Close your eyes for a second. It's 1992, and Gin Blossoms is blaring on your old boombox. Your Doc Martens are slightly scuffed and worn in, and the plaid shirt you're wearing is baggy and perfectly grunge. A Jansport backpack is packed with your walkman, uncomfortable foam headphones, and the latest R.L. Stein Fear Street book.

You drive to the airport with your parents and finally, you're boarding the plane to the next great '90s family vacay. The flight attendant who greets you doesn't have a tablet or an updated wardrobe but eventually offers a hot meal, and you actually end up talking to the random stranger in the seat next to you.

This was the 1990s, and the flight attendant atmosphere was far different than it is today... Here are 15 ways everything has changed since the last time you spoke to a human after boarding rather than Siri.

15 It's Much Easier To Communicate With Family And Friends During Work

Remember - back in the day, there was no such thing as a smartphone. While it was frustrating for us to sit on a six-hour flight, it was even harder for the flight attendants who needed to take care of everyone else before phoning home. Now, long-distance and international texting are quick reassurance.

14 Real Silverware And Glasses Are No Longer Used Outside Of First Class

Some of us might remember fairly early on when we were given actual silverware to eat the meals we're no longer offered on short flights. While it might have been far more eco-friendly to do so, these small, yet fancy, gestures are simply not offered in economy class anymore... Here goes another uneaten pack of exactly eight roasted peanuts.

13 A Digital Scheduling System Allows Flight Attendants To Juggle And Swap Shifts

From a flight attendant standpoint, just as with any other job that requires specific shifts, scheduling apps have been life-changing. Attendants are able to swap shifts and pick them up, thus adding a bit of flexibility in what was once an otherwise strict and unamendable schedule.

12 Cocktails Don't Get As Much Attention To Detail As They Once Did

Nothing remains the same and along with our TV dinners, we also lost our fancy drink garnishes. It might be a different story for first-class travelers (we low-key hate you by the way; sincerely, anyone who has been stuck behind a chair-kicker), but for the most part, garnishes are out and low-maintenance drinks are in.

11 Improved Technology Has Encouraged A Higher Standard And Work Ethic

With the boost in technological and digital advances over the last two decades or so comes higher standards. When passengers expect more, technology responds, and this has allowed a flight attendant's role to progress exponentially. Information is accessed more quickly and flights run more efficiently from a customer service standpoint.

10 Handing Out Hot Meals On Every Flight (Not Just Longer Ones) Is A Thing Of The Past

RIP, hot plane meals. They weren't even good most of the time, but we'll never stop memorializing the times when we were offered more than the remains of a crunchy peanut butter jar. With the cost of flights nowadays, we should at least get some mixed nuts or dried fruit to go with the third of a trail mix that's offered.

9 Plane Cabins Are Far Quieter Than They Were 20 Years Ago

This is one of the most significant changes for flight attendants, from the sounds of it. Whereas flights were once full of chatter, they're now silent and quite opposite in terms of noise level. One flight attendant claims that it's actually unusual to hear a voice break the silence of handheld devices, notes MSN.

Related: According To Flight Attendants: 15 Things All Passengers Should Do

8 Pillows And Blankets Are No Longer Stacked On Each Seat Before Passengers Board

This is fine with us because they were kind of gross anyway. When boarding a plane, amenities are no longer set out for passengers (again, excluding first-class) like they once were. Now, you have to ask for something like a pillow or a blanket, as they're usually stored overhead.

7 Flight Attendants Know The Names Of Every Passenger With Handy Tablets

For the most part, modern technology is catching up with transportation. It's no unusual to be seated on a plane and have the flight attendant refer to you by name, as they have that information available to them, too. It's a nice touch and certainly a more personal one.

6 Goodbyes Must Be Said Prior To The Gate Now, For Crew And Passengers

Sadly, security measures over the last couple of decades faced no choice but to be heightened, which means without a ticket, there's no way to say goodbye to loved ones earlier than the gate. At one point in time, you could wave to the people on the plane from those big windows, but no more.

Related: 20 Incredible Photos That Prove How Different Traveling By Airplane Was 50 Years Ago

5 Feedback From Passengers And Crew Are Actually Heard Now

The internet is a beautiful thing. So are customer service hubs and surveys, many of which do affect how a company runs their business. Airlines have listened, and the words of passengers and flight crews are reflected in the changes they've made - and it's a lot easier to do in 2020 than it was in 1990.

4 A Positive Change: Certain Indulgences Are No Longer Allowed On Planes

Believe it or not, this ad was once a reality. There are one million and one reasons as to why this was a horrible idea but hey, human beings weren't always intelligent... We're more of a learn-as-you-go type of species, evidently. This is a major no-no now, and we're quite thankful for it.

3 Flight Attendants Need Only A High School Degree To Apply

Those dreams of becoming a world-class traveling flight attendant might not be that far off, and while the training and certification are demanding, it's worth it. A high school degree is all that's needed to apply and if you're determined, maybe we'll see you on our next flight.

Related: 20 Things Flight Attendants Do On Their Break (They Don't Want Passengers To Know)

2 Much Of Their Job Now Consists Of Paperwork And Preparing Flights

We never said that change was a bad thing, and for flight attendants in this day and age, it's actually quite good. Rather than spending their time literally cleaning, dusting, and perfecting the plane prior to boarding, they're able to work on flight paperwork and other, less 1950s-style duties.

1 The Field Is Less Female-Dominated Nowadays

There's nothing feminine about catching plane after plane and attending to the needs of often overly-needy, cranky passengers. In fact, it's a noble and strong career, and the good news is that it's far less female-dominated than it once was. We love to see gender-neutral careers, and this is shaping up to be one of them.

Next: These Are The Airlines With The Happiest Flight Attendants