Since the 1930s, air travel has evolved significantly, with notable shifts from luxurious amenities to the introduction of fees and reduced comfort, yet it remains safer and more accessible today. The cumbersome manual reservation systems of the past, where operators spent 90 minutes per booking, were transformed by American Airlines' development of SABRE in collaboration with IBM, a real-time data processing system that significantly reduced booking times. This innovation led to the widespread adoption of computer reservation systems (CRS) and eventually Global Distribution Services (GDS), allowing travel agents to access multiple airlines' data, revolutionizing the industry. Despite advancements, GDS systems, based on the outdated EDIFACT standard, struggle to accommodate modern airline needs for customizable content and ancillary sales, prompting airlines to develop direct booking channels and adopt the newer XML-based NDC standard promoted by the IATA. The industry's push towards open standards like NDC reflects a broader trend seen in other sectors, such as finance, aiming to foster competition and innovation. Despite challenges, the future of air travel appears promising, with low-cost carriers expanding access and ongoing technological advancements poised to enhance the overall experience.