Yes, it would be nice for AA to offer EXPs in Y (maybe even when stuck there on domestic) a free drink. But come on, we are talking about $6 and AA is on track to lose somewhere in the neighborhood of close to $1 billion this year (depending upon what the summer brings).

My strategy is to pay with a cc although so far this year in both domestic and International I have only been in the back of the bus on an award tix to GIG. I would say that half the times the machine is not either working, the FA has forget take it with him/her and does not feel like going to the back to get it, or the FA gives me the "your hot look" and just acts like the credit card machine does not work.

Add might I add, other than those DFW paxs that get s...d on a Flagship Lounge, more than likely you are departing a city with a FL. So go to the FL and drink to your heart's delight (assuming you are EXP) and use the torture in International Y to sleep it off and sober up before you land.