I keep seeing that the "Full Service" Airlines are cutting back services they offer. The airlines refer to their product as "Premium Service" and flyers should expect to pay extra to receive the "perks" that their airline offers.

Now what exactly is a full service airline, and what are these perks that I am paying extra for. Yes I do consider flying a 777 , with the good entertainment system, a movie, etc., a real perk, but how can the same airline refer to its regional jet as a premium product to the alternative, say a Southwest 737 with more legroom? Why is an MD80 a premium product where Frontier at half the cost somehow inferior? How can American with a straight face call their F-100's a "luxury jet" or a MD-80 a "Super MD-80"?

Let's see the "full service" airlines don't serve meals in coach on most flights, many times put you on a regional jet. When a flight is late and they strand you at their hub refuse to pay for a hotel room, and now they want to charge you to fly standby eliminating yet another "perk" that doesn't cost them anything?

Actively charging for oversized luggage that three months ago you didn't? Is that a "perk" or a "service" Are the "low-cost" carriers doing this also, or is this just "full-service"?

Oh maybe its "premium" service because we paid premium dollars for the ticket.

Tell me again, why do is American, United, and Delta refered to as "full service" airlines, while Southwest is called "a low cost carrier". I understand why Southwest is called a low cost carrier, their fares can sometimes be a fraction of their competitors, but why are the other carriers still called "full service" airlines. I think there needs to be another more descriptive term for the "major" (no that's not a good term, as isn't Southwest the 5th largest carrier now?) airlines.

So in 2002, what exactly is a "Full Service Airline"?