Flight Instructor

A once great airline!

by Eric Hobson:

Pan American Air Ways March, July and October 1932 issues had carried page footers related to service, safety, and airmail. The July issue encouraged readers to send in “better ones” for consideration, promising that “Acceptable slogans will appear in subsequent issues.” October issue’s slogans contained 30% repeats, suggesting a tepid response from Pan Am’s front lines. Perhaps Pan Am employees just shared their ideas on the shop floor.

By 1933, corporate sloganeering was gone without comment in the year’s first issue of “Pan American Air Ways.”

PAA SERVICE SLOGANS FROM 1932:

• “Every New Prospect You Turn Into A Passenger Is Good For 5 More”
• “The Public Judges Your Worth By The Courtesy You Practice”
• “’Via Pan Amercan’ Means Fastest, Most Comfortable, Most Dependable Way To Travel”
• “Alertness And Enthusiasm Always Produce Big Results”
• “Politeness Pleases Passengers”
• “Pan American’s High Reputation Is Built On Attention To Details”
• “How Many Passengers Recall Pleasantly Your Thoughtful Courtesy?”
• “One Thing Done Right Is Worth A Dozen Good Intentions”
• “Passengers Pay For Comfort – Nobody Likes To Feel Cheated”
• “Only Your Cooperation Can Make Pan American A Complete Success”
• “`On Time As Usual,’ Means That No Detail Has Been Neglected”
• “Tomorrow’s Good Record Depends On Today’s Perfect Performance”
• “There’s No Such Thing As Being `Nearly’ Efficient”
• “Acceptable Service Speaks For Itself”
• “Teach More People To Say, `As Reliable As Pan American`"
• “Air Travel Makes Short Trips Of Long Ones”
• “Every Passenger Is A Life Entrusted Your Care”
• “A Man’s Value To Aviation Is Not Greater Than His Dependability”
• “The Greatest Action Is Composed Of Small Details”
• “Aviation Needs More `Career Men’ And Fewer Jobholders”
• “Excellent To Meet All Emergencies Well – Better To Prevent Them”
• “Courtesy, Comfort, And Dependability Build Passenger Traffic”
• “Your Opportunities Grow With Pan American – Build Traffic”
• “There Is No Substitute For Attention To Details”

Photo: “211 of the 302 employees stationed at this port” (April 15, 1931): Dinner Key staff posing atop and around Pan Am Sikorsky S-40 Caribbean Clipper that was delivered Nov. 1931.(PAHF/Jahncke Collection)

Sources: “Pan American Air Ways,” (March 15, July 15, & October 15, 1932).

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