I recently had a conversation with someone born in the 2000s who flies frequently for work, and they couldn’t imagine a time when passengers could simply walk up to the gate and board a plane without today’s level of security.
I’m just under 40, and while I flew often as a child, my memories are somewhat vague. I mainly recall that hot meals were served on nearly every flight, even on regional routes, and having to wait for my dad to finish smoking in designated airport lounges. When I mentioned that people used to be able to smoke on airplanes, they didn’t believe me until they looked it up.
I also remember carrying small items like a pocket knife as a kid in the 1990s without any issues, and my dad bringing a lighter on board as well. There was some form of security at airports near my hometown outside New York City, though I’ve heard that smaller airports sometimes had minimal or no formal screening, aside from a few security personnel.
It’s interesting to reflect on how much air travel has changed over the years.
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