PeopleExpress
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PeopleExpress
Contributing to another thread brought back memories of travelling with PeopleExpress. Has anyone any interesting stories/recollections?
I remember, in particular: the crowding in the old North Terminal at Newark, especially on Friday evenings; the difficulties getting through to their reservations' department on the 'phone; flying on tired/old 727s and 737s; the $20 one way fares, which were amazing; the "cardboard" tickets (so different to the standard IATA ones); the fact that so much luggage was brought into the cabin (to avoid paying to check it in - nothing new there, then!) allied to a lack of doors to the overheads (if I remember correctly); and the general feeling that we were experiencing something new and innovative.
I remember, in particular: the crowding in the old North Terminal at Newark, especially on Friday evenings; the difficulties getting through to their reservations' department on the 'phone; flying on tired/old 727s and 737s; the $20 one way fares, which were amazing; the "cardboard" tickets (so different to the standard IATA ones); the fact that so much luggage was brought into the cabin (to avoid paying to check it in - nothing new there, then!) allied to a lack of doors to the overheads (if I remember correctly); and the general feeling that we were experiencing something new and innovative.
I remember taking a few flights with them in the 80s and there definitely was a different attitude amongst the workers, I imagine due to the fact that they were stakeholders in the company. My last flight with them was sometime in late 1986 from LGW to Newark. The 747 was empty, that is to say less than 50 passengers, everything seemed grubby and neglected from the check in to the inside of the aircraft and there was an air of dejection from the hosties and on that last trans-atlantic flight the service was awful.
Perhaps 'Frankie-boy' had already worked his magic behind the scenes and everyone was resigned to the inevitable. I seem to recall that you had to pay for 'everything' that was extra to the seat on the flights and I was a bit miffed by this at first
but got used to it. They were simply ahead of the curve and before their time. Such stakeholder airlines are always inspirational, but will IMO always be disadvantaged due to the political nature of the airline business.
The colour scheme was also very pleasant, a sort of Braniff lite.
regards
SHJ
Perhaps 'Frankie-boy' had already worked his magic behind the scenes and everyone was resigned to the inevitable. I seem to recall that you had to pay for 'everything' that was extra to the seat on the flights and I was a bit miffed by this at first
but got used to it. They were simply ahead of the curve and before their time. Such stakeholder airlines are always inspirational, but will IMO always be disadvantaged due to the political nature of the airline business.The colour scheme was also very pleasant, a sort of Braniff lite.
regards
SHJ
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
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JEM60
Yup I do somewhere, she & I in the 6 Bells in Horley, Aeroclub & The Lamb @ Lambs Green (for those who don't know, our old LGW boozers) & in Town outside 'Buck House'. I'll try and dig em out when the Trout is not arround, otherwise I may get a bollocking
Happy days
Happy days
Yup I do somewhere, she & I in the 6 Bells in Horley, Aeroclub & The Lamb @ Lambs Green (for those who don't know, our old LGW boozers) & in Town outside 'Buck House'. I'll try and dig em out when the Trout is not arround, otherwise I may get a bollocking
SHOW US THE PHOTOS OF Ms RIPPLEMEYER!!!!! please ?
regards
SHJ
Minor correction Merlin - it was Rippelmeyer. Too much of the excellent draught in the Six Bells no doubt!
For those who can't wait, there are a couple of piccies on that well-known search engine...
Yes, remember PE very well. Good flights, but as someone mentioned, paying for yer grub was a bit strange at first, but it all worked! Still remember the double-face outline on the tail!
For those who can't wait, there are a couple of piccies on that well-known search engine...
Yes, remember PE very well. Good flights, but as someone mentioned, paying for yer grub was a bit strange at first, but it all worked! Still remember the double-face outline on the tail!
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Yes, I do recall PE. Unlike some of the posts, I am not too fond of what PE brought to my life, career and family. As a long time member of the cockpit crew with the original Frontier Airlines (defunct 1986), the arrival of PE on our doorstep was not a pleasant event to those of us who worked for a truly wonderful carrier of forty years. All water long gone under the bridge now but it does not elicit any warm fuzzies in my recollection.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
