After the collapse of three airlines here in the U.S. in the past week, I will say this — I will pay more for a U.S. airline that can treat me like a respected customer of theirs (instead of a possible security threat), and I’ll pay for it. I’ll pay for expedited check-in through security. No, I won’t upgrade to First Class or anything, but if you can find a way to work with the TSA to reduce the burden on me — an average American citizen who has no criminal record — to board the freakin’ plane without a 5 minute pat-down and a 30 minute wait in a security line while taking off my shoes, yes, I will pay for that “privilege” in our free society.

I can’t imagine that George Washington or Thomas Jefferson ever envisioned their great nation treating their own citizens like possible terrorists. We’ve come a long way from our roots. It saddens me when I think about it, that our own government — the one we’ve elected — believes any of these measures they’ve instituted actually decrease a possible terrorist attack. All it has done is made flying unbelievably frustrating, and at times, downright aggravating.

Oh, and this new airline should also treat its customers like customers, you know, people who are actually paying for the privilege of flying your airline. Not like many airlines treat us — like cattle who should be thanking the airline for allowing us to fly on their airplanes!

So there you have my idea for a new successful airline. Enjoy it and send me a few stock options if you get it going!

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 6 Apr 2008
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.