This past summer, I bought a one way walk-up fare on a Friday from LAX-BOS for $230 on AA, 1.5 hours before departure. This is a highly competitive route with 5 airlines serving it. It is rare to spend more than $350 three weeks out without some sort of holiday or event if you are flexible on flight times. I would consider double the normal fare "exorbitant." Now if OP were buying two or one week out, $500 would be more normal and $600-$700 would be just a little high. If he waits, I would not be surprised to see this fare jump to $800 or $1,000.