Clipper passengers took their meals at real tables, not their seats. For most travelers in the 21st century, flying is a dreary experience, full of inconvenience, indignity, and discomfort.
The ship analogy was appropriate, as the Clipper landed on the water, not runways.
The Boeing CompanyHere's a diagram of the different areas of the plane.
The Boeing Company[Source: Boeing]On Pan Am flights, passengers had access to dressing rooms and a dining salon that could be converted into a lounge or bridal suite.
The Boeing CompanyThe galley served up meals catered from four-star hotels.
The Boeing CompanyIf you want to sit at a table to eat with other people these days, you have to fly in a private jet.
The Boeing CompanyThere was room for a crew of 10 to serve as many as 74 passengers.
The Boeing CompanyOn overnight flights, the 74 seats could be turned into 40 bunks for comfortable sleeping.
The Boeing CompanyThe bunk beds came with curtains for privacy.
On the 24-hour flights across the Atlantic, crew members could conk out on these less luxurious cots.
Unlike some modern jets that come with joysticks, the Clipper had controls that resembled car steering wheels.
Navigating across the ocean used to require more manpower in the air.
The lavatory wasn't too fancy, but it did have a urinal — something you never see in today's commercial jets, where space is at a premium.
The ladies lounge had stools where female passengers could sit and do their makeup.
The Clipper made its maiden trans-Atlantic voyage on June 28, 1939.
The Boeing CompanyBut once the US entered World War II, the Clipper was pressed into service to transport materials and personnel.
In 1943, President Franklin Roosevelt celebrated his 61st birthday on board.
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