Yes, there were glory days. I worked for BEA before it became BA. It was a prestigious airline and proud of it. But that was in the middle of the last century. We are now in the 21st century and short-haul flights are just bus services. There is nothing at all romantic about being herded like cattle into an aluminium tube and breathing 129 other people's exhalations whilst attempting to read as trolleys clank past you. I am sure our American friends will tell you the same with their short-haulers. If you want romance and quality you can still get it but you pay the price. I am hoping that when we visit New Zealand we can fly Emirates Club Class for a real treat. It'll cost us most of our retirement savings but it'll be worth it. In the meantime I am perfectly happy to use Ruinair and Squeasyjet for what they are - bus services.