It's already quite clear you so no intrinsic difference in the service they provide so it's useless to continue the discussion. You and I just simply aren't going to agree on this. The difference comes in the necessity of the service and who/what the pilots work for etc, etc. It's a grey issue for me but I understand why they do it. Unions collective bargaining is just not the same as price fixing. And from what i've seen in the last few months on the "widely" disparaging costs of the exact same procedure from locale to another...I question the veracity of your claim that orthopedic surgeons are getting butt pounded in federal prison.