I used to fly a lot (100k/yr for 2-3 years) and yeah, International airlines are far superior to US airlines especially on international routes in business/first class. Economy is pretty crappy all around, I dunno if its different now but back then there really wasn't THAT much difference between any two airlines in economy - maybe sliiiightly better food but the seats and lost baggage rates and stuff like that were all basically the same. Probably the entertainment and tech stuff on the newer airlines are way better, but I just fall asleep the entire flight so never made much difference to me.
However, it could be argued some of the reasons why International airlines are so superior is sexist. Basically US airlines are heavily constrained by union rules and domestic employment laws. Flight attendants are on average older, have been with the company longer, and more senior FAs (and pilots) get their pick of routes and stuff while newer employees get stuck with the worse routes. Its almost impossible to fire a FA without a long, long process.
By contrast, some of the foreign airlines seem crazy when it comes to hiring guidelines. They have age and weight restrictions, beauty restrictions, and its assumed that female flight attendants will get married and leave by their mid 30s. You will rarely see FAs older than 35 on most of the top international airlines. There are all kinds of crazy rules about fraternization and the airline can fire you at the drop of a hat.
So... yeah, just like we don't really like to think too much about how our iPhones and tablets are made by possibly wage slaves in Asia, I think people don't like to think too much about how cruise ships and airlines are run off practices that many Western liberals would find abhorrent, but conveniently ignored by almost everyone.
