'It would never happen today' moments
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,234
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From: Australia
Ed, my story is like a bonsai version of yours.
Nineteen year old Hydro, about to join the army for officer and pilot training, Flying from Adelaide to Sydney on a TAA 727. Chatting to the late 30ish lady next to me pre take off, she informs me that she's in charge of all the hostesses (as they were then called). After take off, instead of heading east, we circled over St Vincents gulf and the pilot advised that they had an undercarriage problem. The lady immediately hit the call button and when the hostess came running, ordered two scotches, one was for her and one for me.
After a pass over the tower and circling to dump fuel, we had the gentlest landing I've ever had, with the nose gear kissing the runway at the end of the landing roll. We were collected by busses and returned to the terminal, where we pax were fed a light meal while waiting for a replacement aircraft, a Viscount, to be sent from Melbourne. I don't know where my new friend ate.
On the replacement flight we were again seated together, and again, she ordered scotches for us. She explained that the problem was that they couldn't get a green light when retracting the nosegear, and then couldn't get a green when trying to extend it again. Apparently the extender hydraulic strut had suffered some damage.
She then asked if I'd like to visit the cockpit. Of course I said I would, so she escorted me to forward and introduced me to the tech crew. I spent the remainder of the flight there as they explained the systems to me, what they were doing (not much), and chatted generally about aviation (I'd been a QF apprentice until I left to join the Army.) I returned to my seat just before landing, thanked her profusely and expressed my hopes that we'd meet again. OK, so she was twice my age, but hey, hostesses of any vintage had a certain reputation, unmerited I'm sure, among teenaged boys. Sadly, we never did meet again.
Nineteen year old Hydro, about to join the army for officer and pilot training, Flying from Adelaide to Sydney on a TAA 727. Chatting to the late 30ish lady next to me pre take off, she informs me that she's in charge of all the hostesses (as they were then called). After take off, instead of heading east, we circled over St Vincents gulf and the pilot advised that they had an undercarriage problem. The lady immediately hit the call button and when the hostess came running, ordered two scotches, one was for her and one for me.
After a pass over the tower and circling to dump fuel, we had the gentlest landing I've ever had, with the nose gear kissing the runway at the end of the landing roll. We were collected by busses and returned to the terminal, where we pax were fed a light meal while waiting for a replacement aircraft, a Viscount, to be sent from Melbourne. I don't know where my new friend ate.
On the replacement flight we were again seated together, and again, she ordered scotches for us. She explained that the problem was that they couldn't get a green light when retracting the nosegear, and then couldn't get a green when trying to extend it again. Apparently the extender hydraulic strut had suffered some damage.
She then asked if I'd like to visit the cockpit. Of course I said I would, so she escorted me to forward and introduced me to the tech crew. I spent the remainder of the flight there as they explained the systems to me, what they were doing (not much), and chatted generally about aviation (I'd been a QF apprentice until I left to join the Army.) I returned to my seat just before landing, thanked her profusely and expressed my hopes that we'd meet again. OK, so she was twice my age, but hey, hostesses of any vintage had a certain reputation, unmerited I'm sure, among teenaged boys. Sadly, we never did meet again.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
JP1
I have a fully paid account for my work (self-employed) so will be happy to set this up.
If JP1 would like to send me a PM??
If you or anyone has a more capable Zoom account, let's use that one.
If JP1 would like to send me a PM??
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: se england
Not really things going wrong but just hard to imagine in todays world. Its 1973 and after a 9 month stint in Qatar , very very very different to today , I am flying home for Xmas . Back then no Qatar Airways and BA only went to Doha 5 time s a week .
So travel agent says i can get you a much cheaper ticked Doha -Bahrain-Istanbul- Amsterdam London. changing plains in BAH and AMS. I get the gulf air Friendship to Bahrain a nd wait a hour or two before bussed out to a KLM DC8 in Garuda colours but cloggie crew ..
I am the last on board in first class are an Arab lady and an elderly dutch gentleman . In Y there is no one but me .
