Is that fare including all taxes and fees? Using the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis' CPI calculator, $32 in 1971 inflates to $149.57 in 2004; tack on TSA charges (couldn't find any faclities charge data specific to those airports, only http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04406r.pdf and http://web.mit.edu/TicketTax/ ) and you're on par with the OP's experience of "usual" prices. FWIW, DCA-BOS is 399 miles as the crow flies but usually $160-200.