It seems like the major airlines are either making tons of money or losing it just as fast.  While some issues like jet fuel and labor costs may have something to do with it, another could be the bizarre way that the airlines get people from point A to point B. 

Recently I was trying to book a ticket from San Jose, CA to Salt Lake City, UT.  They are not that far apart and the flight down is direct.   My first three options were San Jose to L.A. to SLC.  No too bad, but a little out of the way.  Option 2 - San Jose to L.A. to Oakland to Salt Lake.  Why would I fly to LA only to come back to an airport 50 miles from where I started?  I would leave at 7am CA time and get in at 7pm UT time - 13 hours of bliss on flights that had no food service.  Option 3 was just as bad - San Jose - to L.A. - to San Francisco - to Salt Lake - another 13 hour escapade.  Option 5 - SJ to LA to Boise to Salt Lake at least got me into the mountain time zone in less than 6 hours and resulted in a trip of less than 12.

Maybe renting a car would have been a better idea.  I could make it home in less than 12 hours and I would be able to get something edible along the way.  Besides, they wouldn't search me every time I got in the car.  A mediocre meal would cost  less than $12, and I wouldn't have to share three small seats with two other guys who are both bigger than I am.