beverage policy in coach for "short" flights
Feb 24, 2019, 7:31 pm
#91
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 163
A long ago data point, CSG ATL, granted on ASA or DL, but in both cases, EMB-120 or DC-9, full beverage service, accomplished on the EMB-120 by 1 FA. Granted they took the order on the ground, and it was a sprint, but they served everyone. This is an 83 mile route, sometimes under 20 minutes in the air.
Second the MD-80 full service on ORD-DTW, but the CRJ recently has repeatedly been, due to the short flight no service.
Second the MD-80 full service on ORD-DTW, but the CRJ recently has repeatedly been, due to the short flight no service.
Feb 24, 2019, 7:37 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: DFW EGE AUS
Programs: AA EXP | UA PLT
Posts: 75
It's water/OJ on DFW-AUS in Y, and it has been for a long while. J gets full service plus the snack tray.
On occasion I'm on this route late on Friday nights, and as an EXP I've been shot down with extreme prejudice when trying to get a complimentary alcoholic beverage in Y. The most typical response is "Y is not catered". I've flown the route over 100 times since the last "thank you for being an EXP member" comment from an FA. I don't particularly care, but it's interesting that the abbreviated beverage service seems to bleed over into other aspects of the experience.
On occasion I'm on this route late on Friday nights, and as an EXP I've been shot down with extreme prejudice when trying to get a complimentary alcoholic beverage in Y. The most typical response is "Y is not catered". I've flown the route over 100 times since the last "thank you for being an EXP member" comment from an FA. I don't particularly care, but it's interesting that the abbreviated beverage service seems to bleed over into other aspects of the experience.
Feb 24, 2019, 11:01 pm
#93
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
It's water/OJ on DFW-AUS in Y, and it has been for a long while. J gets full service plus the snack tray.
On occasion I'm on this route late on Friday nights, and as an EXP I've been shot down with extreme prejudice when trying to get a complimentary alcoholic beverage in Y. The most typical response is "Y is not catered". I've flown the route over 100 times since the last "thank you for being an EXP member" comment from an FA. I don't particularly care, but it's interesting that the abbreviated beverage service seems to bleed over into other aspects of the experience.
On occasion I'm on this route late on Friday nights, and as an EXP I've been shot down with extreme prejudice when trying to get a complimentary alcoholic beverage in Y. The most typical response is "Y is not catered". I've flown the route over 100 times since the last "thank you for being an EXP member" comment from an FA. I don't particularly care, but it's interesting that the abbreviated beverage service seems to bleed over into other aspects of the experience.
Feb 25, 2019, 8:34 am
#94
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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For short flights, I wouldn't even mind if they did what I have experienced on RJA between Amman and Tel Aviv (68 miles according to gcmap.com)
You select a juice box upon boarding.......
One interesting award -
LAS-LAX (overnight stop to visit daughter)-RDU (overnight stop to visit sister)-LHR-AMM-TLV (No available seats on LHR-TLV)
After a free shower at BA in LHR, I didn't feel like spending the $15 RJA charges for a shower at their AMM lounge
You select a juice box upon boarding.......
One interesting award -
LAS-LAX (overnight stop to visit daughter)-RDU (overnight stop to visit sister)-LHR-AMM-TLV (No available seats on LHR-TLV)
After a free shower at BA in LHR, I didn't feel like spending the $15 RJA charges for a shower at their AMM lounge
Feb 25, 2019, 8:57 am
#95
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: DFW EGE AUS
Programs: AA EXP | UA PLT
Posts: 75
Feb 25, 2019, 9:36 am
#96
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Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
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Feb 25, 2019, 9:59 am
#97
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
Thanks to those who commented. On the one hand, I agree it's a short flight and it can be a struggle to get through all of Main Cabin in the allotted time. However, on the other hand, they used to do it - both LAS - LAX, and LAS - PHX. Likewise, when in the UK, BA would manage it on very sort sectors such as LHR - MAN, and you'd often see a single FA manage a full beverage run on flights such as LAX - FAT etc. If the 250 mile threshold for a full beverage service can't be met then AA needs to stop advertising this as part of the in-flight service and state categorically what it will be instead. I will follow-up in due course once I have had a reply from Customer Relations.
Feb 25, 2019, 10:13 am
#98
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,488
As recently as 2 years ago, I've had full beverage service on AUS-DFW, on A321's. Sometime last year they started doing the, "express," service, or whatever they call it.
There were similar growing pains with beverage service after the HP-US merger. Typically if the flight had an HP crew they did the full service, while one time I distinctly being on an A321 PHX-LAS, very light load, and the US crew did the announcement, "due to the short duration of the flight..."
Feb 25, 2019, 10:17 am
#99
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Feb 25, 2019, 10:47 am
#100
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Yep....FA's on BOS-JFK-BOS used to do this: First Class cart service and then went back to YC with cart while the YC cart started from the back until they met in the middle. This is all laziness in the vein of "safety" and "turbulence" and AA is going along with it to appease the FAs.
Feb 25, 2019, 11:09 am
#101
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Posts: 13,913
My experience with beverage service on short flights in my near 20 years flying with AA (and LAA) has been all over the map. It seems to have actually gotten better albeit beverage service is now a small bottle of water for Y. That's ok for me, if I really need a drink I'll get one in the AC and sans AC I'll buy one in the airport. Since I'm cheap and not a drunk I never pay airport prices for a drink when there is no AC. Of course if I'm F then its a different story. However, I remember pre merger F on a short flight like MIA/TPA/MCO or DFW/AUS often saw no service in the air.
Feb 28, 2019, 3:01 pm
#102
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A long ago data point, CSG ATL, granted on ASA or DL, but in both cases, EMB-120 or DC-9, full beverage service, accomplished on the EMB-120 by 1 FA. Granted they took the order on the ground, and it was a sprint, but they served everyone. This is an 83 mile route, sometimes under 20 minutes in the air.
Feb 28, 2019, 3:12 pm
#103
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,558
Please remember you can only serve what you’re catered with. On those express beverage services they are catered with carts full of mini water bottles and OJ. Sometimes they will have a skeleton cart with a few sodas on them but for the majority of them it’s just the express service with enough catered for the round trip. 😊
Feb 28, 2019, 3:25 pm
#104
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,028
Please remember you can only serve what you’re catered with. On those express beverage services they are catered with carts full of mini water bottles and OJ. Sometimes they will have a skeleton cart with a few sodas on them but for the majority of them it’s just the express service with enough catered for the round trip. 😊
