I can certainly support the statement that flights had standing passengers. I've been on many an Aeroflot flight where passengers stood at the back. It wouldn't say it was down to passengers bribing the Captain with hard cuurency - these were Russian passengers. The service was very much like a bus service, passengers rarely checked baggage in. Most passengers carried on their luggage, regardless of size and weight. This obviously wouldn't do the load sheet calcs any good.
Flights would also take off in the most ridiculous of weather conditions and many accidents occurred under these circumstances.
It's all changed now as operators begin to adopt commercially oriented practices and mentality evolves.
[ 09 July 2001: Message edited by: Ivan Ivanovich ]