Flying is one of life's great hassles. The packing, the traffic, the security, and the sheer inconvenience of just being on a plane are all enough to make anyone dread the thought.
But things weren't always this way. In the 1970s, travelers walked onto planes virtually unchecked and airports possessed more character than today's grey megastructures.
Here are 20 photos of what airports looked like in the 1970s compared to today.
1
Los Angeles International Airport
An entrance, around 1972.
2
LAX Postcard
An early '70s photo.
3
LAX Aerial Shot
Including its theme building.
4
LaGuardia Airport in 1974
Marine Air Terminal
5
Driving Towards LaGuardia’s Terminal B
Modern day approach.
6
TWA Hotel
Driving towards JFK's iconic building in 1969.
7
TWA Hotel Today
After a restoration, the building looks and functions virtually identically as it did back then.
8
TWA Packed
The perfect '60s replica is quite the tourist attraction, with elevator access straight off a regular terminal.
9
Atlanta Airport
Southern Airways loading up in 1972.
10
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Delta flights loading up.
11
Stapleton International Airport
Denver’s hub pre-2000s.
12
Denver International Airport
Replacing Stapleton, DIA is the world’s biggest airport by area.
13
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
The approach, soon after its construction in 1974.
14
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
American Airlines’ primary hub.
15
Chicago O’Hare
A crossing 747 in a 1972 postcard.
16
Chicago O’Hare Gate
Waiting to board in the 1970s.
17
The International Hallway
Chicago’s global recognition.
18
Heathrow Airport
Waiting to leave London.
19
London Heathrow
The indoor shopping mall.
20
Heathrow Airport
British Airways hub.
