Originally Posted by
ente_09
When in college, 40 years ago , we would take the Eastern Airlines shuttle between LGA and Boston. They would have a constant turn around of defunct planes- DC 6’s or Electras, and you would line up and when a plane was filled, they took off. Could come any time and usually didn't have to wait more than an hour.. No baggage service or check in. During the flight the stewardesses would come around and collect your $25.
40 years ago it was 1974 and I highly doubt you rode DC-6s and Electras on the Eastern Air-Shuttle at that time. By then it was all 727s. There were never DC-6s, the Connies were long gone and the Electras were used for backup extra sections only until 1972 or 1973.
Originally Posted by ente_09
Great idea, why don’t they do it now, maybe for fuel/inflation adjusted $50.
Basic answer is, less airline competition, increased congestion, and declining demand. As others have pointed out, an "inflation-adjusted" fare of 25 1973 dollars would be a hell of a lot more than $50. Between the high cost (today's walk-up BOS-LGA fare on DL or US is $420), and ATC and ground transport delays, it no longer makes much sense to fly LGA-BOS or LGA-DCA. Amtrak is now the transport volume leader in these city pairs, and Megabus, Bolt, etc. do these trips in about four hours for just a few dollars.