FA Charging For Liquor/Drinks in MCE
#91
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SPG/Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,193
I was in the PE cabin on LAX-LHR as an MCE and the FA told me it was unlimited beer/wine but only 1 spirit. She initially tried to charge me too and when I pointed out that my whiskey should be free and she was like "oh what row are you in?" The PE cabin is its own mini-cabin!
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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I was in the PE cabin on LAX-LHR as an MCE and the FA told me it was unlimited beer/wine but only 1 spirit. She initially tried to charge me too and when I pointed out that my whiskey should be free and she was like "oh what row are you in?" The PE cabin is its own mini-cabin!
#93
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SPG/Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,193
LAX-LHR this month has the new PE seats on the 777 but when I bought them, they were still sold as MCE, and treated as MCE.
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,775
No, that is not the type of employee you want. When a business advertises some kind of promo and the employee ignores it, customers immediately think "bait and switch!". Now that is a solid way to run a business into the ground. No promos at all would be far better.
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
I think most of us appreciate that with around 25,000 cabin crew there might be some teething problems on the first day something is introduced? Bait and switch would be the last thing on my mind.
#98
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I hope you do not mind if there are a few crashes when there is a new airplane, because there are 25,000 cabin crew and there might be some teething problems.
#99
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,212
How many times has each of us ignored or loosely read a memo or e-mail at work? I admit I read about 1 out of every 10 e-mails from "HR" or "corporate". For policy changes like this, it's incumbent on all FAs to read and understand the change. We all know there is always someone that doesn't bother to read something.
If it's an issue that impacts safety, there is typically a much higher level of training and rigor around the change. This was likely an e-mail/memo that my guess is a chunk of FAs didn't bother to read or fully understand on the first read.
If it's an issue that impacts safety, there is typically a much higher level of training and rigor around the change. This was likely an e-mail/memo that my guess is a chunk of FAs didn't bother to read or fully understand on the first read.
#100
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
PHX-DEN on the return two things happened. First I was asked for my ID which I have never gotten in all my years of flying. My aging cream must be really working. And then the FA tried to charge me for a double, but at the single price, which I'm confused across the board because she selected my seat on the pad which should have my info? I reminded her about the MCE initiative and she immediately went, "oh ya, right" told her other FA and continued on.
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
My my first thought is not that this is the airline and staff deliberately engaging in bait and switch. My first reaction is that it’s an oversight. And while that could be laziness, it could also be for one of a dozen very valid reasons.
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,775
FTers are much less likely than the general population to scream "bait and switch" because we take far more flights than the average person and have had plenty of interactions with employees where we know the policy better than they do.
Plenty of the passengers sitting in MCE do not have this experience, get charged for a drink despite having paid extra for the seat and saw the message "free drinks" on the screen, so naturally many will think "bait and switch".
Plenty of the passengers sitting in MCE do not have this experience, get charged for a drink despite having paid extra for the seat and saw the message "free drinks" on the screen, so naturally many will think "bait and switch".
#103
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
New Policy Reminder
In order to ensure the crew is aware of and following the new MCE policy on beverage service, why not have Coca-Cola pay for new napkins which say "Sitting in MCE? Drinks are on the house".
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Initially when EXPs got free drink(s) and snack item (from posts in other threads) it took some time before FAs learned the rules. Now this perk is printed in a card found in every seat pocket, can't AA update ALL these in American Way?
#105
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: PBI/MIA
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Skymiles, Mileage Plus
Posts: 397
I get the sense they're happy not to advertise it. Friday night, I ordered my Woodford and the FA asked the other people in my row what they wanted. She sure didn't volunteer that alcohol was free; I've yet to hear it announced. For now, they appear to be giving it to those who ask.