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)
Aug 12, 2019, 5:37 am
#1261
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 298
8/9 AA 1618 MIA - ATL full PDB, not by tray but you could asked for all it seems, nice flight but apparently this one still falls under the "snack basket only" distance
Aug 12, 2019, 5:54 am
#1262
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
8/9 DCA-PVD Not only no PDB offered, but when a glass of water was requested it was denied (not enough time) just after the pilot had announced that there would be a lengthy delay (which turned out to be an hour). When the FA realized that there would be a delay out came cups of water.
8/11 PVD-DCA Full PDB was offered without any prompting. My appreciation for the crew was somewhat offset by a lengthy read of the Aviator card story (by the other FA), including all the details about the special 60K offer and how the miles would arrive in your account. On the flight up (with Mr. No PDB for you) we were spared the lengthy version of the ad.
8/11 PVD-DCA Full PDB was offered without any prompting. My appreciation for the crew was somewhat offset by a lengthy read of the Aviator card story (by the other FA), including all the details about the special 60K offer and how the miles would arrive in your account. On the flight up (with Mr. No PDB for you) we were spared the lengthy version of the ad.
Aug 12, 2019, 9:49 am
#1263
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
LGA-DTW
E175 (Republic)
Full PDB offered very quickly. Nice change from my last 3 Delta mainline flights with no PDB whatsoever.
DTW-LGA
E175 (Republic)
Delayed about an hour and still full PDB offered very quickly. AA/DL could learn a few things from their connection carrier FA’s!
E175 (Republic)
Full PDB offered very quickly. Nice change from my last 3 Delta mainline flights with no PDB whatsoever.
DTW-LGA
E175 (Republic)
Delayed about an hour and still full PDB offered very quickly. AA/DL could learn a few things from their connection carrier FA’s!
Last edited by AANYC1981; Aug 14, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Aug 12, 2019, 10:37 am
#1264
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,922
Aug 13, 2019, 3:24 pm
#1265
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
First two AA flights in more than a year.
AA260 MCO-MIA: PDB of Water or OJ from a tray after boarding had completed. IMO, this doesn't count as a PDB. Short flight and 'meh' service once in the air. One cabin crew was wearing a US Airways shirt which I found a bit odd and probably not in line with current policy.
AA: Leaving off the flight number so as to not get anyone in trouble. This was a flight departing MIA on an aircraft which boarded through 2L. No PDB. Left the gate then delayed for 30 minutes or so due to a thunderstorm. At this point an open bar beverage service was offered. Crew even let me keep mine for the takeoff. This one is pretty conflicting to me because the crew could have easily offered a beverage if they had wanted to but chose not to until sitting around on the ground for another 30 minutes. Still not really a PDB IMO because without the delay no one would have gotten anything.
Overall, just confusing and inconsistent. Which I suppose is in line with expectations on AA.
AA260 MCO-MIA: PDB of Water or OJ from a tray after boarding had completed. IMO, this doesn't count as a PDB. Short flight and 'meh' service once in the air. One cabin crew was wearing a US Airways shirt which I found a bit odd and probably not in line with current policy.
AA: Leaving off the flight number so as to not get anyone in trouble. This was a flight departing MIA on an aircraft which boarded through 2L. No PDB. Left the gate then delayed for 30 minutes or so due to a thunderstorm. At this point an open bar beverage service was offered. Crew even let me keep mine for the takeoff. This one is pretty conflicting to me because the crew could have easily offered a beverage if they had wanted to but chose not to until sitting around on the ground for another 30 minutes. Still not really a PDB IMO because without the delay no one would have gotten anything.
Overall, just confusing and inconsistent. Which I suppose is in line with expectations on AA.
Aug 15, 2019, 12:45 am
#1266
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 832
This week:
LAX-SJC no PDB. Unusual for this route, but service otherwise was ok
SJC-LAX PDB, great service
LAX-SJC no PDB. Unusual for this route, but service otherwise was ok
SJC-LAX PDB, great service
Aug 15, 2019, 1:53 am
#1267
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Programs: DL, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 204
Yesterday STS > LAX, not only did they offer full PDF to F, they offered it to the full plane! We were a little late leaving and STS is an ...interesting airport... but I thought it was really cool that they were offering PDB to the whole plane.
Aug 15, 2019, 7:57 am
#1268
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold
Posts: 1,887
Leaving STS I'd probably get a rock. (Whoever gets that reference...)
Aug 15, 2019, 8:19 am
#1269
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 50
ORD-RDU, Full PDB. Great service from the FA. She made multiple checks on us and frequently refilled glasses.
Aug 19, 2019, 6:47 am
#1270
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,922
DCA-BNA 8/16 BNA-DCA 8/18 Full PDB in both directions, frequent refills and a good time was had by all.
Aug 19, 2019, 4:05 pm
#1271
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
8/18 AA1199 - MIA-JFK
PDB tray of OJ and Water. Asked for a Sam... got a cup of Sam.
The pilot told us AA needed the gate so we would taxi to a spot and sit for 40 minutes. We did... nothing.
The pilot told us later it would be another 30 minutes... nothing.
The in-flight crew was lazy, ornery and just incompetent. (forgot preorders, no asking for refills.) Really a crew that was highly overpaid!
PDB tray of OJ and Water. Asked for a Sam... got a cup of Sam.
The pilot told us AA needed the gate so we would taxi to a spot and sit for 40 minutes. We did... nothing.
The pilot told us later it would be another 30 minutes... nothing.
The in-flight crew was lazy, ornery and just incompetent. (forgot preorders, no asking for refills.) Really a crew that was highly overpaid!
Aug 19, 2019, 5:35 pm
#1272
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
YYZ-DFW OLD Boeing 737-800 - PDB of choice (minus any alcoholic drinks). Disappointed, though I understand local liquor laws if they indeed apply here, I begrudgingly hydrated myself with water. 
Aug 20, 2019, 10:10 am
#1273
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Phoenix
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 51
8/15 AA747 PHX-MCI Airbus319 - Full PDB of choice and excellent service in-flight
8/18 AA444 MCI-PHX Airbus319 - Full PDB of choice and excellent service in-flight
8/18 AA444 MCI-PHX Airbus319 - Full PDB of choice and excellent service in-flight
Aug 27, 2019, 3:15 pm
#1274
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
8/26 AA 508 RDU-CLT A-320: Full PDB
Aug 27, 2019, 5:39 pm
#1275
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
DFW-CUN - 8/21 - BSI Boeing 737-800 - PDB of choice!