FA tells me Coke Zero is bad for me
Jul 14, 2018, 2:48 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL GM, Marriott LTP
Posts: 563
<redacted >
Last edited by JDiver; Jul 15, 2018 at 9:16 am Reason: Redacted previously deleted post content and reply
Jul 14, 2018, 3:07 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
Got to love this forum. No, the <redacted> does not have the right to berate a paying passenger on what they choose to consume, unless they are inebriated. OP I would definitely report them. Between comments like these and refusing to give MCE customers free alcohol it seems AA is going the way if just serving water.
Last edited by JDiver; Jul 14, 2018 at 7:48 pm Reason: Rules #12
Jul 14, 2018, 3:12 pm
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I'd suggest saying it's none of your business to the FA, but some crazy ones might respond by having the customer taken off the flight in handcuffs.
Jul 14, 2018, 3:20 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
If it bothered you enough to post here, I guess you should complain. Personally I wouldn't, but I also don't drink soda at all--I just don't like the taste of it.
I work in a client service role, and I can't say that 100% of the statements that I make are entirely on point. Occasionally I'll try to make a joke that falls flat, or I don't properly assess what's important for the client.
I don't want the flight attendants I interact with to be robots, I want them to feel comfortable expressing their opinions. But obviously this is highly subjective and everyone will feel differently about it.
I work in a client service role, and I can't say that 100% of the statements that I make are entirely on point. Occasionally I'll try to make a joke that falls flat, or I don't properly assess what's important for the client.
I don't want the flight attendants I interact with to be robots, I want them to feel comfortable expressing their opinions. But obviously this is highly subjective and everyone will feel differently about it.
Jul 14, 2018, 3:25 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,708
If the FA was flirting: "Oh, yes, because when I'm bad, I'm REALLY good." Wink, wink.
If the FA was scolding: "You just served 50 people double bourbons and you're telling me COKE ZERO is bad for ME?!?"
If the FA was scolding: "You just served 50 people double bourbons and you're telling me COKE ZERO is bad for ME?!?"
Jul 14, 2018, 3:50 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MSP/DFW
Programs: Priority Club PLT, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP
Posts: 480
Riiiiight. I'm sure that what it was. Genuine interest in caring. Probably no sarcasm or snarkiness in their comment. Airline employees have never been known to do that.
Jul 14, 2018, 3:52 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I disagree. S/He is a flight attendant, not OPs doctor. Probably annoyed they needed to stop playing Candy Crush for a few minutes to provide the additional drink. (Not being facetious, I have gone to the galley and seen two of the FAs on their phones playing games).
Jul 14, 2018, 3:55 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,769
I wonder what kind of system they have for determining catering levels for each kind of beverage. I can imagine a wildly complex analytics engine that takes actual consumption data by route and translates in into the ideal catering load for each flight (actually a great use case for AI), but I am guessing the reality is a little less complex. Does anyone know if they systemically try to track demand or if not, what kind of feedback mechanisms they use to change the drink load and how often they adjust it?
Jul 14, 2018, 4:17 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
Probably not worth complaining about, but I think I would have been a bit annoyed if I heard the same thing from an FA. I don't recall the OP asking for advice or an opinion on the beverage, just a request for a refill.
Just as I would have been annoyed if a server at a restaurant, a bartender in a bar, etc. made the same comment in the same context.
However, in the FA's defense, i wonder if it's someone's "quirky" sense of humor? These things don't always come out correctly and may be misinterpreted by the listener.
Just as I would have been annoyed if a server at a restaurant, a bartender in a bar, etc. made the same comment in the same context.
However, in the FA's defense, i wonder if it's someone's "quirky" sense of humor? These things don't always come out correctly and may be misinterpreted by the listener.
Jul 14, 2018, 4:21 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Are u looking for some type of compensation?
Definitely send to AA. I am sur the folks in. R would appreciate the chance to laugh.
Definitely send to AA. I am sur the folks in. R would appreciate the chance to laugh.
A FA on a JFK-SFO transcon told me Coke Zero is bad for me, and I don't know how to feel about it.
I had one can shortly after takeoff, and I went to the back to ask for another about halfway into the flight.
When the FA came around for the second drink service near the end of the flight, I said that I'd have another can of the same.
He replied - do you really need another one? These things are bad for you! And after a short pause, I said, yes really, I do.
He -poured- some into a cup instead of giving me the can.
I don't want to engage in an OMNI-level discussion about whether diet soda is actually bad for me or not, but honestly I'm a little offended by the FA's comment, and it felt like if I didn't insist, he wouldn't have served me anything! I've debated sending a complaint into AA, which I sort of feel bad for doing, he was a good FA by all other measures. Maybe he meant it humorously, but he also did not give me the can (maybe he was trying to ration it or something). Apart from not serving alcohol to excessively inebriated passengers, I don't think FAs should be judging how much soda people should drink! I also didn't appreciate being shunned as a coke zero addict to the entire cabin. Anyway, just curious what others think. Yeah, first world problems, right?
I had one can shortly after takeoff, and I went to the back to ask for another about halfway into the flight.
When the FA came around for the second drink service near the end of the flight, I said that I'd have another can of the same.
He replied - do you really need another one? These things are bad for you! And after a short pause, I said, yes really, I do.
He -poured- some into a cup instead of giving me the can.
I don't want to engage in an OMNI-level discussion about whether diet soda is actually bad for me or not, but honestly I'm a little offended by the FA's comment, and it felt like if I didn't insist, he wouldn't have served me anything! I've debated sending a complaint into AA, which I sort of feel bad for doing, he was a good FA by all other measures. Maybe he meant it humorously, but he also did not give me the can (maybe he was trying to ration it or something). Apart from not serving alcohol to excessively inebriated passengers, I don't think FAs should be judging how much soda people should drink! I also didn't appreciate being shunned as a coke zero addict to the entire cabin
. Anyway, just curious what others think. Yeah, first world problems, right?
Jul 14, 2018, 4:56 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Move on OP...
Jul 14, 2018, 5:07 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL GM, Marriott LTP
Posts: 563
OP was the one who stated this was a first world problem and feel free to point to any of my posts where I mentioned that what the FA said was appropriate. The OP asked for our opinion and I frankly couldn't care less what a random stranger says to me let alone run to Flyertalk for advice on how to move forward.
Last edited by Navig8R; Jul 14, 2018 at 5:34 pm