spsDC

Hi all,
Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere -- I couldn't find a thread.

I was on a 1.5 hr flight from LGA-DTW the other day. I was sitting about halfway back on the plane and the FA was coming through with a full beverage cart. He gave me some pretzels and I asked politely for "water with no ice and ginger ale please." He replied "You can only have one beverage sir".

I was a bit taken aback since I have probably flown AA about 200 times int'l and domestic in the past 5 years and this flight at least a few dozen times and never heard of this. I said "is that a new policy?" and he said "Nope. It's been the policy for years. If anyone else gave you 2 drinks they were breaking the rules. You can choose one beverage sir, do you want the water or the ginger ale." I was sort of shocked and not terribly thirsty and just said "Ok, I've never heard that before, I'll take the water."

I don't want to get an underpaid FA in trouble but I have literally never heard this on any airline. Sure, if someone is ordering multiple alcoholic drinks, I get it that they should refuse--but water and ginger ale (and there was plenty of both on that cart)--that seems ridiculous.

I was going to write to AA customer service but wanted to check on FT first to see if this is the sad reality of US domestic travel these days?

I voluntarily let my ExPlat status lapse last year because I was starting to feel AA wasn't worth the effort. I am Plat now and will be next year too but this is the sort of thing that just makes customers not want to bother showing any loyalty.

thanks
spsdc

ACA321

Sounds like BS to me. I'd have no problem sending in a complaint. What FAs get paid is not my problem- I have little patience for those who decide to make up their own rules. I don't expect them to break any rules for me, but they are also not a law unto themselves. Luckily, I've been fortunate enough to run into very few of those types on board. They really need to either be retrained or let go- shape up or ship out.

swingaling

Flying international in Y on AA, you get a single alcoholic drink I believe. But I've never heard a limitation like you describe on domestic flight.

869

total hogwash

skylady

No such rule!

JDiver

OK, that was your one allowed post today.

Oh, wait, there's no such rule.

spsDC

thanks everyone for the quick replies.
I will write to AA customer service. let me know if there are preferred addresses / contact points that FTers use to make sure they're heard. Otherwise I will dig up the address of the last person I wrote to a couple years ago

The smallest state

This sounds like a classic response from a "we're primarily here for your safety" FA. Thankfully I usually have great luck with AA. I can think of two bad FA's, although once in awhile I will get an unenthusiastic crew just going through the motions.

DMPHL

Easiest is to just use the complaint form on the AA website. You could also send a DM to the Twitter account.

The smallest state

I agree. Hit 'em on Twitter. That Twitter team is pretty responsive. Also a letter is read by one employee who goes through the motions, gives you 3000 miles and then opens the next letter. Twitter can be seen by all and causes a lot more consternation.

brewdog11

Sounds like someone was amusing themselves/had a chip on his shoulder and was making up rules.

I've gotten more wine/additional drinks many times while flying international Y on AA. I've never heard of a "one alcoholic beverage" rule on international flights.

Of course, don't be surprised if you get chastised for heading back to the galley midflight and asking for a drink.

jagoffee

Was it just the regular water or some other type?

javabytes

Order the ginger ale. Then ten minutes later, ring the call bell and ask for water. My guess is the FA won't dare deny you a glass of water.

fly747first

^

Twohitwonder

Flight attendant here... absolutely complain! That person should not be a FA. I worked with someone like that last week and hated every minute of it. It was embarrassing. There is absolutely no rule prohibiting more than one drink.