Drink Chit Use in Flight
Feb 21, 2008, 9:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: IAD, DCA, SAN
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, AMEX PLAT
Posts: 1,236
Drink Chit Use in Flight
There has been quite a bit of talk on this scattered across several threads over the past couple of months, so I thought that I would relay my experience.
Two weeks ago I had to fly IAD to FRA on UA metal. I entered the IAD RCC and was immediately offered two RCC drink chits (grey paper chits) by the IAD RCC greeter. She had quite a line of people she was greeting. She addressed everybody by name after looking at their boarding pass and offered two chits to all. She did not hand them to you, but offered and if you accepted, she returned them with your BP. There was one gentleman in front of me who was flying with a coworker who asked for his co workers chits when she said that she did not want hers. The greeter simply handed him four chits.
The RCC was quite full, the bar tenders were doing their best to keep up with the flow of tickets and such. By the way, there were lots of the Blue perforated edge chits (1K kits) on the counter that people were using for drinks at the RCC bar.
There was another Uniformed UA representative wondering through the club handing out grey chits to those who had missed them at the door and were now trying to figure out how to get a drink. (There were lots of those)
I kept my grey chits and boarded a few hours later to FRA. Once airborne and during the drink service (in Y, my upgrade did not clear), I asked for a beer and handed my grey chit over and it was not even studied. My beer arrived immediately. Later in the flight, I stood up and walked back to the kitchen area and asked another FA for a beer, she came back with it and asked me for my $5 and I handed another grey chit over which was immediately accepted.
That is only one experience but service seemed to be the theme for this flight, not cross examining drink chit colors. YMMV
A side note, I was really surprised by the number of blue chits used in the RCC when there were grey chits for the asking through any number of the agents.
Two weeks ago I had to fly IAD to FRA on UA metal. I entered the IAD RCC and was immediately offered two RCC drink chits (grey paper chits) by the IAD RCC greeter. She had quite a line of people she was greeting. She addressed everybody by name after looking at their boarding pass and offered two chits to all. She did not hand them to you, but offered and if you accepted, she returned them with your BP. There was one gentleman in front of me who was flying with a coworker who asked for his co workers chits when she said that she did not want hers. The greeter simply handed him four chits.
The RCC was quite full, the bar tenders were doing their best to keep up with the flow of tickets and such. By the way, there were lots of the Blue perforated edge chits (1K kits) on the counter that people were using for drinks at the RCC bar.
There was another Uniformed UA representative wondering through the club handing out grey chits to those who had missed them at the door and were now trying to figure out how to get a drink. (There were lots of those)
I kept my grey chits and boarded a few hours later to FRA. Once airborne and during the drink service (in Y, my upgrade did not clear), I asked for a beer and handed my grey chit over and it was not even studied. My beer arrived immediately. Later in the flight, I stood up and walked back to the kitchen area and asked another FA for a beer, she came back with it and asked me for my $5 and I handed another grey chit over which was immediately accepted.
That is only one experience but service seemed to be the theme for this flight, not cross examining drink chit colors. YMMV
A side note, I was really surprised by the number of blue chits used in the RCC when there were grey chits for the asking through any number of the agents.
Feb 21, 2008, 9:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 1,536
I'm new to chits....are the 1K chits "worth" more than the grey ones?
Feb 21, 2008, 9:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SFO/SAN/Ganado Arizona
Programs: Affilated with the orders of I need to rest, doctor's orders!
Posts: 1,400
There has been quite a bit of talk on this scattered across several threads over the past couple of months, so I thought that I would relay my experience.
Two weeks ago I had to fly IAD to FRA on UA metal. I entered the IAD RCC and was immediately offered two RCC drink chits (grey paper chits) by the IAD RCC greeter. She had quite a line of people she was greeting. She addressed everybody by name after looking at their boarding pass and offered two chits to all. She did not hand them to you, but offered and if you accepted, she returned them with your BP. There was one gentleman in front of me who was flying with a coworker who asked for his co workers chits when she said that she did not want hers. The greeter simply handed him four chits.
The RCC was quite full, the bar tenders were doing their best to keep up with the flow of tickets and such. By the way, there were lots of the Blue perforated edge chits (1K kits) on the counter that people were using for drinks at the RCC bar.
There was another Uniformed UA representative wondering through the club handing out grey chits to those who had missed them at the door and were now trying to figure out how to get a drink. (There were lots of those)
I kept my grey chits and boarded a few hours later to FRA. Once airborne and during the drink service (in Y, my upgrade did not clear), I asked for a beer and handed my grey chit over and it was not even studied. My beer arrived immediately. Later in the flight, I stood up and walked back to the kitchen area and asked another FA for a beer, she came back with it and asked me for my $5 and I handed another grey chit over which was immediately accepted.
That is only one experience but service seemed to be the theme for this flight, not cross examining drink chit colors. YMMV
A side note, I was really surprised by the number of blue chits used in the RCC when there were grey chits for the asking through any number of the agents.
Two weeks ago I had to fly IAD to FRA on UA metal. I entered the IAD RCC and was immediately offered two RCC drink chits (grey paper chits) by the IAD RCC greeter. She had quite a line of people she was greeting. She addressed everybody by name after looking at their boarding pass and offered two chits to all. She did not hand them to you, but offered and if you accepted, she returned them with your BP. There was one gentleman in front of me who was flying with a coworker who asked for his co workers chits when she said that she did not want hers. The greeter simply handed him four chits.
