var json_comments = new Array("<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-345933\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">homerjay    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-345933\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(345933);\">Moderate</a> |</span>	<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://consumerist.com/mt-static/plugins/Moderate/moderate.js\"></script>	<script type=\"text/javascript\">		successMsg = \"\";	</script><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=345933');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p><br />When will the airlines ever learn... This could have just as easily been ANY major carrier.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(345933, 'homerjay')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-345934\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">homerjay    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-345934\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(345934);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=345934');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p><br />When will the airlines ever learn? This could have just as easily been ANY major carrier.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(345934, 'homerjay')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-345979\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1177\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1177-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1177\">DeeJayQueue</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-345979\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(345979);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=345979');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>At this point they're just like big oil.  They do what they want and charge what they want because they know we have to take it up the asshole.  <br />What are you gonna do?  Are you gonna swim across the ocean to get to europe?  Is cross country business going to come to a screeching hault because we refuse to fly on just about every airline because they all suck gorilla butt?  No, that won't happen.  The nation's economy is too entwined with fast interstate and international commerce to have a Real choice in the airline wars.  It's just a battle of who sucks the least, and who uses the most lube or at least offers a reach around.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(345979, 'DeeJayQueue')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-346027\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1579\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1579-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1579\">Ted's Famous Kickin Chicken</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346027\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346027);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346027');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>It's not like big oil at all. Well, at least not in the way you're arguing it, DJQ.</p><p>Big Oil screws the public because their thoroughly vertically integrated--from the oil fields to your gas tank, oil companies run the show, with the only real competition between companies being which can claim the better fields and which can keep its overhead lowest.</p><p>Airlines, since deregulation, are forced to be far more competitive, to the legacy carriers' detriment. Pan Am didn't survive deregulation; neither did TWA. They, like the older carriers still around, are saddled with outdated hub-and-spoke routes, aging planes, expensive union contracts, and overpriced gasoline. Customer service quickly gets overlooked, not because the airlines are morally bankrupt but, you know, <i>actually</i> bankrupt.</p><p>Newer carriers, like JetBlue, which avoid all  those problems except the cost of gas, are showing the an airline can turn a profit while reclaiming some customer service standards. As Consumerist shows, JetBlue's service is far from perfect--but it's nothing like the thoroughgoing failure of an old carrier like US Airways.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346027, 'Ted\\'s Famous Kickin Chicken')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-346028\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">homerjay    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346028\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346028);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346028');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p><br />You really thing $29 one way to Baltimore is what they want to charge?<br /><br /></p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346028, 'homerjay')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-346105\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1509\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1509-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1509\">He</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346105\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346105);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346105');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>There is a huge difference between Ramadan and Ramada.</p><p>Kudos to this guy for not punching anybody though.  It would have been defensible, but when the whole system is f'ed only punching one or two people won't do anything except get you on the local news.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346105, 'He')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-346141\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1177\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1177-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1177\">DeeJayQueue</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346141\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346141);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346141');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>the airlines and big oil are similar because they both fuck the consumers simply because they can.  <br />Why is gas so expensive?  Because we'll pay it.<br />Why is airline service so shitty?  Because we'll deal with it.</p><p>We can't not drive and we can't not fly, so we have to put up with whatever they want to give us.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346141, 'DeeJayQueue')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-346189\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=6156\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=6156\">datruesurfer</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346189\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346189);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346189');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>We have delt with US Airways before, but nothing even comes close to that. The airlines have hit a new low.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346189, 'datruesurfer')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-346332\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=1623\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1623-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=1623\">Pelagius</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346332\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346332);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346332');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Deregulation, deschmegulation. Once the US government starts forcingthese airlines to compete, rather than bailing them out time and again,then we may see some real benefits from the market. What we have now isa number of airlines in limbo, with employees watching their pensionsgutted and paychecks cut. The smart ones are getting the hell out (e.g.recent report on number of furloughed pilots who aren't answeringrecall notices), the rest stick it out sullenly, stuck between angrypassengers and a corporation that doesn't have either the will or theresources to treat its customers right.</p><p>But hey, now that US Airways is hiring a bunch of teenagers to mancustomer service centers at pissant wages, I'm sure this will all getsorted out!</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346332, 'Pelagius')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-346992\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=3409\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-3409-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=3409\">econdave</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2006/08/the-nth-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-an-open-letter-to-us-airways.html#comment-346992\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"0000-00-00T00:00:00-05:00\">December  0, 0000 12:00 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(346992);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=346992');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>\"There is a huge difference between Ramadan and Ramada.\"</p><br /><p>In a Ramadan Hotel, the restaurant is closed from sunrise to sunset.</p><br /><p>I'll be here all week folks!</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(346992, 'econdave')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>");


