[Rant] AS First Class Is a Bad Joke
May 4, 2019, 12:40 am
#211
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
May 4, 2019, 7:19 am
#213
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
May 4, 2019, 9:10 am
#214
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
On 5/1 I flew UA MSY-IAH-SFO in F.
The 1st leg was great - friendly, service oriented crew who offered PDBs and great, efficient service for the 1 hour flight.
The 2nd leg was the polar opposite - the lead in F was arguing with the GA about cabin checked bags (I was in 1B so caught all of this), sniping at the other FA who was trying to get ice out for PDBs (he told her catering had finished 5 mins late so they were not going to be offered, even tho we sat at the gate for another 15 min) and later in the flight yelled at me when I asked for a lemon instead of a lime. He literally brought the cup of fruit from the galley and shook it at me as he said this was all he had for the entire flight and it had to be shared with the rest of the F cabin. The passengers around me either laughed directly at him, or in the case of the woman seated next to me, told him to lower his voice and relax. Needless to say, this was all detailed in the post-flight survey yesterday.
My point is, the grass isn't greener anywhere really when traveling on a 737 in the US these days. As noted above, the soft product differentiation really did make a difference years ago along with the elevated experience in Y, but it's a roll of the dice when traveling on any carrier now.
I do think that the F catering on AS these days is a step in the right direction. I'll take AS F any day over UA F. The burger I was served on a 4 hour dinner flight the other day was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen, which was surprising because just a few years ago their BOB version in Y was actually quite good.
May 4, 2019, 9:23 am
#215
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
FA: what would you like to drink?
Me: V8 please.
FA: we only have tomato juice.
Me: Ah, suppose you've never seen "For Love of the Game."
FA: do you want ice?
Me: with tomato juice?
FA: so, no ice?
Me: just neat, yes.
Usually I don't talk much during my flights, but just couldn't resist with this particular FA.
May 4, 2019, 9:40 am
#216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
May 4, 2019, 9:47 am
#217
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
You are clearly using AS as a depository for paid AS Partner premium itineraries but I never see you say the same for UA or another FF program. Why so? No need to answer, we know why! You hate the AS product but happy to fly them for the EQM & RDM in conjunction with their partners. Interesting! I already have UA Silver Elite status through Marriott but have never flown them. Your AS status match to UA may make sense for you as you are in SFO and happy paying a 200% premium for a 5 hour lie-flat to Hawaii with a full PDB experience. I am not! AS allows a SFO-LAX award with a stopover in SEA for 5K miles plus $6. Add a $59 EQM earning flight back from LAX to SFO and you have a trip to Seattle for 5K Miles 500 EQM & 1000 RDM for $65. The 5K plus base miles on a Hawaii return affords that; twice for you as you are MVPG and get a 100% RDM Elite Bonus. How many UA redeemable miles did your $650 lie-flat Hawaii itinerary produce? I am curious how far that would take you with an UA redemption.
James in Santiago.
May 4, 2019, 9:48 am
#218
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
May 4, 2019, 9:53 am
#219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
It's still very much luck of the draw.
On 5/1 I flew UA MSY-IAH-SFO in F.
The 1st leg was great - friendly, service oriented crew who offered PDBs and great, efficient service for the 1 hour flight.
The 2nd leg was the polar opposite - the lead in F was arguing with the GA about cabin checked bags (I was in 1B so caught all of this), sniping at the other FA who was trying to get ice out for PDBs (he told her catering had finished 5 mins late so they were not going to be offered, even tho we sat at the gate for another 15 min) and later in the flight yelled at me when I asked for a lemon instead of a lime. He literally brought the cup of fruit from the galley and shook it at me as he said this was all he had for the entire flight and it had to be shared with the rest of the F cabin. The passengers around me either laughed directly at him, or in the case of the woman seated next to me, told him to lower his voice and relax. Needless to say, this was all detailed in the post-flight survey yesterday.
