Pizza on Diverted Flight
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Irvine, CA and Italy
Programs: AA EXP 2.6MM, UA 1K GS 1.6MM
Posts: 93
Pizza on Diverted Flight
In the DFW weather thread I reported on 20+ pizzas being brought on-board when AA1740 SNA-DFW was diverted to ABI. I have never experienced this before and am wondering how this happened. Obviously we were going to be on the ground for quite some time, but who took the initiative to order these and who plunked down their credit card to pay for them?? I will say that many people around me commented that this was unusual, but I would say it really helped the mood that AA (or pilot?) took this initiative. Also, it was much more appreciated than just opening up the drinks cart. Anyone have thoughts on whether this was corporately sanctioned or the action of a "rogue" crew.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
In the DFW weather thread I reported on 20+ pizzas being brought on-board when AA1740 SNA-DFW was diverted to ABI. I have never experienced this before and am wondering how this happened. Obviously we were going to be on the ground for quite some time, but who took the initiative to order these and who plunked down their credit card to pay for them?? I will say that many people around me commented that this was unusual, but I would say it really helped the mood that AA (or pilot?) took this initiative. Also, it was much more appreciated than just opening up the drinks cart. Anyone have thoughts on whether this was corporately sanctioned or the action of a "rogue" crew.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
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Posts: 2,848
What address do you give Pizza Hut to deliver to the plane? And how long did it take to get them through the scanners?
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
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Posts: 62
Had a passengr do this for a flight delayed 5 hours at ORD a few years ago. It was a half empty flight, but the FAs gave him free drinks all the way to MIA. Pizza hut stall at concourse H-K food court provided the pizzas.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Just a WAG, but I'd bet that the Captain did it.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
It would be nice if it was corporate...it would show that someone, somewhere, has their head screwed on straight.
Corporations will spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to buy our loyalty and good will, when in the end, they could accomplish the same end with a little human decency and some cheap pizza.
"Penny-Wise, Pound-Foolish" is the motto of many American corporations.
Corporations will spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to buy our loyalty and good will, when in the end, they could accomplish the same end with a little human decency and some cheap pizza.
"Penny-Wise, Pound-Foolish" is the motto of many American corporations.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Texas
Programs: AA PLT, AA 1MM, Marriott GLD
Posts: 473
It's unusual on AA; I have never seen such a thing on one of their flights.
However on some others (Southwest for example), ordering pizza for delayed pax is fairly common.
I wouldn't mind seeing it more often; while I don't expect to be fed if there is a delay or diversion, it's certainly a nice gesture and a pretty decent cost/benefit for the goodwill created. Just my opinion, YMMV.
However on some others (Southwest for example), ordering pizza for delayed pax is fairly common.
I wouldn't mind seeing it more often; while I don't expect to be fed if there is a delay or diversion, it's certainly a nice gesture and a pretty decent cost/benefit for the goodwill created. Just my opinion, YMMV.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
I agree with others that this is something AA should do. The little gesture can mean so much to passengers, and does show them that the airline cares about its customers. Plus, pizza is cheap.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: GRR
Programs: Diamond medallion, HHonors Diamond,
Posts: 104
I'm guessing it was pax or crew. AA is in a no win. If they get some positive pub for ordering pizza for 1 delayed bird, the others who were delayed on other flights who didn't get pizza would be pissed. I can't see a major corporation willing to take the negative hit.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
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I did it for the flight attendants once when LAX-LIH was diverted to SFO for mechanical. We were over two hours out, another 20 minutes and the Big Island would have been the closest landfall. We were in SFO for about 2 hours.
But that was only 4 mini - pizzas.
But that was only 4 mini - pizzas.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 4
I was on a flight from ICT to DFW recently that was diverted to AUS because of weather in DFW. After we landed and parked away from the gate the Captain announced that he was ordering Gatti's Pizza for everybody. About 1.5 hours later the pizza showed up delivered by the ground staff and we all got two small slices of cheese pizza.
In my opinion it was well worth whatever AA had to satisfy a plane full of hungry tired passengers.
In my opinion it was well worth whatever AA had to satisfy a plane full of hungry tired passengers.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 838
A few years ago, I was on an Eagle flight from ORD - CLE and we had a several hour weather related delay and were boarded way too early and had to sit on the plane but still at the gate.
At one point, the captain left the cockpit and walked out of the plane and I was annoyed that he left without telling us anything. I was in seat 1A. He returned 20 minutes later with 50 McDonalds bags. He had some help carrying them back and he handed the bags to me and a few others in the first couple of rows and asked that we each grab one bag and send the rest back.
It was a very classy move that completely relieved the tension of the day. I will never forget that moment.
At one point, the captain left the cockpit and walked out of the plane and I was annoyed that he left without telling us anything. I was in seat 1A. He returned 20 minutes later with 50 McDonalds bags. He had some help carrying them back and he handed the bags to me and a few others in the first couple of rows and asked that we each grab one bag and send the rest back.
It was a very classy move that completely relieved the tension of the day. I will never forget that moment.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
Programs: "But, I'm a GLOBALIST guest...."
Posts: 2,848
He returned 20 minutes later with 50 McDonalds bags. He had some help carrying them back and he handed the bags to me and a few others in the first couple of rows and asked that we each grab one bag and send the rest back.
It was a very classy move that completely relieved the tension of the day. I will never forget that moment.
It was a very classy move that completely relieved the tension of the day. I will never forget that moment.