Throughout history, the human race has continued to find ways to create a division between different socio-economic groups. The various modes of travel that have existed for decades are one example of this distinct division: first-class and second-class, Business and Economy. These divisions act as further ways for humans to categorize themselves.
It is unclear as to when first-class travel officially began. One of the most distinguishable forms of first-class travel dates back to 1896 when construction of the Romanov’s Imperial Train was completed. The Imperial Train served as a means of comfortable transport for the Tsar and the royal family. Throughout the years, the train was repeatedly altered; new carriages were added, and the lavish interior design was changed based on what was currently in fashion at that time.
By 1902, the train consisted of ten carriages, including a sleeping car and a saloon car. An eleventh carriage was added in the following years to serve as a consecrated church. The saloon car on the Imperial Train was where Tsar Nicholas II announced his world-altering decision to abdicate his rule to the State Duma representatives Alexander Guchkov and Vasily Shulgin on 2 March 1917, ending the Tsradom of Russia.
20 years later came the Titanic. Frist-class tickets ranged from £30 to £870. Today, a first-class ticket on the Titanic would amount to roughly $70,000. Passengers on the Titanic included the multi-millionaire John Astor (the richest passenger on board) and Lady Duff Gordon (the famous fashion designer who dressed the likes of Oscar Wilde and the British royal family). The Titanic featured not only electricity but also the wireless Marconi system (the first practical radio telegraph system). Those holding a first-class ticket enjoyed amenities such as: a Parisian café, tea gardens, a heated swimming pool, libraries and elevators.
The opulence and grandeur of the First-Class Deck on the Titanic was in stark contrast to those in the lower social classes. Those living on the Third-Class Deck shared their room with other passengers and were separated from the other decks by gates.
As technology developed, so did the various forms of transport. ‘First-class’ is now a term commonly heard in reference to airplane travel. Before the 1960s, first-class airline tickets were extremely expensive (the flight from London to Singapore was worth what is now $17,600), and flying was viewed as a special occasion; boarding passengers were often in evening dress. However, as airplane passenger capacity grew, tickets became more affordable. Airlines were able to experiment with their fares, leading to a wider range of ticket prices. However, in recent years airlines have reverted to emphasizing first-class travel, some even boasting personal suites and butlers.
Although modes of travel have varied throughout the years – from the extravagance of Tsar’s Imperial Train, to the opulence of the Titanic, to the excessiveness of first-class travel on airplanes – one aspect of travel has remained constant: transport businesses have continued to create class distinctions. Whether this is simply a ploy to increase revenue, or a disturbing glimpse into the psyche of humanity which seems to value irrelevant divisions, one thing is for sure: history shows us that divisions in modes of travel will continue to exist.
- Ava Lundell
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