Originally Posted by eponymous_coward

Alternately, the vast majority don't care if you get some mass-produced coach meal and IFE on a 45 minute internal flight if it saves them $20. They'd rather have the $20 to spend on a decent meal and movie at ground level (or something else not at 35,000 feet).

But yes, budget airlines are putting pressure on elite benefits... which sort of indicates that non-elite passengers were subsidizing some of the elite benefits, no?