gemini://jsreed5.org/log/2022/202211/20221115-gemini-and-the-golden-age-of-air-travel.gmi

In the 1970 archetypical disaster movie "Airport", a Boeing 707 undertakes an international flight from Chicago to Rome. One scene shows a passenger on the flight complaining to a stewardess about a stale snack, and he comments bitterly that his ticket cost him $474 US dollars. That amount is equivalent to approximately $3500 in 2022 dollars. Today, even in our inflation-ridden economy, a flight from Chicago to Rome can be purchased for under $500--an 85% drop in price.

In 1939, Pan American World Airways offered a comparable service from New York to Marseilles, France, via Azores and Portugal. That trip cost $675 in those days, or a staggering $13000 in today's dollars. Iberia and Lufthansa now offer the same flight for $700.

Of course, a lot has changed in the 83 years that have elapsed between 1939 and 2022, not least of which is the advancement of aviation technology. Today's jumbo jets are more fuel-efficient, can be maintained at larger scales, and can carry many more passengers per flight. All of these, combined with federal deregulation, allow for fierce competition and aggressive price drops to entice more customers.

Not to be ignored, however, is how airlines themselves have changed over the years. Airliners were cramped and uncomfortable in the very early days of flight, but in the post-war years of America and Europe, demand rose for premium service and first-class experiences. What resulted is known today as the Golden Age of air travel: lavish dinners, white gloves, neckties, polished shoes, spacious cabins that sometimes featured couches or even sleeping berths.

There's no doubt that some of the high cost of flying mid-century came from technological and logistical considerations. But included in that price was the understanding that one would receive a very high level of customer service. Passengers expected to be treated with dignity and care, and airlines used their reputations as a point of advertisement, enticing prospective travelers with the promise of a luxurious experience.

In the modern day, people no longer expect these things from airlines. All they want is to get to their destination as fast as possible, with as little fuss as possible. Of course travelers complain about cramped seats and extra fees, but consumer trends are clear that flyers will readily compromise on these amenities to save money. Even first- and business-class seats cost significantly less than economy seats did 50 years ago, after adjusting for inflation.

The core change in the airline industry that led to this shift is often identified as the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. The bill reduced and eventually eliminated the federal government's role in deciding fares and routes for airlines, as well as allowing new airlines to enter into the market more easily. Once consumer preferences were allowed to drive the industry, many companies realized that their guiding principles needed to be shifted radically.

Prior to 1978, high fares and limited routes created a very high barrier to entry. Only a few people could afford to travel via air, and those people were extremely invested in that travel. A significant financial outlay was involved. Deciding to fly, especially internationally, was a huge decision, and travelers expected--rightly, in my opinion--to be treated well for making that decision.

What happened afterward? Travel became cheaper and more available to the general public. Service standards quickly fell. Travelers no longer wore suits and dresses to the airport; these days pajamas and slippers are a more common sight than wrist cuffs and loafers. Seats shrank. Meals disappeared. Security checks became more invasive. Airport staff are more likely to greet one with a grunt than a smile. More and more people who hate flying are choosing to fly, and their negative attitudes bring down everyone else. Airlines invest more resources in controlling passengers than catering to them. We are now seen as little more than cargo that sometimes need to be watered like vegetables.

I see a lot of similarities between the evolution of airlines and the evolution of the Internet. The early days of the Internet certainly had their less-than-polite corners, but most BBSes and newsgroups had their own cultures of mutual respect, proper protocols of conduct, and general openness to discussion. In the world of Usenet, that came to an end in 1993, in an event known as "Eternal September".

Before Eternal September, Usenet was largely the domain of professionals, universities and hobbyists. Knowledge and skill were required to be able to use the service, and as such, those who spent time there were invested in the community that formed in newsgroups. In 1993, Internet providers started to offer Usenet access to anyone who signed up for service, creating an influx of new users that overwhelmed the relatively small and cohesive existing communities. The massive influx of new Internet users has never stopped since.

What happened afterward? Internet access became cheaper and more available to the general public. Communication standard quickly fell. Users no longer waited patiently for responses and addressed counterpoints; these days flame wars and pejoratives are a more common sight than well-reasoned debates. Breadth of content shrank. Independent Web sites disappeared. Tracking and surveillance became more invasive. Support agents are more likely to greet one with a dismissive robo-message than a semblance of sympathy. More and more people to hate facing any kind of challenge to their views are choosing to engage in discussion, and their negative attitudes bring down everyone else. Big tech invest more resources in controlling users than catering to them. We are now seen as little more than traffic statistics that sometimes need to be fed content like vegetables.

There's been a lot of discussion recently about barriers to Gemini, and I myself have contributed to discussions about those barriers. In my last post on this topic^, I didn't really give a value judgment on the existence of those barriers. I recently saw another log^^, however, that did talk about the merits of Gemini not being as "easy" as the Web. I agree with this assessment.

Pursuits that are hard to do, or at least harder than what people are used to, tend to breed a stronger culture within that pursuit. Only those who are interested enough to invest the required time, energy or money will pursue it. Others in that pursuit will be aware the work necessary to do it and will be more likely to recognize the efforts of the one. Those who have worked hard to build a community will not want to lose it, and will therefore be less likely to let small issues get in the way. It's also harder to rebuild from scratch in such pursuits, leading individuals to be less reckless with their own reputations in the space.

These are all qualities that Gemini as a community currently has. The easier it is for people to join in the space, the more likely it is that massive amounts of people will join who aren't invested, and the more like it is that the high quality of discussion will erode.

I think it's noble to want people to be able to partake in things they enjoy. But one cautionary tale from the Web is this: the easier something is to use, the less people usually care about what happens when they use it. I don't think anyone wants that to happen with Gemini. And if a high(er) barrier to entry is what stops that deluge, it's probably good to think twice before taking a wrecking ball to that barrier.

Gemini and the Golden Age of Air Travel

2022-11-15