In my humble opinion, this old adage is true… most of the time. But as far as the airlines are concerned, it’s sort of true.

For deeper clarification, these counter-points demand another reference for the thought process I used to derive them. In order to do that and to expand on the premise of yesteryear I set in the previous post, Pan Am 707 Commercial - 1958, I’d like to direct you over to a well written article by TelStar Logistics.

It’s entitled, Small Comfort: The Sky-High Cost of Airline Travel in 1954. It’s a much more comprehensive piece on where I’m going with this topic (plus he’s a better writer). This article generates true insight for it’s reader into just what’s happened over the past 50 years to the price of airline tickets- In a nutshell, ticket prices have gone down.

So back to my counterpoints: Here’s the ‘you pay for what you get’ part. In the 1950’s, airline meals were 5 star and you dressed up to travel, but the cost of a San Francisco to New York round trip ticket was two thirds more expensive back then then it is today. Here’s the ‘it’s sort of true as far as the airlines are concerned’ part: It’s statistically safer to fly today, but you’re paying less for that. Based on the adage, wouldn’t you think you’d be paying more? The simple conclusion is that being safer is something that’s in everyone’s best interest- Yours, your flight crew’s, and the airline’s.

On a lot of domestic US carriers as far as the bottom line is concerned, providing you with a five star meal is not in their best interest- financially anyway. Personally, I’d like to see you eating like kings on my flights, but then again that might be why I’m your pilot, and not in airline management.

~Capt’n Chris

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