Just a little follow up to all the comments posted here.

The gate agent made an announcement prior to boarding that, "In order to keep fares low, please do not bring your own food or drinks onboard." Most people complied with the request, but I never saw the agents force anyone to throw away items before boarding. Menu items were mostly OK, sandwiches for $8 and snacks for $2. Drink selection, especially alcohol was very poor, only Bud and Bud Lite for beer and some crap wine in single serve bottles. At least let me buy an imported beer, or a decent half bottle of wine.

The merch cart was pretty lame, mostly perfume, watches and makeup in the $30-80 range. I didn't see many people buying from that cart. They would be better served selling souvenirs, cds, dvds, t-shirts and the like.

I was expect a "hard sell" tactic from the flight attendants, but they simply made two announcements, asked each person if they wanted anything and moved on. The announcement for food service is scripted, lame, and a bit condescending. They should either dump the cutesy script or hire a actor to record it ala Independence Air.

I still haven’t received a reply to my second email to customer service. Perhaps because I responded to the email they sent me, and didn’t send it from their website. Either way, it's a problem.

While I prefer to do most travel arrangements via web, there are certain things that I just need to talk with someone. Waiting for 5 hours to find out if I could be accommodated on an earlier flight was a big headache. Luckily I got their email in time and didn’t have to pay an extra day at my hotel and rental car. Plus the Burbank operation seems only have 3 people working there. If you needed to deal with an agent for a problem it would be a long wait in line. It seems they only staff the front desk 2 hours prior to a flight departure, so after everyone is checked in all the agents move to the gate area.

I too have found all the venom toward this company curious. I don’t hate this airline. I wanted to give them a try and see if they would meet my needs as a business traveler. Until they get a call center, and iron out some of operational issues, they don't. I don't wish them any ill will, and quite honestly, I hope they succede.

Living in CMH, I don't have the luxury of multiple airlines, times and non-stop routes. My choices are mostly between airlines, times, routes, and equipment that suck or suck less. Once they get some of this issues resolved, I'll gladly use them on CMH-BUR, not because I love the "Skybus experience", but because it cuts my travel time in half and I don't have to deal with the nightmare that is LAX.

These low-budget carriers have filled a niche in the travel market that allows more people to afford to travel. Good for them. This is part of a broader trend in the US where most people, and therefore companies, value price over service. The problem is that people like me, who are willing to pay a premium for good service are mostly being ignored, not just by airlines, but by the borader market in general.