Today, flying on an airplane isn't typically a luxurious journey. Two hour check-in, long lines at security, and cramped seating are the norm.
That wasn't the case in the 1950s.

The Highline Historical Society, a group that collects and preserves pieces of history of the Highline region, held a panel discussion recently where former airline workers from Sea-Tac Airport shared their memories of what traveling was like in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s- a period they considered the "Golden Age of Air Travel."
One of the major differences was how passengers dressed when they flew.

"Ladies wore gloves and hats and men wore suits, ties, and sport coats," said Montie Leffel, a former flight attendant with Northwest Airlines who boasted a collection of autographs from various celebrities he obtained throughout his career, including Elvis Presley.

At one point, even the flight attendants had to dress as if they were
putting on a show.

Former Alaska Airlines ticketing agent Danna Siverts said that flight attendants had to wear red velvet dresses with long slits on the skirt, fishnet stockings, and a hat with an ostrich further protruding from it.

She said the idea was supposedly inspired when then-chairman and CEO of Alaska Airlines, Charles Willis, would only sign a contract with Boeing on the condition that they made the interiors of the planes look like a brothel.

"It was a different airline age," she said with a laugh.

Retired Pan American pilot Ralph Shape said flying was a huge thing back then.

"Everybody dressed up because the airlines were providing a service," he said.

And apparently, the service was good, according to the panel members as they recalled memories of lavish lunch buffets, roasts that were carved right in front of passengers, casseroles that were prepared fresh with the utmost care, and $1 cocktails that were served in economy class.

"As to why it's changed now, I don't know," Shape said. "Probably because it's gotten a lot easier now and people feel it's like getting on a bus."

The discussion soon transitioned into the '60s and '70s, a time when the Vietnam War was raging.

Former Pan American Airways pilot Jack Burke was an Air Force pilot during that war and he was flying to Saigon from Singapore during the Tet Offensive of January 1968. He heard reports from his station manager that there were 100 adults and 111 small children stranded at the airport and no airlines were operating.

Burke said that if they remained at the airport, the Viet Cong - the Communist army that was fighting the United States at the time - would surely shoot them all.

"The Viet Cong didn't take any prisoners," he said.

"I went back and explained to the crew what was going to happen if we don't go in and get these people. We voted to go in," he said.

The former Pan American airways pilot choked up a little as he told his story of how he first saw the crowd of people in the terminal.

"One hundred adults and 111 little kids with no place to sit, standing since morning and all crying," he said.

Burke had landed at the airport in a Boeing 707 with only 180 seats. He had a total of 211 people to pick up, over half of whom were young children. In addition to the crew already on the plane, the total number of people the 707 would be carrying would be 274. He and his crew accepted them all.

They opened the overhead bins and luggage was stowed away underneath seats so that the bins could become makeshift bassinets for the babies. People sat in each other's laps, some people stood, and some laid on the floor. Two fighter planes took off first to ensure the flight path was fast for Burke to fly through.

Hours later, Burke landed the 707 in safety in Hong Kong.

You can learn more about upcoming events and projects from the historical society at www.highlinehistory.org.