Exactly my point really. There are direct flights on DL, AA and CO from New York to Nashville, and SW flies from Islip if you happen to be in that neck of the woods. This (I assumed) has in past helped keep fares in the $190-$220 range for us, and we do that flight pretty regularly. That pricing makes the flight special no bargain on $/mile basis compared with flying transcon (more than 3x the distance), but what I am failing to get is how the yield management software can continue to let fares creep/leap up on these semi-competitive routes while the aircraft are still not even close to full.

I do, however, recognize how entirely self-interested my indignation is .