Flying sucks compared to the 90s because route deregulation made air travel a race to the bottom, petroleum was ultra super cheap, and 9/11 hadn't happened yet.

Airlines make restaurant-level margins these days (1-2%, despite spending billions of dollars!). Practically all of them are state-sponsored for this reason, and many (MANY!) airlines were either merged into the big three legacy US airlines (Delta, American, United) or folded because their business models couldn't handle travelers who wanted to fly JFKLAX for $300 round-trip.

This combined with the cost of jet fuel skyrocketing (pun intended) since then has forced airlines to pressure aircraft manufacturers into making more passenger-efficient interiors with more fuel-efficient engines, like the 737 MAX series, the Airbus A220 and the upcoming Airbus A321XLR.

As far as TSA security theater and fast-passes go, debate the efficacy of the agency all y'all want, but terrorist attacks on airplanes (a VERY real concern since Lockerbie in the 80s) have become almost non-existent since their creation. This helps the airlines massively, as every major security incident that happens causes substantial reduction in air travel and brings the airlines just that much closer to death.

Despite all of this, the thing that many forget is that flying was better in the past because it was VASTLY more expensive.

The average air ticket in 2023 is ~$382. In 1993, it was ~$339...in 1993 dollars ($713 in 2023 dollars)! [0]

Additionally, booking was much more complicated than it is today. You had to account for Saturday-night stays, minimum trip lengths, fare class limitations, change fees (mostly eradicated during COVID), longer routes due to point-to-point routing, and more.

Flying might suck more, but it is much more accessible to people now, and for the average American traveler who might fly once or twice per year [1] to visit friends and family or attend a conference, long lines at security and crap food/drink options onboard is a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

The cost reductions are especially true for travelers coming from small cities with regional airports (think: Lansing, MI or Yuma, AZ)

Before regional jetd and the hub system, these airports were usually serviced by regional carriers using prop-jets for domestic travel. If they did get mainline service, they would come infrequently, and because those flights were point-to-point, travel took much longer. (Southwest still uses point-to-point today, though all of them route through what are basically hubs).

Service varied wildly and that experience, while more romantic in hindsight, was slow and, usually, very expensive.

Regional jets and hubs lowered the cost of travel for these passengers significantly by adding capacity that didn't exist before (given that most of those operators got acquired by or work exclusively for legacy airlines) and siphoning travelers living in cities that couldn't support their airports into cities with bigger airports that can.

Again, for the average traveler that flies once or twice per year for VFR travel, a two-hour drive for a flight that used to be >$1000 RT but is now $300 is very reasonable.

Two final points.

Firstly, flying internationally is still a pretty good experience...if you have status and book business class and above, especially if you book with an international carrier. Emirates's business and first class experience is apparently unbelievable, for example. You'll definitely pay for it, however!

Finally, flying isn't terrible for frequent-fliers as long as you manage expectations, are willing to pay for extra benefits and avoid over-packing like the plague.

I fly over 100k miles/year, almost entirely within the lower 48 of the US. I carry nothing but a backpack and pay for CLEAR ($199/3 years; many travel cards will reimburse) and lounge access with United ($699/year).

$800/year is a lot, but if you fly every week and have to endure delays (more people flying = more planes flying = greater chances of delays), long lines (many more people have Precheck now, and CLEAR is an airport-provided service, not a Federal service like Pre is) and sub-optimal flight times, it's a reasonable cost.

[0] https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AverageFare/
[1] https://news.gallup.com/poll/388484/air-travel-remains-down-...