Pan Am Is Bringing Back the Golden Age of Air Travel

In the wake of a worldwide technology outage, my Sunday afternoon flight with Delta Air Lines from Boston Logan (BOS) to San Francisco (SFO) was canceled, and the next option to fly on Delta was nearly 48 hours later. I rebooked myself on United Airlines, which got me to my destination just over 12 hours later than originally scheduled—at a cost that exceeded $2,000. Thankfully, I was traveling for work and the new flight was covered as a business expense. If I was paying out of my own pocket, however, I would have submitted the new flight for reimbursement via the travel insurance coverage offered through my credit card.

The global software outage last week caused thousands of travelers flying in the United States and internationally to have their flights delayed, canceled or both. In the days that followed, some airlines were trying to reboot critical computer systems affected by the outage, with many of their passengers still stranded at airports.

It's been a tumultuous few days at U.S. airports. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights since an IT outage affecting Microsoft clients Friday upended operations at industries around the world — including air travel.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Ahmed Al Sharif, 32, the CTO of Sandsoft, a game developer. Al Sharif was stranded at Barcelona airport on Friday because of the IT outage disrupting travel and other services. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

From Chicago to Metropolis, Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 folk opus Illinois packs what feels like a whole nation’s history into the borders of one state. Covering everything from the World’s Fair and UFO sightings to the invention of cream of wheat, the album captivated listeners far beyond the Midwest.

Travel is, for many of us, a distinctly rewarding experience—yet it comes at a price. Sky-high flight costs, accommodation costs, and overpriced restaurants can make budgeting seem impossible, and suddenly, booking that trip quickly becomes daunting instead of exciting. While we can’t promise your dream getaway will ever be a bargain, our editors have picked up a few tips and tricks during their years of traveling for cutting costs. Travel is for making memories, so it is important to carefully plan your spending to make the most out of your trip. Here is how to stretch every penny with the golden rules of affordable travel our editors swear by.

Skift Global Forum – happening September 17-19, 2024 in New York City – is an essential event for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve in the travel industry.

For many, Pan American World Airways represents our collective nostalgia for the golden age of air travel, when jet-setters were transported around the world in sleek, spacious planes with stylish flight attendants and glamorous meal service.

Soaring temperatures in much of the country – it was 124 degrees one day in Palm Springs last week - has called into question whether the heat index affects an airplane. 

I was doom-scrolling TikTok a few months ago when a video of someone walking around empty terminals at Denver International Airport popped up. The video, posted at the end of May, had about 25 million views and 3.7 million likes as of this month.

For decades, Pan Am represented the best in world aviation with glamorous transatlantic flights, chic flight attendants, and elaborate onboard meals. Now, the carrier is bringing back that golden age of travel with an over-the-top private jet trip in 2025. 

International air travel from China is recovering, but set to remain at a fraction of what it was in 2019, according to data platform OAG.