Jan 2, 2016, 5:51 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA Predeparture Beverages: When, What and Why not?
NOTE: Due to PDB service cancellation, this thread will rest until PDB resumption.
Older posts can be read in the archived thread here.NOTE: Due to PDB service cancellation, this thread will rest until PDB resumption.
Post by brc757rr, July 2015:
Originally Posted by AA policy regarding PDB
Pre-departure beverages are expected to be offered on all flights. On domestic flights, customers should be offered a beverage of choice. On international flights with bonded liquor, we offer a choice of orange juice, water, sparkling water, sparkling wine and mimosas and will fulfill requests for non alcoholic beverages of choice provided that supplies can be obtained without opening bonded carts and carriers. If pre-departure beverages cannot be served because of operational reasons, flight attendants are expected to apologize to customers and advise that beverages will be served as soon as possible after take off.
I was able to receive the exact language of the company policy from American Airlines today via Twitter regarding PDB's. I was actually quite impressed they followed up with me regarding a conversation that started a few days ago. I also received a nice note from Hector Adler who I also reached out to who said that pre-departure services were discussed at great length at a meeting late last week. Let's hope things begin to improve and if not we continue to press the FA's to follow company policy.
...
So there you have it.
...
So there you have it.
Originally Posted by RogerD408
Did a little searching on Twitter. A good hashtag could be just #PDBServed and the condition listed before that. So, something like:
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG No #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Full #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Limited #PDBServed
This allows all PDB service to be posted, good, bad, and otherwise. This should show AA that we feel this is a desired service. Maybe if someone gets energetic, a summary post could be done, maybe weekly?
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG No #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Full #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Limited #PDBServed
This allows all PDB service to be posted, good, bad, and otherwise. This should show AA that we feel this is a desired service. Maybe if someone gets energetic, a summary post could be done, maybe weekly?
Predeparture Drinks / Beverage (PDB) - When, What and Why Not? (consolidated)
Apr 11, 2018, 1:27 pm
#496
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
I’m baffled by this thread and why it’s acceptable to not have a PDB if it standard policy for the AA FA to provide it?
Apr 11, 2018, 3:06 pm
#497
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
4/11
DEN-DFW - LAA Boeing 737-800 w/ PTV's - PDB of choice from the very friendly FA! ^
DFW-CLT - LAA OLD Boeing 737-800 - PDB of choice^
CLT-ATL - LUS A319 - PDB of choice ^
ATL-MIA - OLD LAA Boeing 737-800 subbed for originally scheduled A319, which meant I got a battlefield upgrade!!! PDB of OJ, Apple Juice, or water offered from the tray.
DEN-DFW - LAA Boeing 737-800 w/ PTV's - PDB of choice from the very friendly FA! ^
DFW-CLT - LAA OLD Boeing 737-800 - PDB of choice^
CLT-ATL - LUS A319 - PDB of choice ^
ATL-MIA - OLD LAA Boeing 737-800 subbed for originally scheduled A319, which meant I got a battlefield upgrade!!! PDB of OJ, Apple Juice, or water offered from the tray.
Apr 11, 2018, 3:08 pm
#498
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
2) AA management has no means to monitor what an FA does on board.
3) FA unions don't get dinged if the FA does not perform.
4) AA flyers don't have anywhere to complain that will get to AA management.
Posting here is just blowing off steam as AA does not appear to be present. Early on it was suggested to do specifically formatted Tweets so simple searches can result in some decent metrics but that didn't happen. Until someone can prove it didn't happen on over 86% of the flights numbering over a thousand (big hard numbers), I wouldn't expect anything to happen any time soon, unless they decide to do away with advertising the benefit (since it's rarely delivered now).
Apr 11, 2018, 4:37 pm
#499
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
1) FT posts do not influence AA management. I even doubt they read any of it.
2) AA management has no means to monitor what an FA does on board.
3) FA unions don't get dinged if the FA does not perform.
4) AA flyers don't have anywhere to complain that will get to AA management.
Posting here is just blowing off steam as AA does not appear to be present. Early on it was suggested to do specifically formatted Tweets so simple searches can result in some decent metrics but that didn't happen. Until someone can prove it didn't happen on over 86% of the flights numbering over a thousand (big hard numbers), I wouldn't expect anything to happen any time soon, unless they decide to do away with advertising the benefit (since it's rarely delivered now).
2) AA management has no means to monitor what an FA does on board.
3) FA unions don't get dinged if the FA does not perform.
4) AA flyers don't have anywhere to complain that will get to AA management.
Posting here is just blowing off steam as AA does not appear to be present. Early on it was suggested to do specifically formatted Tweets so simple searches can result in some decent metrics but that didn't happen. Until someone can prove it didn't happen on over 86% of the flights numbering over a thousand (big hard numbers), I wouldn't expect anything to happen any time soon, unless they decide to do away with advertising the benefit (since it's rarely delivered now).
Apr 11, 2018, 5:28 pm
#500
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Now that I've relocated to an outstation primarily serviced by Envoy and ExpressJet, my PDB percentage is just about at 100%. At least there's that benefit.
