Whenever cuts like these are made we hear from the crowd that says that we consumers were spoiled too much before or didn't have reason to expect what we had been getting. Or that we, in the spirit of community, should accept our share of belt-tightening in hard times.

I wish I could be so selfless and stoic, but I remember things like $100 change fees or $2,000 walk-up coast-to-coast RTs or Leo's bankruptcy-proof pension. And I ask myself, "Have THEY been acting like we're all in this together?"

After all, it takes trust and credibility to get people to believe your message and lead in hard times, and that's where I find the airline upper managements sorely lacking. Remember the fuel surcharge and how AA and others tried to hold onto it after the fuel price spike had passed? Or of trying to link charging for drinks internationally to improved meal service on some routes, though the improvements would be swept away in the next round of cuts but the charges kept?

These kinds of things erode trust and goodwill. Customers rightfully are skeptical or cynical about whether any savings will "trickle down" to them in lower fares, or just be pocketed (if there's one thing most companies are loath to do, it's pass along cost savings in the form of lower prices. Only vigorous competition can bring that about).

Airlines may well be able to force this latest round of cuts on customers by all doing it at once, but spare me the bit about need-for-sacrifice.