So with 3 pax off we go and after a nice breakfast two of the economy girls appear at my seat, Hello I am x and I am y in their singsong slightly guttural version of English . Can we sit next to you and chat to approve our English. I have been ina v v strict muslim country for 9 months so I find myself in the middle seat with the two KLM lovelies either side of me all the way to Amsterdam with nice first class snacks and drinks served by some of their friends along with lots of giggles and grins .
So You dont get many flights with just 3 pax these days
You dont do trips like DOH-BAH-IST-AMS-LHR any more
you dont (i imagine) get to spend 6 hours sandwiched between attractive flirty blonde hosties
You might (i suppose) that on hearing you are in AMS for two nights get given one of thems phone number inviting you to her flat mates birthday party the following evening
You do get to fly DOH-LHR direct on a QR A 380 which is a good experience but slightly different
So travel agent says i can get you a much cheaper ticked Doha -Bahrain-Istanbul- Amsterdam London. changing plains in BAH and AMS. I get the gulf air Friendship to Bahrain a nd wait a hour or two before bussed out to a KLM DC8 in Garuda colours but cloggie crew ..
I am the last on board in first class are an Arab lady and an elderly dutch gentleman . In Y there is no one but me .
So with 3 pax off we go and after a nice breakfast two of the economy girls appear at my seat, Hello I am x and I am y in their singsong slightly guttural version of English . Can we sit next to you and chat to approve our English. I have been ina v v strict muslim country for 9 months so I find myself in the middle seat with the two KLM lovelies either side of me all the way to Amsterdam with nice first class snacks and drinks served by some of their friends along with lots of giggles and grins .
So You dont get many flights with just 3 pax these days
You dont do trips like DOH-BAH-IST-AMS-LHR any more
you dont (i imagine) get to spend 6 hours sandwiched between attractive flirty blonde hosties
You might (i suppose) that on hearing you are in AMS for two nights get given one of thems phone number inviting you to her flat mates birthday party the following evening
You do get to fly DOH-LHR direct on a QR A 380 which is a good experience but slightly different
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,578
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From: UK and Italy
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 312
From: UK and Italy
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 482
Likes: 13
From: Luton
Late 70s, can’t remember the exact date as my log book is at home in the UK and I’m currently in the States! ATC Familiarisation flight from Luton to Milan Malpensa on a Monarch BAC 1-11. Out at 0700 due back by midday in time to take the future wife shopping in the new Milton Keynes shopping mall, flight was arranged before she told me she was coming home for a couple of days from her nursing course in Southampton.
All was well until we approached Milan, snow storm in the area when Malpensa advised they were closing, so ended up diverting to Linarte. One of the roughest approaches I have ever experienced, broke cloud at just above decision height. It was a school skiing trip and after landing the number 1 came up the front and said nearly all of them had thrown up!
Anyway, got them off loaded and then had to wait for the return load of kids to arrive from Malpensa, in the meantime it continued to snow. Eventually they all arrived and boarded, when ATC informed us the airport was closing. Following conversations with Monarch Ops, there were several flights operating into Genoa and they were laying on coaches. The crew were going to night stop and I had the option of staying with them or going to Genoa, I opted to go to Genoa.
Managed to attach myself to the school parties, even managed one of the teachers to give me some money to get a drink! Arrived at Genoa, thinking here comes the difficult bit as technically I was a standby passenger. Managed to persuade the ground crew that I was flight deck, waving the bit of paper around I had from Monarch. First part done, got to the front steps of another 1-11, waved my ID card and explained the situation to the number 1, who disappeared onto the flight deck with it.
Fortunately the captain agreed and they thought it was funny the predicament I was in. Eventually got back into Luton at midnight! Although ATC Fam flights are still allowed, I doubt if you could do what I did, could be done now.
As a footnote, my future Mrs turned up at 8 o clock next morning and I was certainly in the dog house in no uncertain terms!
All was well until we approached Milan, snow storm in the area when Malpensa advised they were closing, so ended up diverting to Linarte. One of the roughest approaches I have ever experienced, broke cloud at just above decision height. It was a school skiing trip and after landing the number 1 came up the front and said nearly all of them had thrown up!
