As far as individual airlines are concerned, I can only offer experience on BA, as they are the only airline I have flown often enough to notice a change in standards over the years.
Firstly, it must be said that the standards in Club World have improved (as with many business classes, I would imagine). However, the standards in World Traveller certainly haven't (as with many airlines' coach classes, I would imagine). Now I believe that this is SOLELY due to the current scheme of having elite frequent fliers (which is more often than not bred by premium fare-paying customers).
BA have put all their effort into taking care of the gold (and to some extent silver) elite flyers these days, as they know that this is where the money lies. Providing these passengers with 'extra service ' should not be at the expense of the discounted budget travellers. Those who aren't in the elite tiers and those on discounted tickets are even the first to be bumped off an overbooked flight...logic would suggest that bumping should occur depending on time of arrival at check-in and regardless of tier status. It is an absolute disgrace that non-elite tier or non-premium class passengers are not made to feel valued at all nowadays and utterly shameful that the British class system plays such an enormous role in BA's attitudes to customer service.


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[This message has been edited by salt (edited 08-05-2000).]