When air travel first started, it was expensive and generally reserved for the well off and business travelers. What it has evolved to is something very different, basically from first class to coach class now to tourist class. In this era of deregulation, as long as consumers continue to purchase tickets and pay the extra fees for anything and everything, then air travel will continue its new business model. If consumers revolt, either by going to an airline offering a better value, not traveling at all, or through new regulations, then the airline business will once again evolve. If we expect airlines to be available to the vast (often unwashed, rude or rotten children) masses, then we will suffer the related inconveniences.

Just like buying cheap imported merchandise at the big box store - supply and demand economics. Did airlines take advantage of a demand to make some extra bucks? No doubt they did, just like the oil and refining companies. It may be immoral, but is it really illegal under current laws?