US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Charging in F for IFC

Last night i was flying phx-phl and they ran out of one of the meal choices in F.The other choice looked awful so I asked if I could get an IFC meal instead.She told me that I could get an Ifc meal if any remained after going through the coach cabin and it would cost me 10 bucks.Is this the proper policy?Also while i was eating my awful sandwich I noticed the fa's eating the remaining IFC meals....
-howie

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by stockmanjr:
Also while i was eating my awful sandwich I noticed the fa's eating the remaining IFC meals</font>

Please report this to Consumer Affairs. We need to do our part in eliminating the lousy staff that seem to have survived the layoffs.

Like every other issue related to US, calling Comsumer Affairs is a big waste of time.

I had a similar experience two weeks ago on a flight from FLL to PHL. My FC breakfast included moldy grapes...not on one tray, but on two. I asked that I be given a leftover IFC basket and was politely told no by the FA. He said they keep tight inventory control on them. I inquired as to why the FA were allowed to eat them and he offered no explanation.

I called Comsumer Affairs to chat about this and was told that US did not want to set a prescedent. The rep said "well sir, if we do that for you then everyone will want that." I asked if that meant if I got a better meal than everyone else in FC then everyone in FC would want a decent meal...less the penicillin. He had no response. That would appear to confirm that IFC is often a better meal option than the FC selection

The point is this...Consumer Affairs doesn't seem to care. They exist to give us place to call and complain and not take it out on the front line employees. When was the last time they ever responded to a complaint made on-line even when you check the box saying you want to hear from someone? Even saying you are willing to speak with your wallet and fly another carrier only gets you an "I'm sorry you feel that way."

I have found the only way to get results is to call the CEO's office and talk to one of his assistants. I save this for issues I deem to be very severe as not to wear out my welcome at corporate.

Were it not for the many friends I have working at US and the ease of travelng to the Northeast from Florida, I would have bolted to UA or AA long ago.

I was on PHX to PIT last night. Two people in back of me went with IFC over the F "meal" that was offered -- Potato Soup in a coffee cup and a Chicken Salad or a Pastrami Sandwich followed by a not very good warm cookie. (McD's does better salads.)

They were charged for it. The FA was slightly embarassed and commented that they have to account for them all...

No movie either.

The F product is a disgrace.

I had a movie from PHL to PHX. This must be a recent change.

With respect to an IFC meal in FC, I have found that it really depends on the F/A and the flight. In fact a PHL-PHX F/A gladly gave my wife and I an IFC meal because our meal choice in FC ran out. Other F/A's are not so accomodating. I have found that IFC breakfast is almost always better than the offering in FC.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by USLurker:
I had a movie from PHL to PHX. This must be a recent change.</font>

Westbound there was a movie. Eastbound there was nothing.

Personally I don't much care -- I just thought it odd and yet another sign of the state of affairs.

I flew PHL-PHX last week. Dinner flight, with movie. Was in 6A on the A321, so two of the meal choices were gone long before they got to me. I told the F/A that I'd prefer an IFC meal, but would take the F chicken if I had to. He said he'd see if there were any left, as US often doesn't board enough for the paying customers. He served me the F salad and the F bread basket, then the IFC meal, then the F cheesecake. No charge. It was the excellent service I've come to expect from US. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

But I'm sure the F/A had to break some stupid rule to create a happy customer. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

[This message has been edited by ringmaruf (edited Mar 21, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by ringmaruf (edited Mar 21, 2004).]

Another tidbit... on the eastbound flight we were rationed drinks by the cup. Personally I generally prefer that, I often don't want the whole can, but it's unusual. Perhaps our FA was just mounting a personal cost-cutting campaign?

I have always been kinda of a "So What" opinion on the whole meal quality issue in F or Coach. I just want something edible for the most part. I mean c'mon it's an airline meal. For me my expectations have always been so low that virtually anything they serve that has some taste is a pleasant surprise.

To me the bigger issue is the uniform application of US Airways policy (whatever it is) and the appparent lack of response and the customer perception that no one truly cares about your compliants. Those issues will ultimately sink the place long before only getting a glass of Coke or a lousy sandwich.

[This message has been edited by PineyBob (edited Mar 21, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by stockmanjr:
Is this the proper policy?Also while i was eating my awful sandwich I noticed the fa's eating the remaining IFC meals....
</font>

I understand that the policy (and pecking order) for IFC's is:

1. Paying coach PAX
2. Cockpit Crew
3. Flight Attendants
4. Garbage

That's right. US would rather toss the food at the end of the flight than make their purportedly "best customers" happy with a no-cost meal substitution.

And other posts chide us to stop complaining about US FC?

PHL-PHX 3/17
pre-departure drinks (Finlandia Bottle, Can, Yellow-green lime)
Decent salad w/ green lettuce & red tomatoes. Warm bread.
Shrimp Scampi (ok), Hickory Chicken, or Chix Salad. Raspberry(?) cheesecake was good. Observed a FA eating an IFC.

PHX-PHL 3/21
no pre-departure drink
2 bottles of Finlandia, can, no limes.
breaded Chick Salad (ok), pastrami sandwich looked gross. Cold Bread. Warm chocolate chip cookie.
Observed an F PAX received an IFC.
Not enough headsets available for F.

Both flights: my seat was ink-free but the trays were filthy.

With all respect, you have got to be kidding. Since when do meals matter in FC--when your paying for FC or spending 25K to upgrade to a product. Spending additional $$$ or miles is useless. If I only wanted additional legroom I would fly AA MRTC or UA E+ but Im paying for the experience not just a filthy seat with disgustingly dirty trays that haven't been cleaned in months. And as for routes with only IFC, if I wanted to eat out of a box I would just fly economy and pay $10 for it, not sit in FC with a lazy FA that refuses to give a premium service just because "their" airline is going to be history in 6 months...