Its all in the attitude. Why do you think they always mention that the FAs are "primarily here for your safety" on AA? It's such a negative customer service statement that tells everyone on board, "feel lucky if you get good service". It also is a reminder to the onboard crew that "service" is not your primary job. In my opinion they got it backwards. Service should be the primary job.

I believe historically the primarily reason for having FAs at all was to service passengers with drinks and food. Besides closing the door and making sure overheads are closed they dont really have any "safety duties" except for all those times they have to inflate the raft during those water landings. In first class, the primary job is to be an inflight waitress/waiter to the FC cabin. I know they want to glorify their jobs, but that is what they do.

As for F drink service I find it very hit or miss. Sometimes I rush to my flight dieing of thirst to get no pre-flight drink and to have the FA wait 30+ minutes into the flight to bring me a POST flight drink. Then I down that drink our of thirst and get my meal and no refill until after I finish eating. I could go on and on here.... I find on some of my flights the FAs primary goal is to get drinks and meal servied as quickly as possible so they can get back to their book or People magazine.

PS. I recently took a 1 hour RJ flight in F on Swiss. I got 2 pre-flight drinks, a meal, and chocolates. I had so much to drink I had to stop the FA from giving more. How often does that happen on AA? all in all service and meal on that crappy flight from CDG-GVA was better then my 4 hour DEN-MIA flights.