Originally Posted by
WHBM
Before the Brit, even, Detroit was served by BOAC DC-7Cs, through Prestwick and Montreal. At the time it was a real mainstream US manufacturing centre, not only for the automotive industry but many others as well.
Major US company I used to work for, European HQ near Heathrow, had their World headquarters in Detroit, so there was a lot of travel to/fro. When in 1980 standby tickets came out, to combat Laker (not that Laker served Detroit, but BA did all UK origins to all US destinations) the somewhat miserly European CEO, on assignment from Detroit himself, put out a memo that staff travel there should now be standby, "in my experience there are always seats available". This hacked many off, who then had to go over to Heathrow early, get the ticket, and then go back for the afternoon departure, through Washington. One day the manager of the Newcastle branch flew down to Heathrow, was walking out through Terminal 1,,and who should he see queueing at the ticket counter but the CEO's chauffeur. "Oh, hello Mr A, going to the office ? Wait a few minutes and I'll give you a lift back". "OK, thanks, what are you doing here ?". "Oh, Mr X is going to Detroit this afternoon, and I've come over for his standby ticket".
Alright for some ...
I had completely overlooked the BOAC DC7C, many thanks for reminding me.
Sure Detroit was the engine room of the USA for many decades and a real power house of a city. But we know how it quickly it declined and for so many reasons.
I saw a great documentary last week on YouTube about the great decline of Detroit. It's amazing that old factories such as the huge former Packard factory lay in ruins.
Regarding your story, if I remember correctly I think that I have read the same story before from one of your previous posts on another thread It might have been a nostalgia post but it was a while back. Interesting story though.