This is true if you use only the Titanic's maiden voyage figures and expect that figure to be constant because on the maiden voyage manifest there were 348 1st class passengers, 294 second class passengers and 708 3rd class passengers. However the figures you gave are not correct, they are just est. Here are the lists of each and every 1st class, 2nd class an 3rd class passenger. You will find EVERY passenger listed and the EXACT fare they paid.

1st class http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/manifest.php?tpc=1&grp=P&mv=Y&v1=l_class&v2=1&t=First+Class+Passengers

2nd class http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/manifest.php?tpc=1&grp=P&mv=Y&v1=l_class&v2=2&t=Second+Class+Passengers

3rd class http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/manifest.php?tpc=1&grp=P&mv=Y&v1=l_class&v2=3&t=Third+Class+Passengers


Even on her maiden voyage the 3rd class out numbered the 1st class over 2 to 1. Not to mention the 2nd class was slightly less than 50 people fewer than 1st class. As you check all manifests on Olympic you notice the "new" wore of soon and 1st class passenger numbers dropped off drasticly while 3rd class numbers increases by 25% over the years.

All you need to do is read minutes of White Star board meeting and you will find reference to the profits of 3rd class over 1st class mentioned over and over.

Yes you can find websites that will "contrary" this info but do the math yourself as well as some thinking on your own, don't believe anything you read if you can't verify it and you well easily see that White Star knew where it's profits came from and why they targeted them.

As you yourself said it would take 3 third class passengers to generate the revenues of 1 first class. And over the years you see Olympic regularly ran a 5 to 1 of 3rd class ratio according to manifests.

And last you need to factor in the cost to pamper the 1st class from extravagance meals, extra porters, cooks, waiters, laundry, house keeping and security. The cost of furnishing the first class room itself was astonishing. Go back and reread 3rd class menus and figure a basic cost profit ratio and see were money was made.