HAHA!!! Hit the nail on the head-even if I have the money to give the airline I avoid it like the plague. In fact, I go out of my way to give my money to anyone BUT the airline. Why should I? They treat me and everyone like crap, and go out of their way to nickle and dime us. I've even gotten where if I can find an alternative way to arrive at my destination and I have the extra time it takes to get to that destination I do it rather than fly. Flying used to be a wonderful, fun experience. It has turned into one giant pain.

I suspect a lot of the resistance to paying for extra leg room is that "extra leg room" is what "adequate leg room" was a few years ago. Standard-issue legroom is now having the seat in front of you jammed into your knees (at least that's my experience as a woman of average height. It must be even worse for tall men).

Between airlines charging you for everything under the sun, being treated like a criminal by the TSA, and hassled by the Port Authority becuase you are taking too long to unload, I'll stick with driving.

I'm only 5'2" and most of the time I have little to no leg room. I can't imagine how everyone else feels with their knees in their nose.  I have to fly about 3 times a year and I only pay for the ticket not one dime more.  I find the cheapest flight I can get, carry on luggage, and nothing else.  I bring snacks and buy water once I get through security. 

Airlines are the most mis-managed business in America, we'd have been better off if deregulation had never occurred.

Airlines continue to increase fees on leisure travelers, causing a loss of customers as these customers are price sensitive, which causes them to reduce flights--which increases prices, and makes the problem worse. It's a downward spiral. Meanwhile, business travelers, who are *not* at all price sensitive (nobody travels any more unless they absolutely must), continue to be exempted from these fees, despite the fact that corporate expense accounts would pay them (and have no choice but to).

Simple fact is that airlines should be tripling fares for less than 30 day advance travel (leisure travelers plan well in advance and stick to pre-determined dates, and normally buy well in advance) and adding a $300 surcharge for tickets without a Saturday night stay.

Do this, and the airlines would increase revenue, and customers, as more leisure travelers could afford to fly and business travelers would have no choice but to pay the increased fares. Airlines are the only industry in America that loads perks on people who *must* have their service, rather than charging them the maximum the market will allow.

Business travelers not at all price sensitive? You've got to be kidding. You obviously do not travel for any business.

@ Bruce

You must be completely deluded if you believe that Corporations expense accounts pay for everything flight related because they have to. I am at the bottom of my company's pecking order and I have access to the company expense account so I can make biweekly flight arrangements to fly out for field work, and every time I arrange a flight based on time needed to travel, I get a message by the flight system that will kick out 3-4 flights that are all cheaper - even if it barely means saving $10. Believe me, Corporate Expense Accounts hate additional flying fees as much as everyone else.

I resist flying whenever I can. I enjoy a relaxing drive. So my hops from Buffalo to DC, Cleveland, NYC, and even Boston and Philly... I drive. I can't stand the waiting, aggravation, and ABUSE of additonal fees and constant wrangling by the ailines to pick my pocket.

I'm done flying unless I have to for business... its time to bring the airline executives and management back to earth...

I fly much more than you. Weather I fly in business or standard coach on any US airline, the legroom is just fine, and I am 5'10". If you don't have enough legroom, then your stuffing to much crap under the seat in front of you. put your carry on bag above you and a purse or similarly sized item in the under seat storage give you plenty of room for your legs. If the flight is so full that there is not enough overhead space, they will gate check it to the final destination free of charge, which is what most people want anyways (to check their bag without paying)

Want leg room? Take AMTRAK!

Want a decent meal? Take AMTRAK!

Want no baggage fee? Take AMTRAK!

Don't want to deal with TSA? Take AMTRAK!

Want to actually ENJOY getting there? TAKE AMTRAK!

Now if you are one of those folks who abosolutely HAVE to get accross a continent in a day... Well I know you cant take AMTRAK... Unless of course you re-evaluate your priorities. (and maybe you should) If you still cant do that, at least take Southwest Airlines. You still have to deal with the TSA, but the leg room is no less than the other guys, the fares are generally cheaper, the flight attendants are friendly, they have a good On-Time record (AMTRAK is still better) you get free peanuts, and there are no bag fees. You HAVE choices. Use them.

 Like all really badly run businesses, the airlines abetted by the TSA continue to be their own worst enemies, driving away customers for the benefit of gouging the fools who continue to allow them selves to be taken advantage of.  I haven't flown in more than 10 years and have no plans to ever fly again. I can't believe I'm alone in this or that the airlines aren't in fact losing more than they gain.

The airlines don't want to provide a service to the general public. All they want to do is fly those who don't car about the cost, business flyers who don't pay for the ticket and the moderately rich who fly first class. Everyone else is a bother. Except the only reason airlines are subsidized is so they can provide a public service. OK, let the airlines charge what they want for what they want. But in exchange let's drop all tax support for the airlines. Let them pay for their own security, upgraded radar, and airport expansion. And NO MORE BAILOUTS!

I find this very amusing to read. I always read up on things about these "Fees" airlines charge in the US. I've had the wonderful opportunity to travel with the likes of Emirates (once), Korean Air (6 times), China Airlines (once), Luftansa (8 times). I never seen nickle and diming on these airlines... and they still make a hefty profit. Also, customers on these airlines willing fork over a few extra bucks to pay to have the luxury of fullservice already.. one included price and not have to worry about any "fees", which seem to add up very quickly with all these fees that are in existance with the likes of American, Delta, et. al.

I'd willing travel with the likes of Korean Air, China Airlines, Lufthansa and Emirates before flying with another airline that makes me pay for just about everything additional to the "base" airfare. These practices seem almost illegal. In some countries, like in the EU as an example or even Korea for that matter. Its by law that the full price has to be accurately displayed.. Taxes, etc.. to show what the true cost of the airfare is. None of this "Surprise fees" that are not considered part of the airfare.