Reply #17: I think that's a false assumption on the part of the big airlines

[smoogatz]

and it's the thing that leaves the door open for competition from carriers like Jet Blue. Fliers are aware of, and resent, crappy service--all you have to do is look at the airline quality surveys (or whatever they're called) and it's clear that that's the case. Or listen to the derisive laughter in the cabin when at the end of another miserable, overcrowded, uncomfortable flight with a surly flight crew the pilot says "Thank you for choosing Northwest" (like I freaking had a choice, dude). There's no proof for my theory because nobody's tried it--but if a major airline decided to charge me a bit more--an extra 20%, say, added onto the base fare--but treated me like a valued customer instead of a pain in the ass, I'd be all over it--I'd never fly any other carrier, regardless of the price difference. Maybe I'm just a weirdo, but I don't think so--people respond to fare difference because that's all the big airlines offer them.