First Class "Refreshments"
Jun 4, 2017, 1:22 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
I am the OP.
I agree you can find out by calling (that's what I did), but the agent didn't know what "R" meant and, when she called, all she was told was "Refreshments." She still didn't know what that meant. Further, as I clarified, I am annoyed that AA does not list the meal service in the app or the website.
Further, as I posted, even searching the unlimited and omniscient Flyertalk didn't help, since the word "refreshments" (until I created this post) didn't even exist in the history of the AA forum.
So, back to my point. It isn't a tragedy. But I do find it annoying that the meal types can't be found and, even when you find the meal type, AA itself doesn't have any information (by app, website OR by phone) to tell you what that means.
I agree you can find out by calling (that's what I did), but the agent didn't know what "R" meant and, when she called, all she was told was "Refreshments." She still didn't know what that meant. Further, as I clarified, I am annoyed that AA does not list the meal service in the app or the website.
Further, as I posted, even searching the unlimited and omniscient Flyertalk didn't help, since the word "refreshments" (until I created this post) didn't even exist in the history of the AA forum.
So, back to my point. It isn't a tragedy. But I do find it annoying that the meal types can't be found and, even when you find the meal type, AA itself doesn't have any information (by app, website OR by phone) to tell you what that means.
Certainly you have some constructive criticism that meal info could be made more readily available through more convenient channels. I think that gets lost in your post though.
Jun 4, 2017, 1:41 pm
#33
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
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Of all the things to be annoyed about, that should be close to last on the list. A call to AA clarified the type of service. Even if the details weren't explicitly stated, the contextual clues make it abundantly clear that full meal service would not be provided for your (only) three hour flight.
Certainly you have some constructive criticism that meal info could be made more readily available through more convenient channels. I think that gets lost in your post though.
Certainly you have some constructive criticism that meal info could be made more readily available through more convenient channels. I think that gets lost in your post though.
I must admit, I get particularly annoyed at companies that "remove" the ability to get information by computer instead of "adding" information/capability. And while I now know what "refreshments" means, the fact that AA couldn't even tell me what it meant, isn't helpful. (There have been times, in airline history, where a first class snack on AA was a perfectly acceptable meal).
Last edited by sbrower; Jun 4, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Jun 4, 2017, 1:48 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
I must admit, I get particularly annoyed at companies that "remove" the ability to get information by computer instead of "adding" information/capability. And while I know know what "refreshments" means, the fact that AA couldn't even tell me what it meant, isn't helpful.
Jun 4, 2017, 2:25 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2017
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Jun 4, 2017, 3:07 pm
#36
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Jun 4, 2017, 9:58 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
My recent experiences with "refreshment" flights are as follows:
All flights that operate after the meal window ends at 8:00PM (currently all premium transcon flights are exceptions, as are certain LUS transcontinental flights that operate from CLT and PHL), that are coded as such receive warm nuts and cookies.
Breakfast hour refreshment flights receive a plated continental breakfast consisting of a fruit bowl, coffee cake, and Greek yogurt, with China and silverware. Lunch and afternoon flights that either are below 900 miles or are between 900-1,300 miles but operate between 1:30-4:00pm, receive warm nuts with the first beverage service and a plated snack, with two options, often consisting of a charcuterie plate, fruit and cheese plate, hummus, or rarely a buffalo chicken salad, packaged crackers, also served on China and with silverware.
All flights that operate after the meal window ends at 8:00PM (currently all premium transcon flights are exceptions, as are certain LUS transcontinental flights that operate from CLT and PHL), that are coded as such receive warm nuts and cookies.
Breakfast hour refreshment flights receive a plated continental breakfast consisting of a fruit bowl, coffee cake, and Greek yogurt, with China and silverware. Lunch and afternoon flights that either are below 900 miles or are between 900-1,300 miles but operate between 1:30-4:00pm, receive warm nuts with the first beverage service and a plated snack, with two options, often consisting of a charcuterie plate, fruit and cheese plate, hummus, or rarely a buffalo chicken salad, packaged crackers, also served on China and with silverware.
Jun 5, 2017, 6:25 am
#38
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
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Thank you for that - I now know what to expect on a forthcoming flight. I have to say what BA serving a hot breakfast MAN-LHR has to do with the price of fish is beyond me.
Jun 7, 2017, 9:52 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: American Gold, United Silver
Posts: 1
Thanks for the thread
I hope Im not the only one, but I have had the same frustration with not being able to find out what a "refreshment" was. For those who are wondering why a meal matters, if you are going cross country, say ATL to SFO have a short layover in DFW you have a 6 hour flight with break only 35 mins to change planes. Not the end of the world, and I can ask to buy a meal from coach if I want, but it is annoying when paying for first not to get something more than a cookie on a 3.5 hour flight. So, once again, thanks to the creator and OP!
Jun 7, 2017, 11:22 am
#41
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Or at the very least they should offer decent cookies, not the disgusting "warm" ones they changed to after dumbo Parker took over.
Jun 7, 2017, 11:55 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: STL
Posts: 88
Virgin's policy was meals on all flights over two hours I believe. Very sensible. But we've seen what happens to airlines with such customer-friendly policies...
Jun 7, 2017, 2:12 pm
#43
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wouldn't this type of flight qualify for the plated hummus / antipasto plate option? I'm so confused as to when and on what flights that appears on.
Jun 7, 2017, 3:04 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
No, as it's outside of the meal windows. See my post above; plated snacks are only offered if the flight is between 5:00 am - 8:00 pm. DCA-DFW is long enough to qualify for a full meal at all times of the day. If it were shorter, such as DCA-MIA, and operated between 1:30-4:00 pm, it would get the plated snack, or too short to receive a meal at all, such as DCA-MCO, it would receive the plated snack options all day.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:52 pm
#45
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No, as it's outside of the meal windows. See my post above; plated snacks are only offered if the flight is between 5:00 am - 8:00 pm. DCA-DFW is long enough to qualify for a full meal at all times of the day. If it were shorter, such as DCA-MIA, and operated between 1:30-4:00 pm, it would get the plated snack, or too short to receive a meal at all, such as DCA-MCO, it would receive the plated snack options all day.