[jimworcs]

Chris, I don't really understand your logic. If as you say, airlines have tried raising their fares and if they don't all do it, it doesn't work.. how is this helped by an airline raising it's fuel surcharge if they don't all do it. The truth is, most pricing by airlines these days are dynamic and rise and fall according to a number of highly complex factors, including costs, demand, competitive issues, etc... so I can't see how the surcharge is anything other than an attempt by the airline to post a "fake" price, to which the surcharge is added. Can you imagine the chaos if all businesses adopted the ridiculous pricing structure of the airlines. As you shop in the supermarket, you get to the checkout with your six muffins for a $1 offer. At the check out the sales clerk advises you that there is a $1 fuel surcharge, a 50 cent "security" charge to ensure the muffins are safe and 25 cent charge for using your card to pay for it. That will be $2.75 please. It is ridiculous and makes no sense. Supermarkets have to pay huge haulage fees and when the price of gas goes up it goes up for them too. The also face huge competition and their competitors don't always raise their prices at the same time. That is the free market, and I cannot understand why the airlines feel that they are not subject to it. Can you tell me how many supermarket chains have gone into chapter 11 repeatedly, and then emerged unscathed having unloaded tons of debt?