Offers of a Pre-Departure Beverage (PDB) [2019 and Earlier]
Nov 13, 2018, 12:37 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,149
No PDB other than standard Dasani bottle ORD-SEA last weekend. SEA-ORD was on DL so there was very charming and hospitable service, with full bar PDB (but IFE was not working for half the plane).
Nov 13, 2018, 2:08 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 490
Some sort of tropical drink (non alcoholic) SEA-KOA on the evening flight
Nov 13, 2018, 2:35 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 205
SEA to HNL evening flight last Thursday- Offered sparkling wine or juice
HNL to SEA Monday afternoon- offered "Hawaiian Mimosa" or juice
Standard water bottles were also at seats in both cases.
Flight attendants on both flights were great
HNL to SEA Monday afternoon- offered "Hawaiian Mimosa" or juice
Standard water bottles were also at seats in both cases.
Flight attendants on both flights were great
Nov 13, 2018, 2:36 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,292
AS 1933 12NOV LAX-SFO (A321)
I mentioned to the FA that I was excited they'd added sparkling wine (along with water/juice) for flights departing after 10am and he said I was absolutely wrong, that the policy had changed again and this had been confirmed to him by his Supervisor the day before. He was clearly having a bad day as he also then rudely added that it was due to the F cabin being filled only by upgraders (I was on a P fare) before he stomped off. Everyone in Row 2 just raised their eyebrows and chuckled at him.
He was very curt for the rest of the flight and I've already given customer care feedback.
I mentioned to the FA that I was excited they'd added sparkling wine (along with water/juice) for flights departing after 10am and he said I was absolutely wrong, that the policy had changed again and this had been confirmed to him by his Supervisor the day before. He was clearly having a bad day as he also then rudely added that it was due to the F cabin being filled only by upgraders (I was on a P fare) before he stomped off. Everyone in Row 2 just raised their eyebrows and chuckled at him.
He was very curt for the rest of the flight and I've already given customer care feedback.
Nov 13, 2018, 2:39 pm
#65
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Renton, WA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold / Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 10
No & Yes
Nothing in F on the SEA to KOA flight or any Hawaiian touches with POG or MaiTai’s like the past. However, just offered PDB on KOA to SAN with juice, champagne or mimosas. Hit or miss!
Nov 13, 2018, 2:45 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
OAK - OGG (morning): some kind weird of fruity mimosa drink. I don't drink wine (sparkling or otherwise) so I turned it down. No offer of juice or anything non-alcoholic -- it was the mimosa or nothing. I ordered a coffee & double baileys when we got off the ground.
OGG - SFO (evening): nothing. They took food and drink orders before takeoff though, so I got a scotch pretty soon after takeoff, and it was topped up when I was half finished without me asking.
Water at the seats and friendly FAs on both flights. I still think that AS does not really understand the concept of first class, though.
OGG - SFO (evening): nothing. They took food and drink orders before takeoff though, so I got a scotch pretty soon after takeoff, and it was topped up when I was half finished without me asking.
Water at the seats and friendly FAs on both flights. I still think that AS does not really understand the concept of first class, though.
Nov 14, 2018, 10:46 am
#67
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
AS724 SEA BNA- boarded late, saw PDBs already served, so asked for juice. One virgin screwdriver quickly served up with a smile.
Nov 14, 2018, 11:07 am
#68
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,203
AS 1933 12NOV LAX-SFO (A321)
I mentioned to the FA that I was excited they'd added sparkling wine (along with water/juice) for flights departing after 10am and he said I was absolutely wrong, that the policy had changed again and this had been confirmed to him by his Supervisor the day before. He was clearly having a bad day as he also then rudely added that it was due to the F cabin being filled only by upgraders (I was on a P fare) before he stomped off. Everyone in Row 2 just raised their eyebrows and chuckled at him.
He was very curt for the rest of the flight and I've already given customer care feedback.
