Added to that is the difficulty in getting connecting flights with reasonable layovers (heaven forbid that I get a direct flight) and the increasing side costs for items that used to be part of the ticket--like checked bags and now even carry-ons for some airlines. Even with my flights to and from Kansas City covered by the company that runs the AP Readings, I still had a difficult time scheduling the trip and have to deal with some hefty layovers. I also noticed that the ticket prices were considerably larger than even last year.
All this so I can be put in a confined space with too close neighbors and not enough air movement to make a mildly claustrophobic person, such as myself, rather unhappy. With the joys of ear pain that comes with the takeoffs and landings (and my low threshold for pain), the entire experience has lost a great deal of its past luster.
Still, there's something to be said to watching the ground pull away and to ride amongst the clouds. I suppose that flying isn't all bad.