I second Lavdumper's comments about SouthWest and why they are so successful, even at budget pricing. I fly SW several times a month, and the key is in the customer-facing staff. For their prices, I'll put up with just about anything, up to the wings falling off the a/c, so long as someone explains to me what's happening and why. Their attitude to their passengers is consistently better than any of the "majors", and Mr Kelleher has obviously a) figured out how important that is and b) figured out that it costs virtually nothing to provide.
llater,
llamas