Flying with Student Power

One of the most successful examples of student protest has made its point without a single sit-in. It all began last January when Arthur Present, a Civil Aeronautics Board examiner, recommended that the CAB end the airlines' "youth fares," which allow passengers from twelve to 22 to fly for half fare on a standby basis or for two-thirds fare with a reserved seat. Prodded partly by ailing intercity bus lines, Present found the discount fares "unjustly discriminatory." He did not reckon with the power of American students when they feel it is they who have suffered the discrimination.

More for Less. A group called Half-Fair was founded by three Princeton students, Bradley Olsen, 20, Jeffrey Stahl, 21, and Mark Smith, 19. They drafted model petitions and form letters to Congressmen, and sent them out to 120 student newspapers in all 50 states. Simultaneously, at the University of Denver, Sophomore David Shapin, 19, organized 200 of his fellow students and began corresponding with interested students, college newspaper editors and Congressmen. Bitter editorials began appearing in the campus press, and letters by the thousands rained on Congressmen and airline executives. Both the National Student Association and the Campus Americans for Democratic Action, the student arm of the liberal political organization, sent delegates to carry their protest to the CAB. Parents, who like to see more of their offspring for less money, also joined the campaign.

The airlines generally support the students and the cut-rate fares, in the belief that they encourage flying by people who would otherwise take a train or bus, or not travel at all. Last year, more than 5,000,000 young passengers used the fares at a savings of $112 million to them. Even so, the industry has earned a $21 million profit on youth fares during the past two years.

Responding to the protest, 40 Senators are now co-sponsoring a bill that would extend youth fares even if the CAB votes to discontinue them. A similar bill has been introduced in the House, but the chances are that Congress will not need to act. Impressed by the breadth and sincerity of the student protest, the CAB will probably overrule its examiner sometime soon and let the youngsters continue to fly high at half price.

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