Wait, are you saying that the airlines shouldn't fill an otherwise empty seat simply because the people they're bumping up can't afford the seat?

I eagerly await the days where they get rid of first/business class completely in favor of making it an "equal" flying experience for everyone. That way people can't complain when they don't get bumped to a better class.

That said, airlines are like utilities when it comes to increasing rates, providing an inferior product, and maintaining their status in the industry by claiming their "costs" are going up while they nickle and dime the customer into the ground.

Having an effective "monopoly" on air travel means they don't have to actually compete, hence why a lot of fares are the same regardless of where you're going, hence the lack of innovation or actual customer service.

I can't wait for them to throw an Air surcharge onto the taxes and fees, after all piping in the safe to breath air costs them money, which is factored into the price of the airline ticket, but at the end of the day why not charge the customer twice?

Do you guys really think the airlines will institute additional "add-ons" and will actually lower the base fares? They're looking for supplemental revenue streams, not replacement revenue streams.