EARLY FLIGT BAGS MADE A STATEMENT

            If you were a “hep” (as in “hep-cat”, remember?) traveler a half century ago, you were pleased to be seen carrying a smallish, softsided handlegrip bag emblazoned with your airline’s name and markings. They were called, variously, utility satchels, flight bags, overnight bags and carry-ons. You could cram a lot of stuff in them.

            Toting one of them, you were enviously identified, you hoped, as a person who knew how to travel --- by air. The bag was prestigious, like vacationing in Hawaii used to be.

            Many airlines had them, and the bags produced by Northwest Airlines were among the most numerous, fashionable and creatively-designed. Then, as now, Northwest had some very remarkable idea people calling the shots in those days.

            Many of the bags were giveaways to first class passengers on Hawaii and Orient flights. All were available to other passengers, employees and anyone else who could bear the cost – from 75 cents to $1.50 each.

            Popular? You bet! In 1955, Advertising Director Jack Nichols had a problem. Northwest distributed almost 31,000 flight bags of various designs that year. “The total could have been a lot higher,” Nichols said. “But our suppliers couldn’t produce them fast enough.”

            Northwest’s quintessential flight bag was a blue jobbie emblazoned with its name in white and its familiar red, white and blue Compass Insignia of the 1950’s. Towards the end of the decade, the Compass Insignia was replaced with Northwest’s new Imperial Service Eagle. Made of quality nylon with a rubberized interior, the bag was “practically indestructible,” according to Nichols. They cost $1.00 each.

            A junior sized bag of the same basic appearance but smaller, came next. Measuring about 10-by-4 inches at the bottom, and about seven inches high. It was for sale only – 75 cents.

            Another of Northwest’s handsome bag creations of the era was a bulgy “Waikiki Beach Bag” designed to hold twice as much as a woman’s purse, Again red, white and blue, it was made of high grade pliable plastic with cloth drawstrings. Of course, it featured Northwest identification prominently. It was a give away for overseas passengers. Others -- $1.00.

NOTE - FOR SOME REASON THE HISTORY CENTRE DOES NOT HAVE A ‘WAIKIKI BEACH BAG’ IN ITS COLLECTIONS. IF YOU HAVE ONE AND WOULD LIKE TO DONATE THE SAME, WE WOULD DEARLY LIKE TO HAVE ONE.

            In 1960, Northwest entered the jet age with the Douglas DC-8’s. To help mark the occasion, it produced “something different” as a give away for its DC-8 fares. An eye catching, durable lightweight carry on, of tough gold plastic decorated in white with NWA identification and its Imperial Service Eagles. It had two special features – a shoulder strap instead of handles and a side pocket. It was also available for $1.50.