Most of the people most of the time aren't flying in the front of the plane. AS can compete if it wants to. We all seem so focused on the lie flats and premium this and that on the other carriers that we forget that most of the people most of the time are content just to get a seat assignment for a seat they fit in, and perhaps a sack of gor-may snack mix. The "bigger problem" here is that the typical business traveler wants a one stop shop for travel, which includes frequency and destinations. If AS no longer flies to AAA, BBB or CCC, you don't even look to see what the schedule is to JFK, because you're already dedicated to another carrier.