Offers of a Pre-Departure Beverage (PDB) [2019 and Earlier]
Jan 20, 2019, 6:17 pm
#196
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
Water bottles, followed by OJ or coffee on AS 1202 SFO-ORD on 1-20. Pre-ordered meal delivered and pretty much prefect service on this flight.
Jan 20, 2019, 6:36 pm
#197
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 621
On virgin I’d get the pre flight drink every single time. I never once had them offer and actually was told they could not do that on any Alaska flight until the last few months. We’ve had them offer wine twice and any drink of choosing once. To me the drink you need the most is pre flight. That is maybe the only part of flying I get irritated with, sitting for 30-40 min can’t use your laptop can’t stand up - a drink makes it such a dramatically better experience and start to the journey!
And yeah, considering how long you're on the plane if you actually board when they call first class boarding, it would be more than just a nice gesture to actually offer the PDB.
Anyhow VX was all about "we bet people are willing to pay small premium for a better experience" so not exactly shocking that they were way more consistent with PDBs.
Jan 22, 2019, 8:59 am
#198
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
Today was my third AS transcon for 2019 in paid F. No PDB, not even water at the seat. That’s 3 for 3 with no water (or any PDB) this year. After the last two experiences of thirst in First, I brought my own water bottle this time.
During boarding, the FAs happily chatted among themselves in the galley.
Once airborne, I politely asked the FA if the PDB policy had changed. He said yes, Alaska prohibits PDBs now. I asked if that included the bottled water at seats and he said “yes, budget cuts, sorry”. He did say if F passengers want water, they can request a cup AFTER boarding is complete and the FA will “do their best, if they have time”.
NoLaGent, I know you and others have been reliability reporting no PDB experiences to AS Listens, which I applaud. I’ve done this myself multiple times. I don’t think it has any impact, sadly.
In my experience (flying primarily SFO-IAD and SFO-JFK), Alaska F seems to have gone from PDB to BYOW. Up until August last year, PDB was 100% of the time. It’s been steadily decreasing in occurrence since then.
All in all, not what I would consider First Class service, but hey, the free cancellations for Gold+ are still keeping me on Alaska, for now.
During boarding, the FAs happily chatted among themselves in the galley.
Once airborne, I politely asked the FA if the PDB policy had changed. He said yes, Alaska prohibits PDBs now. I asked if that included the bottled water at seats and he said “yes, budget cuts, sorry”. He did say if F passengers want water, they can request a cup AFTER boarding is complete and the FA will “do their best, if they have time”.
NoLaGent, I know you and others have been reliability reporting no PDB experiences to AS Listens, which I applaud. I’ve done this myself multiple times. I don’t think it has any impact, sadly.
In my experience (flying primarily SFO-IAD and SFO-JFK), Alaska F seems to have gone from PDB to BYOW. Up until August last year, PDB was 100% of the time. It’s been steadily decreasing in occurrence since then.
All in all, not what I would consider First Class service, but hey, the free cancellations for Gold+ are still keeping me on Alaska, for now.
Jan 22, 2019, 11:37 am
#199
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Pre August was VX's original policy. Not surprising that it was 100% then. The problem is the training given to the FAs and the lack of follow up and follow through on the current PDB policy.
Jan 22, 2019, 2:36 pm
#200
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,957
Today was my third AS transcon for 2019 in paid F. No PDB, not even water at the seat. That’s 3 for 3 with no water (or any PDB) this year. After the last two experiences of thirst in First, I brought my own water bottle this time.
During boarding, the FAs happily chatted among themselves in the galley.
Once airborne, I politely asked the FA if the PDB policy had changed. He said yes, Alaska prohibits PDBs now. I asked if that included the bottled water at seats and he said “yes, budget cuts, sorry”. He did say if F passengers want water, they can request a cup AFTER boarding is complete and the FA will “do their best, if they have time”.
During boarding, the FAs happily chatted among themselves in the galley.
Once airborne, I politely asked the FA if the PDB policy had changed. He said yes, Alaska prohibits PDBs now. I asked if that included the bottled water at seats and he said “yes, budget cuts, sorry”. He did say if F passengers want water, they can request a cup AFTER boarding is complete and the FA will “do their best, if they have time”.
Jan 22, 2019, 2:40 pm
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Today was my third AS transcon for 2019 in paid F. No PDB, not even water at the seat. That’s 3 for 3 with no water (or any PDB) this year. After the last two experiences of thirst in First, I brought my own water bottle this time.
