9/11 was a bonus to them, it kept some of them in business (even if it did temporarily cripple them.) I think it's only Southwest Airlines that is running a profit, and they do it by quick, clean, easy service.

Heck I can do without foul-smelling peanut packets (gag) and drinks if Delta or American or others would deliver polite, smiling service whilst stabbing you in the back. Instead, they do the peanut thing, give you small servings of soda (hell, people, give me the damn can I can drink soda from a can and it'll be less trouble overall and you can recycle everything), and (usually) treat you like dirt while still stabbing you in the back.

It's so bad that when someone treats you decently you want to tip them. It's so bad I am sometimes seriously tempted to start flying lessons.