Education

Cost of a plane ticket the year you graduated college

Written by:
Noah Greenberg
May 1, 2018
Canva

Cost of a plane ticket the year you graduated college

The romantic possibilities of air travel have long captivated American travelers seeking adventure across the country. Since the first commercial flight took off over 100 years ago, the U.S. airline industry has since grown to handle over 600 million miles traveled every year, permeating every aspect of our lives, from business to leisure.

But commercial air travel is not without its pain points, perhaps none greater than the constant fluctuation of ticket costs, and the industry's lack of pricing transparency. A flight is one of the very few services in the world where you are almost certainly paying a different amount from the customers sitting right next to you.

That first flight was just 23 minutes and cost $400 (roughly $9,600 today), and ticket prices have been a constant source of customer complaints ever since. But just how much has the price of a ticket changed over time? Using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics, Stacker analyzed the average price for U.S. domestic airline fares from 1995-2017 along with CPI changes for airline fare from 1964-1995. For each year, we also included the average price for the popular routes of Boston—Seattle, Chicago—Atlanta, and New York—Los Angeles. These figures reflect fares for paying customers only and are typically representative of roundtrip travel, as defined by the BTS.

For those nostalgic for the time where the skies were yours for a few hundred dollars and a dream, read on to see the cost of a plane ticket the year you graduated from college.

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1964

Average domestic airline fare: $36.66 (inflation-adjusted: $289.36)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $38.18 (inflation-adjusted: $301.36)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $13.76 (inflation-adjusted: $108.60)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $40.37 (inflation-adjusted: $318.69)

 

1965

Average domestic airline fare: $36.81 (inflation-adjusted: $285.97)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $38.34 (inflation-adjusted: $297.83)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $13.82 (inflation-adjusted: $107.33)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $40.54 (inflation-adjusted: $314.96)

 

1966

Average domestic airline fare: $36.81 (inflation-adjusted: $277.17)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $38.34 (inflation-adjusted: $288.67)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $13.82 (inflation-adjusted: $104.03)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $40.54 (inflation-adjusted: $305.27)

 

1967

Average domestic airline fare: $36.97 (inflation-adjusted: $270.83)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $38.50 (inflation-adjusted: $282.07)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $13.87 (inflation-adjusted: $101.65)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $40.71 (inflation-adjusted: $298.29)

 

1968

Average domestic airline fare: $37.74 (inflation-adjusted: $265.37)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $39.31 (inflation-adjusted: $276.39)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $14.16 (inflation-adjusted: $99.60)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $41.57 (inflation-adjusted: $292.28)

 

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1969

Average domestic airline fare: $40.52 (inflation-adjusted: $270.20)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $42.21 (inflation-adjusted: $281.41)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $15.21 (inflation-adjusted: $101.41)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $44.63 (inflation-adjusted: $297.59)

 

1970

Average domestic airline fare: $43.77 (inflation-adjusted: $276.06)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $45.59 (inflation-adjusted: $287.51)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $16.43 (inflation-adjusted: $103.61)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $48.21 (inflation-adjusted: $304.05)

 

1971

Average domestic airline fare: $46.87 (inflation-adjusted: $283.16)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $48.81 (inflation-adjusted: $294.91)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $17.59 (inflation-adjusted: $106.28)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $51.62 (inflation-adjusted: $311.87)

 

1972

Average domestic airline fare: $48.10 (inflation-adjusted: $281.60)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $50.10 (inflation-adjusted: $293.28)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $18.05 (inflation-adjusted: $105.69)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $52.98 (inflation-adjusted: $310.15)

 

1973

Average domestic airline fare: $49.80 (inflation-adjusted: $274.49)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $51.87 (inflation-adjusted: $285.88)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $18.69 (inflation-adjusted: $103.02)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $54.85 (inflation-adjusted: $302.32)

 

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1974

Average domestic airline fare: $53.98 (inflation-adjusted: $267.93)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $56.22 (inflation-adjusted: $279.05)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $20.26 (inflation-adjusted: $100.56)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $59.45 (inflation-adjusted: $295.10)

 

1975

Average domestic airline fare: $58.78 (inflation-adjusted: $267.33)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $61.21 (inflation-adjusted: $278.42)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $22.06 (inflation-adjusted: $100.33)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $64.73 (inflation-adjusted: $294.43)

 

1976

Average domestic airline fare: $63.57 (inflation-adjusted: $273.39)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $66.21 (inflation-adjusted: $284.73)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $23.86 (inflation-adjusted: $102.61)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $70.02 (inflation-adjusted: $301.10)

 

1977

Average domestic airline fare: $67.28 (inflation-adjusted: $271.69)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $70.07 (inflation-adjusted: $282.96)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $25.25 (inflation-adjusted: $101.97)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $74.10 (inflation-adjusted: $299.23)

 

1978

Average domestic airline fare: $70.38 (inflation-adjusted: $264.13)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $73.30 (inflation-adjusted: $275.09)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $26.41 (inflation-adjusted: $99.13)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $77.51 (inflation-adjusted: $290.91)

