Programs: DL DM, CO GE/MM, SPG Plat, MT Plat, etc., etc.
Posts: 10,313
I caught the back-to-front routine yesterday on my odd numbered LGA-FLL flight. The crew was really a bunch of old-timers and they executed it very smoothly (of course I was in row 1, as usual).
Most of the time on the domestic flights I don't even care if they have run out of meals by the time that they get to me. In general, a banana and a couple bags of peanuts from the snack basket are a whole lot better and just as filling as the junk that they serve.
Serving from the galley is the most inefficient process ever. Have you ever counted the number of trips they make running back and forth. I want fast, efficient service so I can get to my nap...the cart speeds things up!
DL f/a's have been doing just fine over the years serving from the galley. If I want to see a beat up dirty cart roaming up and down the aisle staffed by lazy, bitter flight attendants who can't take care of their uniforms i'll sit in coach.
__________________
Ignore a couple certain someones (common s/n/LONG duplicate) and you begin the 1st step to a holistic drama free existence.
DL used to do this years ago but most FAs found a way to screw it up. Didn't know the difference in even vs odd number flights or just didn't care.
There was a time I used to choose my seat based on flight number so I could enjoy a hot seafood, duck or steak but my best laid plans fell apart when the FA didn't follow the standard.
Is there a way DL is going to audit this?
It is a nice benefit but only if it is followed with based on past experience isn't very high.
FEBO was actually one of the things that the AA FAs did consistently well when I was on AA all the time. The problem with not doing it is that those who like to sit in the very front will always get served first, while those who like to sit in the rear of the F cabin will almost never get first choice.
On the 757, I like to sit in the back row of F, which is nearest the 2L boarding door and the lav. Unfortunately, sitting there often relegates you to last choice of meals. With FEBO, about half the time it will mean first choice, which is fair by me.
This will only make a difference on flights over 1500 miles, I believe, where you will have a choice of two entrees. On the others, which are probably the majority of DL's domestic flights, it's either just the snack basket or a snack and single meal choice.
Programs: AA, ANA, JAL, NW/DL, Marriott Silver, Avis First
Posts: 148
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lehava
Serving from the galley is the most inefficient process ever. Have you ever counted the number of trips they make running back and forth. I want fast, efficient service so I can get to my nap...the cart speeds things up!
I prefer efficient service myself, and I find flight attendants offer faster service when they aren't walking back and forth from the galley. Delta wants customers to feel as though they are in a restaurant, so I understand they don't use carts. Until the two airlines have a common standard, get used to the DL FAs running around and NW FAs offering drinks/meals from a cart.
The other day I took a flight to LAS on DL, and the Lead FA took two drink orders at a time, walked back to the galley to make the drinks, delivered the drinks, took two more drink orders, made and delivered the drinks. I thought we'd be in Las Vegas by the time she served the last passenger!
This week I flew NW to NRT and received my drinks and meals in a timely manner. I prefer carts, and for those of you criticizing NW FAs for not running drinks/meals, they ARE following company standards. Please understand DL and NW still have separate service guidelines.
Good heavens...Northwest's in-flight service is all over the place! Take 5 flights and you'll get 5 different service styles. It's going to be that way until all NW flight attendants get trained in DL's service standards.
The cart service is set to go into the sunset. Of course all of it could change - look at all the things Delta said would be one way, only to go another way later on. Plus each airline has different on-board catering carts. Northwest's are smaller and lighter and carry less - Delta's carts are larger and allow 2 flight attendants to serve from 1 cart.
The FA on my NWDL NRT-HKG flight on the upper deck a few days ago did exactly that - hop around to all the individual elite pax first for meal choices and then coming back to the non-elites after.
Ditto MSP/HNL 330 flight about 1 1/2 years ago. It was obvious (to this elite) that elites were asked by name in order of their status. When asked why, probably by a non elite, she just said something like "just thought I'd mix it up". It was nice to have our choice.
Programs: Delta PM & Million Miler, CO Plat Elite, US GP, Hilton Diamond, Starwood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhSoBlessed
The other day I took a flight to LAS on DL, and the Lead FA took two drink orders at a time, walked back to the galley to make the drinks, delivered the drinks, took two more drink orders, made and delivered the drinks. I thought we'd be in Las Vegas by the time she served the last passenger!
Yes, but the idea of First Class is that not all passengers are bothered by the activity in the aisle with bulky carts moving back and forth and drawers being banged/clanked around. The DL standard allows pax to relax/work/sleep without being bothered by the noise and possible spillage from the cart. It creates a more "first-class" experience and shows that the service is geared towards the passenger's comfort not the FA's convenience.
I admit, though, NW does do a better job with the speed and top-up aspect of drink service with the carts. So it's a toss-up!
Yes, but the idea of First Class is that not all passengers are bothered by the activity in the aisle with bulky carts moving back and forth and drawers being banged/clanked around. The DL standard allows pax to relax/work/sleep without being bothered by the noise and possible spillage from the cart. It creates a more "first-class" experience and shows that the service is geared towards the passenger's comfort not the FA's convenience.
Rubbish - it all boils down to staffing. In years past the NW standard was tray service - in all cabins, for all types of service. We were still running trays in coach on certain a/c types when I started flying 20+ years ago.
In the mid-90s, when they expanded the first class cabins domestically (while simultaneously whittling staffing during what became a regular mania of cost-cutting), cart service became the norm.
If you have the opportunity to fly both DL and NW (particularly in BE), try comparing the number of F/As working comparable size cabins. You'll quickly see why NW uses carts.
Personally, I'm not partial to carts and if the passenger load is light, I prefer to serve from the galley - it is a more pleasing presentation. But as long as we're working with maximum loads and minimum staffing, I'll use the cart.
After all, how long do want to sit there staring at that dirty tray, anyway?
If you have the opportunity to fly both DL and NW (particularly in BE), try comparing the number of F/As working comparable size cabins. You'll quickly see why NW uses carts.
In domestic F, the A320 and 738 both have 16 seats and 1 FA assigned to the cabin. The DL 757 has 24 (or 26) F seats and has 2 FAs assigned. The NW 757 has 22 F seats with 2 FAs.
I don't know the BE staffing difference, but the domestic (and this is a domestic service change thread) are very comparable in size and staffing.
Please understand DL and NW still have separate service guidelines.
