I think 411A has totally missed the point of the thread which is why flying sucks for the passengers...
I don't think ALPA has much to do with back-end service failures, but I know all unions are a pet peeve of 411's, and one simply can't miss a free salvo across the bow, now, can we?
Ryan - you must be flying on Ryanair or EasyJet all the time, because comparing like-for-like 'full-service' carriers in the US versus, say, Asia leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. I'm ashamed to say our 'service' has reached rock bottom and continued burrowing...and management's excuse is: "We' simply don't see why we should provide anything for the passengers above the absolute minimum; rock-bottom fares beget rock-bottom service".