Vintage Airplane Armrest Ashtrays - A Bygone Relic of Smoking's Glory Days in the Skies

The History of Ashtrays in Airplane Armrests

Ashtrays were once a common feature in airplane armrests. During the early decades of commercial air travel, smoking was allowed and even encouraged on flights. Airlines wanted to provide conveniences for travelers who smoked, so flush-mounted ashtrays were installed in armrests throughout the cabin.

These ashtrays were a familiar sight on airplanes for many years. But times have changed - smoking was eventually banned on all commercial flights for health and safety reasons. Despite this, you can still find remnants of the past armrest ashtrays on some older aircraft still in service today.

When Airplane Smoking Was Normal

It's hard to imagine today, but smoking cigarettes on airplanes used to be completely normal behavior. After World War II, commercial air travel became popular and airlines catered to customers who smoked.

In the 1950s and 1960s, airplanes allowed smoking nearly everywhere on flights. Passengers could light up cigarettes without any restrictions besides a few basic rules. Ashtrays were a standard feature at every seat.

Armrest Ashtrays Become Mainstream

In the early jet age of the 1960s, airliner interiors were updated with new amenities to improve the in-flight experience. This included installing permanent ashtrays in armrests so smokers had a convenient place to tap their ash.

These ashtrays were typically made of stainless steel for easy cleaning. They featured a flapper door that opened with a push and sucked ashes inside with suction. Underneath was a chamber to collect discarded ashes until it could be emptied by cleaning crews.

When Airlines Began Banning Smoking

As research mounted on the dangers of firsthand and secondhand smoke, public attitudes began shifting. By the 1980s, many airlines implemented smoking bans on some domestic flights. Then in 1988, a nationwide smoking ban was introduced on all domestic flights shorter than two hours in the United States.

Other countries began implementing similar airline smoking bans. Long-haul international flights continued offering smoking sections into the 1990s and 2000s - but these gradually faded out over the following decades as smoking became less socially acceptable.

Repurposing Vintage Airplane Armrest Ashtrays Today

Nowadays, smoking on commercial flights is completely banned worldwide. Any ashtrays that once existed have been removed from airplane armrests and seats. So what happens to these vintage aviation artifacts?

Collecting Airline Memorabilia

For airline memorabilia collectors, old armrest ashtrays are interesting artifacts from the golden age of air travel. Collectors admire their mid-century design and feel nostalgic for the amenities that once made flying feel glamorous.

As more old planes are retired, armrest ashtrays sometimes show up for sale. Collectors are willing to pay premium prices at auction to acquire these aviation relics from the past.

Creative Repurposing Ideas

Some innovative folks have found clever ways to repurpose vintage airline ashtrays that may have otherwise ended up in a landfill.

The stamped metal compartments work nicely to organize desk supplies like paper clips, tacks, and rubber bands. The flip-up lid also functions perfectly to hold a smartphone upright while charging.

Folks have integrated armrest ashtrays into custom furniture, using them to build unique storage cubbies and unexpected design details. A little creativity lets these airplane artifacts live on with a new lease on life.

Iconic Aviation History

To many flight enthusiasts, vintage airline ashtrays are an important reminder of how in-flight culture has transformed over the decades. They represent a pivotal transitional period in the evolution of air travel.

Saving an old airplane armrest ashtray preserves an iconic piece of airline history. They symbolize a vintage era of air travel that newer generations may never have an opportunity to directly experience.

So while most ashtrays have been removed, you may get lucky and spot one that escaped the sweep on an old aircraft. These rare survivor relics feel like discovering a hidden portal into aviation's glamorous past.

FAQs

When did airlines start banning smoking on planes?

Airlines began implementing smoking bans in the 1980s, starting with short domestic flights under 2 hours. Smoking sections were gradually phased out through the 1990s and 2000s until smoking was completely banned worldwide on all commercial flights by the late 2000s.

Can you smoke on any flights today?

No, smoking is now completely banned by law on all commercial airline flights worldwide, without exception.

What did they do with all the old airplane armrest ashtrays?

Most were removed and discarded when smoking was banned. But some have made their way into the hands of airline memorabilia collectors or creative upcyclers who value them as nostalgic aviation artifacts.

Are there any planes still flying with armrest ashtrays?

Possibly a few vintage planes still in service may have overlooked removing them, but it would be extremely rare to find armrest ashtrays still installed on commercial aircraft today.