Notes on the Class Structure

Cooling my heels in Peet's at the San Francisco Airport, I'm watching the harried airline staff trying to merge the divergent boarding lists of United and Continental.  It occurs to me, wouldn't it be simpler (or at least more fun) if each class had to wear a distinctive costume?  We could model it on the court system: million-milers could show up in robes with gold trim like the late Chief Justice Rehnquist.  Ordinary superstars could wear morning coats like the solicitor general.  Routine first-class could wear those uniform charcoal grey combat togs that identify a Martindale AV advocate.  And so forth down to the poor mugs who have the middle seats back in non-plus economy; they could wear dunce caps on the order of Scottish bankrupts.