<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spot:
The analysis of Variable costs vs revenues works....but you need to include
business lost due to service limitations.
...
I have strong feelings about my travel and the convenience it offers. Take the convenience away, or increase pricing... and I will find other ways to get business done. </font>
As for the first point, yes it is more complicated than a flight by flight accounting.
About your second point, I agree. That is why the airlines and FAA need to fix the airport security situation. Right now air travel is much less convenient for short hops. This doesn't affected UA quite as much as other airlines (e.g., US, WN) who fly more short-haul routes but it has an effect nonetheless. Why should I fly from LGA to IAD when Amtrak takes about the same amount of time and is probably cheaper?
I understand that real security measures will also take more time than what were used to before September 11 but I would find it easier to deal with the wait if I had some confidence that the security precautions actually might prevent a serious incident rather than being there to make me feel better.