Offers of a Pre-Departure Beverage (PDB) [2019 and Earlier]
Apr 24, 2019, 3:47 pm
#361
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: 21,373
I will report back as to whether or not Mrs767 and I get offered a glass (well, more accurately, a plastic cup) of Amateur Secco on either of our flights this evening
Apr 24, 2019, 4:20 pm
#362
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 669
So is all the F class "sparkling wine" from a can then? I had it a few weeks back on EWR-SEA and while it wasn't great (too sweet for my liking), it wasn't the worst I've had either. Then again, I'm forever ruined by EK F.
Apr 24, 2019, 4:36 pm
#363
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
We had carbonated wine from a can on our flight. Was somewhat surprised when FA brought can to fill my glass.
This is what we had on our Flight in F on AS last week.
This is what we had on our Flight in F on AS last week.
Apr 24, 2019, 4:46 pm
#364
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
That's what they were serving this past weekend as the PDB.
Last edited by dayone; Apr 24, 2019 at 7:37 pm Reason: Redact quoted image for readability.
Apr 24, 2019, 4:57 pm
#365
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
well... at least they aren’t pretending it’s Champagne.
Im in a SF to IAD flight today and no PDB whatsoever. F lead is friendly; says she came from the Alaska side.
Im in a SF to IAD flight today and no PDB whatsoever. F lead is friendly; says she came from the Alaska side.
Last edited by dayone; Apr 24, 2019 at 7:37 pm Reason: Redact quoted image for readability.
Apr 24, 2019, 4:59 pm
#366
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Apr 24, 2019, 6:16 pm
#367
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
The last FA I spoke to about this said that at training, they made it clear that offering any beverages before takeoff was entirely "at their discretion". I don't think this will get any better until they are re-trained. If I was an FA and was told "at their discretion", I wouldn't go out of my way to do it either.
Speaking from my experience with large corps and government, I think the only way this improves is if someone with a C-suite contact at Alaska lets them know personally. We've all sent in multiple complaints to Alaska listens and clearly, they aren't listening.
Last edited by jjmadison; Apr 24, 2019 at 8:35 pm
Apr 24, 2019, 7:45 pm
#368
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: 21,373
AS436, SEA-SAN ... I’ll cut the FAs a partial break on this one because catering didn’t close the door until ~T-15; one of the FAs delivered the Dasani bottles shortly thereafter, but she immediately reverted to standing by the open flight deck door and greeting the coach passengers
Apr 25, 2019, 12:05 am
#369
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,957
The last FA I spoke to about this said that at training, they made it clear that offering any beverages before takeoff was entirely "at their discretion". I don't think this will get any better until they are re-trained. If I was an FA and was told "at their discretion", I wouldn't go out of my way to do it either..
Apr 25, 2019, 4:41 am
#370
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: 21,373
AS378 SAN-BWI — other than the Dasani bottles at **some** seats, nada
Apr 25, 2019, 5:41 pm
#371
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SJC/SFO. EWR/JFK
Programs: AS MVP 100K, DL PL
Posts: 542
was on SFO-PHL redeye, nothing but the water. So I wrote, and they replied:
Our primary pre-departure beverage is bottled water. Additionally, on most morning flights we should be offering coffee and orange juice and on most flights after 10am we should be offering orange juice and sparkling wine. There are operational issues and space limitations onboard that can sometimes interrupt or otherwise limit this service, however, so unfortunately there will sometimes be flights that a pre-departure drink is not offered. We certainly apologize for any inconvenience and/or disappointment this has caused and I would like to assure you that your concerns will be shared with our Food and Beverage Manager for additional review.
Our primary pre-departure beverage is bottled water. Additionally, on most morning flights we should be offering coffee and orange juice and on most flights after 10am we should be offering orange juice and sparkling wine. There are operational issues and space limitations onboard that can sometimes interrupt or otherwise limit this service, however, so unfortunately there will sometimes be flights that a pre-departure drink is not offered. We certainly apologize for any inconvenience and/or disappointment this has caused and I would like to assure you that your concerns will be shared with our Food and Beverage Manager for additional review.
Apr 25, 2019, 6:43 pm
#372
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: sometimes, strangely, I find myself at home
Programs: I need to do better in managing my affiliations. Oops, I overshot the runway for status next year.
Posts: 651
was on SFO-PHL redeye, nothing but the water. So I wrote, and they replied:
Our primary pre-departure beverage is bottled water. Additionally, on most morning flights we should be offering coffee and orange juice and on most flights after 10am we should be offering orange juice and sparkling wine. There are operational issues and space limitations onboard that can sometimes interrupt or otherwise limit this service, however, so unfortunately there will sometimes be flights that a pre-departure drink is not offered. We certainly apologize for any inconvenience and/or disappointment this has caused and I would like to assure you that your concerns will be shared with our Food and Beverage Manager for additional review.
Our primary pre-departure beverage is bottled water. Additionally, on most morning flights we should be offering coffee and orange juice and on most flights after 10am we should be offering orange juice and sparkling wine. There are operational issues and space limitations onboard that can sometimes interrupt or otherwise limit this service, however, so unfortunately there will sometimes be flights that a pre-departure drink is not offered. We certainly apologize for any inconvenience and/or disappointment this has caused and I would like to assure you that your concerns will be shared with our Food and Beverage Manager for additional review.
It can be reduced to 5 words.
Last edited by PaperGlider; Apr 25, 2019 at 6:46 pm Reason: added line 2
Apr 25, 2019, 7:10 pm
#374
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Apr 25, 2019, 7:21 pm
#375
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
How about...
"Fly DL, UA, or JetBlue"