When was five years ago. If you back out Southwest's fuel hedges, they haven't been profitable for more than a year. None of the other majors have made money since 2000. America West/US Scare is in the black, but it's a stretch calling them a national airline--more like two giant regionals smashed together. Get used to paying at least $400 for a ticket as long as crude is north of $55 a barrel. Demand for air travel drops off awfully fast after about $250. In a high-crude environment, a nine carrier industry (AA, America West/USAir, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, Southwest, Alaska, Jetblue) probably goes to four, five at the most, and those five'll be smaller than they are now. Look for 200,000 airline employees to hit the streets.

I don't even want to try to grasp the economic viability of national airlines, and you could well be correct about all that, but I've made 7 business trips around the country in the last 2 months, and, subjectively, there's a LOT more teeming masses in the airports than there were pre- 9/11, despite ever-rising fares.

Also, I'm flying to Pittsburgh Tuesday on a round trip ticket that was purchased less than 7 days in advance- cost: $198. Of course, that cost may have something to with no one wanting to go to Pittsburgh, but.......

It's funnier (to people who get it) when you don't explain it.

Don't worry, with the reading comprehension level of this board, 9 posters will ever remember this if you use it again.

I blame Delta for shelving their "At Delta, none of our planes have ever been hijacked and flown into buildings" ad campaign. Now, when they go under, they'll have no one to blame but themselves

I flew from Nashville to Austin and back over the weekend. I think checking your dop/shaving kit is a great thing. Granted, it puts more pressure on the baggage handlers, and you have to wait on your bag after the flight, but damn if we didn't load the plane in under 5 minutes. The lines weren't all that bad either. They were there, but the staff at both airports were quick.