This 1937 ad for United Airlines boasts a “miracle” improvement in air travel in just 10 years. In 1927, when commercial flight was initiated, it took 33 hours and 14 stops to fly from coast to coast. By 1937, one could fly the same distance in just 15 and 1/3 hours! With only three stops!
The ad certainly puts into perspective my own frustration at what a time-suck air travel can be.
Source: Vintage Ads.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 10
nomadologist — June 27, 2010
It's interesting that the air routes map looks like a subway map. They even call it the Main Line. Air travel as the next step after rail.
larrycwilson — June 27, 2010
Commercial air travel is the most wasteful form of transportation.
Ex Ua — June 27, 2010
The reference to mainline is because all major carriers have contracted regional carriers (United = United Express, American = American Eagle...), so it differentiates from the subsidiary which is really a separate company. That is still different than code sharing where you may have a ticket on United but really fly Lufthansa because they are partners. So it's all not just a time suck but a brain suck too!