Frankly I was not that old when MGM Grand was around about a decade ago, but recently did a case study for this collge business class regarding AA's dilemma over whether or not to introduce a three-class transcon product (back in 1990/91). Surprised that MGM failed since the product it offered was supposedly so good... a "coach" class that was similarly priced to coach business fares on other airlines, but which offered service equivalent to other airlines' first class service! And unlike Midwest Express the route was the same (JFK-LAX)as AA, UA,TW, Pan Am, etc-- why is it that a last minute business person would choose to pay the same amount to sit in a crappy seat with 32" of seat pitch? Perhaps the addiction of miles?