What Will Alaska Airlines Be Serving in First Class on Your Flight? (2018)
Feb 4, 2018, 10:47 am
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
While I've had a handful of lemons over the years, for the most part, the AS crews have been great. As far as blaming unions for the sad state of inflight service, I am not sure what it has to do with what AS will be serving in first class on your flight, so I'd suggest that part of the topic shift elsewhere, or go nowhere.
As for me, I don't expect the FA's to describe tonight's offering as if we're in a Michelin starred restaurant, nor am I sitting there fuming when an FA describes the only meal offered on the plane as "uh... beef, with a ... like, salad" but it would be so easy to do a nicer job of it. As to why this happens with seemingly greater frequency these days compared to forty years ago, I suspect the answer may lie in a number of issues ranging from perception of the job these days to more in-depth personal and societal issues best ruminated over in a separate thread.
And now, back to the topic of What Will Alaska be Serving in First Class on Your Flight?:
Date of Flight: February 03, 2018
Flight Number and Route flown: AS 682 SEA-DEN
Time of Departure: 3:40pm
Length of flight: 2:00
Class of service: First
Meal served: Snack
Meal Description: Thai Chicken Salad
Additional Comments: The FA did a very nice job including description of and presentation of the meal. As for the meal, we're talking sliced chicken breast presented over a bed of lettuce with sliced mangoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and - was that cilantro? The Asian dressing was a winner as was the accompanying roll - a multi-grain seeded thing that was both soft and delicious. Definitely one of the better rolls I've ever been served inflight. Packaged cookie for dessert.
Feb 4, 2018, 12:54 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Seattle, Wa
Programs: AS 75K & BR Member- HHonors Diamond - Hertz PC - Marriott Titanium - IHG Ambassador
Posts: 2,379
Lousy Pic, Sorry
Date of Flight: February 02, 2018
Flight Number and Route flown: AS 480 PDX-JFK
Time of Departure: 9:40pm
Length of flight: 4:15 or so iirc (Tailwind)
Class of service: First
Meal served: Snack
Meal Description: Quiche (Sundried Tomatoes inside?) with Salad (Caesar Dressing) and a chocolate.
Feb 4, 2018, 12:58 pm
#78
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Seattle, Wa
Programs: AS 75K & BR Member- HHonors Diamond - Hertz PC - Marriott Titanium - IHG Ambassador
Posts: 2,379
Date of Flight: February 03, 2018
Flight Number and Route flown: AS 479 JFK-PDX
Time of Departure: 10:45 am
Length of flight: 6:11
Class of service: First
Meal served: Lunch
Meal Description: Menu Attached.
Sorry no pic. Cabin was Dark with all shades closed and I didn't care to "Flash Everyone"
I had the Pasta (by choice) it was really good as was the vegetable accompaniment. The Cheesecake was really good. A warm roll with Butter was served. The snack basket came out nearer to PDX.
Feb 4, 2018, 2:19 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Leavenworth WA
Programs: MVPG
Posts: 78
Date of Flight: February 03, 2018
Flight Number and Route flown: AS 34 Sea to Ord
Time of Departure: 10:00 am
Length of flight: 3:18
Class of service: First
Meal served: Lunch
Meal Description: cold poached chicken breast, sliced and served over salad of carrot, mango, cucumber, lettuce; roll, no butter; cookie
FA kindly provided a cheese platter after coach meal service was over.
Flight Number and Route flown: AS 34 Sea to Ord
Time of Departure: 10:00 am
Length of flight: 3:18
Class of service: First
Meal served: Lunch
Meal Description: cold poached chicken breast, sliced and served over salad of carrot, mango, cucumber, lettuce; roll, no butter; cookie
FA kindly provided a cheese platter after coach meal service was over.
Feb 4, 2018, 4:20 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 978
Date of Flight: January 27, 2017
Flight Number and Route Flown: AS 859 SEA->KOA
Time of Departure: 5:40p
Length of Flight: 6:52 (head winds were particularly strong)
Class of Service: First
Meal Served: Dinner
Meal Description: Warmed Nuts, Mixed Green Salad with goat cheese and radish, choice of Chicken with shakshuka sauce or Pappardelle pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables, chuckanut cheesecake for dessert.
