What was flying a Pan Am B747 in the 1970s like?
Pan American World Airways — or Pan Am — was once the biggest international airline in the world. It is remembered as a symbol of luxury and of how air travel used to be. Pan Am filed for bankruptcy and ultimately folded in 1991.
Fortunately in Los Angeles, you can re-live the magic of flying on-board a luxurious Pan Am B747 at The Pan Am Experience.
The Pan Am Experience includes a five or six course meal, drinks and a fashion show. There’s even a check-in process with tickets and boarding passes. Flight attendants dressed in retro uniforms will happily pose for photos with passengers. You can even get dressed up as a Captain like I did!
All passengers are invited for a cocktail in the lounge before boarding the Pan Am B747.
With the owners of Pan Am Experience; Anthony Toth (left) and Talaat Captan (right)
The co-owner Anthony Toth gave me a quick tour of the plane, which is a complete replica of the Pan Am B747-200. There are a total of 56 seats, with 18 First Class seats in the 747 plane nose followed by 24 Clipper Class seats in the section behind the nose.
The bulkhead and covers of the seats are replicated to the exact decor of Pam Am in the 1970s.
Pan Am Experience First Class Section 
Original Pam Am B747
Perhaps the most exclusive section is the upper deck lounge, with space for just 14 passengers to enjoy.
Upper deck lounge 
Upper deck lounge in 1970s
Pan Am Experience Upper Deck
Once boarded, retro dressed Pan Am stewardesses offered cocktails, prop (fake) cigarettes and magazines.
Waiters dressed in white suites to offer replica menus, based on what Pan Am served on long haul flights back in 1970. Catering was replicated from Maxim’s de Paris.
They served classic dishes, such as caviar and chateaubriand, exactly what Pan Am served in the 70s. The menu, seat cover, fine bone china and glassware served was all original Pan Am items; from the collection of owner Anthony Toth. Starter was a prawn cocktail.
Meanwhile on the upper deck, premium passengers were treated to caviar and chilled vodka.
Between the starter and main course, there were fashion shows with flight attendants dressed in all the Pan Am uniforms over the years.
The next was the main course, classic French Chateaubriand served directly in front of each passenger to their liking. There was also an alternative Chicken or pasta (vegetarian) dish.
After the main course, it was time for another international airline fashion show. No less than 17 different airline uniforms were shown, including some of the current ones such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
After the show there were duty free sales available (Pan Am retro memorabilia) followed by fruit, cheese and a dessert cart.
Whether you’re a flying enthusiast or just want to try something different. the Pam Am Experience was great retro fun and never a dull moment. I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the full video.
Video of Pan Am Experience
Tickets starting $475 for a pair on Pan Am Experience website.
How can I find Pan Am flight number (Lagos to New York “JFK ” ) 1972
Thanks
To make the Pan Am Experience even more real, they should pay the cabin crew flight pay on top of their normal wages:)
Hi Sam, is there any other experiences out there that you have Tried if so can you please do an article about that
I’d be glad
What is the history of the mock-up? Was it built specifically for film/TV production? I remember reading about a 747 stage / mock-up that Universal Studios used to have. Cool report as usual.
You can look up entire history at http://panamexperience.com/
Sam, how much did this experience cost? It looks really nice. I like the degree of realism and all the details they put in.
It is written at the bottom of my post. For more info, visit PanAmExperience.com
Nice but as a Berliner I remember different to PAN AM. The airline was flying between West-Berlin and Frankfurt, Munich. And with 727 it was not a great experience regarding service. With the fall of the wall PAN AM could not more compete with Lufthansa. This was the beginning of the end.
As a Pan Am retire and AWARE Board.member in NJ. My memories of the 747 are beyond what exits today. LIVE ON Pan Am
Wow! Interesting! I bet you enjoyed your experience! Its nice that they made a replica of an airline and its service even while it doesn’t fly anymore.
Nice. It looks like a lot of fun. I like your getting into the vibe with the pilot outfit. Where’d you get it?
They can provide you an outfit at Pan Am Experience if you ask!
Oh so sadly, I am jerked back to days of yore… I still have my Clipper Club Membership framed and hanging on the wall above me… I remember some genuinely amazing and wonderful flights, whether up top or main level… I remember conversing with Diane Feinstein early one morning in the Heathrow club… I recall a flight from London to Miami on a low mileage secretly reserved 747 that was held in reserve the the US Government in case of special need. Fond memories of a kinder, gentler, and certainly more gentile time…that sadly didn’t stand the test of time. I recall the number if frequent flyer miles I lost… those too are a shadow of their former value today. I still remember the 16K mileage pittance I got when PanAm folded their program into Delta’s early on program. I’ve flown many 747’s on assorted carriers, and now I fondly miss the little chug-chug feeling immediately following rotation. This also was Boeing’s heyday…it leaves one pensive, maudlin, and in wonderment…as today’s reality charts a stark and challenging indeterminate course.