Manchester to Orlando, via Bangor, Maine 1993. Monarch Airlines. I would definitely argue that taking an 8 year old kid on a 90s standard, economy, long-haul flight for his first airborne outing was a rookie mistake. 500 mph they told me. Flying through the clouds they said. Not quite as entertaining as that though, is it?
In those days, there were obviously no seat-back TV's, and even more obviously no iPads or smartphones. Just the one TV in the aisle every 30 seats or so and a colouring book. Oh, and absolutely revolting food that I can still smell and taste to this day, when I think about it. The film in question was Groundhog Day, so having been on the go since 2am, occasionally drifting off to sleep, only wake up and find the film in exactly the same place didn't do anything to help speed the flight up.
Nor did the stop in Bangor, Maine, to refuel, which I think was typical of transatlantic flights in those days. It's funny, for years I believed that Maine was in Canada, simply because that's what my parents told me. Evidently, it's not, so I'm not sure if my mum and dad were a bit thick, ignorant or just didn't have the access to Wikipedia that I do.
I took my kids, both younger than I was then, on a long-haul flight to Mexico not long before the world shat its pants. Was a lot easier with mod cons, I can assure you.
In those days, there were obviously no seat-back TV's, and even more obviously no iPads or smartphones. Just the one TV in the aisle every 30 seats or so and a colouring book. Oh, and absolutely revolting food that I can still smell and taste to this day, when I think about it. The film in question was Groundhog Day, so having been on the go since 2am, occasionally drifting off to sleep, only wake up and find the film in exactly the same place didn't do anything to help speed the flight up.
Nor did the stop in Bangor, Maine, to refuel, which I think was typical of transatlantic flights in those days. It's funny, for years I believed that Maine was in Canada, simply because that's what my parents told me. Evidently, it's not, so I'm not sure if my mum and dad were a bit thick, ignorant or just didn't have the access to Wikipedia that I do.
I took my kids, both younger than I was then, on a long-haul flight to Mexico not long before the world shat its pants. Was a lot easier with mod cons, I can assure you.
