T'was almost the norm in days gone past. I've sat in the RHS of several airliners in the 70s through to the 90s. On one occasion I sat 2 hrs in the LHS of a D.H. Comet 4 (
with pax
). Sadly times have moved on
And, before someone brings up the Aeroflot A310 accident, in my case there was always a fully qualified pilot chappy strapped-in in the other seat.