frequentfoulup

It's been a long time since I have seen anything but bottled water before wheels up in FC. I'm not a fanatic about it, often there is just no time or the catering is late or pick a reason that makes sense. BUT, when I board 30 minutes before the flight, carts are there, 4 flight attendants, and boarding is proceeding normally that is different.

I flew MSP-SFO last week boarded way early and asked if there was to be a pre flight beverage. You would have thought I asked for a carving table for prime rib. The junior flight attendant looked at me like I was crazy, but he did confirm with the senior flight attendant that "it just isn't done anymore".

This may be just a get a life comment, but hey it is FIRST CLASS.

steveg2112

Whilst occasionally there has been no pre-flight drink, on most of my flights this year there has been, even if the FA has had to fight up and down the line of people boarding in coach.

DLdweeb

If this is true (and hopefully it isn't), I will be pretty PO'd. The reasons I board early are twofold; ensure OH space, and enjoy a preflight drink. Perhaps some of the lurking FAs could chime in here to see if this is accurate.

AndyTLe

Every time that there is a lack of pre-flight drinks, send DL an e-mail. There's no excuse for it.

mikelevitt

I've seen just the opposite. In my experience (as an NWA-lover) the PFD was something that the NWA crews used any excuse (late catering, full flight) to avoid - even when they had 15 or 20 uninterrupted minutes to use to yap among themselves.

The Delta crews always were near 100% perfect with the PFD, and since the takeover I've had better luck even with the NWA crews - suggesting that their Delta trainers had made a point of stressing the importance of the PFD.

Maybe a Delta FA can let us know what policy, but in my flights lately it's been a consistent PFD on each one.

I am really surprised, and I don't think "it just isn't done anymore."

I would TTU with the date and a description or name of the FAs involved, because I think they were wrong, and out of line to push back on you for asking.

KLC

I haven't seen any reduction in the preflight FC beverage service on my long-standing DL routes. It does seem that out of DTW or MSP the FAs find a long list of things to do before asking anyone if they'd like a drink, but even then, I haven't heard the "isn't done anymore" comment.

mikelevitt

5 posts in 2 minutes!

ND76

There's been a PFB service every time I've been in F in 2010. PFB service in F is Delta's policy dating back to the first time I managed to get into Delta First, which was in 1984.

A couple of times last year, when I was on either a MD-88 or a 737-800, the FAs announced that they were running short on time and would not do a PFB service--the excuse is that there are so many people in the aisles, they couldn't get through the crowds to serve the drinks.

This excuse doesn't hold any water when one is on a 757 and door 2L is used for boarding.

gpscuba2000

Was in first and had a commuting FA sitting across the aisle. We boarded quickly and then sat.....announcement that we had a mechanical and would be delayed by at least 15 minutes. Next announcement, another 15 minutes.
I asked the working FA if I could have a drink, she looked at me like I had two heads and curtly said "NO" and then walked away. The commuting FA looked at me and burst out laughing. She couldn't believe it and told me I should write a letter, that that was unacceptable.

I guess the dragon lady FA was having a bad day.

fti

I had the opposite experience last year with a NW FA. The FA started asking pax if they wanted a drink. The commuting FA was in the first row and mentioned that the FA really didn't need to do that on such a short flight (I forget what the city pair was, but it was on a CRJ-900). The FA stopped asking. Prety sad.

jeffreyt

As long as I have been flying DL in F (since the early 1980s), this has been something that DL was known for. We can't let this service degrade. AndyTLe is right. Let them know

nebraskaboy

the only times i've seen no service in recent months was when catering was still on the plane or the flight was running super late... the FAs are usually good about apologizing for no pre-flight drinks if there is an issue (sometimes - not always)..

bwhite

Only time its not been performed this year was on an MD88 late in-bound and they wanted to make up time. I am cool with that.

Havequick99

I'm 4/5 this year on PFB service... the missed one was due to boarding rush after mechanical repair. Today we had limited service (SAT-MEM on the CRJ 900) - bottled water or OJ - but they had an equipment change just before getting us on the aircraft, so I'm willing to give them a pass on that. I definitely wouldn't say PFB service is passe (can't find my accent key ).

Crazyhotelguy

I have not seen any drastic change in the pre-departure beverage service... The only exception has been on regional jets and on flights where the incoming aircraft was delayed.