Anyway, got them off loaded and then had to wait for the return load of kids to arrive from Malpensa, in the meantime it continued to snow. Eventually they all arrived and boarded, when ATC informed us the airport was closing. Following conversations with Monarch Ops, there were several flights operating into Genoa and they were laying on coaches. The crew were going to night stop and I had the option of staying with them or going to Genoa, I opted to go to Genoa.
Managed to attach myself to the school parties, even managed one of the teachers to give me some money to get a drink! Arrived at Genoa, thinking here comes the difficult bit as technically I was a standby passenger. Managed to persuade the ground crew that I was flight deck, waving the bit of paper around I had from Monarch. First part done, got to the front steps of another 1-11, waved my ID card and explained the situation to the number 1, who disappeared onto the flight deck with it.
Fortunately the captain agreed and they thought it was funny the predicament I was in. Eventually got back into Luton at midnight! Although ATC Fam flights are still allowed, I doubt if you could do what I did, could be done now.
As a footnote, my future Mrs turned up at 8 o clock next morning and I was certainly in the dog house in no uncertain terms!
Son of Slot
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Super Senior Moderator
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: London
I'm sure she appreciated the fact that you had been so diligent in getting home - rather than "I was snowed in at Malpensa - no way out." Although you did not have the cash to help you pass the time in a bar (or two) so perhaps best to get back.
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: With the Wizard
Bit of thread drift but almost on topic:
Cabin safety announcements - when will we see a realistic and informative video showing actual scenes in the appropriate aircraft an inexperienced pax can follow like we had twenty years ago? I've just flown as a passenger on seven legs internationally and seen medieval knights and ladies, a tour of Singapore and lovely scenes of Qantas destinations but very little of relevance to the SAFETY brief of AIRCRAFT equipment. How a first time passenger is meant to correlate putting antique Chinese shoes in a wooden box with putting their cabin bag in an overhead locker or speaking on a handset in a castle with not using a mobile phone eludes me.
Gne
P.S. I still ask a passing CA if I'm meant to put the safety vest on in my cramped Y seat or stand in the aisle as they demonstrated (although with some videos now the live demo is missing but the video always shows the actor in a wide open area). On this trip seven out of seven just smiled at me with a bemused look. Probably thinking "silly old coot".
Cabin safety announcements - when will we see a realistic and informative video showing actual scenes in the appropriate aircraft an inexperienced pax can follow like we had twenty years ago? I've just flown as a passenger on seven legs internationally and seen medieval knights and ladies, a tour of Singapore and lovely scenes of Qantas destinations but very little of relevance to the SAFETY brief of AIRCRAFT equipment. How a first time passenger is meant to correlate putting antique Chinese shoes in a wooden box with putting their cabin bag in an overhead locker or speaking on a handset in a castle with not using a mobile phone eludes me.
Gne
P.S. I still ask a passing CA if I'm meant to put the safety vest on in my cramped Y seat or stand in the aisle as they demonstrated (although with some videos now the live demo is missing but the video always shows the actor in a wide open area). On this trip seven out of seven just smiled at me with a bemused look. Probably thinking "silly old coot".
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 277
Likes: 1
From: Out and About
Probably long gone, since the introduction of various service charges, taxes and fees, are the days of totally free (ID100) interline staff travel tickets. The Interline Secretary of airline A would forward a letter to their opposite number at airline B, requesting a ticket and promising reciprocal benefits to that airlines employees. I enjoyed many a free trip in the 70s and 80s, always on a standby basis, but often with upgrades. Most memorable being LHR-LAX-AKL all the way in F on NZ, and a last minute upgrade into seat 1A on a TWA 747 JFK-LHR.
Another thing that probably happens much less these days, is people being rather impressed and maybe a little envious, upon hearing that you work for an airline.
Another thing that probably happens much less these days, is people being rather impressed and maybe a little envious, upon hearing that you work for an airline.
