Customer Reviews

Flying Across America

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In a single generation, civilian aviation went from a few adventure hardy men and women trying out the new transportation technology of airplanes, to a common place occurrence among a majority of the American population. What might not be obvious to the current generation whose experience with air flight transportation is one of crowded terminals, weather related delays and cancellations, missed connections and lost luggage, is that in its 'Golden Age', travel by airplane was one of elegance, luxury, and the thrill of a lifetime. "Flying Across America: The Airline Passenger Experience" by Daniel L. Rust (Assistant Director of the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Missouri--St. Louis), is a superbly illustrated and informatively written account of the evolution of commercial passenger service from its beginnings in the 1920s through its increasing accessibility in the 1960s, to the Post 9/11 problematic conditions that are the present day norm. Laced through this deftly written history are firsthand accounts from celebrities like Will Rogers (who ultimately lost his life in an air plane crash) to ordinary American passengers. Unique and inherently entertaining, "Flying Across America" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to community, and academic library Aviation Studies and American Aviation History reference collections and personal reading lists.

I am pilot and aviation buff. I enjoyed the written history aspect but was greatly disappointed at the lack of depth of pictures. The same photos and illustrations were used over and over in succeeding chapters. I would not give this book as gift to other aviation buffs.

Excellent description of the way it was, when being an airplane passenger was exciting. Has many interesting details and great illustrations and photos.

I just returned from a flight from San Francisco to Boston....actually my first "cross country" flight, although I've flown quite a bit to other places, including Europe and Great Britain.

I was talking to friends about my first experience flying, in 1960, to my grandmother's in Florida from Pittsburgh. I was 15 years old, wore a dress, and high heels on the flight. There was absolutely no security. The plane sat on the tarmac behind a chain link fence. The airline person collected your ticket at the gate in the fence, and someone took your bag there also, carrying it to the plane. There was plenty of space on the plane, and the flight attendants were friendly and polite to each passenger. When my grandmother flew back to Florida from her Pittsburgh visits, my mother would get onto the plane with her, helping her carry her bag and whatever else she had with her. I feel badly that young children and people today will never know that type of experience. I know I sound like an "old fogie" but flying today certainly ain't what it used to be!!!! No doubt about it!!! Today, it's like riding on a bus!!