I just had another unpleasant BDL taxi experience. At $35 flat rate (plus the expected $5 gratuity) for the fifteen-minute drive to Hartford, BDL is far more expensive than other airports. And the taxis are often run-down, smelly jalopies. What gives?

There is no convenient black car service. Limo services are $75+ (absurd for that distance). No SuperShuttle services. And one public bus plus one CT Limo bus per hour. Did I mention that a 10-minute wait for a taxi is standard?

Why won't the BDL airport authorities permit a $10-15 point-to-point shared ride operator like SuperShuttle?

Because it's Connecticut, the "Land of Steady Habits." God forbid you try to introduce something progressive.

Seriously, I don't think BDL has the metro demographics to float a service like SuperShuttle.

Another perspective:

The distance from JFK to NYC is 25 miles and the rate is a flat $45. The distance from BDL to Hartford is less than half as far, yet the flat rate is $35. Considering the cheaper costs in Connecticut, an appopriate rate would be $20 as a flat fee from BDL to Hartford. $35 is excessive for a 15-minute cab ride.

Another perspective:

The distance from JFK to NYC is 25 miles and the rate is a flat $45. The distance from BDL to Hartford is less than half as far, yet the flat rate is $35. Considering the cheaper costs in Connecticut, an appopriate rate would be $20 as a flat fee from BDL to Hartford. $35 is excessive for a 15-minute cab ride.
IIRC, the flat rate for the short ride from Santa Monica to LAX is $50.

IIRC, the flat rate for the short ride from Santa Monica to LAX is $50.

Is there an option to have a metered rate apply? If so, would that not be cheaper? With BDL metered rates are not allowed when the ride originates (or IIRC ends) at the airport.