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
[QUOTE=Gne;11888109]Bit of thread drift but almost on topic:
Cabin safety announcements - when will we see a realistic and informative video showing actual scenes in the appropriate aircraft an inexperienced pax can follow like we had twenty years ago? I've just flown as a passenger on seven legs internationally and seen medieval knights and ladies, a tour of Singapore and lovely scenes of Qantas destinations but very little of relevance to the SAFETY brief of AIRCRAFT equipment. How a first time passenger is meant to correlate putting antique Chinese shoes in a wooden box with putting their cabin bag in an overhead locker or speaking on a handset in a castle with not using a mobile phone eludes me.
No one ever watched the old ones - and how often have people ever needed the lifejackets ?
Cabin safety announcements - when will we see a realistic and informative video showing actual scenes in the appropriate aircraft an inexperienced pax can follow like we had twenty years ago? I've just flown as a passenger on seven legs internationally and seen medieval knights and ladies, a tour of Singapore and lovely scenes of Qantas destinations but very little of relevance to the SAFETY brief of AIRCRAFT equipment. How a first time passenger is meant to correlate putting antique Chinese shoes in a wooden box with putting their cabin bag in an overhead locker or speaking on a handset in a castle with not using a mobile phone eludes me.
No one ever watched the old ones - and how often have people ever needed the lifejackets ?
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Reading, UK
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
I lived in Milan as a kid, when Malpensa was new. It seems to me the designers chose the place in Northern Italy with the worst weather (fog, snow, they all congregate on Malpensa). A rough translation from the Italian of 'Mal pensa' is 'Bad thought'. I always try to get a flight into Linate when I'm revisiting my former home town, at least there's a reasonable chance of it being open.
Last edited by justapax; 22nd May 2025 at 15:18.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
There was definitely a move away from manual saftey demo to IFE based to save CC time, I presume. I have no idea when it started but was certainly on the 75+76 with the ovehead flip down screens that served a couple of rows. Once that change was made there was scramble to devise the most innovative / unhinged demo. Then there was the addition of 'names' which (in this part of the world) BA specialised in. So it all followed the usual path of 'competition'.
I always make a point of looking up at the CC irrespective of a/c. I also check for the life jacket under the seat. Only once was it missing. I had no choice but to use FR from Aarhus to (I think) STN. I told the CC and they were not too surprised and, of course, no replacement was provided. I then read of FR having them stowed with the oxygen masks in drop down, as too many were being stolen.
I always make a point of looking up at the CC irrespective of a/c. I also check for the life jacket under the seat. Only once was it missing. I had no choice but to use FR from Aarhus to (I think) STN. I told the CC and they were not too surprised and, of course, no replacement was provided. I then read of FR having them stowed with the oxygen masks in drop down, as too many were being stolen.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Cornwall
Gatwick in 1970, loading an Islander nosewheel in to the back of my Hillman Imp with the rear screen open, collected it from Heathrow and drove it straight across the tarmac both ends. You could never do that these days
Joined: May 2004
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From: Ташкент
Moscow, back in December 1998, deep winter, at the time only had a tourist visa with fixed entry/exit dates, wanted to extend to spend Christmas there.
Asked Airline staff at the BA office on Tverskaya (the only folk I could think of), the girl behind the counter made a phone call and then she told me she would take me to the airport after work, and in her own car off we went, met a waiting immigration officer at the airport (Sheremetyevo-2) who took my passport away, modified the visa, came back and returned it to me thirty minutes later, I paid him $100 for the privilege (2 x $50 notes) and he duly handed the girl $50 of it (her cut!). We then drove back to Moscow where we went to a bar and had a drink!
Today that would be impossible, but in 1990's Russia anything went.
Asked Airline staff at the BA office on Tverskaya (the only folk I could think of), the girl behind the counter made a phone call and then she told me she would take me to the airport after work, and in her own car off we went, met a waiting immigration officer at the airport (Sheremetyevo-2) who took my passport away, modified the visa, came back and returned it to me thirty minutes later, I paid him $100 for the privilege (2 x $50 notes) and he duly handed the girl $50 of it (her cut!). We then drove back to Moscow where we went to a bar and had a drink!
