A Golden Age

[King Nuts]

Came across this on YouTube: External Link/Members Only

Flying back in the 60s and 70s seemed so much more elegant. Planes looked far less cramped inside, for a start.

Yes, I know modern planes are quieter, guzzle less fuel and go all the way to Australia without stopping, but the experience is still mostly joyless. Even in First and Club, you're crammed in and the airport experience is mostly horrendous.

And as if all that wasn't bad enough, the Woke have taken over one airline's advertising, with this ghastly ad that tells you nothing about the flying experience and all about Virgin's preference to virtue signal.

External Link/Members Only

[sir wanksalot]

Came across this on YouTube: External Link/Members Only

Flying back in the 60s and 70s seemed so much more elegant. Planes looked far less cramped inside, for a start.

Yes, I know modern planes are quieter, guzzle less fuel and go all the way to Australia without stopping, but the experience is still mostly joyless. Even in First and Club, you're crammed in and the airport experience is mostly horrendous.

And as if all that wasn't bad enough, the Woke have taken over one airline's advertising, with this ghastly ad that tells you nothing about the flying experience and all about Virgin's preference to virtue signal.

External Link/Members Only

People used to dress up to travel in those days. Travelling was an occasion. Nowadays it's just a process.

But we are also living in a slobbish society anyway.

[Colston36]

Came across this on YouTube: External Link/Members Only

Flying back in the 60s and 70s seemed so much more elegant. Planes looked far less cramped inside, for a start.

Yes, I know modern planes are quieter, guzzle less fuel and go all the way to Australia without stopping, but the experience is still mostly joyless. Even in First and Club, you're crammed in and the airport experience is mostly horrendous.

And as if all that wasn't bad enough, the Woke have taken over one airline's advertising, with this ghastly ad that tells you nothing about the flying experience and all about Virgin's preference to virtue signal.

External Link/Members Only

I agree 100% with what you say about the ad. It gives you no reason to choose Virgin. As I travel regularly on them that's a shame, because they certainly are the best - across the Atlantic, anyhow.

The problem is that the people who make the ads are not like the people who buy the flights. When I came into advertising 60 odd years ago most of us were a lot closer to the customers.

The one thing I really can't agree with you about is flying being better then. It wasn't.

[petermisc]

Flying back in the 60s and 70s seemed so much more elegant. Planes looked far less cramped inside, for a start.

And of course it was so much more expensive, in real-money terms.

[Thephoenix]

The one thing I really can't agree with you about is flying being better then. It wasn't.

Flying to Australia in the early sixties on a Bristol Britannia wasn't a lot of fun.

36 hours just to the west coast, with necessary refueling stops in Kuwait,  Ceylon (as was), and Singapore. Followed by 48 hours jet lag.


Hidden Image/Members Only

[Malvolio]

Do you remember watching a film on monitors that dropped down from every four rows of the ceiling? 

The in-flight entertainment systems make the flight pass so much quicker - and let's not contemplate the presence of a smoking section.

[ulstersubbie]

Flying to Australia in the early sixties on a Bristol Britannia wasn't a lot of fun.

36 hours just to the west coast, with necessary refueling stops in Kuwait,  Ceylon (as was), and Singapore. Followed by 48 hours jet lag.


Hidden Image/Members Only

Sounds horrendous. Flying to Los Angeles in the eighties wasn't much fun from what I remember.

[chrishornx]

Do you remember watching a film on monitors that dropped down from every four rows of the ceiling? 

The in-flight entertainment systems make the flight pass so much quicker - and let's not contemplate the presence of a smoking section.

fair point.... no flat beds or showers, no individual entertainment screen,  no choice of films, no  internet connection, no charging points, naff business lounges, slower noisier jets, no noise reducing earphones, no smoking allowed...

