Programs: AA EXP 2.0MM, HHonors Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 209
As I mentioned in an earlier post on this string, I fly ERJ's fairly frequently (~50 segments/yr), however until this week, always short hops of <1hr.
This week I had the "opportunity" of a longer RJ leg (ORD-ORF) and thought that I would address the burning issue of this post.
My experience follows:
FA: would you like a drink?
Me: yes, I'd like a white wine and cashews.
FA: I've got to get the wine from upfront (I think they keep the liquor on the RJ's in the cockpit)....FA returns
FA: that will be $7.00.
Me: I thought that EXEC PLAT's get this for free.
FA: Now how would I know that you are an EP?
Me: I thought that this information is included in the passenger manifest that they hand to you before they close the door.
FA: (with a stare that could melt steel) do you think I have time to read that (note to the peanut gallery, we sat at the gate for about an hour waiting for the first captain and then being de-iced) but far be it for me to challenge her.
FA continues...show me your card.
Me: No problem, I don't leave home without it...I pull out my black cards and inadvertantly hand her my COSTCO card.
FA: we do not accept COSTCO on AA (is only AA were as profitable...but I digress).
Me: sorry, here is the card that you are looking for...handing her the correct black card.
FA: Thank you for flying AA (actually AE) have a great day...or some such.
Lessons learned:
1) Yes, EP's do receive a free drink and snack (if they ask).
2) No, FA's have no interest in recognizing EP's (my sample set is limited on "long" flights.
3) I love my MadDog's even more than ever!
1) Yes, EP's do receive a free drink and snack (if they ask).
2) No, FA's have no interest in recognizing EP's (my sample set is limited on "long" flights.
3) I love my MadDog's even more than ever!
Again, as noted several times above, this is not necessarily true. The official email I got from CS (posted above) says that this is not the case, and the results have been mixed. Glad it worked for you, but this by no means makes it the rule.
I was flying AE last week and the FA offered a beer and / or cashews. I declined. She insisted I had to try the nuts - "they are addicting". She dropped me a bag on my tray and a few minutes later on her way back to the front she tossed me another "to keep for later".
Strangely enough two days ago the FA flops my napkin and a bag of cashews on my tray, then asks me what I would like to drink. I say, "That is very nice of you". She replies, "No problem for our Executive Platinums".
I am shooting for three in a row next week. And yes - they are addicting...
Programs: AA EXP 2.0MM, HHonors Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 209
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattison88
The Great Cashew Giveaway lives on...
I was flying AE last week and the FA offered a beer and / or cashews. I declined. She insisted I had to try the nuts - "they are addicting". She dropped me a bag on my tray and a few minutes later on her way back to the front she tossed me another "to keep for later".
Strangely enough two days ago the FA flops my napkin and a bag of cashews on my tray, then asks me what I would like to drink. I say, "That is very nice of you". She replies, "No problem for our Executive Platinums".
I am shooting for three in a row next week. And yes - they are addicting...
All I can say is that this must be quite rare overall. I've been EXP two of the last three years and Plat the other one (1.6 M lifetime miles) - and don't recall EVER getting anything special for my status. Admittedly, I never asked, but it just doesn't seem like something I'd expect from AA.
After going 3 for 3 in cashew requests in a relatively short period of time, I encountered a flight attendant who insisted I was confused and "thinking of another airline." While it is true that I do often think of other airlines while flying Eagle, I went ahead and emailed customer service. Because their reply contains additional information from the CS message posted previously in this thread, I am copying it here:
Thank you for contacting Customer Relations. We welcome the opportunity to respond to your concerns. I am sorry to hear about the situation you described.
The guidelines for this service were provided in an Eagle Inflight Informational
bulletin dated September 9, 2006. These bulletins are informational and are kept at the Flight Attendants' discretion.
The guidelines are as follows:
- One complimentary beverage/snack can be offered to a customer requesting one.
- Flight attendants are to be provided with paperwork that will identify these
customers. However, if the flight attendant did not receive the paperwork, the customer may show their outbound or inbound boarding passes to show that they are traveling in first or business class.
You can be assured I have sent your comments about the situation encountered to the manager of flight service for review and follow up with the employee involved.
I hope this information helps address your concerns. We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. It is a privilege to serve you.
So, a guideline and not a rule , and flight attendants do not need to keep copies of the guidelines if they don't want to. But I have already received complimentary cashews, with a smile, on a subsequent flight.
You know we have new stuff now....no more snack boxes. It's a pretty good trail mix (dried bananas, cranberries, raisins, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts) and a different brand of cashews which I have not tried.
I thought I'd bump this up to see if there have been any new experiences to report.
I have an odd feeling that the "new experiences" you see will mirror the "old experiences". Some people getting it, some not. Nothing will have changed, I'd wager.
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), UA 1K, SPG PLT, HH GLD, OTHERS
Posts: 2,067
I finally decided to try this a few weeks ago. The very (very ) friendly Eagle FA said that he knew of no such policy for EXPs (I also tried the connecting into F angle), but that if I purchased a beer he would "look after me." Not quite sure what that meant, but wanting a Heineken anyway, I just happily forked over the $5. When I was done with my beer he came by and gave me two more cans for free.
So, I'm not sure if being EXP had anything to do with this but everything worked out for the best. I'll try again on my next Eagle flight (luckily, though, I'm back to mainline-only for the next few months!)
, and flight attendants do not need to keep copies of the guidelines if they don't want to. But I have already received complimentary cashews, with a smile, on a subsequent flight.
