theseatbelt

If I was in that situation I'd just say "it is included in the cost of my ticket which is already paid for " and give her the Steve Jobs stare of silence until she complies.

AC website sets a plural to the beverages and spirits one is offered.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...ity/index.html

24left

Excellent

Absolute

Never had an issue on my side for TATL or TPAC, when asking for additional bottles. In fact, just finished HKG-YYZ in Y last week and was handed four bottles of red within a span of 20 minutes (pre-meal drinks, and post-meal drinks), although the FA did glance down at my tray to see how much I had drank.

I noticed that most people were given double bottles of spirits and wine, and I hardly doubt it was because of a 15-hour flight. Regardless of duration of flight, I would assume the concern of FAs would be more how quickly someone consumed them, rather than how long they had to sober up on a flight.

kwflyer

Please do. They ran out of gin on one of my recent transcon flights after 2 hours into the flight.

heraclitus

Whoa, that is unacceptable. I have never written a letter of complaint to an airline, but assuming it wasn't clearly intended as a (bad) joke, that would get me to do it.

FWIW I have never noticed a difficulty in getting extras. Sometimes I'm even handed two bottles with a smile when I ask for one. I guess some FAs are more judgmental than others.

Lights_a_blur

Just a funny story, not necessarily a comment on AC's service:

My ex and I did our honeymoon flight with BA in Y quite a few moons ago. I ordered red wine, so did she. The FA handed me two bottles, and her two as well. Saying "You look like a big chap, you'll need the extra" with a smile. My wife stored her bottles on my tray table. A bit concerned about appearances, I proceeded to stash the 4 mini-bottles in the gap between my seat and hip.

The meal service followed shortly thereafter, and I was asked "would you like some more red with dinner?"

The FA then handed me two bottles of red, and my wife two as well, saying "you're a big bloke, and she needs to keep up" Needless to say, we both slept well on that TATL.

I continue to fly BA from time to time, and find their balance of booze and informal grandeur quite refreshing in Y.

pkfk13

I think that the proliferation of "interfering with a flight crew" laws has changed the "customer/vendor" relationship on flights into a "Prisoner/Warden" situation.....and the FA's are the Wardens.

I have seen others (as well as myself) sit back, shup up and bite their tongues in situations on flights where the FA - if in a similar role on the ground - would be vigorouosly ripped a new one by the customer because of attitude/snippiness, or other poor customer relations.

However, since we are in a "aircraft security situation" with flight crew - some (a minority to be sure, since MOST AC crew are very good) - but some FA's KNOW this power balance, and act inappropriately to the paying customers.

So the "Steve Jobs Stare" or talking back might get you escorted off in handcuffs to the RCMP.

Had I been in a restaurant or bar in the situation that started this thread, I would have given the server a very big piece of my mind and demanded to talk to a manager. Totally unacceptable B.S.

But because we were over the Grand Banks on the way to FRA, I just shut up and accepted the crap. Pathetic, but pragmatic.

BEN - if you are reading this - think about this kind of customer feedback. Its pretty bad when your customers (some of us are your "best" customers, flying many thousands of miles per year on your airline) - feel this way when treated poorly by the small portion of your staff who are truly deserving of the title "Sky-Hags".

iamaho

As a non-drinker, I am always amazed the importance people place on alcohol availability on flights. It's like the end of the world when people can't get their wine, gin, scotch, etc which essentially is worth a couple of dollars in quantity terms, but willing to pay a premium to obtain it, and god forbid, if they can't drink their quota on the flight, their trip/flight experience is ruined.

Not that I am saying that people shouldn't drink, but from a different perspective, I find the whole situation amusing.

kwflyer

Simple: booze is expensive in Canada and when presented a free offering that a lot of people have a good (retail) price reference for, many will try/want to maximize this scarce (time) offering.

Since airlines have better economies of scale they can get a price discount and create a good value proposition: low cost item for the marketer that's highly valued by the customer, as its acts as socially/legally accepted pain reliever to cope with the stress of travel. Never mind the theoretical monetary savings that goes through ones mind.

In marketing, this emotional bonus is referred to as the 'free prize' (think back to the cereal box days when a toy was included). And with all factors being/close to equal, the 'free prize' can create the winning conditions (tipping point) for a customer to choose your offering over the competition (depending on your customer segments).

It's one of the mains reasons all inclusive resorts are popular

Shareholder

I've had this happen with AC and UA. To resolve the issue -- serving doubles -- I ask for a bottle of red with the first drink service, then white when the meal service is being done. (Since the red is always cold, this gives it time to reach a drinkable temperature.) Thus I have white for the salad and appetizer, red with the main course (usually a beef or chicken). This is the only civilized way to eat a dinner but unfortunately I agree with OP that most FAs just don't "get it". Even in business or first most are semi-knowlegeable about wine.

[Yes, UA and AA charge for all alcohol on their overseas flights. However, 1Ks and Platinum elites on UA receive 10 and 5 inflight drink coupons respectively, and ExecutivePlatinum elites on AA get unlimited free alcohol when flying in economy...well, within reason, but I've always been able to get a white and red when on AA in the back.]

Of course this means I must give up that first round of drinks, but that can be resolved by asking for tomato, orange or cranberry juice and then breaking open a mini of vodka or gin I've packed in my toiletries baggy after the cart has moved further down the aisle. Yes, it's violating the law, but the uncivil approach to meal service in economy forces one to take the law into one's own hands!

mapleg

And as someone who does not watch movies, I am always amazed the importance people place on IFE on bard, even to the point of asking what movies or TV shows are playing on selected routes or flights.

Each to their own, but I think the annoyance is more along the lines of let's not treat an adult like a child asking for an extra cookie.

superangrypenguin

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superangrypenguin

Wow, I did not know this. AC should do this!! (for the elites)

jcoop

I didn't even realize that AC offered complimentary alcoholic beverages in Y on international flights! They don't exactly go out of their way to make this clear to passengers... typical AC that they hide something that others consider a perk. I spent several hours listening to the radio this weekend, hearing the same Sunwing commercial in which they advertise 'champagne flights' or something similar.

mapleg

Har. Sunwing champagne flights..you get roughly a thimble of the worst grade sparkling wine on board.