[scutty brown]

Flying back in the 1970s was bloody cramped. Examples I can still remember are DAN Air's Comet 4Bs and 707s with sardine seats.
BEA's Tridents were just as bad (though the takeoff climb was always fun and steep)

As for dressing up to travel...............remember you're talking of a generation who'd dress up to take  a train ride................a dirty sooty smoky steam train ride to the seaside. Insane.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Flying back in the 1970s was bloody cramped. Examples I can still remember are DAN Air's Comet 4Bs and 707s with sardine seats.
BEA's Tridents were just as bad (though the takeoff climb was always fun and steep)

As for dressing up to travel...............remember you're talking of a generation who'd dress up to take  a train ride................a dirty sooty smoky steam train ride to the seaside. Insane.

And 'err.. whats wrong with that then;)?....

[chrishornx]

And 'err.. whats wrong with that then;)?....

which bit?

[Watts.E.Dunn]

That lovely scent of steam and steam coal:))

[scutty brown]

That lovely scent of steam and steam coal:))

and the total ruination of summer frocks, suits and shirts

[JontyR]

I agree 100% with what you say about the ad. It gives you no reason to choose Virgin. As I travel regularly on them that's a shame, because they certainly are the best - across the Atlantic, anyhow.

The problem is that the people who make the ads are not like the people who buy the flights. When I came into advertising 60 odd years ago most of us were a lot closer to the customers.

Pretty sure we aren't the target audience for this advert though. Three thoughts spring to mind when viewing it with a cynical eye.

1. There is a wish to try and balance out the demographics in certain sections of the workforce (race in terms of cabin crew and gender in terms of pilots)
2. The demographic of existing customers has been seen to be older, and brand awareness amongst younger groups is less.
3. An attempt to balance out the advertising from the launch of Virgin Atlantic where you had the tailored fashions and cabin crew totty and the older white male pilot which was recalled in more recent adverts.

Virgin has always wanted to be hip and fashionable. They may still be viewed as such by those who were more impressionable back then in the 80s. But maybe not to those who may like brands when it comes to clothes / accessories but may be more swayed by the price when it comes to air travel. 

To my mind the most effective advertising I can rememebr was the Jane Horrocks / Prunella Scales Tesco adverts. These gave "permission" for the middle classes to shop at Tesco rather than Sainsburys.

[lillythesavage]

Do you not think they have changed with the times? 

Every one just wants to get where they are going in a rush these days. For a price they can afford. Business travellers are the same, just want to get there, and work while travelling on a device, there is little demand for the fussing during a trip, except from those that pay for it.

Is there any doubt the world has got smaller in travel terms and air travel is more accessible for the masses?

Meals on planes were never great, and now the airport is trying to sell you grub before boarding, not just the duty free and holiday essentials.

The internet changed things, you can compare every option open to you easily, pre covid numbers flying were massive, and the airlines have adjusted to the demands of today.

I do remember dressing up to fly, the travel dress that was only for that, in these days of baggage restrictions you need to take as much clothing you will use on your trip as possible 

[Colston36]

Flying to Australia in the early sixties on a Bristol Britannia wasn't a lot of fun.

36 hours just to the west coast, with necessary refueling stops in Kuwait,  Ceylon (as was), and Singapore. Followed by 48 hours jet lag.


Hidden Image/Members Only

Yes; I flew to Sydney with my second wife in 1972. What a nightmare.

[JontyR]

Yes; I flew to Sydney with my second wife in 1972. What a nightmare.

It was her own fault for stealing that loaf of bread. 

[lamboman]

Agreed that Virgin ad makes me not want to use them.
Fitbit are another guilty of this.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

and the total ruination of summer frocks, suits and shirts

I don't recall that problem even with me head stuck out of the window most all the way from Cambridge to Liverpool street;!..

And same again on the way back;!

[fudi_maar]

Just watched the YT video - oh boy oh boy...... the sickening amount of virtue signalling. It's turned me off Virgin and Branson, and I'm a big fan of his (read his books) etc.....AND.....I am an ethnic minority myself.

When will companies realise that putting a bunch of freaks in an ad to try and show that you are progressive and inclusive etc actually often has the opposite affect?
Or trying to push an agenda?
Anyone remember the Gillette ad from 3 years ago which "addressed toxic masculinity"? Their sales fell sharply after the ad.