4 Funny Vintage Airline Commercials

Air travel ain’t what it used to be.

Between baggage fees, shrinking seats and shoddy service, flying makes many travelers pretty cranky these days — so why not take a look back at what life in the skies used to be like?

The following vintage airline commercials offer that trip back in time, although in some cases it seems like not much has changed. (Yes, even in the 70s and 80s fliers were bemoaning crowded airports and lack of service in economy class.) Have a look — and a laugh!

First up is a funny Southern Airways ad from the 1970s that lampoons the difference between first class and coach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulxnzAsWEM





Peter Sellers plays out every cheesy (and sleazy) Italian stereotype in this 1970s ad for TWA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLy2DkJ8xn8





I’m not sure anyone’s ever been so thrilled to land in Kansas City as this 1980s Eastern Air Lines passenger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSd-5zg2OyM





I’m cheating a little with this next one, which is from the mid-2000s and therefore doesn’t really count as a “vintage” commercial — but it too features a now-defunct airline (Continental):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnaJDdcNg5Y





Do you have a favorite airline commercial?



Related: Patrick Stewart Hilariously Acts Out 5 Most Annoying Fliers