I was really disappointed in this. In the past, when I flew F to the islands, they offered special meals with a Hawaiian theme. This was usually a fish choice with rice and an appropriately themed dessert like haupia.
Instead, we got served two underwhelming choices and cheesecake for dessert. The FA served the warm nuts last rather than first, and had no interest in keeping our beverages full. I selected the pasta, and it was fine, but honestly the sauce I get from the jar at home and make in 5 minutes tastes better than this. I noticed the cheesecakes are for sale at QFC and they retail for a few bucks.
If they want to compete with HA on these flights then they need to try a lot harder. I've flown HA F in the A330 and previously thought AS' service to the islands was better. Not anymore.
Flight Number and Route Flown: AS 859 SEA->KOA
Time of Departure: 5:40p
Length of Flight: 6:52 (head winds were particularly strong)
Class of Service: First
Meal Served: Dinner
Meal Description: Warmed Nuts, Mixed Green Salad with goat cheese and radish, choice of Chicken with shakshuka sauce or Pappardelle pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables, chuckanut cheesecake for dessert.
I was really disappointed in this. In the past, when I flew F to the islands, they offered special meals with a Hawaiian theme. This was usually a fish choice with rice and an appropriately themed dessert like haupia.
Instead, we got served two underwhelming choices and cheesecake for dessert. The FA served the warm nuts last rather than first, and had no interest in keeping our beverages full. I selected the pasta, and it was fine, but honestly the sauce I get from the jar at home and make in 5 minutes tastes better than this. I noticed the cheesecakes are for sale at QFC and they retail for a few bucks.
If they want to compete with HA on these flights then they need to try a lot harder. I've flown HA F in the A330 and previously thought AS' service to the islands was better. Not anymore.
Feb 4, 2018, 4:44 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Date of Flight: January 27, 2017
Flight Number and Route Flown: AS 859 SEA->KOA
Time of Departure: 5:40p
Length of Flight: 6:52 (head winds were particularly strong)
Class of Service: First
Meal Served: Dinner
Meal Description: Warmed Nuts, Mixed Green Salad with goat cheese and radish, choice of Chicken with shakshuka sauce or Pappardelle pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables, chuckanut cheesecake for dessert.
Flight Number and Route Flown: AS 859 SEA->KOA
Time of Departure: 5:40p
Length of Flight: 6:52 (head winds were particularly strong)
Class of Service: First
Meal Served: Dinner
Meal Description: Warmed Nuts, Mixed Green Salad with goat cheese and radish, choice of Chicken with shakshuka sauce or Pappardelle pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables, chuckanut cheesecake for dessert.
Feb 4, 2018, 6:48 pm
#82
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 978
The pasta. It was fine, about what you'd expect. The chicken, which my wife ordered, looked a lot worse. It was stringy-looking dark meat chicken covered in red sauce.
Feb 4, 2018, 7:01 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Well darn, went with a cheese pasta last weekend, which was good as well but want something different. I guess i'll just have a late lunch and order the fruit and cheese.
Feb 5, 2018, 10:39 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
2/4/18
AS #295
PVR-PDX
Warm nuts and Biscoff coookies
Parmesan chicken
Augratin potatoes
Green beans
Side salad with Italian dressing
Warm dinner roll with butter
Packaged chocolate chip cookie
Excellent meal and one I've not seen before on AS....this one had PDXPremier written all over it....just "normal", flavorful, comfort food...I plan to give kudos for the great meal on Alaska Listens.
AS #295
PVR-PDX
Warm nuts and Biscoff coookies
Parmesan chicken
Augratin potatoes
Green beans
Side salad with Italian dressing
Warm dinner roll with butter
Packaged chocolate chip cookie
Excellent meal and one I've not seen before on AS....this one had PDXPremier written all over it....just "normal", flavorful, comfort food...I plan to give kudos for the great meal on Alaska Listens.
