Erasmus

Sorry for the new thread, but search just turns up a bunch of conflicting older threads, so I am not sure what is accurate.

What is the *current* AS policy regarding getting Y food in F? E.g., when a vegetarian in F requests the cheese plate from the back instead of the meat they are serving in F? I thought current policy is that was gratis, and done ASAP--contrasting with older policy, which was gratis, but after coach had been served (and other airlines, which require you to pay).

Just ran into an FA that insisted it would be for pay, and after coach. Then they ran out

(On a paid F fare, in case that matters--which I don't think it does.)

SFOPhD

I was told I had to pay this year as well.

Erasmus

But were you able to purchase immediately, or did you have to wait to see if they had any left after they finished serving coach?

dayone

The official policy is everyone pays for it. Logic suggests that paying F pax shouldn't have to wait until Y is served, but YFAMV.

SFOPhD

Chose not to pay on principle. Short flight.

rustykettel

My wife asked for it in place of her meal in September and was served immediately and plated to boot. I sometimes will order the F&C for later/next day and add if there's any left over from the Y service, but more often than not, the FA will bring it up immediately. Knowing about the change in policy, I've always had my card ready to pay too. Every once in a while the FA will decline to charge.

Are you in F from an upgrade? I'd preorder the F&C plate when that window opens and before getting upgraded. There should be one set aside then.

PDXPremier

I guess I really do need to try the fruit & cheese plate sometime...especially if it's so popular that they typically run out....it just always sounded kinda "boring".

flyupfrnt

It's nothing special, but who doesn't like cheese / crackers / apple slices and grapes. Throw in a glass of Browne Vineyards red blend and life is pretty good.

rustykettel

Nah... you don't want to try it. It tastes like a Frankenstein combination of kale and polenta.

PDXPremier

I eat a lot of fruit in place of more unhealthy choices like chips or pastries, but part of the fun of traveling for me is taking a food "break" and eating whatever sounds good....the thought of more apple slices and grapes is a downer....it's sorta like the feeling Tom Hanks had at the end of "Castaway" when he was looking at all the crab they served at his welcome home party....he'd been stuck on that island eating crab all the time for years....lol....that's basically how I feel about fruit when traveling.

Eujeanie

bwahhaha

Actually, we were in F last week SFO/SEA and the fruit plate was the meal that was served in F (plated). Kind of a downer. My husband and I usually share one in Y when we buy it, and honestly I thought having one all to myself was too much I got sort of sick of it.

Another flight in Y I sat next to a 75K who had them reserve her one in advance (because of the running out issue) and she had to pay for it (that's just an aside), I'm sure you can reserve one in advance in F.

Erasmus

As logical as that may seem, I am pretty sure you cannot when on a paid F ticket; you can only reserve coach food in coach. This is one real way AS F is strictly inferior to Y.

pcoll

This issue has always been a "bone of contention" for me.
As OP mentioned, in PAID F, one should be able to get a meal one can eat.
I think the era when we could choose alternative from Y instead of F offering should be the standard.
I usually ask what the meal will be for my flight when I am in the AS lounge.
When on board, I mention to FA that I would like F&C from Y, please. They inform me I must pay. I have my card ready when they deliver my meal, and sometimes they waive the charge. I have celiacs and just don't open the crackers.
During a meeting with Food and beverage manager from AS last year , he asked if pre-ordering meal in F would be helpful. We all said, YES. If Y can do it, why can't F ? ( still has not happened)
Constant changes has resulted in some confusion, both for passengers and FA, as to F food policy. Those who travel one or two times a year are the ones mostly affected, they always seem surprised with "current policy".

beckoa

Pre-ordering a meal in F I think is still in the works, but haven't had contact with AS in a while about this.

And yes, currently Y meals are a paid option per policy.

Erasmus

Paid is fine--whatever. But what is the policy regarding whether one has to wait to see if they run out in Y first or not? That's the part that is hard to stomach (pardon the pun) in (paid) F.