I believed you missed my point about 'in the short term'. My argument, backed by the linked data, was that for the last 30 years the prices actually look flat when you factor in the lost services like luggage. (is that actually a service?) Combine that with the completely horrific experience and there is a clear argument that the overall value proposition for consumers is tanking, badly. Deregulation happened in 1978. The trends I pointed out are lined back to 1995. the consumer benefit looks like it is lasting less time than the detractors to me so 'in the short term' is, I think, a good discussion point.