acaterry,
I see your point on the rental car thing, and I agree there are some important steps airlines have taken to try to differentiate their service with perks from the "pack." I believe that the root of the problem is that we have seen a migration of pax who used to be loyal to one brand for whatever reason come over to the camp of those willing only to pay the cheapest price.
Amen to the days of getting dressed up to go on an airplane. I remember my parents requiring me when I was a kid in the late 70s to where slacks and a decent shirt to travel anywhere on an airplane (parents werent non revs). Flash forward to a flight i did today where some 55 year old woman gets on board with a mini skirt so short she can barely walk up the steps of a 328j. Dont mean to sound like a snob, but i think some people get dressed in the dark and just put on the first thing they find before they travel these days.