Margaret Echols, one of the first stewardesses for Pan American Airways

    Welcome Aboard!  A Look at                 Service in the Stratosphere

Glamour and luxury were once synonymous with air travel, culminating in the Golden Age of flying during the 1950's and the 1960's.  Because ticket fares were once regulated, airlines competed for passengers by upping their amenities.  Not to be outdone, Pan American Airways constantly strove to be a cut above the rest, and their style, food, and service was truly legendary.

Climb aboard, as we take a tour of Pan Am's superior services through the years.

Passengers dining aboard the Sikorsky S-42 in the 1930's

Service evolved rapidly in the mid-1930's when the Sikorsky S-42 joined Pan Am's fleet because its galley had equipment that enabled food to be heated aboard for the first time.  Still, international flights could take up to five days and required overnight stops. In order to impress passengers during such long journeys, stewards learned where to find the best local fare at each stop and had it delivered to the dock by the next day prior to takeoff.  With no refrigeration, food was kept on ice.  Meals were served in multiple courses with real glasses, silverware, fine china, and linens.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt receives the first book of Clipper Air Cheques

High Class Convenience

Pan Am employed a number of accommodations and services to cater to its diverse clientele and impart a sense of comfort and luxury.  Passengers were allocated ample space aboard the plush aircraft interiors.  The Constellations and Stratocruisers included roomy sleeping berths, reclining seats, and a children's play area.  Pan Am's "President Special" even provided orchids and perfume for female passengers and cigars for male passengers

In 1944, the airline introduced Clipper Air Cheques, a type of travelers' check developed in cooperation with American Express, and presented the first book to Eleanor Roosevelt.  As in-flight entertainment evolved, Pan Am also introducted "Theatre-in-the-Air" in 1965, showing feature films and provided headsets for movies and music.

A champagne toast aboard a Boeing 707

Fine dining became a cornerstone of Pan Am's in-flight services, and it relied heavily on restaurant-like food service to impart a sense of luxury.  The company established commissary operations in San Francisco, New York, London, and Paris where it paired with Maxim's to incorporate high-class cuisine.  Aboard Pan Am's Stratocruiser, passengers were treated to a seven course dinner and could enjoy cocktails in the lower lounge.  The airline was known for its fresh roast beef, carved to order on board the aircraft.

In 1946, Pan Am introduced pre-cooked frozen meals that could be kept cold aloft until service.  Meals were par-cooked in Pan Am's central kitchens, flash-frozen and distributed among its aircraft.  In later years, the airline began incorporating dishes indigenous to its routes, such as Beef Negimayaki on the Tokyo route.  Pan Am won multiple awards for its excellent culinary service.

Genevieve Baker, one of the first stewardesses for Pan American Airways

Pan Am initiated its first class of female flight attendants in 1944.  Male stewards were needed on the warfront and the stewardesses, as they were known, stepped in to take the place of their male counterparts. From that point on, the role of flight attendant was predominantly occupied by women for years to come.

The "Pan Am Smile" was worn with pride.  Since flight attendants were the primary point of contact for its clientele, Pan Am placed a strong emphasis on appearance and imposed strict qualifications.  The image of the Pan Am flight attendant embodied the allure and excitement of air travel and inspired many people to pursue careers in aviation.

 "How to Bake a Pan Am Cake"

Although Pan Am flight attendants have often been portrayed as glamorous, nurturing caretakers, this image does not convey the elaborate training, strict physical requirements, and rigorous demands expected of them.  All personnel underwent Orientation and flight attendants were required to memorize their Flight Service Manuals, consisting of hundreds of pages.

After 5-6 weeks of arduous training, students earned their "wings" and attended a graduation ceremony.  Many flight attendants forged lifelong friendships and organized World Wings International, a philanthropic organization for former Pan Am flight attendants.

Pan Am stewardesses came from around the globe

Wings All Over the World

With air routes spanning the globe, Pan Am hired flight attendants from all over the world. In its Latin American Division alone, over 23 nationalities were represented and the flight attendants spoke over a dozen languages, as well as sign language.

Good language skills were a critical element for good customer service since Pan Am served a diverse international customer base. In addition to English, Pan Am required flight attendants to speak at least one other language fluently.  These language skills were invaluable for communication with a wide array of passengers that included celebrities, dignitaries, infantry, and average citizens.

Service in Style

Pan Am flight attendants model "The 747 Look"

From Pan Am’s earliest days, flight crew uniforms were designed to promote the airline’s image of professionalism and world class service. The first pilots' uniforms were all navy blue with white hats in the same style as staff of an ocean liner, a tip of the hat to Juan Trippe's experience in the U.S. Navy.  Stewards wore white button-down butler's coats with white hats.

Pan Am’s flight attendants were known for their fashion-forward uniforms, many of which were designed by world-renown designers. Pan Am allowed the first group of seven stewardesses to choose the color of their uniforms.  Elizabeth Tunis, Pan Am's first purser (head flight attendant), chose "heavenly blue" which subsequently became known as "Tunis Blue" in her honor.

As commercial air travel grew and airlines competed for passengers, new uniforms were rolled out to showcase Pan Am's classy style and to benchmark new milestones in aviation.  High-fashion couturier, Don Loper of Beverly Hills designed Pan Am's new uniforms for 1958, introducing "The Jet Age Look".  In 1969, Evan-Piccone designed a new line of attire to commemorate Pan Am's newest aircraft.  Known as "The 747 Look", the uniforms were offered in "Superjet Blue" and "Galaxy Gold".

Booking reservations was revolutionized with the new Panamac computerized ticketing system

Selling the Skies

Pan Am also relied on its skilled sales personnel on the ground to keep its flight crews up  in the air.  As sales increased and technology evolved, Pan Am introduced the Panamac computerized reservations system in 1964, connecting hundreds of agents throughout the world with Pan Am's central system in New York City.

The airline often employed a variety of promotional tactics over the years to boost its sales, such as commemorative and anniversary flights and promotions for new services.  Pan Am also owed much of its success to its savvy marketing campaigns, and their advertisements and associated artwork remain highly collectible to this today.