As you're packed onto planes this holiday season...

...keep in mind this nugget from the LAT:

Large network carriers, such as Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, reported a profit margin of 10.5% during the third quarter of 2010, the highest quarterly rate since the agency began keeping financial airline numbers in 2002. Meanwhile, the country's low-cost airlines, including Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways, reported an 11% profit margin for the year's third quarter, the highest since the third quarter of 2003.

Credit fees for much of the surge in profits.