FA Charging For Liquor/Drinks in MCE
Jun 26, 2018, 9:51 am
#121
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
So let me get this straight, Delta can handle the concept of free drinks in Comfort + and to elites and charge regular economy passengers but American can't?
While there are definitely lazy FA's that are at fault here, this also lies on management all the way to the top, as Doug Parker can't even answer questions on his own product. Maybe he's never taken a flight in economy before?
While there are definitely lazy FA's that are at fault here, this also lies on management all the way to the top, as Doug Parker can't even answer questions on his own product. Maybe he's never taken a flight in economy before?
Jun 26, 2018, 10:44 am
#122
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
In reading Gary Leff's article on the topic today:
https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea...h-free-drinks/
It appears FA's are frustrated over implementation of the new policy, and AA management has no idea what is actually occurring on the aircraft.
That sounds familiar.
https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea...h-free-drinks/
It appears FA's are frustrated over implementation of the new policy, and AA management has no idea what is actually occurring on the aircraft.
That sounds familiar.
Jun 26, 2018, 11:17 am
#123
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
Yikes, this isn't a hard thing to remember ("MCE = free drinks"). The act of pouring a cup of liquid and handing it to a seated person is not any harder or more time consuming when the liquid has alcohol in it. If anything it's actually less work because they don't have to run the credit card charge.
Jun 26, 2018, 11:43 am
#124
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,039
Data Point...
I flew on a domestic PHL-LAX flight on an A332 in the Premium Economy cabin (which is considered MCE for domestic flights).The first FA I asked for a drink gave it to me for free no problem. About 2 hours later I requested another one from a different FA and she wanted to charge me. I explained that alcohol should be free in MCE and she said, "No, MCE is on Delta" and "We only do free drinks on international flights". The first FA then corrected her and they got into a minor argument (although with smiles) and she eventually relented and said "I don't care...it's not like it's coming out of my paycheck".
The most disturbing thing to me is the FA didn't even know what MCE was and thought it was something on Delta.
I flew on a domestic PHL-LAX flight on an A332 in the Premium Economy cabin (which is considered MCE for domestic flights).The first FA I asked for a drink gave it to me for free no problem. About 2 hours later I requested another one from a different FA and she wanted to charge me. I explained that alcohol should be free in MCE and she said, "No, MCE is on Delta" and "We only do free drinks on international flights". The first FA then corrected her and they got into a minor argument (although with smiles) and she eventually relented and said "I don't care...it's not like it's coming out of my paycheck".
The most disturbing thing to me is the FA didn't even know what MCE was and thought it was something on Delta.
Jun 26, 2018, 12:09 pm
#125
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Data Point...
I flew on a domestic PHL-LAX flight on an A332 in the Premium Economy cabin (which is considered MCE for domestic flights).The first FA I asked for a drink gave it to me for free no problem. About 2 hours later I requested another one from a different FA and she wanted to charge me. I explained that alcohol should be free in MCE and she said, "No, MCE is on Delta" and "We only do free drinks on international flights". The first FA then corrected her and they got into a minor argument (although with smiles) and she eventually relented and said "I don't care...it's not like it's coming out of my paycheck".
The most disturbing thing to me is the FA didn't even know what MCE was and thought it was something on Delta.
I flew on a domestic PHL-LAX flight on an A332 in the Premium Economy cabin (which is considered MCE for domestic flights).The first FA I asked for a drink gave it to me for free no problem. About 2 hours later I requested another one from a different FA and she wanted to charge me. I explained that alcohol should be free in MCE and she said, "No, MCE is on Delta" and "We only do free drinks on international flights". The first FA then corrected her and they got into a minor argument (although with smiles) and she eventually relented and said "I don't care...it's not like it's coming out of my paycheck".
The most disturbing thing to me is the FA didn't even know what MCE was and thought it was something on Delta.
Jun 26, 2018, 12:24 pm
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 10,003
I agree that that is the attitude that the attendants should be bringing to the job. But since the contracts that their unions negotiated for them only pay them their hourly wage when the plane is in motion (correct me if I am wrong on this point), I suspect that many attendants try to avoid doing anything work related when the "flag" has not yet fallen on the "taxi meter".
Jun 26, 2018, 12:47 pm
#127
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: My opinions are not those of AA or any affiliates of AMR Corp.
Posts: 2,096
The company has stated to FAs it is recommended to serve one (1) alcoholic beverage at a time, regardless of a customer's seat assignment in the cabin, and as with any customer receiving alcohol, paying or complimentary, FAs will be supported by the company when they use their best judgement when a customer has had enough to drink.
Jun 26, 2018, 2:03 pm
#128
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
Jun 26, 2018, 2:22 pm
#129
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
FAs are suppose to 'document/report' each transaction in the tablet so the company knows how much is being given out...even those in MCE, the Food & Beverage team monitors the reports closely in case a need to increase/decrease provisioning.
The company has stated to FAs it is recommended to serve one (1) alcoholic beverage at a time, regardless of a customer's seat assignment in the cabin, and as with any customer receiving alcohol, paying or complimentary, FAs will be supported by the company when they use their best judgement when a customer has had enough to drink.
The company has stated to FAs it is recommended to serve one (1) alcoholic beverage at a time, regardless of a customer's seat assignment in the cabin, and as with any customer receiving alcohol, paying or complimentary, FAs will be supported by the company when they use their best judgement when a customer has had enough to drink.
Jun 26, 2018, 2:38 pm
#131
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
DL FA's couldn't be happier to provide additional drinks/requests in C+........what is with AA?
Seriously....if I was an FA I would rather be helping customers and fulfilling additional requests than sitting on my ____ on a jumpseat.
Seriously....if I was an FA I would rather be helping customers and fulfilling additional requests than sitting on my ____ on a jumpseat.
Jun 26, 2018, 8:44 pm
#134
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
I have certainly had my share of bad FAs on American. However, maybe I've just been lucky, but since the rollout this month, I've had travel DCA-MCO, MCO-DCA, DCA-DFW-KOA, KOA-LAX-DCA. 2 of those flights were in first, but the others were in MCE. I was never once asked for a credit card. And on the longer flights, when I popped back to the galley and asked for a beer or cocktail, I also wasn't charged.
Jun 26, 2018, 9:16 pm
#135
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Actually, I've heard some flight attendants refer to fellow workers who go the distance for customers as "over-achievers".