Do airfares need to go back regulation to allow airlines to stop nickel & diming passengers for services that used to be included in fares? I think airfare regulation should be revisited. Remember when the OAG paper edition listed the four fares for each airline - F/Y/Fn/Yn?
I have lifetime status on two legacy airlines so I try to send my travel needs their way. Yes, I receive free checked bags and the occasional upgrade. I always check my bags. All to often the emplaning/deplaning process is soured by all the passengers that bring their overstuffed "carry-on" bag(s) on board and try to stow them in the overheads. Don't get me started on passengers who board wearing their overstuffed backpacks and looking at their phones while boarding, walking past their assigned row. Then they become a spinner in the aisle while they try to locate their row and swim upstream, all the while knocking seated aisle passengers with their backpacks.

Yes, flying today's flying experience is nothing more than a BUS WITH WINGS.

Interesting topic, and I fall into that category of choosing flights based on cost.

The government coddled airlines could use some genuine competition like a high speed inter-city rail system that you enjoy in Europe and Asia. Of course, in the U.S.A. this is not possible because the economics of rail preclude fat cats enriching themselves. In the U.S.A. nothing happens unless rich people fatten up on it.

I'm a classical guitarist and must carry my guitar, in a hard case, onto the plane with me and fit it in the overhead bin. Sorry about that but the airlines have proved that they are not careful with such checked luggage nor do they step up and take responsibility for the damages they cause. Hence it becomes carry on and will continue to be as long as I travel with any airline.

Those smaller, narrower cramped seats don't help either.

I disagree with the analyst "they prefer the lower advertised price regardless of how many add-ons they have to pay for," Vinay Bhaskara, a senior business analyst" - I for one do definitely compare the net cost of flight A (discount plus add ons) versus flight B (normal fare, some items included)- its simple math. I will also pay more (and usually do) for nonstop flights if available for my route. Connections suck in so many ways, as most travelers know. Also the longer the longer the in-flight pain will be and I am more discerning about what seat and were on the AC I am sitting (usually cost adders). BTW Southwest used to be very competitive fare wise, they are not even in the running anymore on most of my routes out of MCO.

The reason most passengers choose price over all else, is probably because most people fly so infrequently that they don't realize what they are getting or missing. I like that as a frequent flyer, I can check my luggage for free, and I can choose seats with a little more leg room, and I can board early so I can ensure my luggage is stowed near me. Also, as a frequent flyer, I recognize which airlines I want to avoid.

Re: Passengers who pull on the seat in front of them
Some of us are older and have knees that get stiff when forced to sit in a cramped position. When we rise to use the restroom, we need support in order to straighten our knees. The only available support is the seat back in front. I always apologize for the annoyance. Reclining the seat in front to get back at the passenger in back only makes the situation worse. Do you want to injure an older person? Making a cramped space smaller makes it impossible for the older person to get out! Why be uncivil in an uncomfortable situation?

Airline travel is barely one notch above being waterboarded because corporate lobbyists are able to buy up our politicians like so many bags of walnuts Krogers.

This article is a statistical sham. 51% prefer low price to comfortable seats? Unless one flies Business or First Class, there are NO comfortable seats. I wonder who sponsored this survey.

The annoying incident I dislike is when the passenger pulls on your seat back to get out after you have dropped off to sleep. I recline back once that happens, even though I do not normally do that. I have seen passengers walking on with big suitcases, but the stewards do nothing, most of them look like they do not like their job, its like talking to a copper sometimes, deadpan replies.

Simply stated, you get what you pay for. Last September we took a round tripper from COS to SAN on Frontier. If memory serves, the equipment was an A320; a real cattle car with wings. Seats did not recline and were really uncomfortable and the only time you saw the flight attendants was when they were pitching the company's branded credit card but the trip cost me less than two good steak dinners at Saltgrass. Did I mention you get what you pay for?

I always check bags, only carryon I ever take is my computer or in extreme cases is my 15 x 10 x 5 camera case which goes under the seat by my feet. I hate to see the roller carry ons come on board, Recently took 2 flight on E 145, I grabbed for the upgrade for the exit rows. I prefer to pay for comfort that to spend several hours cramped and miserable. Granted I am now at a point in life that comfort is important but I have also spent hours in nylon web seats enroute to deployments.

Just used my miles on American Airlines and found they have a new add-on. $75 mileage processing fee.

100 % agreement that the airplanes are nothing but buses with wings. Years ago when I traveled extensively, the airline treated you like a customer: good meals, courtesy cocktails, seat assignments, and free baggage check-in. Now the fees and restrictions are downright horrible. I had bought a ticket from ATL-MEX-CUL in JUNE last month. When it became that I couldn't make the trip, It took talking to the airline supervisor for over an hour to cancel the ticket which wouldn't be used for 2 months. You guys who travel for business should be raising holy hell with the situation as it is; but remember; if you let them get away with it now, what can you expect tomorrow?

When I read the headline I thought the statistic was about obesity.

A large amount of air travel is not essential and discretionary. In today's internet connected world, air travel almost seems indulgent and environmentally disrespectful.