Wow how did this thread elude me for almost a full year? Great stuff! I Will need some time to read through it all.
Not to change the subject too much but I ran some numbers based on what was provided in the OP. In 1971 minimum wage in the US was indeed $1.60. Adjusted for inflation today that would be the equivalent of $9.33. $90 for airfare would be $524.78 in today's dollars (about what I paid for my ticket this year).
I like to point this out whenever I see\hear someone say "I was only paid" or "minimum wage was only X back in 19XX". Minimum wage has almost always paid more than what it does today when adjusted for inflation.
