You get what you pay for. I was coming home a couple of months ago. Emirates was 4 times what British/American charged. Some people will pay the difference for a 15 hour flight. On a 90 minute flight to Chicago, most people just want to get there so that's what they pay for.


Don't wish too hard to go back to the 1960s/1970s. Now we have a bit over 600,000 pilots of all types in the US of which more than 140,000 hold ATPs. Normally you only get the ATP to make a living in aviation but take some number off for ratings junkies. Say 10 percent, leaves 125,000 pilots trying to make a living flying. In 1970 there were 730,000 pilots in the US but only 34,000 held ATPs. Do the same math and just over 30,000 pilots made their living flying in 1970. You other 95,000 people need to find a new job.