The Bizarre Story of When a U.S. President Flew on a Regular Commercial Flight
In the middle of a national energy crisis, right after Christmas in 1973, President Richard Nixon did something no other sitting U.S. president has done before or since. He boarded a regularly scheduled commercial departure like any other passenger. This wasn’t a private charter or a last-minute emergency, but a planned, public-facing decision.
It was a carefully staged gesture meant to send a message of solidarity with ordinary Americans who were tightening their belts during the energy crisis.
The Flight That Became Executive One
Image via Wikimedia Commons/National Archives and Records Administration
When the president flies, the aircraft is known as Air Force One. But that title only applies to military planes. On this winter day, Nixon’s civilian jet received a different call sign: Executive One.
United Airlines Flight 55, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, was chosen because it had extra seats available. Nixon’s team purchased thirteen tickets in first class and twelve in economy. To preserve secrecy, the Secret Service worked with airline officials to board the group discreetly before takeoff.
Passengers had no idea the President was on the plane until it was airborne. The plane took off from Washington Dulles after a 45-minute weather delay, bound for Los Angeles. A backup Air Force aircraft followed nearby for security purposes to ensure the President could be returned quickly if needed.
A President’s Message During an Energy Crisis
The 1973 oil embargo by Arab nations sent fuel prices soaring across the United States. Gasoline shortages led to long lines and growing public frustration. Nixon’s administration encouraged Americans to conserve energy, even implementing a 55 MPH national speed limit and extending daylight saving time to reduce fuel use.
The decision to fly commercial aligned with that goal. Nixon wanted to show that leadership involved personal restraint, not privilege. His deputy press secretary explained that the President aimed to demonstrate confidence in the airline industry while setting an example during the turbulent period.
The gesture was meant to show solidarity with Americans feeling the strain of high costs. It was also a subtle attempt to rebuild public trust in the midst of a politically difficult year, while balancing practicality with political theater in one carefully planned trip.
Inside United Airlines Flight 55
Image via Wikimedia Commons/White House Press Office
The flight included the President, First Lady Pat Nixon, daughter Tricia, twenty-two staffers, Secret Service agents, and journalists. Ticket prices were $217.64 for first class and $167.64 for economy, considered reasonable at the time. A secure communications system, small enough to fit in a suitcase, was brought aboard so Nixon could contact Washington in an emergency.
Once in the air, Nixon left his seat to greet travelers and visit the cockpit. Many were surprised to see him, including a teenager who mistook him for comedian Bob Hope—a moment that reportedly amused the President.
According to news reports, the airline confirmed no one was displaced to make room for the presidential group. Despite the effort to conserve fuel, the White House still sent an empty Air Force One to California to retrieve Nixon after his vacation, slightly undermining the conservation message but not the publicity success.