My point is, the grass isn't greener anywhere really when traveling on a 737 in the US these days. As noted above, the soft product differentiation really did make a difference years ago along with the elevated experience in Y, but it's a roll of the dice when traveling on any carrier now.
I do think that the F catering on AS these days is a step in the right direction. I'll take AS F any day over UA F. The burger I was served on a 4 hour dinner flight the other day was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen, which was surprising because just a few years ago their BOB version in Y was actually quite good.
On 5/1 I flew UA MSY-IAH-SFO in F.
The 1st leg was great - friendly, service oriented crew who offered PDBs and great, efficient service for the 1 hour flight.
The 2nd leg was the polar opposite - the lead in F was arguing with the GA about cabin checked bags (I was in 1B so caught all of this), sniping at the other FA who was trying to get ice out for PDBs (he told her catering had finished 5 mins late so they were not going to be offered, even tho we sat at the gate for another 15 min) and later in the flight yelled at me when I asked for a lemon instead of a lime. He literally brought the cup of fruit from the galley and shook it at me as he said this was all he had for the entire flight and it had to be shared with the rest of the F cabin. The passengers around me either laughed directly at him, or in the case of the woman seated next to me, told him to lower his voice and relax. Needless to say, this was all detailed in the post-flight survey yesterday.
My point is, the grass isn't greener anywhere really when traveling on a 737 in the US these days. As noted above, the soft product differentiation really did make a difference years ago along with the elevated experience in Y, but it's a roll of the dice when traveling on any carrier now.
I do think that the F catering on AS these days is a step in the right direction. I'll take AS F any day over UA F. The burger I was served on a 4 hour dinner flight the other day was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen, which was surprising because just a few years ago their BOB version in Y was actually quite good.
As for the rest of it, it sounds like a problem not with the whole crew, but with a single bad lead. That's unfortunate.
My impression is that that is the exception rather than the rule though. I've never had anything that bad on AS, but it is consistently subpar in my opinion. It's not about one good or bad experience; it's about the pattern.
May 4, 2019, 9:56 am
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
The problem is that I have limited amounts of PTO and since I've gotten addicted to flying around the world I don't have much time to focus on gambling. Keeping skills sharp is work, and there is only so much time. Maybe when I retire...
May 4, 2019, 10:43 am
#221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
I need a new username. Or I need to start going back to Vegas.
The problem is that I have limited amounts of PTO and since I've gotten addicted to flying around the world I don't have much time to focus on gambling. Keeping skills sharp is work, and there is only so much time. Maybe when I retire...
The problem is that I have limited amounts of PTO and since I've gotten addicted to flying around the world I don't have much time to focus on gambling. Keeping skills sharp is work, and there is only so much time. Maybe when I retire...
May 4, 2019, 11:16 am
#222
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
UA has still managed to screw something up on every trip I’ve taken in recent years, even if it’s something as minor as delaying a flight for an hour because they couldn’t find a flight attendant at their largest hub.
May 4, 2019, 11:30 am
#223
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Gary Leff sings praises of AS First Class today on his blog, View from the Wing.
Interesting, he notes that no PDB were served on both flights. Goes to great length to praise food offered on both flights.
Interesting, he notes that no PDB were served on both flights. Goes to great length to praise food offered on both flights.
May 4, 2019, 12:27 pm
#224
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
As for the rest of it, it sounds like a problem not with the whole crew, but with a single bad lead. That's unfortunate.
My impression is that that is the exception rather than the rule though. I've never had anything that bad on AS, but it is consistently subpar in my opinion. It's not about one good or bad experience; it's about the pattern.
My impression is that that is the exception rather than the rule though. I've never had anything that bad on AS, but it is consistently subpar in my opinion. It's not about one good or bad experience; it's about the pattern.
May 4, 2019, 12:45 pm
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
With all due respect, AS serving West Coast food to its West Coast customer base must seem revolutionary to a Texan. Yes, it's possible to have tasty food offerings without deep frying or using beef, breading or cheese.