[tt24]

Yeah and it was an absurdly expensive activity limited to rich people

[jollyllama]

You say that, but flying economy was much better back then. Less fights, more legroom. You've got to fly business today to get close.

[tt24]

Yeah and economy class was absurdly expensive and limited to rich people

[jollyllama]

I'd contend that inflation adjusted, the average flyer won out.

[SpicyLemonZest]

It was better because the Civil Aeronautics Board did not allow price competition, so the cost of economy tickets was much too high, on some routes reaching the inflation-adjusted level of business class tickets today.

[bsder]

And most families only had a single car prior to 1980.

What's your point?

Did airlines get cheaper due to deregulation or because technology and engineering made operating them cheaper?

[SecretDreams]

Or as simple as incomes crept up and airlines reduced some amenities - both allowing for increased ridership which helped to reduce per head costs.

[tt24]

Probably mostly deregulation and a little bit the latter