Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:32:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore. :(

You can buy drinks and sandwiches in the sterile area of the airport
but they are probably not "first rate" at most small airports.

You can bring nice sandwiches from home. Just not drinks or gels. Bring
some nice cheeses and crackers, and drink the free non-alcoholic beverages
on the plane.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

On 8/15/13 3:07 PM, Califbill wrote:
"F.O.A.D." wrote:
On 8/15/13 4:32 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:32:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore. :(

You can buy drinks and sandwiches in the sterile area of the airport
but they are probably not "first rate" at most small airports.


The sandwiches are not first-rate at the larger airports, either, and on
a long flight without a cooler, you can't keep them from deteriorating.

In you are flying on really long flights they furnish food anyway. Some
may be crap, and some you may have to pay for, but is not expensive.


It's not very good food, not even in first class. Used to be far better.
Still pretty good on non US flagged airlines heading to Europe and Asia.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans
introduced "HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5
for a doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want and
eventually they pay the price.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

In article ,
says...

On Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:22:32 -0400, iBoaterer
wrote:


We did stay in that Westin right in the airport. If you are getting
detained at DTW, that is the way to do it. You walk directly into the
lobby from concourse A and they have their own TSA gate to get back to
the plane the next day.

I haven't been there since before TSA, but Tampa has or had a nice hotel
on premises.

I never had a reason to look at hotels in Tampa. I had a place 15
miles away

I had one that close as well. But, I had a friend who had a Delta Sky
Club membership and when he was in town he'd stay at the hotel and we'd
meet there.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans introduced
"HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5 for a
doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want and
eventually they pay the price.

HMO's were a lot earlier than 1980. Kaiser System was probably the
original.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

In article 1689780668398369554.939912bmckeenospam-
, says...

"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans introduced
"HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5 for a
doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want and
eventually they pay the price.

HMO's were a lot earlier than 1980. Kaiser System was probably the
original.

Yes, and it's still a very good system.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

"Califbill" wrote in message
...

"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans
introduced
"HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5 for a
doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want
and
eventually they pay the price.

HMO's were a lot earlier than 1980. Kaiser System was probably the
original.

-----------------

I am sure HMO's were around but as I recall, it was early in the
1980's when they became popular in general. Before them we had
basic, Major Medical health insurance that was very affordable.
Covered catastrophic injuries and diseases but didn't cover running to
the doctor with a runny nose .

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

On 8/16/13 4:43 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:


"Califbill" wrote in message
...


"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans introduced
"HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5 for a
doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want and
eventually they pay the price.

HMO's were a lot earlier than 1980. Kaiser System was probably the
original.

-----------------

I am sure HMO's were around but as I recall, it was early in the 1980's
when they became popular in general. Before them we had basic, Major
Medical health insurance that was very affordable. Covered catastrophic
injuries and diseases but didn't cover running to the doctor with a
runny nose .



HMO's...many of them have a terrible rep, which they have worked hard to
earn. My union's "provider" is a PPO, which seems to work pretty well.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
m...

On 8/16/13 4:43 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:


"Califbill" wrote in message
...


"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important
than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans
introduced
"HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5 for a
doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want
and
eventually they pay the price.

HMO's were a lot earlier than 1980. Kaiser System was probably the
original.

-----------------

I am sure HMO's were around but as I recall, it was early in the
1980's
when they became popular in general. Before them we had basic,
Major
Medical health insurance that was very affordable. Covered
catastrophic
injuries and diseases but didn't cover running to the doctor with a
runny nose .



HMO's...many of them have a terrible rep, which they have worked hard
to
earn. My union's "provider" is a PPO, which seems to work pretty well.

----------------------

I lump them together in terms of causing an escalation in health care
insurance costs. It was the consumer who really screwed it up,
looking for "cheap" doctor visits in the form of $5 co-pays.

HMOs begat PPOs and the consumer interest in "cheap" health care
continued. There was nothing wrong with having a major medical
insurance plan to protect against financial disaster due to a serious
injury or illness. You paid a reasonable fee for checkups and the
occasional visit to the doctor with the flu. Now-a-days people run
to the doctor with a hangnail and he orders up a series of MRIs and CT
scans to make sure the hangnail hasn't caused any other problems.

Finally, a bit of consumerism.
 

In article ,
says...

"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
In article ,
says...


Exactly. I am not sure when we decided price was more important than
service and quality (probably around 1980-90) but things have gone
down hill since then.

---------------------------

That's about the same time frame that health insurance plans introduced
"HMOs". People loved the fact that they could just pay $5 for a
doctor's office visit. Look what happened.

People looking for cheap deals usually get exactly what they want and
eventually they pay the price.

HMO's were a lot earlier than 1980. Kaiser System was probably the
original.

*******s screwed up the medical services market.