Plane travel was totally different years ago; much more informal. I remember United Airlines holding my plane that was about to take off one time when I arrived late; this would never happen today. You can hardly apply the same criteria post 9/11. I will try to find out what Rav Scheinberg would advise people to do in current times.
The Poskim mentioned in prior posts who daven in their seats without a minyan, many years ago may have davened in the smoking section in the back of the plane as well, but not now.