FROM THE ARCHIVE

The February issue guided readers through the complex world of business etiquette in Thailand

BT’s February 1984 issue covered business etiquette in Thailand

AS THE SLIGHTLY FUZZY COVER just about depicts, the star of the February 1984 issue was Thailand. “Unlike its neighbours, the kingdom has never experienced the diluting effects of colonisation.” Thus some help was required for unsuspecting business people, who were told that “rigid control of emotions can make life baffling for the visitor” and advised to avoid “loud talk and excessive laughter”.

BT’s travel editor took a trip in a then 50-year-old DC-2 passenger aircraft. First impressions were good, thanks to comfort and spaciousness; his excitement quickly abated after take-off. “Sluggish and noisy... about a couple of hours flying is as much as any passenger could endure.”

Elsewhere, we analysed the impact of the Round the World fare, brought into being by Pan Am’s new-found liberty after quitting IATA six years before. At the other end of the scale was a comparison of inter-city shuttle networks in Britain, the US and Brazil – just “turn up and ride”.

A flight of fantasy came from a feature on syndicating your own aircraft. With costs for commandeering a plane prohibitive once you factored in flying lessons, taxes and fuel (estimated at £10 just to get to the end of the runway – about £30 in today’s money), the writer guided readers on the subject of what you might call air share.

BT’s travel editor took a trip in a 50-year-old DC-2 aircraft