On social media, many viewers were stunned after discovering the ‘mind-blowing’ detail of two old plane boarding passes.
A viral post on Reddit revealed the surprising detail about airline travel, which gained significant attention online.
A recent Reddit post revealed vintage plane boarding passes has left many in disbelief over a surprising detail from the past.
This discovery showed how much airline travel has evolved, particularly regarding smoking policies on flights.
The surprising detail in the old boarding passes
A Reddit user who goes by @Hour-Work6565 shared an intriguing photo of old boarding passes they found in a secondhand book.
The post has the caption: “Is anyone able to date these boarding passes?”
The post read: “Hey guys – these boarding passes fell out of a book that I bought secondhand (so there’s no telling how many people have owned it at this point) and these 2 boarding passes were tucked in the front page.
I’ve tried looking everywhere online to see any similar or to try to date them as I’m so intrigued as to how old they could be but had no luck finding anything! The non smoking cabin is making me think maybe pre 1980’s?!
Any ideas anyone? Thanks! :)”
The passes, for a flight from London Heathrow to Casablanca, Morocco, featured a “non-smoking cabin” option.
Additionally, the user speculated that these passes might date back to the 1980s or earlier and sought input on their age.
Historical context of non-smoking policies on airplane
The concept of a non-smoking cabin on airplanes might seem unusual today. However, it reflects a time when smoking was permitted on flights.
Additionally, smoking was officially banned in indoor public spaces in the UK in July 2007.
However, the practice persisted in airplanes for several decades.
Evolution of smoking policies on flights
– Early bans: Aurigny Air Services was the first airline to implement a smoking ban onboard, doing so in 1977. This early move was part of a gradual shift towards smoke-free air travel.
– Progressive changes: In the 1990s, smoke-free flights began trials. British Airways fully banned smoking on all flights by 1998. The European Union’s comprehensive ban on smoking in airplanes came into effect in 1997.
– Air France’s policy: Air France, the likely airline for the discovered boarding passes, banned smoking in November 2000. This ban followed the EU’s regulations, meaning the passes were from early 2000 or earlier when smoking was still allowed at 30,000 feet.
The post quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media
The Reddit post sparked a wave of reactions. In the comment selection, many users expressing disbelief that smoking was once allowed on flights.
Som described it as an “absolute mindf*ck” to realize smoking was permitted until as recently as 2000. While, another user humorously remarked, “This is just plane wrong.”
One person said: In the early 90’s I actually went to school to be a travel agent, and learned 2 different computer “languages” in order to handwrite these plane tickets.
A second wrote: I remember when Greyhound had a smoking section last 4 rows with ashtrays in the arm rest
While a third commented: My parents used to smoke so much that our living room looked like it had its own weather system.
Another added: I remember those days so well. I would spend most of the flight with my nose covered, it was horrible, I’m so glad it has been banned smoking in planes.
The discovery of these old boarding passes serves as a fascinating reminder of how far airline regulations have come.
While the idea of smoking on planes may seem outdated and surprising today, it reflects a different era in air travel.
What did you think about this incident?