4 ms·

The limit case is Spirit Airlines. Sure they're cheaper, but do you really want to feel like you're going to court getting on the plane, arguing over how many

The limit case is Spirit Airlines. Sure they're cheaper, but do you really want to feel like you're going to court getting on the plane, arguing over how many personal items you're allowed, their size, etc? There is in fact a limit to what many people (including me) will put up with, at some point, you just want no change fees, no baggage fees, etc and pick Southwest. Incidentally, when people talk about schools and healthcare, and suggest a one-size-fits-all model, I'm shocked they don't see how much peoples' preferences vary. If we can have so much choice and variety when it comes to something as stupid as air travel, it seems crazy we wouldn't want the same thing in healthcare.

spaetzleesser 4y ago
I am good with the Spirit model. You know exactly what you going to get and can buy what you need. It would be great if US healthcare was the same way. Clear, upfront pricing is much friendlier than handing over money for a service for which you don't know the price or extent.
- fshbbdssbbgdd 4y ago
  I’m fine with incremental pricing aspect of Spirit, but the associated environment of chaos/hostility makes the whole experience very unpleasant.
- landemva 4y ago
  This surgery center lists their procedures and prices. Cash ... full payment, no insurance. https://surgerycenterok.com https://surgerycenterok.com I was told they have great results in preventing complications like infections, as they would not be able to bill additional costs to insurance.
hakfoo 4y ago
Nobody asked for Spirit Airlines. I feel like they are a by-product of fare deregulation and the movement to self-directed online bookings. Like vermin before the invention of germ theory, they just appeared spontaneously on the market and nobody really planned it. Deregulated fares eliminated the need and most of the opportunity for carriers to compete on experience. If PHX-ORD was the same price on every carrier, you're going to see all the marketing devoted to things like "nicest cabins, best food, most free amenities, most convenient schedule". That's a very hard message to maintain when 95% of customers start at a brand-neutral booking system and searches by price. I sort of wonder if they'd have succeeded in the age of agent-driven bookings, because agents would be disincentivized to recommend a carrier that's likely to yield bad reviews or loss of repeat business. I think Southwest and JetBlue have done a moderate job of beating that cycle-- creating loyalty by promising "reliably slightly worse than awful". I know I'd preferentially book Southwest if I needed a flight just because I know I'm not going to be nickel-and-dimed with luggage fees. Conversely, I don't think people's tastes for health care and education are as broad as you'd expect. There isn't anywhere near as much opportunity to "unbundle" features to try to hit a price target. Nobody says "well, if we can save $250 this year, let's not teach Timmy how to subtract", or "I want my surgery done by Steve, who just finished a three-week Coursera Tonsillectomy Bootcamp, rather than paying full price for Johns Hopkins."

spaetzleesser 4y ago

I am good with the Spirit model. You know exactly what you going to get and can buy what you need. It would be great if US healthcare was the same way. Clear, upfront pricing is much friendlier than handing over money for a service for which you don't know the price or extent.

fshbbdssbbgdd 4y ago
I’m fine with incremental pricing aspect of Spirit, but the associated environment of chaos/hostility makes the whole experience very unpleasant.
landemva 4y ago
This surgery center lists their procedures and prices. Cash ... full payment, no insurance. https://surgerycenterok.com https://surgerycenterok.com I was told they have great results in preventing complications like infections, as they would not be able to bill additional costs to insurance.

hakfoo 4y ago

Nobody asked for Spirit Airlines. I feel like they are a by-product of fare deregulation and the movement to self-directed online bookings. Like vermin before the invention of germ theory, they just appeared spontaneously on the market and nobody really planned it. Deregulated fares eliminated the need and most of the opportunity for carriers to compete on experience. If PHX-ORD was the same price on every carrier, you're going to see all the marketing devoted to things like "nicest cabins, best food, most free amenities, most convenient schedule". That's a very hard message to maintain when 95% of customers start at a brand-neutral booking system and searches by price. I sort of wonder if they'd have succeeded in the age of agent-driven bookings, because agents would be disincentivized to recommend a carrier that's likely to yield bad reviews or loss of repeat business. I think Southwest and JetBlue have done a moderate job of beating that cycle-- creating loyalty by promising "reliably slightly worse than awful". I know I'd preferentially book Southwest if I needed a flight just because I know I'm not going to be nickel-and-dimed with luggage fees. Conversely, I don't think people's tastes for health care and education are as broad as you'd expect. There isn't anywhere near as much opportunity to "unbundle" features to try to hit a price target. Nobody says "well, if we can save $250 this year, let's not teach Timmy how to subtract", or "I want my surgery done by Steve, who just finished a three-week Coursera Tonsillectomy Bootcamp, rather than paying full price for Johns Hopkins."