shukar

Flew ATL-PHL (morning flight) a couple of days ago - no pre-flight beverage - not even water. This is is indeed very rare on DL in my experience.

aneura

So far this year, all of my legacy DL flights have had PFD service. Same as previous years. When I'm on a legacy NWA route I have come to expect there will be no PFD service, thus when i get it, I'm surprised and happy... Though it doesn't happen very often. I'm not an NWA hater or otherwise, but I have started booking specific routes to avoid them when I can...

sspontak

I received PFD on all of my FC trips so far this year.

TPA-LGA A319 Excellent NWA crew
JFK-LAX 757 Best Delta crew I have ever had
LAX-LAS A320 Excellent NWA crew

I enjoyed my NWA flights and service. There are some great NWA crews out there.

Evan!

Who's with me?!!!! All FAs must have 37 pieces of flair!!! Consequence... bad TTUs.

avidflyer

FANTASTIC quote and shot!

flightattendantsteve

Actually FARs require all Beverage and Food items to be picked up once surface movement starts. So, even if your #26 for take off we can't serve you. Sucks... but its the rules...

donb25

This is their favorite excuse not to provide the pre-flight service. If it is more than 5 min late, sorry, no beverage service even though it still takes the same 30 min time to board the plane and depart.

cwagar

Agreed. I'm almost always on an "A", and never lower than Y/BM, because of last minute booking + need for refundability.

I too have noticed (before this thread) the rise of the "Need anything besides water?" lately, although I find there is a correlation with flight time. Maybe the senior FAs on the longer flights just do things old school.

This is, of course, also where a 757 is your friend

nfg05

Never NOT gotten a PFD on my 18 segments so far this year.

padirescu

And in my 27 segments YTD I've NOT gotten a PFD on at least 5-7 of those segments. As someone who is trained to see black and white (former Marine) I'm always looking for some rhyme and reason to the madness we deal with as a whole as FF. I'm a Marriott PP because I know I can expect a relative level of consistency such as the same bedding, general service level and availability in the markets I travel (mid to major metros).

With DL, I am still dumbfounded when it comes to the various experiences shared here on FT. Do you not get PFD's more regularly because you're in a former NW market? Do you get op-up'd on Int'l flights because you flirt better with the GA's / Skyclub agents or simply because you book a T fare as a DM on a predominantly oversold route? Do those that are DM get recognized as such out of blind luck or is it a "look" that matters (i.e. I generally fly in jeans, tennis shoes, golf shirt and baseball cap)?

My frustration level with DL continues to increase but unfortunately until CO, UA or AA increase their route availability in my market I'm for lack of a better term, stuck. Maybe that's why there's not method to the madness, they know I'm screwed regardless based on my travel patterns so why go out of their way to make me feel special?

Ok, end of rant. Thanks for listening / reading.

ND76

One of the most memorable Delta flights I was ever on was in October, 1986, just going from DCA to ATL (and then on to RSW). It was a 4 p.m. flight on a 727-200 with 12 F seats in front and 136 Y seats in the back. In those days, I could convince clients to buy me an F ticket on DL. Everyone in F had experienced some kind of success in DC that afternoon (including me; I had won a decision in an administrative hearing); the others were going home; I was heading out to see a client in the Fort Myers area and then drive over to Miami to go on a "working cruise" from Dodge Island to Nassau and back where I was one of the speakers. Let me tell you, the drinks started flowing within seconds of being seated. Then, as the door closed, the captain came on the horn and gave out the "bad news", that we were #13 for takeoff. We pushed back, but the FAs didn't stop dishing out refills. Glasses were collected only when we were #2 for departure, about 45 minutes later. I think all 12 pax in F were on a first name basis with each other by the time we landed; DL even served a delicious hot dinner on the flight. An absolutely amazing flight--I made the RSW connection by seconds, and slept all the way there.

So when they give you a line that ground service has to be discontinued, that is total BS.

padirescu

Ah, the good ole days of business travel. at least from my experience in the late 80's early 90's. FA's that cared and were paid commensurately. F domestic cabin service that rivaled J on carriers like SQ today, Y domestic service that was better then today's F, and a security line that didn't require you to take your wire rimmed glasses off or risk the threat of being frisked by Bubba and his two "friends" with TSA badges.

Sez_Who

OK, I'll chime in. So far this year, around 15-18 segments and no problems with PFD. I guess some were DL, some former NW, but no issues with any of them..... DTW, LAS, MCO, CVG, MSP, SLC, LAX, JFK, ATL, more I can't remember.

Task Force DL

OK, OK, there are lots of whiners out there about PFBs and lack thereof, and NW vs. DL. I will also point out that 40% of the posts in this thread cite MSP in the complaint category - That should tell you something!

But, as someone that just cracked 50 segments for the year on DL, let me just offer DL a sincere:

***THANK YOU***

for still offering PFB on (nearly all) F/J flights. Having flown UA for a couple of dozen segments this year as well, let me tell you that PFB makes a difference in F/J. It's not that we are all boozehounds that are "feemin' for our liquor", but it is an appreciated part of flying in F/J.

So - to the larger issue - DL: As you "harmonize" service, please make sure that PFB is not harmonized into oblivion!

TFD

FoPAA

Do you think that the regulations now are the same as in 1986???