Feb 5, 2018, 10:46 am
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
Feb 5, 2018, 12:32 pm
#87
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,446
Alaska's take on shakshuka is just wrong. Call it lumpy sauce with spices, do not call it shakshuka. I may pack my own cheese for my flight this afternoon. on TH's BWI-SEA flight , she opted for the pasta, but the caterers didn't load the cheese or decided that everyone needed to try veganism on their way home from DC.
Real Shakshuka is a thing of true beauty.
Real Shakshuka is a thing of true beauty.
Feb 5, 2018, 1:54 pm
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
1/29 SAN-MCO 1005a departure: no meal preorders available (or at least that I saw).
Nuts
Mixed green salad with goat cheese and radish
Choice of pasta with basil marinara, grilled veggies (zucchini in my case), arugula or chicken with shakshuka sauce (whatever that is), couscous with olives, parsley and blanched broccolini.
The chuckanut bay cheesecakes are back and as good as before. Like really good. This was creme brûlée.
Snack basket about 90 min out.
Was impressed with the quality of food on this flight. The pasta was ok, but the flavor was pretty solid on everything and it wasn’t over sauced. The arugula is still absolutely perplexing to me, but it comes off easily.
I don’t do AS tcons much so it’s always interesting to experience them. Compared to last year’s flight, this stuff was edible (and I ate it!), portions were good for me. Might have been a little small for some, but it worked for me. Not EK F, but still solid. FAs were wonderful. They paced lunch really well and served it right about 90 minutes into the flight.
Anytime arugula is listed with a pasta dish on AS, I ask the FA to leave it off since it's a garnish they have to add anyway...less work for them and myself....but yes, I agree...a very odd addition to a pasta dish.
I woulda hand delivered it! I recently took my well worn FT tag off my bag so I’m incognito.
Nuts
Mixed green salad with goat cheese and radish
Choice of pasta with basil marinara, grilled veggies (zucchini in my case), arugula or chicken with shakshuka sauce (whatever that is), couscous with olives, parsley and blanched broccolini.
The chuckanut bay cheesecakes are back and as good as before. Like really good. This was creme brûlée.
Snack basket about 90 min out.
Was impressed with the quality of food on this flight. The pasta was ok, but the flavor was pretty solid on everything and it wasn’t over sauced. The arugula is still absolutely perplexing to me, but it comes off easily.
I don’t do AS tcons much so it’s always interesting to experience them. Compared to last year’s flight, this stuff was edible (and I ate it!), portions were good for me. Might have been a little small for some, but it worked for me. Not EK F, but still solid. FAs were wonderful. They paced lunch really well and served it right about 90 minutes into the flight.
Anytime arugula is listed with a pasta dish on AS, I ask the FA to leave it off since it's a garnish they have to add anyway...less work for them and myself....but yes, I agree...a very odd addition to a pasta dish.
I woulda hand delivered it! I recently took my well worn FT tag off my bag so I’m incognito.
You don't need to have a FT tag....I'll just look for the guy saying "no thanks" to the cookies in F
Feb 5, 2018, 1:58 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Interesting that the quiche & salad "snack" on the PDX-JFK red-eye is so much more substantial than the "typical" red-eye snack on other flights like the Hawaii flights which only a get a fruit/cheese plate.
Feb 6, 2018, 3:55 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, AS Lounge
Posts: 3,478
Date of Flight: January 27, 2017
Flight Number and Route Flown: AS 859 SEA->KOA
Time of Departure: 5:40p
Length of Flight: 6:52 (head winds were particularly strong)
Class of Service: First
Meal Served: Dinner
Meal Description: Warmed Nuts, Mixed Green Salad with goat cheese and radish, choice of Chicken with shakshuka sauce or Pappardelle pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables, chuckanut cheesecake for dessert....
Flight Number and Route Flown: AS 859 SEA->KOA
Time of Departure: 5:40p
Length of Flight: 6:52 (head winds were particularly strong)
Class of Service: First
Meal Served: Dinner
Meal Description: Warmed Nuts, Mixed Green Salad with goat cheese and radish, choice of Chicken with shakshuka sauce or Pappardelle pasta with marinara sauce and vegetables, chuckanut cheesecake for dessert....