In 1956 it cost $140.00 RT to fly coast to coast
On a recent rainy day, I was looking at old newspapers from the year I was born (1956) and saw an interesting advertisement for TWA (Trans World Airlines). They were promoting a airfare from New York to San Francisco, for $140.00 RT. My first thought was it was not that expensive, but later I determined that in 1956, most households had one breadwinner and the typical salary was $3,000.00 a year (before taxes). So the airfare alone was almost a months pay!
We are so lucky today to be able to fly from coast to coast for a little over $200.00 RT, (if we use Priceline, Hotwire, Jet Blue or SW Airlines.) Anyone have memories of what travel was like in the good old days? |
FYI --
Using a COL calculator, $140 in 1956 is equivalent to $943.46 today. |
And yet folks gripe because they still think fares are too high..........IMHO, flying is a bargain.
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It may have cost $140, but that was probably the price for every seat.
If TWA used today's yield management, they would sell them for $30 with a 21-day notice to $250 at the last minute! (I paid $1,500 for NY to LA not that long ago, so I'm not sure fares have changed that much. You can just get a better LEISURE deal now!) |
I agree - I can remember as a kid, growing up here in southern Calif, a Dairy Queen large (huge) cone was $.25. I bought a large one (medium sized) yesterday and paid $2.11. Travel and electronic technology are about the only things I can think of that are as cheap or cheaper in inflation adjusted dollars.
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And of course it depends on where you fly from or into. I'm paying $265.00 to fly from my home in Kalispell Mt. to Seattle which is about 450 miles!!! |
It's funny, but if I recall correctly, Mark Twain did a whole treatise on inflation in "A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court" ...this has always been left out of the movie versions.
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My company recently purchased for me a ticket round trip on US Airways from Philadelphia to San Francisco for $2466 (coach!!!!). Unbelievable. Leisure fares are cheap, but they kill you on last minute tickets.
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In 1976 I flew from Fort Lauderdale to Fairbanks, Alaska for around $350.00 (before deregulation.) We'll never see that again.
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Have a look at this thread from the airlines forum:
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....1&start=08 The late Western Airlines initiated SFO-LAX service in the 60s for $14 one way, which was copied by UAL and others (anyone remember Bonanza Airlines?) A startup called Air California then bought a couple of clapped out Electras and started serving Orange County (then called Santa Ana airport, hence its current code, SNA) from SFO for $18 as I recall. The Eastern Shuttle started about the same time. The race was on. |
mixd
Your company needs a new TravelManager.There are consolidators out there who work on last minute trips with only a few nights stay.You could also fly into Oakland for less than half that AND taken a car service into SFO! |
Heartburn,
A cost-of-living calculator says that $350 in 1976 is the equivalent of about $1,127.50 today. I'm pretty sure I could find a Ft. Lauderdale-Fairbanks ticket for that. Now if you're talking about a $350 ticket today, no, you're right about that. |
Why fly coast to coast? How about the heart and soul of America?
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I recall flying first class on Pan American as a child quite a few years ago. The men wore coats and ties, the women nice dresses. Dinner was served on china, starting with caviar and champagne, follwed by a freshly tossed salad, then filet of beef from a carving station. Today as I look at my chicken, beef or pasta selection in coach I always have to laugh, since I didn't think those meals were anything special at the time, just waiting for my ice cream.
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