You’re absolutely right. But the flip side of this is that the U.S. airline industry has basically become “Wal-Mart in the skies” as these airlines reduce the quality of their service in an attempt to keep their fares as low as possible.
You think US airlines have become stripped-down, try flying Ryanair in Europe. Of course, Ryanair will fly you across Europe for $50, so you don't catch me complaining. If the seat is uncomfortable, I am cushioned by my fat wallet.
Actually Ryanair is considering adding standing room to the back few rows of their airliners. You would strap in against a wall for takeoffs and landings, and stand all the way. Not a good choice for NY to LA, but for London to Barcelona, it wouldn't be too bad... They are also going to start charging people to use the in-flight bathroom...
I hear the complaints, but I don’t see the reduction in service quality unless you’re going back to the 60s when it was too expensive for the average American family to travel.
I find the flight service fully acceptable. I’d rather get there cheap and spend the money on the vacation not the travel.
The current trouble the airlines face has more to do with government bungling - airports, FAA, taxes and petty politics.
United Airlines shouldn’t exist today, but Daley and the Feds kept them alive because Daley couldn’t afford to lose another business in Chicago.
Had they properly died the airlines would have been much healthier. Instead we get a GM situation of a zombie airline. Of the airlines I fly I noted a marked reduction in quality service from United once the employees took over.