Airfares in the Past
May 11, 2008, 4:25 pm
#1
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Airfares in the Past
I'm really curious about how much air travel costed, say, pre-1990, or especially, pre-1970. I have been out of luck so far trying to find ticket prices (not specific prices...any price) from that era on the internet, so I'm asking here.
How much did a typical coach ticket from, say, New York to London cost? How about domestic flights?
Thanks.
How much did a typical coach ticket from, say, New York to London cost? How about domestic flights?
Thanks.
May 11, 2008, 11:46 pm
#2
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In the early 1980's, there were quite a few $99 East Coast to West Coast fares. PeoplExpress had a $99 SFO-BRU and EWR-BRU fare but that was promotional and lasted a few weeks.
During that same time period, IAH-LAX flights were often $250 round trip, occasionally $300.
Summer US-Europe flights were pricey in comparison, maybe $600-800 round trip in coach.
1970's? I think they were higher than the 1980's but I threw away all my tickets from that era. I still have a stack of tickets from the 1980's.
During that same time period, IAH-LAX flights were often $250 round trip, occasionally $300.
Summer US-Europe flights were pricey in comparison, maybe $600-800 round trip in coach.
1970's? I think they were higher than the 1980's but I threw away all my tickets from that era. I still have a stack of tickets from the 1980's.
May 12, 2008, 4:24 am
#3
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I know prices on the Kangaroo route (SYD-LHR) back in the 70's/80's used to cost 6 weeks average wages and are now down to about 2 weeks. Can't help with exact pricing though sorry.
May 12, 2008, 6:10 am
#5
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The best source of fares from back then is probably old issues of the Official Airline Guide. Perhaps a nearby public library has some in its archives. If not, you could try contacting them (contact info on www.oag.com) to see if they can help, especially if there's a purpose behind your question besides random curiosity. Some travel agents may still have some lying around, too.
BTW, I recall paying about $600 for BOS-ORD round trips fairly regularly in the 1989-1991 time frame. That was economy class, plenty of advance notice, but no Saturday night stay - which was required for the lowest fares back in the day. (Fortunately, I could parlay that ticket into 5,500 DL miles and a seat in front. That was my introduction to the FF "game," but a topic for a different thread.)
BTW, I recall paying about $600 for BOS-ORD round trips fairly regularly in the 1989-1991 time frame. That was economy class, plenty of advance notice, but no Saturday night stay - which was required for the lowest fares back in the day. (Fortunately, I could parlay that ticket into 5,500 DL miles and a seat in front. That was my introduction to the FF "game," but a topic for a different thread.)
May 12, 2008, 4:40 pm
#7
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You can convert old fares for inflation via the CPI Calculator. So $12 in 1972 = $61.89 in 2008.
May 12, 2008, 4:44 pm
#9
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Mid 1940s, New York to London round trip around $600 or $7000 in today's dollars.
There was almost no coach class before 1948. You went first class or not at all.
Airfares were relatively constant from 1931 to 1970 in terms of cost per mile which was the way they used to determine ticket prices.
Fares doubled during the 1970s. Since then they have again remained relatively constant, reaching a peak around the year 2000 and dropping after 9/11.
Of course, when I say "constant" that doesn't take inflation into account.
There was almost no coach class before 1948. You went first class or not at all.
Airfares were relatively constant from 1931 to 1970 in terms of cost per mile which was the way they used to determine ticket prices.
Fares doubled during the 1970s. Since then they have again remained relatively constant, reaching a peak around the year 2000 and dropping after 9/11.
Of course, when I say "constant" that doesn't take inflation into account.
Last edited by Bobster; May 12, 2008 at 5:17 pm
May 12, 2008, 5:16 pm
#10
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In 1978, I paid $278 to fly PDX-HNL-KOA (round trip). I remember because I earned every dollar of it (I was 13 at the time). 
We flew on a PanAm 747 PDX-HNL, and Royal Hawaiian (small twin engine low-wing plane) to KOA.
Good times.
We flew on a PanAm 747 PDX-HNL, and Royal Hawaiian (small twin engine low-wing plane) to KOA.
Good times.
May 12, 2008, 5:58 pm
#11
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You can convert old fares for inflation via the CPI Calculator. So $12 in 1972 = $61.89 in 2008.
May 12, 2008, 6:27 pm
#12
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Passenger revenue (in cents per passenger mile) adjusted with the CPI Calculator to 2008 dollars:
1926: 145
1931: 94
1936: 88
1941: 73
1946: 49
1951: 46
1956: 42
1961: 44
1966: 38
1971: 33
1976: 29
1981: 30
1986: 21
1991: 21
1996: 19
2001: 16
2004: 12
Source: Air Transportation: A Management Perspective
1926: 145
1931: 94
1936: 88
1941: 73
1946: 49
1951: 46
1956: 42
1961: 44
1966: 38
1971: 33
1976: 29
1981: 30
1986: 21
1991: 21
1996: 19
2001: 16
2004: 12
Source: Air Transportation: A Management Perspective
May 12, 2008, 11:06 pm
#13
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Mid 1940s, New York to London round trip around $600 or $7000 in today's dollars.
There was almost no coach class before 1948. You went first class or not at all.
Airfares were relatively constant from 1931 to 1970 in terms of cost per mile which was the way they used to determine ticket prices.
Fares doubled during the 1970s. Since then they have again remained relatively constant, reaching a peak around the year 2000 and dropping after 9/11.
Of course, when I say "constant" that doesn't take inflation into account.
There was almost no coach class before 1948. You went first class or not at all.
Airfares were relatively constant from 1931 to 1970 in terms of cost per mile which was the way they used to determine ticket prices.
Fares doubled during the 1970s. Since then they have again remained relatively constant, reaching a peak around the year 2000 and dropping after 9/11.
Of course, when I say "constant" that doesn't take inflation into account.
May 13, 2008, 7:33 am
#14
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My first international trip was summer of '79: LAX-LHR, then FCO-LAX home. I remember paying $555 all in on PanAm. Using the inflation calculator linked above, shows the fare would now be $1,648. Pretty accurate I'd say.
May 13, 2008, 7:54 am
#15
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1977, 23 years old, saved like mad to take my new bride to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Never forget, paid $248 RT each through a travel agent (remember those!) on CO. The CPI calculator http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl says thats now $873.84. Just found a fare for comparison on expedia for $440. Half price! Ah, the good new days!