milesandmoremiles

genotonda

Is there a written policy somewhere that states that specific individuals are not entitled to the free drinks? Serious question, not sarcasm. Do the little tablets actually tell them what fare the passenger is on?

safari ari

I feel if the tablet told the FAs who shouldn't and should get a free drink, this thread would be empty with people not getting charged. If they can't follow a policy that was pushed back, how are they going to decipher each individual's seat fare class.

milesandmoremiles

controller1

I'm not sure why those matter. If I'm in First, I'm still treated as other First Class passengers whether I've paid for the seat, have been upgraded or placed in the seat during IRROPS because it was the last seat available.

Why should it matter in MCE?

msr0013

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This sounds like they knew the policy and were choosing to make their own rules instead. It's the same as the PDB issues in FC. The FAs have a beef with the company and take it out on the passengers. I'm more and more convinced that the so-called 'toxic' AA culture is actually not from the top down, but starting with the front line employees.

DCP2016

Please oh please tell me you got the FA's name and reported them to AA.

Things like this make me more and more convinced to stay loyal with WN and DL, at least they don't pull this crap.

milesandmoremiles

DCP2016

Unless those were Non-rev's, the FA did the wrong thing and needs to be punished for not following company protocol.

Stop it already defending a company/person you are personally not related to/own.

jcatman

Based upon my experience with American FA's versus the FA's at United, making that claim against American FA's is easy to do with confidence.

controller1

And in your opinion when would the FA be doing the right thing by denying free drinks in MCE?

genotonda

Except status has no bearing on the drinks included for MCE seats.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

If a non-status passenger was on an economy basic fare, but assigned a seat in MCE at the airport (last seat left), they have not paid for those seats, nor have they entered into any arrangement with the airline (based on status) where they are expecting a free drink. Why should they get one?

But I do agree that at this stage, FAs not knowing the policy is unacceptable.

davie355

By this logic should OP-UP passengers not be served meals?

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

I think it's a bit more complex than you're trying to make out. There are other factors at play besides just the spare seat needed in the case of an op-up. There's status, and also the airlines want to maintain the appearance and amenity of their F offering (you don't necessarily want to create an environment for paying F customers where the person beside them is constantly told 'no sorry, you're an op-up you can't have anything).

But on a more general note - it's not uncommon for op-ups to have to go without catering. This happens in many parts of the world - sometimes it's even printed on the boarding pass ('catering not assured'). It's also not uncommon for airlines to op-up but refuse ground services such as lounge access.