How travel has changed in under two decades
I have travelled a lot since the mid 1990s. This week I was in Istanbul for the first time since 1996 and I began to think about how travel has changed. Here are 15 thoughts. There are plenty more.
This was written while on the Istanbul-Stansted leg of this flight.
Then
Finding a public phone to call home because hotel phones are too expensive
Now
FaceTime home
Then
Paper airline tickets you lock in hotel safe
Now
Online booking, no ticket needed
Then
Fully serviced flight with relaxed friendly cabin crew
Now
Booking lunch five days ahead (Pegasus) and polite slightly frazzled cabin crew.
Then
Connecting flights with luggage moved behind the scenes
Now
Six hour turn round between flights
Then
Language difficulties
Now
Everyone seems to speak English (thanks internet)
Then
Water brought to you in a tumbler by the cabin crew
Now
Buy a bottle of water
Then
Crew do safety demonstration
Now
Quirky – sometimes cheesy – videos help keep your attention.
Then
Free drinks
Now
Pay for drinks (please have the right change)
Then
Local food.
Now
Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Big Mac
Then
Local beer
Now
Irish pubs
Then
More expensive
Now
Less expensive
Then
Limited choice
Now
Greater choice
Then
Travel agents
Now
Internet
Then
Travellers’ Cheques
Now
Credit and debit cards
Then
Post cards
Now
Instant sharing on social media
There are more I can think of – what about you?