Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   United States (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/)
-   -   Airfares in the 1970's (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/airfares-in-the-1970s-957858/)

Dukey1 Nov 27th, 2015 06:15 PM

I think in the mid-1960's the fare from HNL to the west coast was about $125 in coach one way.

ColumbusGuy Dec 16th, 2015 04:59 PM

I also need info from 1976 for air fares from Columbus CMH to St. Louis STL!
If it cost $100 to go from LA or SF to Hawaii, I'm thinking about $35 for this flight? I'm thinking a Delta flight via DC-10 since that's the only plane I've ever flown on. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Dukey1 Dec 16th, 2015 05:24 PM

Where did you come up with that $100 fare? Were you there along with the rest of us who were?

Christina Dec 20th, 2015 01:49 PM

I should know as I lived in Columbus at that time, but I don't remember. I don't think it cost $35, though, even in 1976, that wasn't that much money. And I lived in LA for about 15 years after that and never got a $10 fare to anywhere, I don't think that as common. PSA has their own history and quotes fares on here, more like $50 end of 70s from LA to LV or SF. http://www.jetpsa.com/index/history.html

Given PSA was a super budget airline with lower than normal fares, I doubt you could get from CMH to STL for $35 at that time.

I think this question doesn't make any more sense than it would now -- airfares vary all over the places based on when you book (how far in advance), time of year, etc. They can easily vary by double just for booking far in advance or not. And airfares mid-day midweek in a non-holiday period are totally different than peak periods or holidays. Not to mention how much they differ for one way vs. RT on most routes.

That PSA website is very nice, too bad other airlines don't have that. Airlines weren't deregulated until after that, 1978, which is when the hub system really developed, and airfares dropped some when that happened.

food for thought http://www.theatlantic.com/business/...oticed/273506/

paulrich Jan 7th, 2019 07:54 AM

No, it was American Airlines that had the unique addition and it actually was an electric organ type as a piano was not suited for an aircraft. Some examples actually still remain and pictures of them and where they are can be found 'online". I read American actually hired Frank Sinatra to sing on one of their cross country flights to drum up business. I only experienced the TWA 747 coach lounge (they installed them on all domestic 747's, L-1011's and 707's) but it was some way to travel. United called their 747's "Friendships" while American's were Luxury Liners. Coach seats were roomy and cabins fully staffed. Everything was not free though, one paid for headsets to listen to the music channels and watch a movie, later those were handed out at no charge. Drinks/Wine also also cost $1.50 but that charge was frequently waived. As I recall one was permitted 2 pieces of check luggage (weigh limits of course), and carry-on's were few and far between. Airlines competed on service back then, imagine such a thing today!

paulrich Jan 7th, 2019 08:04 AM

There was an airline that existed in the 60's-70's called Northeast and they served all coach passengers a "steak dinner" on the trip to Florida. That was their main advertising theme. Regardless of the length of your trip though, one was always served something and usually one had a choice, too. Of course there was no charge for anything expect alcoholic beverages but even then, that was frequently. waived. Even a slight delay the crew would announce "Drinks are with the Captain's compliments". One can only dream of such things today.

suze Jan 7th, 2019 09:12 AM

You might want to double post this in the Airlines forum.

tom42 Jan 7th, 2019 09:58 AM


Originally Posted by suze (Post 16851346)
You might want to double post this in the Airlines forum.


Hopefully, by now Jimmy has the information he was seeking.

swadianh Jan 7th, 2019 12:09 PM

For this kind of information you should really post on Airliners.net | Aviation Photography, Discussion Forums & News, the largest airline enthusiast discussion forum on the Web.

janisj Jan 7th, 2019 01:28 PM


Originally Posted by suze (Post 16851346)
You might want to double post this in the Airlines forum.

Not sure why this was dredged up, but the thread is from 2012 (heck, tomsd was still posting) and the OP must have given up on his book idea.

suze Jan 8th, 2019 09:19 AM

thanks janisj. obviously i hadn't noticed that.

emalloy Jan 8th, 2019 01:59 PM

Don't feel bad suze, it was also dredged up in 2015.

isabel Jan 12th, 2019 09:28 AM

But it's still kind of interesting. But all the posters who were quoting "cheap" 1970s airfares aren't taking inflation into account. $500 in 1975 is equivalent in purchasing power to $2,278.07 in 2017. I'm going to Europe for less than half that this year.

nanabee Jan 29th, 2019 05:48 PM

I don't know why these old threads are considered relevant especially when the question from the OP is no longer relevant the OP probably no longer posts here.
Seeing tomsd's post gave me a fright there for a second.

5alive Feb 2nd, 2019 10:31 AM


Originally Posted by nanabee (Post 16864766)
I don't know why these old threads are considered relevant especially when the question from the OP is no longer relevant the OP probably no longer posts here.
Seeing tomsd's post gave me a fright there for a second.

I agree. They're not relevant. We need a closed thread option that should be used by our additional moderators. Judiciously, but yes. It's annoying. And of course I was wondering about the "quite a fright" and I see that his profile claims he has "posted on no threads" so he was apparently banned. Or something. I just don't know all the past stories of longtime posters enough.



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:04 PM.