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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0876.PDF
FLIGHT, 21 March 1959 435 The Economist PLAIN MAN'S GUIDE TO UNLUXURY FLYING : VANCOUVER — AMSTERDAM AT 34-INCH SEAT PITCH By KENNETH OWEN ALOT of words have been devoted in recent months to thebusiness of pure-jet competition across the Atlantic. Fast,smooth, luxurious travel, Blue Ribands and all that. You won't hear any more about that son of aviation in this article,which concerns bread-and-butter flying—with the butter spread really thin. I refer to economy-class travel. Apart from the pagesof Flight, it may be that you haven't read much about the existence of this class, because airlines and manufacturers tend to lock upthe economy section of the aircraft when they are giving demon- stration flights to the Press, or so one gathers from the resultingrhapsodies of custom-styled, hand-tooled leather ashtray-cum- cocktail-mats in the de luxe lounge. This is the story of an economy-class flight from Vancouver toAmsterdam in a Bristol Britannia operated by Canadian Pacific Air Lines. It was, I am sure, typical of many similar services byother operators with other aircraft types. Vancouver Airport is a good example of a place that is burstingat its seams to accommodate everything and everybody who wants to be there. Eventually there will be a big new terminal building,but at present the existing terminal is a compact and friendly place. It has a small but efficient coffee shop on the groundfloor, and it was here that this story really begins. Having been warned of the gastronomic rigours of my proposed economy-classsteerage type of journey, I had ensured at least a reasonably full stomach for take-off. "Say, are you English?" said the girl behindthe counter as I finished my coffee. "Well, for heaven's sake!" As I listened to the first call over the loudspeaker (the aircraftwas "now available for those wishing to board"), I wondered what economy-class would really be like. On my re-confirmingat the C.P.A.L. office in Vancouver the previous day the clerk had asked where I wanted to sit—there was apparently some two-abreast seating as well as the triple threat I had expected, and so my request had been for an aisle seat in this two-abreast section. The Canadian Pacific New Jet-prop Britannia brochure gaveone idea of what the flight might be like. I would be flying in the largest, fastest, smoothest airliner in the sky today, it said. Wing-span was almost half the length of a football field and, if someone stood it on its tail—which, it said, was no easy matter at 180,000 lb—the jet-prop Britannia would be six stories high! Well, for heaven's sake, as my coffee-shop girl would have commented. World's most relaxing way to travel!, the brochure went on.The Britannia was apparently built with my comfort in mind, the cabin was air-conditioned and perfectly pressurized, and of par-ticular note was the unique system of humidity control. Why was it of particular note? Because it kept the air Springtime freshand crystal clear. Around me, the brochure continued, was a wealth of luxury,with decor that was in exquisite good taste. The windows were big, the carpets were thick. Reclining seats had all the comfort of Flight" photograph my favourite armchair, and there was head, leg and elbow room tospare. In fact, the Britannia was unusually spacious. Then the clerk had looked at me and said, "Have you travelledeconomy-class before, sir?" and had given me a much smaller leaflet entitled A word about your economy-class flight. . . .There had in fact been a couple of hundred words, and they seemed to have been printed in small, economy-class type. Their message was that "some modification in passenger ser-vices" had been necessary to bring me these low economy-class fares. Tasty sandwiches would be served to me at mealtimes, andtea, coffee and milk would be available, but "Cigarettes and alco- holic beverages will not be available to you on board; we suggestyou carry sufficient supplies of your favourite brands." News- papers and magazines could not be distributed during the flight,but there was a news-stand in the airport waiting-room. As I could appreciate (the leaflet philosophized), the thrift ofC.P.A. economy fares made it possible for greater numbers of people to travel, and left me more money to spend at mydestination. They were right about greater numbers of people travelling, butthey didn't tell me they would all be coming along with me on Flight 302 to Amsterdam. The second loudspeaker call men-tioned "immediate departure," and we left the crowded hall, moved out over the apron, and boarded Britannia CF-CZCEmpress of Madrid. The 44-seat economy-class cabin obviously hadn't yet been connected up to the Springtime Fresh andCrystal Clear air, in fact it was pretty Summertime Hot and Muggy as the occupants overloaded the overhead racks with coats,stored their supplies of favourite brands, and generally began to settle down for the long trip ahead. But presumably the first-classcompartment at the rear of the aircraft would be hot and muggy also. The next discrepancy was in the location of my seat. Havingrequested the aisle seat of a double row, I suppose one should not have been surprised at being awarded the centre seat of a triplerow. This led to an interesting situation. In the aisle seat next to me was a Danish lady who was telling the steward that she hadexpected a window-seat. This, clearly, was my only chance to extricate myself from the three-seat sandwich. Would she careto accept my seat, which was nearer the window? Yes she would, with many thanks. Not at all. With only one elbow now digging into my side, I reflected thatI had won my first battle with the economy-class concept. What would be the next problem? I soon found out. Just after we had taken off, my Danish neighbour leanedforward and began to put her handbag in the seat-back pouch in front of her. Suddenly, surprisingly, the seat-back jerkedback with a thump and stopped about an inch from her nose— the passenger in front had reclined his seat. My own amusement "They were right about greater numbers of people travelling, but they didn't tell me they would all be coming along with me on Flight 302 to Amsterdam. . . ." Some of the travellers, seen (below, left) checking in at Vancouver, (heading picture) boarding "Empress of Madrid," and (below, right) in the economy-class cabin towards the end of the flight "Flight" photographs
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