How airlines are making flying better

For many, that's the prevailing view of the airline industry in the US.

While there's certainly merit to that argument, I don't completely agree with it. Now hear me out before you try to burn me at stake.

I admit, the commercial air travel experience is far from perfect. The lines are long, the terminals are crowded, the overselling of flights is loathsome, and the customer service in many instances leaves much to be desired. (I'll get into the nitty gritty of my gripes in a future story.)

With that said, there are many areas of the flying experience that have improved dramatically in recent years. The US airline industry and its partners have invested tens of billions of dollars over the past few years in equipment upgrades while working to improve aviation infrastructure, something over which airlines do not have direct control.

Here's a quick overview of a few areas where the US airline industry has make significant headway in recent years.