What's your benchmark for flight length that needs a 2nd drink service?

CMK10 · Jul 4, 09, 2:56 pm

I have low expectations for what I expect on domestic flights these days. However, when I flew PHX-MCI on US this week which is 2 hours 11, I was annoyed that we only got one drink. For me, anything over 1.5 hours should have two beverage passes. What's your standard?

Crazyhotelguy · Jul 4, 09, 3:14 pm

if I am in F, I require a second beer as soon as the plane leaves the ground....

mersk862 · Jul 4, 09, 4:04 pm

I'm used to a second beverage pass if the flight's longer than 3 hours (and I'm in coach). I try to keep low expectations in coach.

TA · Jul 4, 09, 4:11 pm

ORD-LAX is about right.

CPRich · Jul 4, 09, 5:11 pm

About 2 hours. 30 minutes to get up and start service - 45 min. or so for another round, and you're not going to start a service 30 minutes before touchdown.

martinbrown2k · Jul 4, 09, 5:44 pm

BA from LHR to BRU is normally about an hour and they only come past with the trolley once, but I ask for a coffee and a juice and get both. Drink the coffee first and make the juice last.....would you get away with that with US carriers?

mersk862 · Jul 4, 09, 6:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinbrown2k

BA from LHR to BRU is normally about an hour and they only come past with the trolley once, but I ask for a coffee and a juice and get both. Drink the coffee first and make the juice last.....would you get away with that with US carriers?

I've seen people do that, especially in the mornings. They'll ask for a cup of coffee and a cup of OJ (or water, or something to go with the coffee). Haven't seen a real issue with it.

Also, during quieter times in the flight, you can go back to the galley and ask the FA for an additional beverage and they'll normally oblige.

UK Traveler · Jul 4, 09, 9:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersk862

Also, during quieter times in the flight, you can go back to the galley and ask the FA for an additional beverage and they'll normally oblige.

That is what I normally do and on flights where they try to give me a cup of a soft drink, I insist on the entire can of soda.

PropWasher · Jul 4, 09, 10:37 pm

I once spent 17 minutes on a Beechcraft 1900 with a restless, gravity defying, passenger.

That's worth two.

slomrtwo · Jul 4, 09, 11:32 pm

Anything over 2 hours is definately pushing it for 1 drink.

**Kiwi Flyer** · Jul 5, 09, 2:34 pm

In business or first any flight. There should be 2 pre-departure drinks.

MisterNice · Jul 5, 09, 3:48 pm

Every seat has a call button if the FA is too lazy or is too busy chatting.

MisterNice

anaggie · Jul 5, 09, 5:36 pm

10-15mins after my first one whether it is water/coke/juice or alcoholic !!!

beckoa · Jul 6, 09, 4:05 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterNice

Every seat has a call button if the FA is too lazy or is too busy chatting.

MisterNice

My friend who I now corrupted with AS (He just earned MVP

) was using this button a little liberally KOA-SEA in F last month...

Thankfully the F/A was cool @ it

But if the flight is much longer then 20 mins... I want my second redbull

SEA-PDX is usually one beverage now that its run with usually a Q400 or CRJ-700... but back in the days of Q200... ah the service!

Or ANC-FAI... ample time for more then a beverage in the foreword cabin~

newyorkgeorge · Jul 6, 09, 1:14 pm

Many airlines have set standards for beverage service (for AA, it usually for flights over three hours for a 2nd service). At times, FAs may do a second round (often with limited selections) when a flight is light and therefore easy to do so. Before my days of sitting in F/J and pre the limitations on liquids, I would often pack an iced plastic bottle of water for a long flight as even three hours could be a long time.