Pre-lunch cocktail gone in intercontinental economy
 

I noted this last month on a day flight JFK-LHR and attributed it to a route peculiarity, but the same happened on today's LHR-JFK — drinks cart and hot meals were rolled up the alley at the same time.

It sounds very much like Parker's American, but it really annoys me. Passengers have 8 hours plus to kill in an economy seat on these flights — the FAs are being paid anyway — not offering passengers a pre-lunch cocktail and a tiny bag of pretzels seems pointlessly mean to me.

Experienced this as well JFK-LHR......apparently this is the norm now for this route

Is this a policy or Universal (and unadvertised) Change, or are these just further instances of inconsistency and skipping PDB Service for various genuine and spurious reasons, as it is in Business and sometimes Intercontinental First.

No, I saw plastic glasses of Prosecco being distributed in front before departure.

So maybe stealthy reduction of passenger benefits. Going for great, undoubtedly. :p

An AA FA posted that this is the norm for JFK-LHR to expedite the service.

to make matters worse on my flight....”turbulence” prevented service from starting for over an hour after take off. Guess what....there was no turbulence.

Took 100 a few weeks ago and I did get the above noted PDB but similar to what the OP states the dinner service was rushed and all on one tray.

Parker....

I flew BA AUS-LHR the other day and it is amazing the difference in use of seatbelt sign. It seemed we had barely taken off and were still ascending when the seatbelt sign went off. There were several points when things got rough and I was certain it would come back on, but it was only on briefly, then back off again. The, "turbulence," phenomenon isn't unique to AA, but seems all U.S.-based carriers do this.

Not only that, but before takeoff the FA's went around the cabin with a tray that had (real) glasses of water, oj, and sparkling wine...even in PE.

LUS used to serve Int’l PDB in glassware too....this merger is the combination of the worst of both airlines.

I don't think I've ever gotten a PDB on US in real glassware, unless you are thinking of pre-HP US ;)
I remember sitting in Envoy on a MUC-PHL flight once and a German guy near me commented on the PDB in a plastic cup, how LH would never have done that.

They ought to terminate ATC and the two qualified Command Captains for the incorrect prediction which, if correct, would have created a real mess in the middle of service or endangered passengers.

On evening flights, that would make sense, and many would even appreciate it. But to rush to serve lunch at 11 AM on the day flight — not so much.

Another change which seems to be permanent is that the removal of cheese from the filling of the hot pocket served as a second meal — not doubt "in response to feedback from our vegan customers".

That may be a bit drastic, but I would certainly prefer airlines who do not employ captains who are so terrified of getting sued over a freak accident that they force passengers to make the choice between a burst bladder, a soiled seat, or making their own uninformed judgment of which of the eight hours when the seat belt sign is on might be safer.

The seatbelt thing appears to be unique to US carriers for sure.

I fly CX on the short HKG/TPE route (and back) often. They manage to serve a full meal on the 75 minute flight and the seat belt sign goes off within 5 minutes of takeoff.

I also fly several short domestic routes (75 minutes or so) and often times the seat belt sign never goes off.

I don't get this.

It's a six-hour (plus) flight. It's not like anyone has anywhere to go. Why not provide a decent service to paying passengers?