Delta Airlines : Is a cheaper flight worth the bigger hassle?

I wish I could write a song, like the musician whose guitar was lost on a recent flight.

 Since I can't, let me open up a forum to comments on airline travel.
Does it seem that the fees increase, the flight selection narrows and the customer service is nearly non-existent?
I recently booked International flights on Delta and some of the flights use their subsidiaries: Air France and City Jet..all fine, so far.
Well, try to bring up your record or secure a seat assignment on the subsidiaries.....you get the run-around like you were asking to divulge top secrets...NO ONE can help!

 Several lengthy phone calls later ( to Delta and Air France- whose number we had to get ourselves) allowed us to at least get the AF locator number..ya hoo! Note: City Jet cannot be contacted in US...
There was much finger-pointing between Delta and Air France ( at least City Jet wasn't pointing:).

 Requests for a supervisor went unheeded. Two emails to Delta Corporate Headquarters went unanswered.

 Fingers crossed that the actual travel is timely and safe and that the flight staff shows some professionalism and courtesy.

 Delta people: feel free to respond!
Fellow travelers: share your stories- the good, the bad and the ugly.