While I haven't flown intl J a whole lot, I have to say that this flight really let me down. The FA's just acted like they had no idea what they were doing especially when it came to meal service - meal service from start to finish took 2 hours ... little things like handing the plates backwards, asking do you want red or white wine (there were two types of each), not offering coffee with dessert, handing out the nuts with the starter course, forgetting the sauce on all of the chicken dishes, etc.
Then the purser chastised me while I was waiting for the lav. She said "you know you can't have that on in here" referring to my iPhone. I said it was in airplane mode and she said, no, I couldn't have it on at all. I asked if this was an intl rule being that I primarily fly domestic and she said no, you can never have an iPhone on in any way ... I kinda of lauged and slid it into my pocket ...
Couple things more I noticed -- normally I am shocked at how old and senior the crew is ... this was a super young crew for intl delta standards. The purer was in her 30's and the rest were 20 or 30's.
The thing that got me wondering is that since they are Chicago based are they less versed in DL intl protocols? Do they only do ORD-CDG since that's the only intl flight out of ORD. It's not a big deal because I like J because of the hard product (ok the recliners suck, but still better than being in Y), but I'm just curious as to why the service was so jarring on this flight as if these flight attendants really had no idea what DL intl is usually like.
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My guess would be that a lot of the international flights have FAs that never get international trips right now flying since its the holidays. All the most senior crew will have this time of year off to spend with family. The junior crew members who normally don't get international trips will actually have a shot at getting then because really who wants to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas? That probably impacts service substantially (even though it shouldn't). Add to that the fact that premium loads are light and likely a lot of op-ups from coach and non revenue passengers traveling in the cabin and FAs probably aren't in tip top shape. I would write in though if the service was bad because Delta should know and address the issue and make sure this junior crew doesn't get to keep flying these trips.
I agree with GYEWorldTraveler; people working on holidays are those who are not senior enough to get the time off. I can understand why that is annoying, because you pay the full price and you expect a level of service that is on par.
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I would definitely write into delta. The service should be a simple follow rule process. There is a booklet that comes with every flight, the flight leader hang them in the galley to follow. Literally how to set up the food etc. At the prices you pay for BE you should receive and expect good to great service.
Programs: DL DM/SkyClub, UA Premier Platinum (from CM), LANPASS Premium Silver
Posts: 1,934
Quote:
Originally Posted by nycflyer75
I would definitely write into delta. The service should be a simple follow rule process. There is a booklet that comes with every flight, the flight leader hang them in the galley to follow. Literally how to set up the food etc. At the prices you pay for BE you should receive and expect good to great service.
I certainly agree that service should be great and the food consistent. The OP said the purser was in their 30s which to me indicates that person likely isn't usually a purser on international flights. Put someone new in with a junior crew and I think the service may suffer. FAs that have been doing the trip 2x a week for 15-30 years most likely will give better service than younger FAs that haven't done many international trips.
I... FAs that have been doing the trip 2x a week for 15-30 years most likely will give better service than younger FAs that haven't done many international trips.
It always amazes me that posters here piss an moan about older FAs on these routes. I have generally had quite good service by all the older DL FA's on TPAC flights, while the younger FAs (even on the top notch carriers) will be more prone to ignore the fact that I am out of beer.
Programs: DL DM/SkyClub, UA Premier Platinum (from CM), LANPASS Premium Silver
Posts: 1,934
Quote:
Originally Posted by exwannabe
It always amazes me that posters here piss an moan about older FAs on these routes. I have generally had quite good service by all the older DL FA's on TPAC flights, while the younger FAs (even on the top notch carriers) will be more prone to ignore the fact that I am out of beer.
Exactly! I fly some of the same South American routes and have some very senior FAs that know me well and always give better service than the younger ones (although I do know some good younger language qualified FAs -- and they aren't too shabby to look at either!). Heck, I even have one ATL-based senior FA that will bring me 3 mini bottles of rum and a can of diet coke with a few lime slices right away just to make sure I am not ever empty for the meal service. The one thing I cannot stand on many international flights is that if you are drinking liquor in BE, many FAs won't recognize you are empty and just keep coming through the cabin with wine but ignore people with empty glasses of other stuff.
Yea, I think I will write in and just comment on the poor service.
To make matters worse this was with the old recliner style seats. After flying SEA-CDG on the lie-flat 767 and then to have this flight on the old recliners w/ poor service just made it that much more worse.
Also bear in mind that ORD is a very small base that primarily does domestic flying; on top of that, DL operates ORD-CDG only in the winter (flight reverts back to AF during the spring/summer/fall)...all these can easily contribute to reduced familiarity with the international BE service.
