My first time flying was 1982. Back then you dressed up to fly (suits and ties for the men, dresses for the women). Metal detectors had been in place for less t

My first time flying was 1982. Back then you dressed up to fly (suits and ties for the men, dresses for the women). Metal detectors had been in place for less than a decade (before that, “skyjackings,” where the plane was directed to go to Cuba, were a monthly if not more frequent occurrence). In-flight service included drinks in actual glasses and metal silverware for any meals (when I moved off-campus, I liberated some airline silverware to augment the dining-hall silverware I ate with in my apartment). Meeting arrivals at the airline gate was a common practice (as was saying goodbye at the gate).