One positive aspect of travel in the 70’s was return flights to the USA for less than £100, courtesy of the pioneering Sir Freddie Laker, who took on BA and won, for a while.

Now, nearly 50 years on, Ryanair and BA owners IAG have both announced budget flights across the pond. Ryanair are teaming up with Norwegian to offer return flights from Edinburgh to Stewart International (60 miles from New York) for around £140 and IAG will have flights from Barcelona to Los Angeles and San Francisco for around £170 return, flying on its new airline, Level.

The price war has been triggered by the drop in demand for trips to the USA, which has become a lot more expensive with the current low value of the pound against the dollar.