Image via Complex Original
When people first started flying, it was mostly men on business trips. That means stewardesses catered primarily to Mad Men types and that the whole experience was supposed to be this luxurious event. Now most of us get stuck in coach next to crying kids and the person we don't know seated next to us inevitably drools on our shoulder. Gross.
Since Pan Am is set to premiere in two days, we took a time warp to track down advertisements that hearken back to the racier days of flying, some from the past, and some from a little more recently, to help remind us of when flying didn't mean popping Xanax with some whiskey in order to bear being stuck 10,000 miles above sea level in a narrow, compressed metal tube. Here's The Sexiest Airline Advertisements.
"Lynx Airlines" Commercial
Actually an advertisement for Lynx, which is the UK's name for Axe Bodyspray, this ad pretty much shows what an airline would be like if a total dude bro was running it.
Braniff Air Strip
Braniff Airlines had this classic commercial depicting the various outfits its stewardesses wore in-flight.
Spirit Airlines "Oil On Our Beaches"
Discount airline Spirit has often gone for the "sex sells" route for their ads, sometimes even having strippers towed around in a mobile advertisement for their Vegas rates. These ads saying "Come Check Out The Oil On Our Beaches" came out during the time of the BP Oil Spill, and were thought by many to be in poor taste.
Pan Am "Florida" Ad
Pan Am has always had great campaigns, this vintage one depicting Florida is just one of many examples.
SkyEurope Adriana Sklenarikova Karembeu Plane
Company SkyEurope plastered the visage of fashion model Adriana Sklenarikova Karembeu on the side of its planes during its better days.
Southwest Airlines "Remember" Commercial
This commercial depicts a lone stewardess waxing nostalgic about air travel in a skimpy outfit.
Pan Am "Hawaii" Ad
Pan Am released a series of ads portraying different exotic women hailing from the numerous locales the company could fly you to. In this case, it's Hawaii.
Southwest Airlines Bar Rafaeli Planes
Southwest Airlines caught flack for putting Sports Illustrated swimsuit model on the sides of its planes. It was done as part of a deal with SI, but we're guessing people were complaining about not being able to see her from the inside.
Pan Am "Rio" Ad
Part of a questionable series of advertisements depicting exotic women, these three beauties were expected to greet you in Rio, at least, if you had Pan Am fly you there.
Air New Zealand Bares It All
In a series of commercials, Air New Zealand painted people depicting their employees in body paint designed to look like uniforms to emphasize that the brand had nothing to hide in its low fares.
Pan Am "Italy" Ad
This Italian woman was part of a Pan Am ad campaign supposedly depicting the types of women you would encounter in the destinations Pan Am flew you to.
Virgin Atlantic "Still Red Hot"
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of Virgin Airlines, this throwback ad channels the '80s and was ultimately deemed more empowering than sexist by its critics.
Manta Airlines "Wings" Ad
Comprised of a tanned, fit woman with wings made of Ecuador's best exports, this ad gets its point across well without being sleazy.
Avianova Airlines Bikini Plane Wash
This controversial commercial depicts several bikini-clad flight attendants washing down a plane while being ogled.
Air France Ads
This series of Air France Ads were subtle in their sexiness, tying in the Air France logo into a sultry passenger's clothing.