First Class service standards (meal plating/courses, hot towels, etc.)
Feb 16, 2016, 10:12 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Programs: Alaska MVP, Marriott Lifetime Titanium (United Silver), Hilton Gold
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I flew SEA-IAD-SEA and had the lunch/dinner menu with choice of salad, fruit/cheese, cod, chicken, and pasta both times. On the outbound, the f/a served the whole meal on one tray so between my wife and I we got pictures of everything on the menu. There was no appearance of the snack basket on either flight.
The food is decent, having increased choice is great, but the service seems slow/hard for the f/as.
Based on reports upthread, it seems like it would be better to split the service of cold and hot items into seperate courses, this would get food to hungry pax sooner and would seem like a "nicer" service. To me, serving so much at once seems a bit less-nice than the old three course meals. It's a bit odd to be served the salad and hot options all at once (and it's odder still when dessert is on the same tray)
The food is decent, having increased choice is great, but the service seems slow/hard for the f/as.
Based on reports upthread, it seems like it would be better to split the service of cold and hot items into seperate courses, this would get food to hungry pax sooner and would seem like a "nicer" service. To me, serving so much at once seems a bit less-nice than the old three course meals. It's a bit odd to be served the salad and hot options all at once (and it's odder still when dessert is on the same tray)
Feb 16, 2016, 10:18 pm
#17
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Still only one FA working the F cabin? Always felt bad for the FA since they had to prep/plate the meals, serve drinks and food, etc. by themselves unless someone from the back helps. On AA, they usually have 2 FAs working the F cabin.. one working the galley, the other working the cabin.
Feb 16, 2016, 10:22 pm
#18
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Sounds like with some of the FA's the F position might become more junior on routes like RDU due to the "increased workload" ~ yes this was FA gossip 
Originally Posted by Jimgotkp
Still only one FA working the F cabin? Always felt bad for the FA since they had to prep/plate the meals, serve drinks and food, etc. by themselves unless someone from the back helps. On AA, they usually have 2 FAs working the F cabin.. one working the galley, the other working the cabin.
Feb 16, 2016, 10:40 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
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Is this new service on breakfast flights as well? It would be great not to be stuck with a egg dish for those of us who are not big fans.
Feb 17, 2016, 5:27 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
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Yes, on the trans-cons. It's been covered over in the What Will Alaska Be Serving in First Class 2016 Edition thread.
This post by CDKing includes specific information about the breakfast along with photos.
Feb 17, 2016, 8:45 am
#21
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Yes, on the trans-cons. It's been covered over in the What Will Alaska Be Serving in First Class 2016 Edition thread.
This post by CDKing includes specific information about the breakfast along with photos.
This post by CDKing includes specific information about the breakfast along with photos.
Feb 18, 2016, 12:11 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Denver, CO USA
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Herein lies one of the ongoing problems I've seen with Alaska's service:
There appears to be a standard - as you've indicated above - but little to no enforcement of that standard. As a passenger it's frustrating to be served by a slacker who's too lazy to do the service properly. I should imagine as a flight attendant it's equally frustrating because these people - through their haphazard approach to service - have the potential to cast you all in a diminished light amongst new or occasional flyers.
Does any self-policing go on amongst the crews?
There appears to be a standard - as you've indicated above - but little to no enforcement of that standard. As a passenger it's frustrating to be served by a slacker who's too lazy to do the service properly. I should imagine as a flight attendant it's equally frustrating because these people - through their haphazard approach to service - have the potential to cast you all in a diminished light amongst new or occasional flyers.
Does any self-policing go on amongst the crews?
Feb 18, 2016, 12:24 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
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I flew SEA-BWI and BWI-LAX last month. On both flights the FA served the meals one course at a time and later served the nuts and snack basket. both flights seemed to be a more junior crew, but they knew what they were doing.
Feb 18, 2016, 2:57 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
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HNL/SEA flight was also sub par. What is it about Hawaii flights?
