The ever so great Taschen has done it again. This time with tickets to ride, fly, sail and drive, they cover 100-years of traveling from an American perspective. At 392 pages filled with spectacular illustrations, ads and other goodies for only $39.99 it’s a bargain and available to purchase in May. Which is your preferred way of traveling? By land, air or sea?

In less than 100 years, the U.S. mass-produced the automobile, invented airplanes, freeways, motels, even sent men to the Moon. Travel grew ever faster and easier. Above all, it was democratized — enabling millions to explore distant lands, or see their own more fully. At the start of the 20th century, only people with extensive disposable income and time to spare could enjoy leisure travel. By the century’s end, journeys took hours, not days, and mass travel — especially brief air flights — became the new normal. Along the way, ocean liners broke speed records, aerodynamic trains roared down the tracks, stylish boat-plane clippers evolved into jumbo jets. Whether aboard high-speed locomotives or ships, jets, or Greyhound buses — or when setting their own schedule on the open road — Americans demanded ever greater mobility and wider choice of destinations, thereby setting a new standard for travelers around the world.

Boeing 747, also known as the jumbo jet was first introduced in 1970. With Pan American airlines as one of its major investors they had the possibility to influence the design and development of the aircraft. It was deemed that the world needed a jet plane of massive size that could transport hundreds of passengers fast, efficient and with style. Juan Trippe who was the CEO of Pan Am at the time predicted that the 747 would be “… a great weapon for peace, competing with intercontinental missiles for mankind’s destiny.” (Source).

Here is a taste of various photos found at the great airliners.net website, depicting how it was like to travel with a Pan Am jumbo jet in the early 1970s. For anyone who hasn’t been able to experience it first hand, I recommend getting the Space Age Lounge Volume 3 compilation and then read the article about former Pan Am stewardess Valerie Waterman. What are your memories of jet traveling in the 1970s?

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You love stewardesses don’t you? So do I. Flying today is not the way it was used to be, so to remind you all of how elegant, exciting and swank traveling by airplane used to be here are a bunch of photos taken from the golden years of flying circa 1950s to the 1970s. For a real life story on how flying used to be, check out the story I did with former Pan Am stewardess Valerie Waterman. Which is your favorite still in operation airline? (Via) [Thanks Chester]

From online shop Inretro comes these lovely retro airline and hostess flight bags straight out from a relaxing intercontinental flight in the 1960s. Although reproductions, they look like the real deal and they won’t set you back like the Marc Jacobs designer Pan Am bags that arrived not too long ago. Inretro features both airline bags and smaller airline hostess bags for storing all your must-have items on a long transatlantic flight.

I was able to obtain my own Pan Am flight back dating back to circa 1960 from eBay a few years back. Although not original, it was bought from the same line of bags they used in Catch Me if You Can starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Complete with a Pan Am luggage and crew tag – and minus the smell of a bag that’s been stowed away in the attic for 50 years. Inretro has well over 70 bags from different airlines to choose from, including Pan Am, TWA, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa and many more. Prices range from around £20 to £30 which is a great deal for anyone wanting to look like a proper jet setter.

The luscious collaboration with British lifestyle magazine Chic Today proceeds. Here is the fourth article by me, it is lovingly called Fly me friendly and continues my fascination of air travel and stewardesses in its golden age. The article can be found in their magazine available in a interactive form or as downloadable PDF-file (links below). But as of this issue all of the editorials will also be presented as posts through their website. Chic Today is totally free and features interesting articles about fashion, design and lifestyle elements for all of you who enjoy the more chic things in life.

Chic Today Issue 23 – Flights of Fancy (Magazine version)
Chic Today Issue 23 – Flights of Fancy (PDF version)