With the actions of US airlines in mind, isn't it time for an *Open Skies* on a domestic level?

[RB TexLa]

I think there would be a dramatic change in customer service and operations from the US airlines if they had to compete with other carriers for domestic business.

[babylonsister]

1. You think there's no competition?

What makes you think that? And there could be a dramatic change shortly if the price of fuel doesn't go down. The airlines are hanging on by their short hairs, and smaller 'domestic' ones are going out of business.
Customer service is the least of my worries at this point.

[SheilaT]

2. Ummm, that's what deregulation

was all about. Here's a link to the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_Deregulation_Act

I was an airline ticket agent at the time, and we all knew that the eventual outcome was going to be loss of service to smaller cities, and eventually higher fares. In the beginning new airlines sprang into existence and a lot more service between a lot of cities came into being. But over time we've seen mergers, most new airlines failing, and more and more cities losing service. The loss of airline service can be devastating to a city's economy, depending on just how far away the nearest airport is.

Something similar has happened with the loss of train service. Cities and small towns that in no way could justify air service used to have good train service. Now it's hard to get anywhere (except to some extent in the Northeast) by train in this country. Trains are few and often run at inconvenient times, and since freight takes priority, often are very delayed. Several years ago I took the train from Kansas City to St. Louis and a trip that should have been five hours (and it would have been faster to drive, let alone fly) took ten hours. Needless to say, I haven't taken the train since.