 

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1979

Average domestic airline fare: $76.10 (inflation-adjusted: $256.49)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $79.26 (inflation-adjusted: $267.14)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $28.56 (inflation-adjusted: $96.27)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $83.81 (inflation-adjusted: $282.50)

 

1980

Average domestic airline fare: $105.18 (inflation-adjusted: $312.34)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $109.54 (inflation-adjusted: $325.30)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $39.48 (inflation-adjusted: $117.23)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $115.84 (inflation-adjusted: $344.01)

 

1981

Average domestic airline fare: $132.40 (inflation-adjusted: $356.42)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $137.89 (inflation-adjusted: $371.21)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $49.69 (inflation-adjusted: $133.77)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $145.82 (inflation-adjusted: $392.55)

 

1982

Average domestic airline fare: $146.01 (inflation-adjusted: $370.25)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $152.07 (inflation-adjusted: $385.61)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $54.80 (inflation-adjusted: $138.96)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $160.81 (inflation-adjusted: $407.79)

 

1983

Average domestic airline fare: $154.36 (inflation-adjusted: $379.25)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $160.77 (inflation-adjusted: $394.98)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $57.94 (inflation-adjusted: $142.34)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $170.01 (inflation-adjusted: $417.69)

 

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1984

Average domestic airline fare: $163.64 (inflation-adjusted: $385.41)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $170.43 (inflation-adjusted: $401.40)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $61.42 (inflation-adjusted: $144.65)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $180.24 (inflation-adjusted: $424.48)

 

1985

Average domestic airline fare: $174.01 (inflation-adjusted: $395.72)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $181.23 (inflation-adjusted: $412.14)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $65.31 (inflation-adjusted: $148.52)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $191.65 (inflation-adjusted: $435.84)

 

1986

Average domestic airline fare: $181.12 (inflation-adjusted: $404.39)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $188.64 (inflation-adjusted: $421.16)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $67.98 (inflation-adjusted: $151.77)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $199.49 (inflation-adjusted: $445.38)

 

1987

Average domestic airline fare: $189.94 (inflation-adjusted: $409.14)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $197.82 (inflation-adjusted: $426.11)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $71.29 (inflation-adjusted: $153.56)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $209.20 (inflation-adjusted: $450.62)

 

1988

Average domestic airline fare: $192.10 (inflation-adjusted: $397.36)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $200.07 (inflation-adjusted: $413.85)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $72.10 (inflation-adjusted: $149.14)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $211.58 (inflation-adjusted: $437.65)

 

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1989

Average domestic airline fare: $203.55 (inflation-adjusted: $401.68)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $212.00 (inflation-adjusted: $418.35)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $76.40 (inflation-adjusted: $150.76)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $224.19 (inflation-adjusted: $442.41)

 

1990

Average domestic airline fare: $229.54 (inflation-adjusted: $429.74)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $239.06 (inflation-adjusted: $447.57)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $86.15 (inflation-adjusted: $161.29)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $252.81 (inflation-adjusted: $473.31)

 

1991

Average domestic airline fare: $240.05 (inflation-adjusted: $431.28)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $250.01 (inflation-adjusted: $449.18)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $90.10 (inflation-adjusted: $161.87)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $264.39 (inflation-adjusted: $475.01)

 

1992

Average domestic airline fare: $240.05 (inflation-adjusted: $418.68)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $250.01 (inflation-adjusted: $436.05)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $90.10 (inflation-adjusted: $157.14)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $264.39 (inflation-adjusted: $461.13)

 

1993

Average domestic airline fare: $276.40 (inflation-adjusted: $468.06)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $287.87 (inflation-adjusted: $487.49)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $103.74 (inflation-adjusted: $175.67)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $304.42 (inflation-adjusted: $515.52)

 

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1994

Average domestic airline fare: $286.92 (inflation-adjusted: $473.75)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $298.82 (inflation-adjusted: $493.40)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $107.69 (inflation-adjusted: $177.81)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $316.01 (inflation-adjusted: $521.78)

 

1995

Average domestic airline fare: $293.42 (inflation-adjusted: $471.12)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $305.59 (inflation-adjusted: $490.67)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $110.12 (inflation-adjusted: $176.82)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $323.16 (inflation-adjusted: $518.88)

 

1996

Average domestic airline fare: $278.68 (inflation-adjusted: $434.62)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $310.10 (inflation-adjusted: $483.63)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $111.75 (inflation-adjusted: $174.28)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $327.93 (inflation-adjusted: $511.44)

 

1997

Average domestic airline fare: $288.39 (inflation-adjusted: $439.69)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $316.84 (inflation-adjusted: $483.06)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $127.50 (inflation-adjusted: $194.39)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $308.52 (inflation-adjusted: $470.37)

 

1998

Average domestic airline fare: $307.77 (inflation-adjusted: $462.03)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $311.40 (inflation-adjusted: $467.49)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $127.73 (inflation-adjusted: $191.74)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $335.41 (inflation-adjusted: $503.53)

