How did they book airline flights before computers?

Answer 1

Hard-copy records were maintained at the airline headquarters, and travel agents acted as brokers to book seats.

Sometimes large travel agencies would book a block of flights that they could re-sell back to the airlines within a certain period and they would then market those seats at a premium.

It functioned very much the same way as the stock market did (and actually still does today)--you would purchase from a broker who would arrange the purchase from a clearinghouse of some kind. There wasn't an "exchagne" per se, but the airlines themselved functioned as the "exchagne" ... make sense?

Answer 2

They booked airline flights via phone with airline directly, at the airline counter in person, or with a travel agent.

Answer 3

Passengers telephone airline to make reservation/book a flight.
Reservations prepare Passengers Manifest for flight.
Passengers list sent to Airport Office.
Any changes/addition are done manually on the lsit.
Later with the introduction of Telex machine Passenger Manifests are transmitted through this channel.

Answer 4

That's a good question. I think they did it all by hand. We were still using those punchcards in the 80's. But I flew Pan Am way before that. I think it was possible to book passengers without computers because there didn't used to be so many flights and so many passengers.

Answer 5

Travel agencies, phone directly to the carrier or went down to the airport the day you wanted to leave and purchase a ticket or tickets..