Don't forget 20 years ago, it was expensive too.

Many of us 20 years ago, if we are not travelling for work, we wouldn't have money to buy the ticket to fly on majors.

Also 20 years ago, they don't even have those ultra low fares to do a same day MR, many of those ultra low fares always required saturday night stay. It was much harder to get airline status compare to now.

There were also a lot less nonstop transpacific flights 20 years ago, many carriers still using 747-200, DC10 and MD11, it always need to make a stop in NRT. NRT back then was a mess, crowded, planes can rarely get a jetbridge, always have to bus in and bus out of the terminal. Smoking section is the worst thing it can be on long haul flights. I totally hate it even as a smoker myself. No such thing as PTV either, not even in F or C. Only a few airlines have those 20 years ago.

I actually find that it is more fun to fly long haul than 20 years ago.