The Industry We're Trying to Emulate

Recently, I had the pleasure of escaping the still-frigid early Spring in Chicago for a warmer climate and flew south for a few days. I found it interesting, to say the least, to observe what happens when price pressures are added on the highly-regulated airline industry - much like what is about to happen in healthcare. You see, many have advocated that we should emulate the airline industry to improve patient safety and healthcare delivery.

Here's what we experienced:

• The wrong luggage sticker was placed on my wife's luggage. Fortunately, poor "John Doe" was going to the same airport we were.
• The center bathroom of our packed 757 was sealed shut with a sticker "out of order" and appeared to have been like this for quite some time. Only the forwardmost and aft bathrooms were available.
• No check of seatbelt fastening occurred at takeoff nor landing.
• The seat in front of me was unable to stay locked in its upright position

Now it's so easy to criticize, but the implications of what happens to an industry when price pressures mount were certainly plain to see. The "safety checks" and maintenance of our plane had clearly suffered cutbacks.

I remember the days when hot meals were served on planes in coach, not just first-class, leg room was more than an afterthought, and the flight attendants took interest in the passengers and gave their kids those cool little flight wings to wear. Sadly, now we are hearded onboard in "Groups," have to buy a box of carbohydrates called a "snack" for five bucks, and laminate ourselves next to our fellow passenger to improve capacity while the very plane we're flying is poorly maintained.

Is this the industry we're trying to emulate?

-Wes