Today that would be impossible, but in 1990's Russia anything went.
Joined: Aug 2007
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Likes: 28
From: shepperton
1986 or 87, going on holiday to Malta with my girlfriend. Night flight to Luqa in a B720. Co-pilot was the son-in-law of our landlady at the time, and knew we were on the flight, so as we neared Malta we were invited up to the cockpit. Then, having left things a bit late, we were offered to strap into the jump seats for the landing. ATC were giving clarance to land, but the captain was not quite finished with his cigarette and asked the co-pilot to stall ATC until he was ready, Then, having stubbed out the butt, he said, "OK, time to go in". Amazing experience to begin a holiday! I don't know whether pilots can still smoke on the flight deck, but certain that passengers can no longer visit the cockpit nor strap in for landing.
Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Budapest
Moscow, back in December 1998, deep winter, at the time only had a tourist visa with fixed entry/exit dates, wanted to extend to spend Christmas there.
Asked Airline staff at the BA office on Tverskaya (the only folk I could think of), the girl behind the counter made a phone call and then she told me she would take me to the airport after work, and in her own car off we went, met a waiting immigration officer at the airport (Sheremetyevo-2) who took my passport away, modified the visa, came back and returned it to me thirty minutes later, I paid him $100 for the privilege (2 x $50 notes) and he duly handed the girl $50 of it (her cut!). We then drove back to Moscow where we went to a bar and had a drink!
Today that would be impossible, but in 1990's Russia anything went.
Asked Airline staff at the BA office on Tverskaya (the only folk I could think of), the girl behind the counter made a phone call and then she told me she would take me to the airport after work, and in her own car off we went, met a waiting immigration officer at the airport (Sheremetyevo-2) who took my passport away, modified the visa, came back and returned it to me thirty minutes later, I paid him $100 for the privilege (2 x $50 notes) and he duly handed the girl $50 of it (her cut!). We then drove back to Moscow where we went to a bar and had a drink!
Today that would be impossible, but in 1990's Russia anything went.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,155
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From: There and here
I lived in Milan as a kid, when Malpensa was new. It seems to me the designers chose the place in Northern Italy with the worst weather (fog, snow, they all congregate on Malpensa). A rough translation from the Italian of 'Mal pensa' is 'Bad thought'. I always try to get a flight into Linate when I'm revisiting my former home town, at least there's a reasonable chance of it being open.
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Everett, WA
1989 IIRC, I was flying Montreal to Vancouver (BC) on an A320 after a meeting with Air Canada. Before boarding, the agent asked if I would mind giving up my window seat in coach for an aisle seat in Business (duh!) so she could seat a family together.
After a very nice in-flight meal and a few drinks, I noted a flight attendant taking a couple of youngsters to visit the flight deck. As the A320 was still quite new and novel at the time, I wanted to see the flight deck as well - so I signaled the FA, told her I was an engineer for Boeing, and would be interested in visiting the cockpit if possible. A quick trip to the pointy end to confirm, and I was taken up front and introduced to the pilots. Talked to them at length about what they disliked (non-moving thrust levers) and liked (pretty much everything else) in the A320. I was in the flight deck for roughly 20 minutes before I figured I should excuse myself and let them get on with the job at hand...
Those were the days
After a very nice in-flight meal and a few drinks, I noted a flight attendant taking a couple of youngsters to visit the flight deck. As the A320 was still quite new and novel at the time, I wanted to see the flight deck as well - so I signaled the FA, told her I was an engineer for Boeing, and would be interested in visiting the cockpit if possible. A quick trip to the pointy end to confirm, and I was taken up front and introduced to the pilots. Talked to them at length about what they disliked (non-moving thrust levers) and liked (pretty much everything else) in the A320. I was in the flight deck for roughly 20 minutes before I figured I should excuse myself and let them get on with the job at hand...
Those were the days