[grasshopper2]

Future passengers will pay. Higher prices, less choice, more regulation.

I agree that higher prices for airline tickets is a likely result. But that's a good thing. Fares got so low it became a race to the bottom and service declined. Nobody likes feeling they are on a Greyhound bus in the sky.

Higher fares, less overbooking, less crowding, better working conditions for the cabin crew and that all equals a more civilized trip and happy passengers.

[jjsheridan5]

The question of the ideal fare/service combination should be up to consumers. It should not be the result of random, large payouts enforced by the judicial system (random, in the sense that every company makes mistakes, since policies are enforced by fallible human beings). What is more, artificially induced fare increases don't result in better service. They just result in fare increases.

While you may be willing to pay more to get better treatment, what about people like would prefer lower fares, even at the expense of service? But all of this is irrelevant. Our judicial system is going to feeding the frenzy, via a huge payout (why would they not? They aren't paying). Future airline passengers will see higher fares, and quite probably significantly higher prices (the policies of overbooking exist for very good reasons). Service probably won't change much. And, for good measure, the political/media class will step in, stick their collective noses where they don't belong, and push for regulations that are counter-productive and expensive. Why wouldn't they? They will look like heroes to those who don't think these things through, and they won't pay the price. In fact, the people bearing the brunt of any counter-productive regulation (passengers), will blame the only people in this equation who have a vested interest in looking after their interests (airlines).

If you want better service, look for a better airline. If you want higher prices, less choice, and more hassles, root for the judicial system to do what it does best, and the political/media class to do what comes naturally.