FA in F overwhelmed and frustrated. Hard to relax when FA is "testy" .
I can understand some of the frustration, new menus and prep, and no wine opener on board to open bottles. Wine came fromY, a glass at a time. Not good wine.
She said it was the worst flight she has had in 20 years.
I felt bad for her.
FA in F overwhelmed and frustrated. Hard to relax when FA is "testy" .
I can understand some of the frustration, new menus and prep, and no wine opener on board to open bottles. Wine came fromY, a glass at a time. Not good wine.
She said it was the worst flight she has had in 20 years.
I felt bad for her.
Feb 20, 2016, 8:22 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Update on transcons small plate choices.
Flew F today SEA /LAX . Actual choice offered for breakfast . 2.5 hour flight.
FA did mention in our chat that the choice of 3 of the small plates would be changing.
She said it now be only 2 choices. FA's have complained that the trays are too heavy and meal service is too difficult with 3 choices of the 5 offerings.
Truth or rumor, who knows? This is the new "chatter".
Flew F today SEA /LAX . Actual choice offered for breakfast . 2.5 hour flight.
FA did mention in our chat that the choice of 3 of the small plates would be changing.
She said it now be only 2 choices. FA's have complained that the trays are too heavy and meal service is too difficult with 3 choices of the 5 offerings.
Truth or rumor, who knows? This is the new "chatter".
Feb 20, 2016, 9:53 pm
#26
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Update on transcons small plate choices.
Flew F today SEA /LAX . Actual choice offered for breakfast . 2.5 hour flight.
FA did mention in our chat that the choice of 3 of the small plates would be changing.
She said it now be only 2 choices. FA's have complained that the trays are too heavy and meal service is too difficult with 3 choices of the 5 offerings.
Truth or rumor, who knows? This is the new "chatter".
Flew F today SEA /LAX . Actual choice offered for breakfast . 2.5 hour flight.
FA did mention in our chat that the choice of 3 of the small plates would be changing.
She said it now be only 2 choices. FA's have complained that the trays are too heavy and meal service is too difficult with 3 choices of the 5 offerings.
Truth or rumor, who knows? This is the new "chatter".
Feb 20, 2016, 11:57 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
Update on transcons small plate choices.
Flew F today SEA /LAX . Actual choice offered for breakfast . 2.5 hour flight.
FA did mention in our chat that the choice of 3 of the small plates would be changing.
She said it now be only 2 choices. FA's have complained that the trays are too heavy and meal service is too difficult with 3 choices of the 5 offerings.
Truth or rumor, who knows? This is the new "chatter".
Flew F today SEA /LAX . Actual choice offered for breakfast . 2.5 hour flight.
FA did mention in our chat that the choice of 3 of the small plates would be changing.
She said it now be only 2 choices. FA's have complained that the trays are too heavy and meal service is too difficult with 3 choices of the 5 offerings.
Truth or rumor, who knows? This is the new "chatter".
Feb 21, 2016, 12:02 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
What was the "choice" on SEA-LAX...if the non-egg option was yogurt/granola, then that's really nothing new...it's been that way for awhile now. If it was eggs or another hot entree like french toast, then that's definitely news. I hope they don't go from 3 to 2 choices on transcons....for one, they don't need to put all three dishes on the tray at once and since their loading all 5 choices per passenger, that would be a ton of wasted food.
Feb 21, 2016, 12:41 am
#29
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They are no longer loading all 5 choices per passenger. They've refined how much is being boarded based on the experience thus far. So far, since they've changed the #'s of what's being boarded I've yet to see anyone not get exactly what they wanted so it was a good decision. I haven't heard anything about changing the numbers from 3 selections to 2. And yes, it really is necessary to put all items on one tray. With the way this service flows it would be difficult, at best, trying to do it in courses.
Feb 21, 2016, 5:06 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2010
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