How a 1950s gossip columnist redefined the global elite
In short: Before the era of digital influencers, there was the jet set. Born from the speed of new jet engines, this social class traded the predictable rhythms of traditional high society for a life of rapid, international movement, turning the world into a playground of weekend getaways and paparazzi-filled parties.
In the early 1950s, Igor Cassini, a New York Journal-American journalist using the alias 'Cholly Knickerbocker', created the expression 'jet set'. Cassini intended the phrase to replace the 'outmoded' concept of 'café society,' which focused on local night clubs. To Cassini, the new elite were the avant-garde—people who lived fast and traveled frequently to exotic destinations via the newly available jet plane.
This lifestyle was physically enabled by milestones in aviation. On 2 May 1952, the British carrier BOAC launched the first scheduled commercial jet service using the de Havilland Comet. While early models faced accidents in 1953 and 1954, the subsequent Comet 4 helped establish iconic routes, such as the London to New York City service that became a staple by 1958. Pan Am soon followed, launching its New York to Paris route on 26 October 1958 using the Boeing 707.
As air travel expanded, the 'jet set' identity shifted. By the 1960s, the 'beautiful people' emerged—a group centered around figures like the Kennedys—emphasizing visibility and style. Eventually, the rise of mass-capacity aircraft like the Boeing 747 democratized flight, making the literal definition of 'those who travel by jet' obsolete. The original exclusivity of the jet set, defined by sudden trips to places like Capri, St. Trobitz, or even the Concorde's supersonic routes, gradually transitioned into the 'glitterati,' where celebrity and being 'seen' by paparazzi became more significant than the mode of transport used to arrive.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jet set
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-jet-set.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in 20th century · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
