Fight against high airline pet fees

The airlines have raised the pet fees tremendously, even though they don't offer anything for them.
You use your own foot space under your seat and the pets highest weight is about 20 lbs. Why do they charge $100, $ 150, $200, $250 each way? Sometimes  I have to pay more for my pet than for my ticket.  It is really just a rip off.
They should charge a reasonable fee for this, like $20 to $ 40. That would be ok. It is hard to leave a pet in a shelter or have somebody check on them at home 2 times a day. The pet is alone the whole day.
Please help to make it reasonable again to take your best friend with you.