I suppose what everyone reminisces about here really is the age when flying was an adventure, something to be relished pre-RYR days etc.....
I admit to not reading all the posts on this thread but two names that caught my eye encited me into this riposte
KLM.
I remember as a 15 year old flying on one of their DC-10's from AMS-NBO and receiving an elegant card proclaiming the fact that I had crossed the equator with KLM
Nice little touches like that disappeared many many moons ago
UTA.
This memory was a little ruder so I apologise in advance....
03rd January 1977, UTA DC-8 F-BOLM Lusaka-CDG, just turned 15yo, acne challenged and full of these new hormone thingies. I took my window seat and this thing of beauty i.e. the stewardess (that's what they were called back then) wearing this figure hugging light blue ribbed type jumper, kindly offered to stow my bag in the overhead locker. Now, it may have been the strategically placed aircon vents had something to do with it but as she proceeded to push home the offending bag into the overhead locker with both arms raised, I was subjected to this wonderous sight of a pair of the most exquisite female attachments
I was ever to behold, I literally could have hung my coat on the proffered extensions there and then
One of those few memories ever to make one huge impact in one's life