Throw back flights, who remembers when...

[Disney Ash]

So I was just reading the post about the old plane being used by American Airways and the ceiling drop down TV's.

Who remembers flying when the last few rows at the back of the plane where used as the smoking section?

When I made my first couple of trips to Orlando I was a smoker (I have quit and have been smoke free over 18 years now) I had my family sit in the last row before the smoking section began and I would sit behind that row in the first row of the smoking section, I remember that section being filled and people (myself included) switching out with people so they could have a quick ciggy, it was a weird camaraderie I know, I was young and stupid.

Now the mere thought of that being allowed horrifies me, could you imagine being on a plane for 8+ hours with a bunch of people puffing away *scary*

[TheHughesCrew]

We've just flown home from Corfu, and while we were on the plane my husband and I commented on exactly the same thing! Can't believe we used to be able to smoke on an aeroplane... used to love nipping up the back for a quick fag! It's almost incomprehensible now.

[Smilesonfaces]

Yes I remember arriving to check in as early as possible to ensure we were as far away as possible from the smoking section and get our preferred seats (free of course)and also able to take our own drinks and no faffing with 100ml bottles in plastic bags.
Unbelievable smoking was allowed in planes and I don’t think it was actually that long ago.

[Excitedx4]

Yes my mum and dad we’re both smokers, we never sat as a family on the plane. We would get 3 seats in non smoking and 1 in smoking then my mum and dad would switch for a ciggie 😂😂. I always hated smoking because my parents did I hated the smell and everything about it. I’ve never smoked in my life, still hate it now. Smoking had definitely been made inconvenient these days. Even better no smoking in Disney parks at all now!

[lesley1960]

It was awful if you were a non smoker especially if your non smoking seats were close to the smoking area , you would get the smokers whose seats were in non smoking coming down and standing in the back in the aisles.
Then there was the testers of the duty free perfumes !
I remember the days before the drop down screens ! And you had the one big screen

[Disney_time]

We flew back from Milan yesterday on BA and had a bit of a delay before departure. During the 15 mins we were sat on the ground, several children visited the cockpit. A friend also sent a pic of his son sitting in a cockpit with the captain's hat on at Manchester Airport. I haven't seen that in years due to 9/11.

In 1996, on a Thomsons flight to Florida we were separated due to a crash in the check in computers. I was sat away from DH and boys (😉 short straw right). At one point during the flight DH asked me if the boys were beside me, and it turned out the were in the cockpit while they were flying.

On the same flight, the cabin crew gave their hats the children and sent them up and down the aisles collecting rubbish from passengers!

[gl20]

I remember flying to MCO on Sep 1, 2001, and the captain coming onto the PA toward the end to thank those who visited them. I’d not gone up there that day and remember thinking I’ll just do it next time.. our return flight was due to be Sept 11 so it wasn’t to be!

Further back I remember the 747s having a projector screen on the bulkhead with the projector being pulled down between the overhead compartments. The headphones were those plastic tube stethoscope things with the speaker being in the armrest.

[Buttercup1982]

The best scene in Airplane. "Smoking please" ...the ticket comes out with smoke coming from it. My 14 year old didn't get it and I had to explain how you used to be able to smoke on planes. His horrified face was a picture 😂

[redfox5]

Monarch were still using the drop down TV last time I used them to fly to Florida! Think it was 2011.

[Tinkerbell]

Smoking and also when Flying was deemed glamorous. Always dressed in our Sunday best to fly!