 

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1999

Average domestic airline fare: $325.71 (inflation-adjusted: $478.40)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $286.75 (inflation-adjusted: $421.18)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $135.86 (inflation-adjusted: $199.55)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $334.45 (inflation-adjusted: $491.24)

 

2000

Average domestic airline fare: $339.62 (inflation-adjusted: $482.60)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $303.73 (inflation-adjusted: $431.60)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $160.81 (inflation-adjusted: $228.51)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $379.91 (inflation-adjusted: $539.86)

 

2001

Average domestic airline fare: $324.20 (inflation-adjusted: $447.94)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $259.70 (inflation-adjusted: $358.83)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $169.42 (inflation-adjusted: $234.08)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $322.84 (inflation-adjusted: $446.07)

 

2002

Average domestic airline fare: $314.78 (inflation-adjusted: $428.17)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $241.70 (inflation-adjusted: $328.76)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $154.92 (inflation-adjusted: $210.72)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $294.55 (inflation-adjusted: $400.64)

 

2003

Average domestic airline fare: $316.21 (inflation-adjusted: $420.52)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $237.23 (inflation-adjusted: $315.49)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $128.06 (inflation-adjusted: $170.31)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $268.48 (inflation-adjusted: $357.05)

 

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2004

Average domestic airline fare: $308.09 (inflation-adjusted: $399.10)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $219.49 (inflation-adjusted: $284.32)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $127.83 (inflation-adjusted: $165.58)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $228.24 (inflation-adjusted: $295.66)

 

2005

Average domestic airline fare: $307.54 (inflation-adjusted: $385.33)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $226.52 (inflation-adjusted: $283.81)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $154.66 (inflation-adjusted: $193.78)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $256.40 (inflation-adjusted: $321.25)

 

2006

Average domestic airline fare: $327.91 (inflation-adjusted: $398.01)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $238.15 (inflation-adjusted: $289.07)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $175.24 (inflation-adjusted: $212.70)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $296.84 (inflation-adjusted: $360.30)

 

2007

Average domestic airline fare: $324.57 (inflation-adjusted: $383.12)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $255.54 (inflation-adjusted: $301.64)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $176.57 (inflation-adjusted: $208.42)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $317.26 (inflation-adjusted: $374.49)

 

2008

Average domestic airline fare: $343.02 (inflation-adjusted: $389.86)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $272.85 (inflation-adjusted: $310.11)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $165.49 (inflation-adjusted: $188.09)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $321.36 (inflation-adjusted: $365.24)

 

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2009

Average domestic airline fare: $311.46 (inflation-adjusted: $355.31)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $236.31 (inflation-adjusted: $269.58)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $135.41 (inflation-adjusted: $154.47)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $274.91 (inflation-adjusted: $313.62)

 

2010

Average domestic airline fare: $334.93 (inflation-adjusted: $375.77)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $256.41 (inflation-adjusted: $287.68)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $161.51 (inflation-adjusted: $181.21)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $314.04 (inflation-adjusted: $352.34)

 

2011

Average domestic airline fare: $364.41 (inflation-adjusted: $396.49)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $277.43 (inflation-adjusted: $301.85)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $178.52 (inflation-adjusted: $194.23)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $353.29 (inflation-adjusted: $384.40)

 

2012

Average domestic airline fare: $376.62 (inflation-adjusted: $401.39)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $286.85 (inflation-adjusted: $305.72)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $171.00 (inflation-adjusted: $182.24)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $351.89 (inflation-adjusted: $375.03)

 

2013

Average domestic airline fare: $379.99 (inflation-adjusted: $399.08)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $281.86 (inflation-adjusted: $296.01)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $191.12 (inflation-adjusted: $200.71)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $359.34 (inflation-adjusted: $377.38)

 

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2014

Average domestic airline fare: $390.54 (inflation-adjusted: $403.74)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $279.82 (inflation-adjusted: $289.27)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $214.82 (inflation-adjusted: $222.08)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $381.83 (inflation-adjusted: $394.74)

 

2015

Average domestic airline fare: $378.43 (inflation-adjusted: $390.73)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $282.28 (inflation-adjusted: $291.45)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $165.23 (inflation-adjusted: $170.60)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $377.84 (inflation-adjusted: $390.11)

 

2016

Average domestic airline fare: $352.42 (inflation-adjusted: $359.32)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $261.00 (inflation-adjusted: $266.11)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $131.10 (inflation-adjusted: $133.67)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $360.10 (inflation-adjusted: $367.15)

 

2017

Average domestic airline fare: $347.86 (inflation-adjusted: $347.86)

Boston, MA - Seattle, WA fare: $268.69 (inflation-adjusted: $268.69)

Chicago, IL - Atlanta, GA fare: $151.02 (inflation-adjusted: $151.02)

New York, NY - Los Angeles, CA fare: $374.39 (inflation-adjusted: $374.39)

 

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