by beaky » Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:06 am
Well, the examples cited are all from the early '70s... jet airliners were still coming up to the standards we now take for granted. The improvements were significant, and a factor in competition between airlines. The 707 got wiped out by widebodies as quickly as it had wiped out the propliners.
And fewer people knew much about jet airliners back then... you could still buy a ticket for an airline flight in a DC-3 in the early 70s! DC-10s and 747s represented a big paradigm shift, even among jets. Not only were they more cushy inside, but they featured a lot of new stuff that was impressive.
It's not that progress has halted; it's just that the refinements are not so significant to the average passenger.
And for sure, since Day 1 airlines have also stressed whatever comforts they could offer, and the general allure of air travel.