1973 Airfares
Aug 20, 2010, 6:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Aeroplan, Delta, Starwood, Fairmount
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1973 Airfares
I just found an old Air Canada ticket for a return flight I took to Vancouver in 1973.
Cost $278 which would equal to just over $1,300 in today's money using the Bank of Canada inflation calculator....
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html
Cost $278 which would equal to just over $1,300 in today's money using the Bank of Canada inflation calculator....
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html
Aug 20, 2010, 6:46 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
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Aug 20, 2010, 7:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: yyz
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 424
I can remember the first time I flew. It would have been April 1975 and I paid $50 for a return ticket YSJ-YUL. Flew on a DC9. Went up to see the Expos play the Pirates and also managed to get into the last game of the Habs playoff series against the Canucks , a 5-4 Habs win in OT. Was my first MLB and NHL games.
Aug 20, 2010, 8:22 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: A3 *G, Marriott Plat, AS 75K
Posts: 995
I just found an old Air Canada ticket for a return flight I took to Vancouver in 1973.
Cost $278 which would equal to just over $1,300 in today's money using the Bank of Canada inflation calculator....
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html
Cost $278 which would equal to just over $1,300 in today's money using the Bank of Canada inflation calculator....
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html
Aug 20, 2010, 8:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Air Canada
Posts: 117
I seem to recall that a seat sale return fare yyz yvr, in 1979 (which was a new fare concept in 1979), was $369.00. There are not many other products/services which are still selling in 2010 at such a similar price point. Is this sustainable?
Aug 20, 2010, 9:08 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,441
Exactly what I tell folks who start railing about the high cost of airfares. Relative to 10, 20 or even 30 years ago they really haven't kept pace with the cost of other items. I recall around '79 as a kid buying either a bag of chips or a Coke for a quarter each and now a bottle of soda goes for up to ten times that amount with the chips not far behind.
Aug 20, 2010, 9:49 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
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Not everything goes up in price. Dad tells me our first microwave oven was over $1000. I recall the first Sony CD player at just over $1000 as well. The first Macintosh computer (with 128K of RAM!) cost $3000+ in 1984.
Some things go up in ways that seem astronomical. Some things hold the line. Some things get cheaper.
It's good to see that relatively speaking, AC fares have stayed competitive.
Some things go up in ways that seem astronomical. Some things hold the line. Some things get cheaper.
It's good to see that relatively speaking, AC fares have stayed competitive.
Aug 20, 2010, 9:54 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
Year after year the cheapest non-ref YYZ-LHR fare hovers around $1200. Probaby fewer seats though.
Last edited by Wally Bird; Aug 21, 2010 at 7:03 am
Aug 21, 2010, 12:01 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,441
Not everything goes up in price. Dad tells me our first microwave oven was over $1000. I recall the first Sony CD player at just over $1000 as well. The first Macintosh computer (with 128K of RAM!) cost $3000+ in 1984.
Some things go up in ways that seem astronomical. Some things hold the line. Some things get cheaper.
Some things go up in ways that seem astronomical. Some things hold the line. Some things get cheaper.
While I know what you're saying I'm sure the same rules that apply in other industries don't necessarly apply in this one.
Last edited by tcook052; Aug 21, 2010 at 8:39 am
Aug 21, 2010, 3:11 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Aeroplan, Delta, Starwood, Fairmount
Posts: 2,312
Also I remember flying from Toronto to London/Paris/Amsterdam return in the late 60's for $128 return - a special fare if you were under 25.
The only catch was that your seat would only be confirmed a week ahead of your departure and return however the ticket could be purchased any time.
A buddy of mine and I flew to Europe three weekends in a row leaving Thursday night and returning on Sunday - this way both the legs were on confirmed seats. My then girlfriend's mother urged her daughter to break up with me as she was convinced I was a drug dealer hee, hee.
The only catch was that your seat would only be confirmed a week ahead of your departure and return however the ticket could be purchased any time.
A buddy of mine and I flew to Europe three weekends in a row leaving Thursday night and returning on Sunday - this way both the legs were on confirmed seats. My then girlfriend's mother urged her daughter to break up with me as she was convinced I was a drug dealer hee, hee.
Aug 21, 2010, 12:27 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: aeroplan Elite, Priority Club. HHonours
Posts: 314
My first trip LHR to YVR was May 1972. As I recall it was an extra long single isle DC 8 which took 15.5 hours via Prestwick and Edmonton (all passengers had to deplane for customs at YEG). Price was UK pounds 221 return for what was then called an APEX fare (advance purchase excursion fare).