I never could determine AA's reasoning in sending out post-flight surverys. I seem to get a survey from BA after every single trip I fly. However, AA rarely sends me one, even after a paid F/J flight. I think I got 1 survey in total for 2017, which was my busiest year with AA yet.
I never could determine AA's reasoning in sending out post-flight surverys. I seem to get a survey from BA after every single trip I fly. However, AA rarely sends me one, even after a paid F/J flight. I think I got 1 survey in total for 2017, which was my busiest year with AA yet.
Apr 12, 2018, 2:02 pm
#501
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 1
No PDB
No offer of any kind on AA 1426 PIT to DFW today-they we’re too busy complaining to each other about customers...
This service is becoming a thing of the past on AA...
This service is becoming a thing of the past on AA...
Apr 12, 2018, 3:48 pm
#502
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
MIA-DEN - LAA A321 (Sharklets) - PDB of choice offered only after 30 minute maintenance delay was announced.
Apr 12, 2018, 9:46 pm
#503
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Now that I've relocated to an outstation primarily serviced by Envoy and ExpressJet, my PDB percentage is just about at 100%. At least there's that benefit.
I never could determine AA's reasoning in sending out post-flight surverys. I seem to get a survey from BA after every single trip I fly. However, AA rarely sends me one, even after a paid F/J flight. I think I got 1 survey in total for 2017, which was my busiest year with AA yet.
I never could determine AA's reasoning in sending out post-flight surverys. I seem to get a survey from BA after every single trip I fly. However, AA rarely sends me one, even after a paid F/J flight. I think I got 1 survey in total for 2017, which was my busiest year with AA yet.
Take the time to send a comment/compliment/complaint via the AA website after your flight and succinctly describe your experience. Then, report back to this Thread as to what kind of response you get. THEN we can see and evaluate the quality of AA's responses.
Apr 13, 2018, 7:36 pm
#504
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 480
4/9 PHL-PHX: Full PDB
4/10 PHX-DFW: Full PDB
4/11 DFW to PHL: Full PDB with refills offered
Since the merger, on a whole, the LUS crews are heads and shoulders above their LAA counterparts.
4/10 PHX-DFW: Full PDB
4/11 DFW to PHL: Full PDB with refills offered
Since the merger, on a whole, the LUS crews are heads and shoulders above their LAA counterparts.
Apr 13, 2018, 9:16 pm
#505
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Fly LAA routes for the equipment.
Exceptions possible.
Apr 13, 2018, 9:22 pm
#506
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Agree fully on the LAA routes for equipment, I purposefully avoid LUS routes on their crap 321 aircraft. But, and fully ack I may have had a run of good luck of late, this calendar year all of my LAA flights have had full PDBs and decent/good service (knocks wood/throws rice/pics up penny). I will take the chance on missing out on a pre-flight cocktail, which again IME happens less frequently now than a year ago, to ensure I get power on my flight and dont have the crap F seats on the LUS planes.
Apr 13, 2018, 9:33 pm
#507
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
I never could determine AA's reasoning in sending out post-flight surverys. I seem to get a survey from BA after every single trip I fly. However, AA rarely sends me one, even after a paid F/J flight. I think I got 1 survey in total for 2017, which was my busiest year with AA yet.
Apr 13, 2018, 10:04 pm
#508
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
My PDB record with United Airlines is 100%. My PDB record with AA is significantly less than that.
Last edited by jcatman; Apr 14, 2018 at 5:41 am
Apr 13, 2018, 10:39 pm
#509
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
The funny thing is for a long time ( 2002-2012ish IIRC) UA had a serious PDB problem, the vast majority of flights had the "OJ and Water tray" and requests for anything else were met with "we'll get you that after takeoff" - I did 1MM BIS between that period of time so I know it well and I'm sure there's some archived FT threads on the subject. To your point on recent activity, after not stepping foot on a UA plane for nearly 3 years I ended up taking a handful of flights last year and 3 this year (nonstop and reasonable F fares trumped miles/eqm on connecting AA flights plus one IRROPS at ORD where AA rebooked me on UA) and 100% of those flights had PDB of choice, same with all (~15) my DL flights in the past 12 months. While I don't get as frequent surveys on AA as I do on DL (100%) or UA (I'd rekon about 75%) I do think every AA survey has asked about PDBs.
Apr 15, 2018, 11:25 am
#510
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
Boozeless in MO?
Well this is pretty odd. Flying out of COU in first, as I’ve done dozens of times. FA takes drink orders, then comes back and says “really sorry, just remembered I can’t serve alcohol on the ground in Missouri.” I pointed out I’ve been served booze before departure at COU, STL, MCI and SGF many times. She said she would check, then came back and showed me the rulebook that does in fact have a list of states not to serve on the ground, which included MO.
Generally speaking we have some of the laxest liquor laws in the nation (something about Annheiser-Busch based in STL seems to have an effect here) so this seems pretty weird.
Generally speaking we have some of the laxest liquor laws in the nation (something about Annheiser-Busch based in STL seems to have an effect here) so this seems pretty weird.