4 across seating (2 on each side of aisle), with leg room, wide seats, blankets, pillows, servers who actually stopped and talked with people and served warm chocolate chip cookies. It was so wonderful.

 

[DCLMP]

being able to-

1. go to an airport, see a flight on the board, hand cash to the agent and get a ticket and board a flight-all in under 20 minutes. i dated someone who lived in southern california while i lived in northern-i could show up at 10 at sfo, pay $25 in cash and jump on a flight that had landed for re-fueling on the way to lax.

2. show up 30 minutes before boarding with my luggage, drop it off curbside, walk directly/non stop to the boarding area (no check in, no tsa, kiss whomever was dropping me off goodbye...).

Couldn’t you just do the same on your phone. Buy a ticket, check in and get your boarding pass in less than 5 minutes. I dont know about the 20 minutes before flight that seems like a bit of hyperbole. Airlines have always shut the doors at least 10 minutes before departure.

 

[DCLMP]

I miss that traveling used to be part of a vacation. More comfortable seats on airplanes, for one. A while back (like 5 or 6 years ago) we flew on a flight that had 4 across seating (2 on each side of aisle), with leg room, wide seats, blankets, pillows, servers who actually stopped and talked with people and served warm chocolate chip cookies. It was so wonderful.

I think that was much longer than 5 or 6 years ago. Lol.

 

[tvguy]

being able to-

1. go to an airport, see a flight on the board, hand cash to the agent and get a ticket and board a flight-all in under 20 minutes. i dated someone who lived in southern california while i lived in northern-i could show up at 10 at sfo, pay $25 in cash and jump on a flight that had landed for re-fueling on the way to lax.

2. show up 30 minutes before boarding with my luggage, drop it off curbside, walk directly/non stop to the boarding area (no check in, no tsa, kiss whomever was dropping me off goodbye...).

I traveled a lot for work when I got out of college. 1979-1980. Lots of Sacramento to LAX flights on PSA. PSA had a thing called Write Your Own Ticket. My employer would buy us a 20 pack of tickets. You walk up to the counter, they would rip out a ticket and put you on the next flight.

 

[tvguy]

Nothing. Traveling is much easier with the current technology.

I disagree. Like others have noted, you used to be able to get to the airport an hour before your flight and walk right on the plane. You had an assigned seat, so no worrying about Southwest's A, B, C boarding system. And there were a lot more direct flights.......airlines didn't make it hard to go somewhere without having to go through their "hub" city.
My wife has family in St. Louis, and we used to fly direct from Sacramento. Now, there is literally ONE direct flight a WEEK.

 

[barkley]

I traveled a lot for work when I got out of college. 1979-1980. Lots of Sacramento to LAX flights on PSA. PSA had a thing called Write Your Own Ticket. My employer would buy us a 20 pack of tickets. You walk up to the counter, they would rip out a ticket and put you on the next flight.

sacramento was my airport of choice to use when we lived in northern california-so much easier to get in and out of than sfo or oakland.

I disagree. Like others have noted, you used to be able to get to the airport an hour before your flight and walk right on the plane. You had an assigned seat, so no worrying about Southwest's A, B, C boarding system. And there were a lot more direct flights.......airlines didn't make it hard to go somewhere without having to go through their "hub" city.
My wife has family in St. Louis, and we used to fly direct from Sacramento. Now, there is literally ONE direct flight a WEEK.

i used to purposely book a less expensive seat in the smoking section of the plane b/c it never failed that before take-off there would be an announcement that someone in a preferable seat in a better section (who had booked last minute) was a smoker willing to trade.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Nothing. Traveling is much easier with the current technology.

I agree
Living on an island, technology has enhanced the travel experience and opened up so many possibilities and options. Before the internet, Irish people didnt really travel that much. It was only in the 1980's that international travel became mainstream but it was limited to package holidays to Spain or the big blow out trip to Orlando. Travel between Ireland and UK was seen mainly as a way to visit family or go to England for work.

The only people who really did any travel outside the package holidays to Spain were students who went interrailing around Europe.

You had to go to travel agent to buy a flight and getting just a flight to somewhere was seen as very unusual. Before Ryanair started in the late 1980's most people went to the UK by ferry.

Cruises were seen as a luxury, something people did for honeymoon or when they retired. They are still not marketed in Ireland as a family holiday. Until I joined Disboards I never knew about the wider cruise industry.

Only Walt Disney World and the Euro Disney now Disneyland Paris have been marketed in Ireland. It wasnt until I joined Disboards that I found out about Disney Cruise and the Disney Parks in China and Japan.

So basically Ireland has been very isolated regarding travel options before the internet and technology. We had to rely on what travel agents told us and there were no resources for finding out about destinations.

 

[Christine]

As someone else said, showing up about 30 minutes before your flight, dropping of you bag, walking to the gate and sitting for 10 minutes, then boarding. Or taking your friend/family member to the airport and going to the gate with them and sitting around chatting before they leave.