Full episode available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration
On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan examine all things related to air travel. They begin with a historical deep dive that breaks air travel down into six distinct eras: the invention of aviation, the first golden age, WWII, the jet age, deregulation after 1978, and the modern era. The boys then go in several anecdotal directions, reminiscing about the airlines of yesteryear (Pan Am and TWA) and the decline of in-flight service. Amongst other things they discuss how the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 caused airlines to begin competing on price instead of service, how Southwest recently got rid of their two free checked bags policy, how Pan Am used to serve passengers beluga caviar, and how the TWA Hotel in NYC gives modern people the opportunity to experience Jet Age luxury.
Links:
The Wind Rises (2013)
Airlines’ Secret Scheme to Keep Airfare Prices High
Boeing: How much trouble is the company in? by Theo Leggett
Passengers evacuate onto wing of American Airlines plane after engine catches fire at Denver airport by Pete Muntean and Alexandra Skores
Fury as Southwest Airlines puts an end to one of its most popular perks by Ben Shimkus
Goodbye to ‘bags fly free’ on Southwest Airlines, the last freebie in America by Leslie Joseph
Matt Stoller: How To Fix The Airline Industry's Structural Problems
Come Fly With Me: The Story of Pan Am (2011, BBC Documentary)
Joseph Meeting Griz from 30 Rock
Woman strips naked and walks screaming down the aisle on Southwest flight to Phoenix by Terry Dickerson
Whitneylynn1 (Instagram Evangelist)
You’re Crazy For Taking the Bus by Johnathan Richman
Artwork:
TWA Convair 880 Lounge Publicity Photo
San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Recorded on 3/20/2025
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