Oh for the "good old days" of flying in the 60s and 70s - things were so much simpler in those days! (I appreciate that some won't remember them, that's the benefit of being a "grumpy old man").
ATNotts, much though I too hate walking down the glittery cat-walks and red carpets of duty free shops in airports up and down the UK, it's easy to let the galloping price inflation which cast its shadow so long in those days make you forget that - in real terms - flying was perhaps simpler but also far, far more expensive.
Unfortunately you can't get something for nothing, and airport operators facing increasing competition in fees (by consequence of deregulation and the low-cost model putting pressure on them through the uptake of out-of-town airports) noticed this was potentially lucrative. So for the price of having to walk through some grotty shopping arcade, you really can now fly for the price of a pair of moderately-priced jeans.
So as you're compelled to sniff that horrible
melange of mixed after-shave and cheap perfume, do spare a thought for all those who couldn't have dreamt of flying 'back in the good old days'. Hurrah - at least (like that crisp pair of jeans still on their hangar) the new ones aren't so bad either
