By the time airlines add all their fees to the ticket price, it is astronomical. Some regulation is actually good.
Last time my friend flew, the add on fees exceeded the ticket price. Some deal!
Nobody should pretend to be surprised about the way tickets are being priced. There's a simple reason for it: Internet flight booking. It's all about the way people buy tickets. You go to Travelocity, or CheapTickets, or Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak... Whatever... People shopping there are looking for the lowest fare-- and nothing else. So... The airlines are going to shave their fares down as low as possible so they will sort to the top of those lists. An easy way to do that is to push as much as possible off into other "fees" and whatnot.
It's disingenuous to pretend to be offended by a lack of amenities, when that's not what you were shopping for. You wanted the lowest fare, and you got it. Quityerbitchin'. If you wanted certain other amenities, then you shoulda shopped for them. You could have. You chose not to.
For the last few years, when I have traveled, I have chosen to fly first class. Yes... It costs more. But I have a seat that fits me with room to spare. My bags check free. My drinks (no small amount, there) are free. The food is better. My checked bags come out first at baggage claim. All in all... For me I'm interested in more than just price.
During the age of regulation flying was for the elite, prices were pinned sky high. People complain about the fees but it’s their own fault, the fact is they don’t want to buy a ticket listed at price X, but they’re willing to buy a ticket listed at half that and still PAY X after the fees. If people wouldn’t demand low list prices there wouldn’t be the fees. It’s not like airlines are making a profit, X is what they actually need to charge, but the people demand they be sneaky about it, so they are.