How much discretion do FAs have giving out free drinks?
Sep 17, 2014, 8:37 pm
#61
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: UA 1K; Hilton Honors Diamond; SPG Platinum
Posts: 72
yeah, she just refilled my glass of red wine. very strange! i'm not used to this nice-ness! (well, i remember traveling with my dad years ago when he used to get handed bottles on his way out for being a 1K)
Sep 17, 2014, 8:38 pm
#62
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Osaka
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive
Posts: 581
That is true! I saw this happen much more frequently on United before the airline merged and service standards have changed. United used to be great at comping drinks on delayed flights as well. That did not happen to me when flying delayed CO flights.
Sep 17, 2014, 8:54 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K, 1.6MM
Posts: 152
I've often seen FAs do this for others but I assumed they were GS since I was 1K when I spotted this. I've seen them take back glasses of wine, ice cream sundaes and meals. They do it discretely and the recipients are usually very content. I've always thought this was pretty cool.
Sep 17, 2014, 8:55 pm
#65
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 444
In the mid 2000s, I used to get handed bottles as a lowly Premier Executive!
Sep 17, 2014, 8:59 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
I used a drink chit once for a Tito's and was given two bottles with a wink.
Another time I asked if I could buy two little bottles so that I could take them to my friend back in Y (764 HNL-EWR) and she just asked which seat he was in and said don't worry about it she would take them back.
Very cool in your case!
Another time I asked if I could buy two little bottles so that I could take them to my friend back in Y (764 HNL-EWR) and she just asked which seat he was in and said don't worry about it she would take them back.
Very cool in your case!
Sep 17, 2014, 9:15 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
I used a drink chit once for a Tito's and was given two bottles with a wink.
Another time I asked if I could buy two little bottles so that I could take them to my friend back in Y (764 HNL-EWR) and she just asked which seat he was in and said don't worry about it she would take them back.
Another time I asked if I could buy two little bottles so that I could take them to my friend back in Y (764 HNL-EWR) and she just asked which seat he was in and said don't worry about it she would take them back.
Love it!
We had broken IFE on one flight, and I asked if Uncle Jeff was buying since the video was busted. The FA said that's a great idea, and asked if I wanted a double since Jeffie Jeff was buying.
Sep 17, 2014, 9:29 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
very unusual. the best i have had is trying to give a drink chit to an FA who refused it and comped my drink. but this is a 1 in 100 experience for me.
Sep 17, 2014, 9:40 pm
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,279
PMUA is all about "the higher status you got, the more stuff we are going to give you", same with the FA jump around to take meal orders in F and C according to your MP status for international flights.
PMCO is all about "everyone are equal regardless of fare paid or status, they are irrelevant", FA will just get the job then, nothing about going the extra mile.
Sep 17, 2014, 10:04 pm
#71
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres
Posts: 653
I flew DEN-SEA the Friday night before the SuperBowl (early 2014) and the FA announced "you have a Seattle-based flight crew and anyone in Seahawks attire drinks for free the whole flight." They were not kidding, poured liberally, and even handed bottles out to us as we deplaned. I noted that they meant what they said - only people in Seahawks attire were accommodated in this manner. This was a pmUA 752 with a pmUA crew. Random but a fun thing to see for an uncommon event (a Seattle sports team even having a shot at winning something).
Sep 17, 2014, 11:17 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
I've not had it happen once since the merger, and was told by a purser that they were instructed NOT TO DO IT!
OTOH, I was on VX the other day, did not get my usual main cabin select seat (which comes with free food/drink) and when I ordered a Prohibition Back in Black, she just comped it to me, said thanks for being a Gold!
Sep 17, 2014, 11:32 pm
#73
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA & RDM
Programs: UA - 1MM, DL Diamond, AS MVP75, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 8,037
Yeah PMUA it would happen to me all the time. The FAs would never take my drink chits. Now 10 out of 10 were taken...in fact I ordered a double with my last chit and broke out the credit card for the 2nd half of the double (not that I expected anything less).
Sep 17, 2014, 11:39 pm
#74
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,752
did an RTW with my family when i was in middle school and the pmUA 777 crew LHR-EWR gave my dad (no status, sitting in Y) bottles of pol roger champagne for both my brother and me to open "when we graduated college."
because of this, my dad will only book UA to this day.
too bad jeff doesn't appreciate this sort of goodwill.
....and my dad did end up opening my bottle at my law school graduation party, explaining the story to everyone. the second bottle is waiting for my brother to finish up his MBA.
because of this, my dad will only book UA to this day.
too bad jeff doesn't appreciate this sort of goodwill.
....and my dad did end up opening my bottle at my law school graduation party, explaining the story to everyone. the second bottle is waiting for my brother to finish up his MBA.
Sep 17, 2014, 11:50 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,059
DL has the "Have one on US" drink coupons that print on your BP if you don't get upgraded. It's fairly consistent for Diamonds and Plats, for Gold's it somewhat more irregular. Before the drink coupons, I would sometimes get a comp drink and pass of the snack basket when seated in the first couple of rows of coach.
Last edited by xliioper; Sep 17, 2014 at 11:56 pm