I most often fly between IAD and SFO, so 5+ hours in flight. Usually I do not ask for anything unless the FA's offer it. Usually in Y the service consists of initial cart service and snack boxes/fresh items, then coffee, one or two passes with water and cart service before landing.

Recently I have had a nagging cough, and I have found that drinking hot tea is soothing to my throat. So twice during each of my last few flights, I have caught a passing FA and asked politely for some tea. On each occasion I have added, "when you get a chance" to my request. Each time the FA's have seemed irritated by these requests. Most of the time they have passed me the tea without even offering sugar/sweetener. A couple of times the water was luke warm and the tea did not darken very well.

Also on two of my last 6 transcons, the FA's have not offered cart service prior to landing; they have just offered water or orange juice.

So I have several questions for our resident FA's:

1. Do you think it is too much to ask for tea, coffee, water, or even a soft drink when a Y passenger gets the urge for something to drink?

2. Should I have gone to the galley with such a request? (I sit by the window and would have to climb over 1 or 2 seat mates.)

3. If I wanted a alcoholic beverage which would profit UA, would that be a reasonable request?

4. Would it be reasonable to ask for a snack box or fresh item later in the flight?

5. Would it be ok to push the call button for such a request? (I never do this, and rarely see anyone else doing it even in F. When I have seen another pax use the call button, response time has been slow at best.)

6. Is UA cutting the pre landing cart service to save money, or is that a decision made by the FA's? Is it SOP for the FA's to make that change in the service?

7. Do you think the FA's should only have to furnish the amout of service they choose to offer thus giving them more time to read, knit, or chat in the galley?

And to Y pax: What has been your experience with requesting extra service in Y?