FAs "Not allowed" to serve canned drinks on 1 hr flights?
 

Yesterday I was flying PHL-ILM on Piedmont. FA went through the aisle with the cart that was fully stocked but only offered water & OJ. When she got to me, I asked for a Disaronno and Diet Coke. She said that they are "not allowed to serve anything other than water and orange juice on flights that are under 1 hour". I asked even as an ExPlat if I could just get a soda can since the full cart was there but she again refused. I took the water and also asked for the can of Pringles. She snidely repeated that they can only serve water and OJ.

I've flown this route many times and never been offered only water & OJ. Sure, when there's turbulence, they don't offer anything, which is expected. But nothing of the sort yesterday.

And if I wanted to get into semantics, the flight was scheduled for 1:39 and scheduled for 1:04 of air time, so it wasn't even <1:00 as she claimed.

Anyone ever heard anything like this before or just a rude/lazy FA?

I've flown many AA short hops and never heard this. I'd guess it's a Piedmont or FA issue. I'd complain.

Never heard of such. Don't they still print the snack rules on the AAmericanWay magazine or in the insert that its usually on the back seat pocket that has the magazine, safety insert, and the like?

Likely referencing this:

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....fective-june-1

On my last few short hops, I just rang the call button, and the FA begrudgingly brought me a drink.

Yep. Posted as "AAdvantage Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey members: Enjoy a complimentary snack or fresh meal with a standard alcoholic beverage when traveling in the Main Cabin. Simply present your membership card or boarding pass."


Unfortunately, that memo shows 250 mile as the cutoff. PHL-ILM is 413

Fairly routine on micro-hops, especially where there is turbulence and thus the window for service is too short for a full service, to only offer a pre-poured limited service.

But, I have never been denied anything I've asked for. Although recently told that coffee on a 7:30 AM flight was instant from a packet with "hot" (lukewarm) water poured from a carafe.

If it irks you, send a note to AA with the flight number. Make certain that you clarify that this was not a safety-related issue relating to something such as turbulence.

Why do american airliners come up with the stupid attitudes and rules....just give the man a drink. He is paying for the flight anyways.

Geez.....

Wow, totally wrong. I would definitely write in. This FA needs retraining.

You really need to write in on this one. This is either a new policy on me or laziness on the FA.

Correct. Most definitely does not apply to this flight, and the FA invoked a phony rule in this instance.

Also note, the memo that is linked to above it for mainline flights under that distance in any case.

FA was being lazy. I've had the same issue on ORD-TOL flights. Either the FA says no service or water only or, in one case, decides on which specific sodas will be available (coke, diet coke, sprite). However, even when there is no cart service the FA usually asks me as an EXP whether I'd like anything.

Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

Done and done.

please let us know the outcome.

sounds like pure and utter laziness.

It's now the same on LAS - LAX and vice versa and has been for a few weeks.

The drinks run in coach is now limited to a small bottle of water (Dasani) and orange juice although I was able to get coffee on Wednesday's flight to LAX and a glass of wine on the return in the evening.

On the outbound I asked why there was no longer a full beverage service and was given the following three explanations:

1. No one else on the LAS - LAX route offers anything more than water and juice and AA will match their competitors' offerings (which is BS as I know others do)

2. Health & Safety (which I get if there's turbulence, but past experience has shown that turbulence never impacts the First cabin, only coach)

3. It's a bit of a hustle to get the service completed in the allocated time (which I do also get if it's a busy flight - but AA always managed it in the past).

So I was then told to write to "the company" as the FA was clearly annoyed with me blowing her arguments out of the water and she didn't make the rules.