Since we are seeing airfares climb again I found it interesting when I stumbled online at this old American Airlines timetable from January 1979. In those days, fares were published right on the timetable as they really did not fluctuate as they do now.The fares were set and approved by the federal government and ensured that the airline would be profitable. (this was only a few months after airline deregulation was signed into law and it might not have gone into effect yet)
AA012079p38
The time table lists AA's flight from JFK to SDQ Flight number 587 (that flight number was used for years until the November 2001 crash)
Leaves JFK 8am Arrives SDQ 12:29pm
Equipment 747
Service Meal, Cocktail service
Fare (each way)
First $237.00
Business Class $199.00
Coach $159.00
So, a coach ticket was $159 each way in 1979! Adjusted for inflation that would be the the equivalent of paying $471 each way in 2010
Just looked at AA.com for fares in June JFK-SDQ. The cheapest fare class is showing at $144 each way.
So, even as fuel prices climb and prices go higher and higher, lets not forget that adjusted for inflation we are still only paying a fraction of what our parents and grandparents would have paid for the same trip.
AA012079p38
The time table lists AA's flight from JFK to SDQ Flight number 587 (that flight number was used for years until the November 2001 crash)
Leaves JFK 8am Arrives SDQ 12:29pm
Equipment 747
Service Meal, Cocktail service
Fare (each way)
First $237.00
Business Class $199.00
Coach $159.00
So, a coach ticket was $159 each way in 1979! Adjusted for inflation that would be the the equivalent of paying $471 each way in 2010
Just looked at AA.com for fares in June JFK-SDQ. The cheapest fare class is showing at $144 each way.
So, even as fuel prices climb and prices go higher and higher, lets not forget that adjusted for inflation we are still only paying a fraction of what our parents and grandparents would have paid for the same trip.