well, airline seats obviously aren't just commodities, as the same seat on the same plane can sell for vastly different prices to different customers. But I think that discussion does get us a bit off topic about Mr. Kellner.

I agree that TWA Fan, bless him (her?), does conflate his gripes with what's ailing the company - I distinctly remember him blaming allegedly falling employee morale on CO's having cut the benefits it gives to top-tier frequent fliets. So, I take his rant with a grain of salt.

That said, I tend to agree with the critique that Mr. Kellner was not a visionary leader, and that he was more a bean counter than someone who understood his customers and how he could earn more by serving them better. Many of the changes we've talked about remind me of the types of changes management consultants recommend because a calculation shows one can earn XX / customer by implementing them. That's all fine, but it's not gonna get a company in CO's shape to be a top of its class performer.