I guess this is about as important as it gets. For breakfast in FC is the coffee served in at least plastic cups these days or the dreaded styrofoam? I did see where between meals coffee in FC was in styrofoam.
Important choices don't you know.

Last time I flew domestic F (albeit on a short flight, CLT-DCA) coffee was served only in styrofoam cups---same as coach. :td:

The thin plastic I assume they use for other drinks would be a lot worse insulator then styrofoam, I would think.

I guess this is about as important as it gets. For breakfast in FC is the coffee served in at least plastic cups these days or the dreaded styrofoam? I did see where between meals coffee in FC was in styrofoam.
Important choices don't you know.

All styrofoam from what I could see. Classy, isn't it?

I couldn't help but note that last week I flew on a Lufthansa contract commuter carrier intra Germany at lunchtime.

Prior to the 38 minute flight, we were served a nice chocolate bar. Magazines and newspapers (German and English) were offered.

Once in the air, drinks (wine in glass stemware), a snack (proscuito on herb roll, olive and feta cheese salad, and cherry cake for dessert) were served. Coffee was in a ceramic cup.

A final round of drinks (yes, I had another glass of the chilled Reisling) and a different kind of chocolate candy with a "Thanks for flying Lufthansa" comment rounded things up at final descent.

By the way, there were two flight attendants on this small ATR propeller airplane.

Some Star Alliance flyers from Europe must cringe when they check out our "Fist Class" service!

Yeah, the European airline service seems far and away better than in the U.S. We flew BMI several times last year in coach for short flights and always got a sandwich and drink service. Last week my husband flew two segments on BA (London to Edinburgh connecting on to Shetland) in coach: first flight was an hour and there was full dinner service; second flight was under 45 min. on an RJ and there was full drink service and a sandwich.

The only exception to this is the European cattle-call carriers like EasyJet, which is like Southwest but without the good attitude....I will NEVER fly them again.......... what this seems to illustrate is that Europeans have somewhat of a concept of service and are willing to pay for it. What U.S. customers are going to end up with eventually is a bunch of crappy Easyjet imitators and no other options because they don't know any better and don't care.....

KIM

I guess this is about as important as it gets. For breakfast in FC is the coffee served in at least plastic cups these days or the dreaded styrofoam? I did see where between meals coffee in FC was in styrofoam.
Important choices don't you know.

Styrofoam. After 9/11, all china and metal was pulled. I don't miss the china. The cup was the size of shot glass. Even if you warmed the cup before filling it with coffee, the coffee never stayed warm. When we did have the china, the true road warriors would ask for a styrofoam cup. More coffee fit in it, and you wouln't have to bother the FA every ten seconds for a refill.

Don't sweat the small stuff...be glad for your health.

United States customers used to have a concept for service and used to pay for it. Ryanair and EasyJet might be small and sassy now, but remember WN was a good 10-15 years old before it became the powerhouse it is now.

Even now, "The Nationals" are starting to feel the sting of the LCCs. As they lower their prices to compete, their higher cost structures will come to hurt them just as they did for the legacy carriers. Some, like Aer Lingus, are converting now, hoping to "ride the wave". Others, like BA and LH, continue their current high levels of service.

While it is true "The Nationals" are able to make a solid profit from their premium international routes - something the US legacy carriers have seen erode slowly but surely since frequent flyer upgrades came into effect - if "The Nationals" have to open up their premium cabins to keep people from defecting, they too will see the same revenue erosion the US legacy carriers have.

No doubt "The Nationals" have watched what has happened to the US legacy carriers, and will do their best not to fall into the traps they did. But price is king over there as much as it is here, so they do have to keep an eye over their shoulder.

I've taken a few intra-Europe flights now on LH, AF, and BA (all in coach) and can say that I still prefer the US Airways experience for shorter domestic flights despite the lack of meal service.

In Europe, boarding is a total cattle call, first-come first-serve. No elite preboarding, for one; even row numbers aren't called!

Also, LH and BA forced me to check my rollaboard, which fits fine in the overhead bin.

And the European "business class" appears to feature exactly the same seats as coach, just with the middle seat blocked and a better meal service. Too cramped for my 6'2" frame.

When we did have the china, the true road warriors would ask for a styrofoam cup. More coffee fit in it, and you wouln't have to bother the FA every ten seconds for a refill.



True, but, AA has a really slick coffee mug-thing (it's not porcelain, but some kind of industrial heavy plastic, I think) that looks and acts like a coffee mug you'd have at home. Keeps the coffee very hot and holds much more than the rinkydinky US styro ones.

I don't mind styrofoam, but the ones on US are the teeny ones, not the GROWN UP ones ! !

You could always bring onboard your "www.us-cockroach.com" ceramic or steel mugs! :p ;)

You could always bring onboard your "www.us-cockroach.com" ceramic or steel mugs! :p ;)


I was going to say the exact same thing!!! My stainless steel us-cockroach mug has better insulation than any airline-provided cup or glassware. ^

I'm the one flying in Envoy who actually requests the styrofoam coffee cup because it does keep the coffee hotter. lol. I've had some FAs look quizzically, and others who understand right away....but I'd rather have glass for drinks and real silverware, and forego the coffee cups. Guess we all have our wishlists.

Humm, stryo or 'roach mug...I think I will take my insulated coffee mug. Boy, if we cannot get together over coffee how are we going to wrap our heads around the juggernet of US Airways.

True, but, AA has a really slick coffee mug-thing (it's not porcelain, but some kind of industrial heavy plastic, I think) that looks and acts like a coffee mug you'd have at home. Keeps the coffee very hot and holds much more than the rinkydinky US styro ones.

I don't mind styrofoam, but the ones on US are the teeny ones, not the GROWN UP ones ! !

I would like to see a coffee MUG too. Coffee should stay hot and be in a nice sized container. Easy for pax and FA's.