Airfare Is Just the Beginning
Source: Best of The Atlantic
The unbundling of airline services—from seats to baggage to boarding priority—signals a broader shift toward “pay-as-you-go” commerce where previously standardized products fragment into à la carte offerings, forcing consumers into constant micro-decisions that often cost more while feeling cheaper. This pattern will accelerate across industries where companies can exploit switching costs and information asymmetries, reshaping consumer expectations around what “included” even means.