Well, I know I've got too much free time as I just reread this entire thread. I've stayed out of it primarily because as a freight dog, it's not really my place to comment on you people-flying guys and your airlines. However, here are a few thoughts:
First and foremost - Velocipede, you are truly one ugly Mo Fo. Both inside and outside. You make me want to puke, with your holier-than-thou attitude. What should pilots do to earn a living? Hang around the street corner and sell crack-cocaine to your daughter? Would that make you happy? What's the problem with guys working for an airline that doesn't meet your expectations? They're not asking you to work there, and they're not giving you sh!t for working at the place that you do. Name me one "major" airline whose pay and benefit package has not been reduced by almost half, in the past few years. Does that make you all scabs, because you're doing the work, but not getting the pay or benefits that you signed on for? How about it? If an airline doesn't have a union, it usually means that it's a fairly new airline, or that for whatever reason, the workers have decided that they don't want or need a union. Why is that sooooo bad? We live in a democracy, where we have the right to choose. Who the fu@k died and made you boss, to tell others how they should conduct their business? If you think that they are leading the way to the bottom, I suggest that you and your airline don't follow them. But don't blame them for your company’s inability to be profitable enough to pay you as they did pre-9/11.

Secondly – For Sideshow Bob: Do you actually mean to somehow compare an international flight in business class to a domestic flight in coach? That would be like trying to compare the forward seat in a row boat with a suite on a luxury ocean liner. And besides, I question your patriotism for even flying Emirates. I know for sure that Mr. Velocipede must hate you for riding on that subsidized Airbus. And as far as New Yorkers smelling badly, come on… Haven’t you done any world travel? Ever been in Milan in the summer? How about Miami? These airports are busy places, where folks have to build up a head of steam to get around. They all stink. And by the way, most New Yorkers don’t like you either! I’ve flown Emirates and there’s nothing like the odor of a Middle Easterner (how’s that for political correctness) in a sheet. Nothing! As for the service, it had better have been good, or heads would roll. Literally! Three days after 9/11, we were stuck in Bangkok and our company decided to deadhead us back to Dubai to pick up a jet and fly it back to Paris. They booked us on Emirates. Great service, however, the place stank, as did the boarding area and the first class lounge. And it should be noted that the terminal in DXB is probably one of the newest and nicest terminals in the world. In fairness, I can say, we didn’t stick to the floor there. So you won that round. JFK is a very heavily traveled OLD airport and it’s run by the Port Authority of New York. Don’t blame a particular airline for its shortcomings. I’ve taken a poll of all New Yorkers and they have decided that they don’t want you in their city, ever again.

I’ve never flown Jet Blue, but would certainly consider doing so if it were convenient for me at the time. In this day and age, there’s very little difference between the Legacy carriers and the not-so Legacy carriers. Be it peanuts on SWA or "trail mix" on NWA. When I wear my passenger hat, I frankly don’t care who flies me from point A to point B, just as long as I get there, along with my luggage, in a timely manner. Having said that, almost all my domestic flying is done in First Class, and it’s just OK. Nothing special at all, but certainly better than coach.

I wish you all well in the New Year and hope you seats are always filled (with paying passengers.)