[churros]

Interesting account of why US airlines are so shitty:

Quote:

There is no mystery why air travel has gotten so ugly. Four large airlines — American, Southwest, Delta and United — commanded nearly 69 percent of the domestic air-travel market in 2016, up from about 60 percent in 2012, according to government data. Those numbers actually overstate how much competition there is. Many people have only one or two options when they fly because the big airlines have established virtual fortresses at their hub airports. United, American Airlines and three regional airlines affiliated with them served nearly 80 percent of passengers at O’Hare last year.

...

Much of the blame for the increased industry consolidation rests with antitrust officials in the Obama and Bush administrations who greenlighted a series of megamergers between airlines like American and US Airways; United and Continental; and Delta and Northwest. In addition, the Department of Transportation has historically been reluctant to regulate the industries it oversees — an unwillingness that persists in the Trump administration. Just last month, the secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao, put on hold a much-needed Obama-era proposal to require airlines to more clearly disclose extra fees for things like baggage. She delayed for a year another rule to require companies to disclose information about the mishandling of wheelchairs and motorized scooters for disabled passengers.

And given that Trump just banned laptops from middle east carriers, things don't look likely to change. It's protectionism alright, but for the corporations, not for you!