[scottgoold]

Dear JimWorcs,
Thank you, and yes, you are correct. De-regulation has been a disaster for this critical industry. Nearly all are facing bankruptcy. There were thousands of people stranded in United's terminal over the holiday. I'd never seen so much despair. This is why I am pushing this so forcefully. Air travel is essential to the health of our economy and nation. Yet paying passengers have absolutely no rights. I am stunned by many of the comments from people in this forum. They've forgotten what true customer service looks like. And, as you note, it's due to the monopoly power the various companies yield. We really don't have options. It's a take it or leave it system. With ExxonMobile posting record profits of $45.2 billion; Wall Street bonuses of approximately $20 billion; and the flying public at the mercy of greedy management -- extra charges for second bag, no more food on flights, charge for this, charge for that, change your flight at will, strand you for hours -- it is time for a massive change in our system. This is not capitalism, as the market is not allowed to work. It is a plutocratic system and we're the slaves.