Throwback photo of an aeroplane

Only the rich and famous flew in the 1930s, but while it looked glamorous the planes were cold, loud and often dropped hundreds of feet.

Nowadays, tens of millions of Brits travel every year by plane for business or pleasure.

But 80 years ago, commercial plane travel was a whole different ball game.

In the 1930s, flying was only for the rich and famous – although there was a boom in aviation during the decade.

From 1930 to 1934 alone, the number of passengers flying with airlines in America shot up from 6,000 to 450,000, rising again to 1.2 million in 1938.

The planes were pretty basic though.

It was wise to stay strapped into your seat at all times because aircraft would often drop hundreds of feet suddenly and with no warning – which would have been uncomfortable if you were sat on the toilet.

Passengers would also have been very chilly, as there was very little heating on the planes.

The noise was deafening from the machines too, and cabin crew would often resort to shouting at passengers over megaphones so they could be heard.

While it was cold, loud and still very dangerous, flying in the 1930s was incredibly stylish for those who could afford it.

Travellers would be treated to three-course meals at tablecloths covered with linen and they would even be allowed to sleep on a flight – some sleeper planes had up to 20 beds.

While air travel was considerably quicker than travelling by land, it still too a very long time.

A trip from London to Singapore would take around eight days because of the refuelling stops required.

It wasn’t cheap either – that journey would cost £180, which works out at around £10,900 in today’s money.

Check out some vintage photos below:

 A series of vintage photographs have revealed what flying was like in the 1930s
A series of vintage photographs have revealed what flying was like in the 1930sCredit: Alamy
 The interiors of commercial aircraft was still extremely basic in the 1930s
The interiors of commercial aircraft was still extremely basic in the 1930sCredit: Getty – Contributor
 An early airline stewardess serves her passengers drinks in 1931
An early airline stewardess serves her passengers drinks in 1931Credit: Alamy
 A passenger eats breakfast on United Airline's Douglas Mainliner Sleeper airplane from Chicago to San Francisco in 1937
A passenger eats breakfast on United Airline’s Douglas Mainliner Sleeper airplane from Chicago to San Francisco in 1937Credit: Alamy
 Passengers sit talking in the main cabin of a Supermarine Swan II
Passengers sit talking in the main cabin of a Supermarine Swan IICredit: Getty – Contributor
 Waiter service aboard Imperial Airways 'Scylla' during its flight from London to Paris in 1935
Waiter service aboard Imperial Airways ‘Scylla’ during its flight from London to Paris in 1935Credit: Hulton Archive – Getty
 A steward aboard the giant flying-boat, 'Canopus' serves breakfast to a passenger in a lower bunk while a woman in an upper berth waits
A steward aboard the giant flying-boat, ‘Canopus’ serves breakfast to a passenger in a lower bunk while a woman in an upper berth waitsCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
 A view of the forward passenger cabin of an Imperial Airways Handley Page HP42E Heracles airliner, as normally used on the Paris to London route
A view of the forward passenger cabin of an Imperial Airways Handley Page HP42E Heracles airliner, as normally used on the Paris to London routeCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
 Preparing lunch on the Imperial Airways aeroplane 'Scylla', in November 1936
Preparing lunch on the Imperial Airways aeroplane ‘Scylla’, in November 1936Credit: Getty – Contributor
 Interior of United Airlines plane - the cabins were still very chilly as they had very little heating
Interior of United Airlines plane – the cabins were still very chilly as they had very little heatingCredit: Alamy
 Day cabin of an Imperial Airways flying boat, most likely of the Short Empire class
Day cabin of an Imperial Airways flying boat, most likely of the Short Empire classCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
 Passengers settling down for their journey on an Air France plane
Passengers settling down for their journey on an Air France planeCredit: Getty – Contributor
 Passengers play cards on United Airline's Skylounge Mainliner in 1937
Passengers play cards on United Airline’s Skylounge Mainliner in 1937Credit: Alamy
 The interior of an American Airlines Curtiss Condor passenger plane
The interior of an American Airlines Curtiss Condor passenger planeCredit: Alamy
 A United Airlines Mainliner sleeper plane. -the trip from New York to the Pacific coast took 17 hours
A United Airlines Mainliner sleeper plane. -the trip from New York to the Pacific coast took 17 hours