Originally Posted by
canadiancow
Cookies and ice cream are only served on PLH routes. I don't believe YYC-EWR is or ever was PLH.
Not true, I've had cookies and ice cream on that route many times before.
Originally Posted by
rehoult
There is a bunch of discussion up-thread, but in short: E90s no longer have PLH service, even on PLH routes. So YYC-YYZ on 320 gets 4 choices, but only 2 on E90.
The aircraft just does not have the facilities to offer 4 choices, warm bread, cookies, plus offer warm food in Y. So the decision was made to move them to a separate service standard.
Originally Posted by
rehoult
It wasn't that it couldn't handle 4 options, just that it couldn't do all the things I listed. But in the end it's a combination of factors. For instance, the issue of only having one FA in J wouldn't impact the number of choices; 4 or 2, it still takes the same amount of time to take orders and put the main on the tray. But moving to a single tray (vs 3 course service) has freed up the SD to help in Y.
OTOH, the reduction from 4 to 2 choices and the removal of cookies has given them oven space to offer hot meals in Y. So things like pasta and pizza, which previously weren't offered on the E90, are now offered.
Given the constraints of the space and crew on the E90, I think it was a fair compromise. I will admit to being biased however, as I prefer E90s if I'm flying Y, so I appreciate the change.
How does going from 4 to 2 choices of mains free up oven space? There are still 9 J seats and 9 J meals to heat up.
Sounds like an enhancement of Y service at the expense of "enhancing" J service. Which, given I pretty much only fly that route if I can upgrade (otherwise I'll go through YYZ to LGA), I'm not a fan of.
Especially the cookies and ice cream. I think even if one liked tiramisu, the tiramisu on this meal tray was pretty awful. It would have been nice if they could have found a way to serve the Y hot meals slightly later, or serve the cookies after they've cooked the Y meals, or something.
I understand that short routes like YYZ-YUL get reduced service in J, but what's now offered on YYC-EWR is pretty darned poor.