FA Charging For Liquor/Drinks in MCE
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,757
Well sort of. When I go into the MCE section and click "free snacks and drinks" the link actually says "Main Cabin Food" and states the language I bolded above. So free spirits are available to MCE flights to Europe?
#32
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
no argument required. A simple "your website indicates that spirits are included, in addition to beer and wine. Would you like me to show it to you on my phone ?"
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,114
EXP/CK in MCE - Free wine beer and spirits and 1 food item
EXP/CK in Y- 1 free drink and 1 food item
MCE (D/I) - Free wine beer and spirits
Regular Y to Japan, SYD, AKL and HKG - Free wine beer and spirits
Regular Y long haul intl - Free wine and beer
Regular Y - None.
#34
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 20
Was sitting in exit row (which the row # says Main Cabin Extra right on it) and was denied a free drink (had to pay for it). The flight attendant was pretty smug and told me: "I know it's confusing but MCE is only the first four rows." If I had thought of it, I would have pulled up a seat map on my phone and showed that selecting the exit row pops up the MCE message with free drinks.
Oh well - I guess I'll just request a refund.
Oh well - I guess I'll just request a refund.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,650
Was sitting in exit row (which the row # says Main Cabin Extra right on it) and was denied a free drink (had to pay for it). The flight attendant was pretty smug and told me: "I know it's confusing but MCE is only the first four rows." If I had thought of it, I would have pulled up a seat map on my phone and showed that selecting the exit row pops up the MCE message with free drinks.
Oh well - I guess I'll just request a refund.
Oh well - I guess I'll just request a refund.
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,757
Sounds like a mixture of inconsistent and overall poor communication from corporate to their front line employees IE flight attendants about the features of MCE and who are entitled to them.
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,114
Which, given they all have tablets, is surprising. This should be a fairly easy rollout.
#39
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,067
<br /><br />I would have charged it to my Credit Card and then call for a chargeback along with the evidence that it should have been comped. In addition I would have written into AA.Com for them to retrain the flight staff about the new policy.<br /><br />When Delta began their free spirits in Delta Comfort+ there was some getting used to and some flight attendants were charging for it.<br /><br />It helps to have printed copy of the policy to show to a Flight Attendant who is trying to charge for something that should be included int he price of your ticket.
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
<br /><br />I would have charged it to my Credit Card and then call for a chargeback along with the evidence that it should have been comped. In addition I would have written into AA.Com for them to retrain the flight staff about the new policy.<br /><br />When Delta began their free spirits in Delta Comfort+ there was some getting used to and some flight attendants were charging for it.<br /><br />It helps to have printed copy of the policy to show to a Flight Attendant who is trying to charge for something that should be included int he price of your ticket.
Looking at the other complaints you have lodged recently, you seem to be having quite a tough time !
#41
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
Hopefully this helps some folks, I was charged for drinks on a flight last Thursday. I asked the FA if the drinks were included in MCE now, she said they were but I wasn't sitting in MCE (I was in the exit row, with an MCE placard above it), then followed that by saying it was only rolled out on certain planes. I shot a polite email out to customer service on Friday and got this response:
"I am so sorry you were told that you did not get free drinks in your MCE seat. That information was incorrect.I have reported the flight attendants on (flight#) to Flight Service management so they can make sure they are updated on the new perks of MCE. On all MCE seats with FULL beverage service passengers get free drinks (beer, wine and spirits) starting June 5, 2018. As an apology and gesture of goodwill for this I have added 2,500 bonus miles to you AAdvantage account.
(name), thank you for bringing this to our attention and we look forward to flying with you again soon.
Sincerely,
(name)
Customer Relations
American Airlines"
I asked about getting a refund for the purchased drinks, but she kind of ignored that part of my original email, the points balance it out a bit though.
"I am so sorry you were told that you did not get free drinks in your MCE seat. That information was incorrect.
(name), thank you for bringing this to our attention and we look forward to flying with you again soon.
Sincerely,
(name)
Customer Relations
American Airlines"
I asked about getting a refund for the purchased drinks, but she kind of ignored that part of my original email, the points balance it out a bit though.
#43
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,215
Hopefully this helps some folks, I was charged for drinks on a flight last Thursday. I asked the FA if the drinks were included in MCE now, she said they were but I wasn't sitting in MCE (I was in the exit row, with an MCE placard above it), then followed that by saying it was only rolled out on certain planes. I shot a polite email out to customer service on Friday and got this response:
"I am so sorry you were told that you did not get free drinks in your MCE seat. That information was incorrect.I have reported the flight attendants on (flight#) to Flight Service management so they can make sure they are updated on the new perks of MCE. On all MCE seats with FULL beverage service passengers get free drinks (beer, wine and spirits) starting June 5, 2018. As an apology and gesture of goodwill for this I have added 2,500 bonus miles to you AAdvantage account.
(name), thank you for bringing this to our attention and we look forward to flying with you again soon.
Sincerely,
(name)
Customer Relations
American Airlines"
I asked about getting a refund for the purchased drinks, but she kind of ignored that part of my original email, the points balance it out a bit though.
"I am so sorry you were told that you did not get free drinks in your MCE seat. That information was incorrect.
(name), thank you for bringing this to our attention and we look forward to flying with you again soon.
Sincerely,
(name)
Customer Relations
American Airlines"
I asked about getting a refund for the purchased drinks, but she kind of ignored that part of my original email, the points balance it out a bit though.
#44
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
just thinking out loud here, but how long until someone complains that the FA wouldn't serve them a 2nd drink (by pushing the button with a pic of a person serving a beverage) between normal beverage service intervals...
#45
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BHM
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 70
Has anyone had success with this on Eagle? I have a flight coming up on Thu on Republic in MCE. If the mainline FA's are inconsistent with the new policy, I can only imagine it's worse on regional.