Top 20+ of the '60s and '70s Best First-Class Amenities

As much as flying stinks these days, it's important to remember that ticket prices are more affordable than they've ever been. 

Flying used to be prohibitively expensive for all but the uber wealthy, but boy, did they get what they paid for. While we plebs were stuck on the ground, international airlines commissioned top chefs to cook top meals for people with tons of legroom and on-call service. Real nice stuff. 

Here are what first-class amenities looked like in the '60s and '70s, according to the airlines that offered them. 

Cabin Service

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Food tray in the 1970s.

SAS DC-8-33

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Interior cabin, 1960s.

Meat or Seafood?

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Choices in the ‘70s.

First Class

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

A 747 with Japan Airlines, 1970.

Lobster or Shrimp?

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Seafood galore.

Fresh Bread

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Pan-Am airlines in 1977.

SAS Scandinavia

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

A selection of meats in the 1960s.

First Class Drinks

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Flying in the early 1960s.

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

A 1970's DC-8

Great Service

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

SAS in the 1970s.

Perfect Service

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Flying in the 1960s.

Balanced Meal

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

A full tray from SAS.

Pan Am Desserts

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Sweets in the 1970s.

A Qantas Flight

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Serving meals in the ‘60s.

Drink Service

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Flying in the 1960s.

Menu

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Plenty to choose from.

A Pan Am 747 Cabin

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

Mockup of legroom before the plane hit the skies in the early ‘70s.

Royal Viking

Cabin Service, SAS DC-8-33, Meat or Seafood?, First Class, Lobster or Shrimp?, Fresh Bread, SAS Scandinavia, First Class Drinks, Great Service, Perfect Service, Balanced Meal, Pan Am Desserts, A Qantas Flight, Drink Service, A Pan Am 747 Cabin, Royal Viking

First class section.

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