> US airlines have been through hell over the last 16 years. Bankruptcies, union battles, fierce competition, and not to mention, the real threat that someone could blow up or intentionally crash the plane they're flying, all contributed to a mentality that the employees have to stick together to survive.

So you say US market is more competitive than European and have more strikes than European airlines and less risk? I call that very poor excuse compared to European airlines, which work under harsher conditions than American, but still keep level of service higher than American airlines (of course both are inferior to Asian carriers).