My Opinion:
to a certain degree, I think legacy airlines & their mgmt. is between a rock and a hard place, to pass the buck to the consumer is the correct and logical choice, yet, they are forced to match or compete with price with the LCCs that are cutting their legs out from under them on the basis of price. So, its a no win situation. Once the LCC finally goes out, or fares come back up, there will be someone else willing to offer very cheap fares, and so it continues . . .

Now with that said, I also recognize the issue with mgmt. taking out incredible compensation packages for themselves, espcially if they had just recently asked labor to make concessions, I disagre with this tactic, and if I was an employee of such an establishment, I'd be mad . . . In my mind, it makes no sense, not to the welfare of the business, and not to the most important asset ot the business, THE EMPLOYEES ! ! !