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MATGA

namlliT noD
@DonTillman
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With the MAGA movement in full swing, maybe now is a good time to Make Air Travel Great Again. I have fond memories of flying in the 70s; easy, simple, inexpensive, relaxing, meal on board. And nowadays it's unbelievably awful.

Here's an American Airlines 747 piano bar commercial, including Chet Huntley, the Fonz, Frasier's dad (possibly), and a Wurlitzer electric piano.

So how can we MATGA?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has actually asked for suggestions:

And not surprisingly, most responses involve dismantling the TSA.

I agree, ditch the TSA. They've never caught any terrorist threat. Ditch the lines, the delays, taking out all your stuff to be x-rayed, removing shoes, the body scans, the agents feeling people up, the weird, arbitrary limits on liquids; all of that needs to go.

Replace the TSA with "cops fly for free." Problem solved.

Replace the air traffic control system with modern technology. Use software to detect potential flight traffic problems, and AI systems to direct plane traffic overall. Have additional software to monitor the AI. Have a small number of people to oversee things and to handle non-trivial issues.

See also @SusanQuinn's post, The Failing Air Traffic Control System.

And come up with a solution to picking up passengers that's better than officers shooing your car away and having to make another round. That's so ridiculous.

Your ideas?

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (55)

  • Gary McVey@GaryMcVey

    My heart is with you, noD; great post. I'm just old enough to remember the tail end of those days.

    But my wallet, less so. Airlines could afford to pamper you, because Federal regulations guarded their profits. Adjusted for inflation those old time air tickets weren't cheap. That's what made those gourmet dinners possible. People paid more.

    We didn't ask as much from airlines in those days--things like seamless access for the handicapped, a good record for following noise abatement and pollution regulations. Cabin entertainment was simpler. They didn't have to compete with dueling romcoms.

    Cultural changes that didn't have much directly to do with airlines also played a big role. Even among conservatives of the Sixties, by no means a Woke bunch, airline ad campaigns like comely cabin attendants bragging "We really move our tails for you" were tagged as problems.

  • Chowderhead@Podunk

    Does anyone remember Northwest Airlines (Edit: Midwest Express) back when they were good? All business class seats from front to back. Hot chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk. Mmmmm.

    All I ask for now is room for my knees and don't kick my seat. Being able to open my laptop and get some work done is just wishful thinking.

    There are ways to mitigate TSA. First, go through the work and get TSA Precheck. CapitalOne will even pay for it if you have the card. Second, just put as many nips as you want in a clear plastic bag. They are under 3oz so...

  • E. Kent Golding@EKentGolding

    Let ARMED cops fly free --- no loaded gun, you have to pay.... . Arm the flight crew also.

    What I want:

    1. No Boeing. I would like to arrive at my destination safely.
    2. High quality air traffic control. Again, I would like to arrive at my destination safely
    3. Comfortable seats with enough leg room
  • Kozak@Kozak
    namlliT noD (View Post):
    I have fond memories of flying in the 60’s and 70’s; easy, simple, inexpensive, relaxing, meal on board. And nowadays it’s unbelievably awful.

    I agree that is frequently awful. ( although a recent trip to Egypt was great, except for going through security 3 times at the Amman airport, and Heathrow confiscating my duct tape, an item I have been flying with since 2001.)

    But your reflection of airline travel being " inexpensive" in the 60s and 70s is incorrect.

    A round trip coach ticket in 1960 from New York to London was 525$ equivalent to 7,000$ in 2025.

    A one way domestic flight from NY to LA was 270$ or about 3,000$ in 2025.

    In the 70s with some deregulation starting late in the decade, it improved somewhat, but still a round trip NY to London fare was about 2,200$ in 2025 equivalent..

    Basically, you can still get that wonderful, comfortable pampered service if you pay business or first class which is about the equivalent cost of a ticket in coach in the 1960s or 70s.

    When I worked for ARAMCO, they would buy me 3 round trip business class tickets a year for my travel home. Being the cheap SOB I am I took the cash and flew coach.

  • Kozak@Kozak
    ReplyingtoChowderhead

    Chowderhead (View Comment):

    Does anyone remember Northwest Airlines back when they were good? All business class seats from front to back. Hot chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk. Mmmmm.

    All I ask for now is room for my knees and don’t kick my seat. Being able to open my laptop and get some work done is just wishful thinking.

    There are ways to mitigate TSA. First, go through the work and get TSA Precheck. CapitalOne will even pay for it if you have the card. Second, just put as many nips as you want in a clear plastic bag. They are under 3oz so…

    Midwest. A small airline based in Wisconsin. They had 2 by seating in the entire cabin and the seats were real leather. And fresh cookies. Damn, I miss that airline.

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