NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 4)

[Ludovic]

@Johnny_L.A

I remember flying from San Diego to Lancaster in the early-'70s to visit my dad. Flying then couldn’t have been that expensive

It feels like it was slightly yet firmly more expensive than today. The only price I remember is $50 from Buffalo to Syracuse since it is a round number, and taking into account inflation, that’s the same price as the cheaper fares today, for a shorter flight.

(It’s sort of hard to believe that that was an actual scheduled flight. The elements of regulation, and the 55mph national speed limit making the trip a 3 hour drive, and the hassle free and fast airport experience combined together to make that route viable, from a demand perspective if not from a supply one.)

[DesertDog]

@Johnny_L.A

I’m old enough to remember flying before deregulation. I remember flying from San Diego to Lancaster in the early-'70s to visit my dad. Flying then couldn’t have been that expensive. I’m old enough to remember how airlines competed on amenities, since ticket prices were regulated.

Wa-a-ay back when, California had its own intrastate airline, PSA, that escaped federal regulation. I remember billboards in the Bay area,

Take our gourmet flight to Los Angeles. It costs you $13. It costs us a mint.

with a picture of a pillow mint.

[Johnny_L.A]

@DesertDog

PSA

PSA gives you a lift!

I don’t remember them ever being $13.

[DesertDog]

Do you remember 1968 because that’s when it was. I’m old. The inflation calendar says it would be $125 today.

[LSLGuy]

I can bet they offered some loss-leader fare like that as a promo. Not that that was their actual baseline fare.

[Johnny_L.A]

@DesertDog

Do you remember 1968 because that’s when it was.

I remember the mid-'70s. PSA and Hughes Air West are the regional airlines I remember most.

[silenus]

PSA never really recovered after the San Diego crash. Too bad, because I liked flying them to the Bay Area.

[Dewey_Finn]

Googling, PSA inspired Southwest Airlines, which initially only served Texas.

[kaylasdad99]

@Johnny_L.A

I’m old enough to remember flying before deregulation.

You had to wear a coat and tie?

Poor thing.

[Johnny_L.A]

@silenus

PSA never really recovered after the San Diego crash. Too bad, because I liked flying them to the Bay Area.

I disagree. I think it was the hijacking and intentional crash in 1987. They went under a year later. Also Southwest Airlines was really coming on strong.

@kaylasdad99

You had to wear a coat and tie?

This was in the '70s, not the '60s.

[Q.Q.Switcheroo]

@Johnny_L.A

@kaylasdad99

You had to wear a coat and tie?

This was in the '70s, not the '60s.

A leisure suit and gold chain?

[Johnny_L.A]

@Q.Q.Switcheroo

A leisure suit and gold chain?

I was probably in 501s at that stage.

[LSLGuy]

PSA didn’t die.

They were bought by Allegheny and along with Piedmont all 3 were rolled into what became USAir.

Today that lives on, sorta, as one of the many forerunner carriers inside American Airlines. They even have a PSA livery A321:

Aviation Photo #8060137: Airbus A321-231 - American Airlines (PSA Airlines)

[Robot_Arm]

Oh, doesn’t it look happy.

[LSLGuy]

'Bout the same as always on the outside.

The inside is much more miserable than back in the day. Neither a microskirt nor a go-go boot to be seen. Nor a smoking section.

And least of all, a $13 fare.

[Johnny_L.A]

@LSLGuy

PSA didn’t die.

There may be a plane painted in PSA livery, but PSA as an airline died in 1988.

[LSLGuy]

There’s a difference between disappearing completely, e.g. Spirit, and continuing sorta as part of another outfit.

Admittedly I’m speaking from the POV of a worker, not a customer. PSA’s employees mostly kept working until they reached retirement. Spirit’s employees lost everything a couple days ago. Enormous difference.

[Johnny_L.A]

@LSLGuy

Admittedly I’m speaking from the POV of a worker, not a customer. PSA’s employees mostly kept working until they reached retirement.

Granted. But you can’t book a flight on PSA, any more than you can book a flight on Continental.

[commasense]

@Johnny_L.A

I think it was the hijacking and intentional crash in 1987.

For anyone else who was curious:

Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771

[carrps]

@silenus

PSA never really recovered after the San Diego crash. Too bad, because I liked flying them to the Bay Area.

Me, too. Remember Western Airlines? The oooonly way to fly.