Inflight Service Changes Due to COVID-19
Mar 1, 2020, 11:51 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan; Formerly SEA
Programs: AS MVPG | oneworld Sapphire
Posts: 578
SEA>IND yesterday (2/29), water poured from bottles into cups when water was requested during H20 service. IND>SEA today, FA carried a tray (no, a drawer) of already poured cups of water to hand out. No idea if that's related, or just an extremely efficiency-focused FA.
However, as to this in the blog post, "We’re enhancing aircraft cleaning between flights and will continue to evaluate our cleaning procedures. This is in addition to the regular cleanings between flights." Um, no. Don't make me laugh. Tonight I wiped down one of the most visibly filthy tray tables I have encountered in my 36 years of flying. I hope that was just dried spilled coffee I was wiping from the surfaces and nooks and crannies.
However, as to this in the blog post, "We’re enhancing aircraft cleaning between flights and will continue to evaluate our cleaning procedures. This is in addition to the regular cleanings between flights." Um, no. Don't make me laugh. Tonight I wiped down one of the most visibly filthy tray tables I have encountered in my 36 years of flying. I hope that was just dried spilled coffee I was wiping from the surfaces and nooks and crannies.
Mar 2, 2020, 11:37 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 659
Mar 3, 2020, 10:24 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: CONUS
Posts: 947
Laughable. Leave it to the woke idiots at Alaska to grossly overreact and then try and save $ at the same time. Hand sanitizer passed out instead of water? Who comes up with this comical crap? Reminds me of the swine flu and AS using it to remove pillows and blankets claiming they could kill you. Keep the comedy coming Alaska.
Mar 3, 2020, 11:34 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
Laughable. Leave it to the woke idiots at Alaska to grossly overreact and then try and save $ at the same time. Hand sanitizer passed out instead of water? Who comes up with this comical crap? Reminds me of the swine flu and AS using it to remove pillows and blankets claiming they could kill you. Keep the comedy coming Alaska.
Forward bookings in many markets are falling off a cliff.
Conferences, conventions and large gatherings are being cancelled.
Seems a stretch to call this a comedy.
Mar 4, 2020, 12:21 am
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
I was pleased on a recent CX flight to see hot towels replaced with sanitary wipes, and disappointed several days later to see JL had not yet made that switch. It's just good sense in the current environment.
Mar 4, 2020, 9:03 am
#27
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
Unclear what is the rationale for suspending warm towel service. The flight attendants use tongs to distribute them, so where exactly is the risk? You would think encouraging people to clean off their hands before eating would be beneficial. I’ve also seen people use them to whipe off the tray table if it’s dirty.
I don't know how they are handled before they get to me and I have trusted I am getting a clean hot cloth.
Passengers may or may not use them in a way that prevents getting their germs spread on the tables and armrests.
Then collecting used towels has to be done in a way that doesn't make other things less hygienic. Unfortunately, tongs aren't always used. Granted, I saw it just once when a FA collected used towels in her bare hands. Anything she handed to me afterward was from the communal germ pool.
And yes, the easy solution is to take away instead of add preventative measures. I do like the sanitizer offer. And I am in favor of a) cough masks for anyone that coughs. b) clorox wipes being available for passengers to use on their tables, seatbelt buckles, etc. and c) cask strength single malt scotch for sanitizing.
Mar 4, 2020, 9:26 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
Laughable. Leave it to the woke idiots at Alaska to grossly overreact and then try and save $ at the same time. Hand sanitizer passed out instead of water? Who comes up with this comical crap? Reminds me of the swine flu and AS using it to remove pillows and blankets claiming they could kill you. Keep the comedy coming Alaska.
No reason that pillows and blankets can't be a sanitary thing. That is, until they aren't handled properly, which can happen at many points along the supply and delivery chain.
I've been carrying hospital-type wipes in my bag for about a year or so. I did prior to this, and I will after this. I've used paper towels to touch bathroom surfaces for years. I will continue to do so. I use blankets and pillows and hot towels. I will continue to do so, when available.
And lest we forget, what may not affect an individual passenger may have a different effect on the crew.
There's a big difference between a healthy dose of paranoia and insanity (on either side of the argument).
Mar 4, 2020, 11:00 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