During boarding, the FAs happily chatted among themselves in the galley.
Once airborne, I politely asked the FA if the PDB policy had changed. He said yes, Alaska prohibits PDBs now. I asked if that included the bottled water at seats and he said “yes, budget cuts, sorry”. He did say if F passengers want water, they can request a cup AFTER boarding is complete and the FA will “do their best, if they have time”.
NoLaGent, I know you and others have been reliability reporting no PDB experiences to AS Listens, which I applaud. I’ve done this myself multiple times. I don’t think it has any impact, sadly.
In my experience (flying primarily SFO-IAD and SFO-JFK), Alaska F seems to have gone from PDB to BYOW. Up until August last year, PDB was 100% of the time. It’s been steadily decreasing in occurrence since then.
All in all, not what I would consider First Class service, but hey, the free cancellations for Gold+ are still keeping me on Alaska, for now.
During boarding, the FAs happily chatted among themselves in the galley.
Once airborne, I politely asked the FA if the PDB policy had changed. He said yes, Alaska prohibits PDBs now. I asked if that included the bottled water at seats and he said “yes, budget cuts, sorry”. He did say if F passengers want water, they can request a cup AFTER boarding is complete and the FA will “do their best, if they have time”.
NoLaGent, I know you and others have been reliability reporting no PDB experiences to AS Listens, which I applaud. I’ve done this myself multiple times. I don’t think it has any impact, sadly.
In my experience (flying primarily SFO-IAD and SFO-JFK), Alaska F seems to have gone from PDB to BYOW. Up until August last year, PDB was 100% of the time. It’s been steadily decreasing in occurrence since then.
All in all, not what I would consider First Class service, but hey, the free cancellations for Gold+ are still keeping me on Alaska, for now.
Jan 22, 2019, 6:14 pm
#202
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: NYC
Programs: AS 75K, DL Platinum
Posts: 631
AS 633 PHX-SEA. Champagne offered. After not getting a PDB on my past 6-8 flights or so, obviously this was the time I opted to spend extra time at the bar and board late time, thus missing out. Some consistency would be nice to have ...
Jan 22, 2019, 8:18 pm
#203
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
I plan on doing the same . Already made copy of Policy response posted here. So far, have not had issues with lack of PDB.
Jan 22, 2019, 10:39 pm
#204
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Jan 23, 2019, 7:39 pm
#205
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Plat, AS MVPG, Bonvoy Plat/LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,266
1/21 on a rather delayed AS20 ORD-SEA full PDB offered. At least that’s what it looked like from 8C with a couple of cups of red wine on the tray. First time in a long while I’ve seen that and figures that I’d switched to that flight and lost my upgrade.
Jan 24, 2019, 8:37 pm
#206
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 7K, MARRIOTT PLAT PREMIER WITH AMBASSADOR
Posts: 164
Got offered sparkling wine the other day on my flight from SAN to Sacramento definitely getting more common!
Jan 25, 2019, 12:21 am
#207
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 832
Four Skywest flights in the past two weeks, SNA-SJC/SFO. Two flights had full PDB from excellent FAs, one of those offered sparkling wine but also took drink requests. Other two had just the water bottle.
Jan 25, 2019, 5:59 pm
#208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,375
AS(QX)2263 SEA-PDX: water bottles at seats (sort of; one on each C/D armrest, none visible on the A armrests)
to his credit, FA came around during boarding to offer water bottles to all, and before pushback to take orders for inflight beverages
to his credit, FA came around during boarding to offer water bottles to all, and before pushback to take orders for inflight beverages
Jan 25, 2019, 6:18 pm
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I don't understand why this is so hard to standardize.
A lot of what flight attendants do is follow pre-set procedures. If they can do the pre-takeoff seatback and tray table check on every flight, and they can do the safety demonstration on every flight, they can serve a PDB in F on every flight. It can just be part of the list of things to do.
A lot of what flight attendants do is follow pre-set procedures. If they can do the pre-takeoff seatback and tray table check on every flight, and they can do the safety demonstration on every flight, they can serve a PDB in F on every flight. It can just be part of the list of things to do.
Jan 25, 2019, 7:20 pm
#210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,375
AS440 PDX-LAX: water bottles at seats; during a lull in boarding (~T-25) I asked FA if there was any chance we could get a sparkling wine, she said she would check with the other FA when catering finished up ... the second FA came around to ask about beverages ~T-18 but nothing appeared before door closure (T-10)