The airlines are bankrupt and doing what they can to survive these times. When things are going good, the airlines traditionally respond by adding more to customer service. If flyers can't understand and appreciate what the airlines are trying to doing now, I don't have sympathy for them. In economic terms, there are few things more elastic that the relationship of fares to seats sold, making decisions on costs extra-critical. It's no different than if a father had his pay cut 25% due to economic problems at this employer. I think he'd make the decision to find ways to cut spending, and hope that his family understands it is temporary.