I mentioned to the FA that I was excited they'd added sparkling wine (along with water/juice) for flights departing after 10am and he said I was absolutely wrong, that the policy had changed again and this had been confirmed to him by his Supervisor the day before. He was clearly having a bad day as he also then rudely added that it was due to the F cabin being filled only by upgraders (I was on a P fare) before he stomped off. Everyone in Row 2 just raised their eyebrows and chuckled at him.
He was very curt for the rest of the flight and I've already given customer care feedback.
Nov 14, 2018, 12:14 pm
#69
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: 7,440
sparkling wine on my BWI-SEA last night, declined.
Nov 14, 2018, 12:52 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
AS 1933 12NOV LAX-SFO (A321)
I mentioned to the FA that I was excited they'd added sparkling wine (along with water/juice) for flights departing after 10am and he said I was absolutely wrong, that the policy had changed again and this had been confirmed to him by his Supervisor the day before. He was clearly having a bad day as he also then rudely added that it was due to the F cabin being filled only by upgraders (I was on a P fare) before he stomped off. Everyone in Row 2 just raised their eyebrows and chuckled at him.
He was very curt for the rest of the flight and I've already given customer care feedback.
I mentioned to the FA that I was excited they'd added sparkling wine (along with water/juice) for flights departing after 10am and he said I was absolutely wrong, that the policy had changed again and this had been confirmed to him by his Supervisor the day before. He was clearly having a bad day as he also then rudely added that it was due to the F cabin being filled only by upgraders (I was on a P fare) before he stomped off. Everyone in Row 2 just raised their eyebrows and chuckled at him.
He was very curt for the rest of the flight and I've already given customer care feedback.
I do wish AS would enforce the policy of whether there is a PDB or not; sounds like there is but some FA's decide not to follow it or if there was a reason not to follow it, make it known to the folks in First. Perhaps some of the FAs on this board might comment, but if it is policy, why is it not uniformly applied across the system?
Nov 14, 2018, 2:12 pm
#71
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 31
A friend of mine is a FA w/AS and he mentioned to me that AS did not (and seems still does not) like to offer PDB because it will mess with the on-time departure (WTH)?! He's already grumpy for having to serve sparkling wine. I advised him I've flown AA/DL/UA plenty of times and received full bar service and we still departed on-time. I, unfortunately, did not get a proper response because his husband changed the conversation (seems that PDB are a sore spot among some AS FA's).
Nov 14, 2018, 3:18 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
I am glad that I have never had to experience some of these "off the cuff" attitudes of some FAs; all the FAs I have dealt with have been at the very least professional if not more. Sure, sometimes you can tell when someone is having a bad day but they should never take it out on the customer. In this case I have to wonder why this particular FA thought being an upgrade or paid First made a different in his salary or his performance? Not going to get tipped more? It was not an intelligent retort that he gave. I am glad you reported it, maybe this gentleman needs a refresher in customer service.
I do wish AS would enforce the policy of whether there is a PDB or not; sounds like there is but some FA's decide not to follow it or if there was a reason not to follow it, make it known to the folks in First. Perhaps some of the FAs on this board might comment, but if it is policy, why is it not uniformly applied across the system?
I do wish AS would enforce the policy of whether there is a PDB or not; sounds like there is but some FA's decide not to follow it or if there was a reason not to follow it, make it known to the folks in First. Perhaps some of the FAs on this board might comment, but if it is policy, why is it not uniformly applied across the system?
Nov 14, 2018, 4:23 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
Not to belabor the point I was making as personally I would enjoy a PDB but it is not the point of decision whether I fly Alaska or not. However, if it is an expectation of service based on AS Policy (whether or not AS likes it or not) than it can be a point of contention of service. Do or do not do it, but it shouldn't be up to me to see if I get "lucky" and get something that should be part of the service. I certainly understand the difference between policy and compliance, but breaking policy usually (in most regulated companies) comes with discipline.
