[justlurking]

But the problem is that airlines have slashed their prices so deeply that even with a loaded plane, they are still losing money.

I won't pretend to know about all airlines, but prices are not down on the major airlines that I fly. If anything, the prices are slightly higher -- and aggravated by the recent rules on changing tickets with restricted fares.

The real problem is apparently that lucrative business travelers (who pay full coach fares in excess of $1 per seat mile) are not flying. Some of it is because the economic downturn have caused travel budgets to be cut, but some of it is because the hassle of flying has induced businesses to find alternatives to travel, such as videoconferencing.

Without the full-fare travelers, the airlines are between a rock and a hard place. They can't operate flights at a profit without raising leisure fares above the point that most recreational travelers are willing to pay.

[johnb838]

The airlines are in trouble and it's not going to get better anytime soon because now that people are finding alternate methods that are much more pleasant than submitting to the PC body cavity search gestapo, and the concentration camp boxcar methods of packing the planes, they aren't going to be coming back until they change their ways.

I just hope the government doesn't bail these idiots out until the airlines are like amtrak. Let them die.