The RCC was quite full, the bar tenders were doing their best to keep up with the flow of tickets and such. By the way, there were lots of the Blue perforated edge chits (1K kits) on the counter that people were using for drinks at the RCC bar.
There was another Uniformed UA representative wondering through the club handing out grey chits to those who had missed them at the door and were now trying to figure out how to get a drink. (There were lots of those)
I kept my grey chits and boarded a few hours later to FRA. Once airborne and during the drink service (in Y, my upgrade did not clear), I asked for a beer and handed my grey chit over and it was not even studied. My beer arrived immediately. Later in the flight, I stood up and walked back to the kitchen area and asked another FA for a beer, she came back with it and asked me for my $5 and I handed another grey chit over which was immediately accepted.
That is only one experience but service seemed to be the theme for this flight, not cross examining drink chit colors. YMMV
A side note, I was really surprised by the number of blue chits used in the RCC when there were grey chits for the asking through any number of the agents.
Feb 21, 2008, 9:44 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Yep, typically very easily interchangeable.
Feb 21, 2008, 9:54 pm
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
Wouldn't surprise me that most FAs are too careless to observe.
On that note, I'd never give up a RCC cert since those tend to be more scarce than inflight ones. Then again, I don't really sit in Y...ever!
On that note, I'd never give up a RCC cert since those tend to be more scarce than inflight ones. Then again, I don't really sit in Y...ever!
Feb 21, 2008, 10:57 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: IAD, DCA, SAN
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Posts: 1,236
Anyway, lets not call the FA's careless about this. I mean, this is a true "nicety". The grey chits clearly say on them that they can be used in the RCC only. If the FA are nice enough to accept them inflight, lets not disparage them for their thoughtfulness. 1P's do not get the "in flight" chits so this is a genuine "nice to have" when it works on our departures from international gates. Also, the rate that they were flowing and being exchanged from blue ones, I saw a guy give a couple of blue chits in the RCC and get a grey one back when he did not need the last drink for a buddy. The bartender gave him a grey chit back. I pointed it out to him, but he did not care and just said thanks.
Feb 22, 2008, 12:19 am
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,627
Oh well; I just swapped a few in-flights for RCC's with a friend. Sounds like it might not have been necessary, but it only cost me a stamp.
Feb 22, 2008, 12:43 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Programs: The opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the airlines I worked for.
Posts: 1,894
IRC the FAs have scanned images of what valid drink chits look like in their FAOMs. However, it's not like the difference between RCC and inflight chits are covered during Initial Service Training.
I wouldn't complain
I wouldn't complain
Feb 22, 2008, 2:26 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: MME - a small town in Yorkshire
Posts: 515
Please clarify
what "Blue perforated edge chits (1K kits)" are please someone?
Feb 22, 2008, 4:15 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Palo Alto. Previously, below the approaches to Rwy 19 @ DCA or 28 @ ORD
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Posts: 1,768
Feb 22, 2008, 6:06 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Frankfurt, Germany/Washington DC
Programs: HH Silver, Eurostar CarteBlanche
Posts: 244
Paolo, You are correct, we are being nice.To me a free drink is a free drink, regardless of location. However, if anyone not allowed to use a chit inflight, they can thank United959s 'careless' comment for that. Some of you will complain whatever we do.
Feb 22, 2008, 7:00 am
#12
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
It is carelessness, even though it may benefit you. They are not following the rules that, I'd imagine, could get them into trouble.
I don't know about you, but it's been my experience that *most* UA FAs try to find every exception to the rule before granting a passenger's request.
I honestly believe the FAs are not doing you a favor, rather they are failing to read the appropriate usage of the coupon.
Frankly, I don't care if FAs accept used toilet paper in exchange for an alcoholic beverage. I'm just pointing out the very real possibility that this "niceity" is more of an error in the passenger's favor.
I mean, this is a true "nicety". The grey chits clearly say on them that they can be used in the RCC only. If the FA are nice enough to accept them inflight, lets not disparage them for their thoughtfulness.
I honestly believe the FAs are not doing you a favor, rather they are failing to read the appropriate usage of the coupon.
Frankly, I don't care if FAs accept used toilet paper in exchange for an alcoholic beverage. I'm just pointing out the very real possibility that this "niceity" is more of an error in the passenger's favor.
Feb 22, 2008, 7:04 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Home and Away
Posts: 318
Feb 22, 2008, 7:05 am
#14
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Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
The certs look identical and I can see how the error can be made. If a FA consciously accepts a cert knowing it's being misused, then that's against their better judgment, there's no denying that.
I'm guessing there's a reason UA prints RCC certs and inflight certs. I'm also guessing UA wants their employees to follow their rules, that's all. In most companies when rules are not followed, there are penalties.
Feb 22, 2008, 7:07 am
#15
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The perforated edge chits were/are the valid "in flight" chits. They arrive in a standard letter sized sheet of durable paper and you simply pull the chit off. The sheet that I was given was a sheet of 10. I was gifted it by a UGS who had many sheets in her bag. I am not a 1K, so I have never received the 1K kit myself.