Most businesses will not pay the current fares for business & first class. The "road warriors" cling to the FF programs as a way of survival -- it's our ticket to humane conditions.

As for bringing back "the way things were" -- fine with me, but the public has spoken. The cheapest fare wins. The premium products at higher fares did not succeed (remember TWA coach class with more legroom?). Without the price collusion of the pre-deregulation days, it is hard to see the kind of product you describe.

Pity.