50 Years of Travel: 25 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know

In celebration of iBestTravel’s 50th anniversary, we’ve conducted a deep dive into the last 50 years of travel. Suffice it to say, travel in 1971 looked vastly different than today. The travel landscape of the 1970s was marked not by airline miles and rideshares but by notable milestones such as the introduction of commercial trans-Atlantic flights and the establishment of Amtrak. Although airport security was not as stringent, unique experiences like a piano bar in American Airlines economy class cabins were quite popular.

The more we delve into these last 50 years of travel, the more fascinating trivia we uncover. For instance, did you know that Aeromexico was the only airline to show the movie “Airplane!” in-flight? Here are 25 captivating facts about travel from the past five decades.

1970s

• Pan Am flew passengers from London to New York on the first commercial 747s during this decade.
• Amtrak was established in 1971 and began operations with 21 routes.
• Southern Airways, dubbed the “Route of the Aristocrats,” offered drinks like champagne in coach.
• Mandatory security screenings were introduced in 1973.
• The Concorde, known for supersonic air travel, had its maiden flight in 1969, paving the way for new travel experiences.
• In-flight live music was a novelty, provided by a piano bar on American Airlines 747-100s.

1980s

• Flying in the ’80s allowed passengers to check multiple bags without charge.
• Bringing liquids onto flights was common, allowing full-size toiletries on board.
• Construction for the Chunnel began in 1988, connecting the UK and France under the English Channel.
• The film “Airplane!” premiered in 1980, becoming a unique in-flight entertainment option for Aeromexico.
• Passengers were permitted to visit the cockpit during flights.
• NASA launched its first space shuttle in April 1981.
• Las Vegas transformed into a luxury destination with the opening of The Mirage in the late ’80s.

1990s

• The popularity of Australian travel soared thanks to the movie “Crocodile Dundee.”
• The era was defined by traveler’s checks and cash, preceding the rise of credit card points.
• 1997 witnessed the release of the first hybrid car on the roads of Tokyo.
• The Bellagio in Las Vegas, inspired by the Italian city, opened in 1998 at a staggering cost of $1.6 billion.

2000s

• TWA completed its 70-year journey in the skies by ceasing operations in the early 2000s.
• In 2000, the average domestic flight in the U.S. cost $502 (adjusted for inflation).
• In February 2005, Google Maps was introduced, revolutionizing travel navigation.
• The TSA was established on November 19, 2001, following the events of 9/11.

2010s and Beyond

• OK Go became the first to shoot a music video in zero gravity, garnering 23 million views shortly after its release in 2016.
• The longest flight available today is from New York to Singapore, lasting 17 hours and 50 minutes.
• Daily, more than 65,000 selfies are captured globally, highlighting the rise of social media in travel.
• Over the past two decades, the cost of domestic flights has decreased by nearly 30%.