catcher1

Years ago I was a passenger in a flight that suffered an in-flight emergency. It was frightening and lasted 5-7 minutes. Some passengers panicked, others were more calm, but we all wondered if we were in the "Is this it"? moment. Surely the flight attendants felt the same way, but they immediately took charge, putting their training into action, giving instructions in a calm, professional matter, doing their best to calm down those who were in panic, recruiting passengers who seemed capable to assist them in maintaining a measure of normalcy, all the while respecting the dignity of all those in the cabin.

I relate this only to put the topic of this thread into context. I gained great admiration for flight attendants that day. Whatever the motivation of the flight attendant who told a passenger that the soda wasn't good for him--humor, advice, small talk--it does seem to me that those who consider this to be a serious offense, or an offense at all, should ponder whether they may just be a bit too self absorbed.

Being self absorbed is not good for the health. Or for others around you.

matrixwalker2012

At least the FA is honest!

I'd probably respond that pretty much everything inflight is bad for me, but I'll have them anyways. Can't outlive my retirement savings!

Dr. HFH

I know many who would disagree with that statement.


Do you make these statements based on your many years of practice as a nutrition expert? Physician? Unless I have the expertise to back it up, I tend to stay away from that type of blanket statement, -- too easy to get into trouble that way.


Agree completely! Wish there were more of that on AA.

DCP2016

Disagree completely. See, this is where many Asian/ME/European carriers put the US air carriers to shame. These would be some pretty great personable FA's if they said things like "That's you're third one, how do you like it?" and "Oh, that's one my favorites" or "Here's an extra cup/can because you like it so much"! Completely different from " do you really need another one? These things are bad for you! "

I don't understand how the aggressive defend AA by any cost people in this thread aren't getting the difference. I worked in food service for a while and if I didn't like a particular product we sold, I either kept silent, or if they asked for my honest opinion on it I said it wasn't my favorite but "such and such" was. Much better outcome than if someone ordered a Coke Zero and I said "This is bad for you, you shouldn't be drinking it".

DenverBrian

I can easily drink 6 cans of Diet Coke in five hours. I'm also healthy as a horse. Your meaningless pontifications have no power here.

stefg1007

"So is being a flight attendant."
Have a laugh together and enjoy your next Coke Zero.

wetrat0

A couple years ago I flew an international coach ticket on United (no status). I asked for a Goose Island beer during the drink service, since that beer is unique to United, and then another during the meal. I wasn't intending to drink more than 2 (and I'm sure that doing so is bad for me) but the FA working my aisle came by several times during the flight checking on people and would say things like "I see your beer is empty, I'll get you another" and even "I found another Goose Island in a different cart so I brought it for you!". This was a lightly loaded day flight and I would have expected the FAs to just disappear to the galley after the meal, but they kept passing through and our FA remembered exactly what everyone was drinking, providing refills for the whole flight. It was the level of service I expect in a *good* international business class, and we were on coach in freaking United.

If one of the US airlines could provide that level of service consistently they would be very successful. Think about it-- it's 2 years later and I still have very specific positive memories about that flight. Unfortunately for United it's not my only experience on their airline and I have no interest in moving my business...

kmersh

I drink Diet Coke like it is going out of style (I dislike Coke Zero), maybe 5 cans or so a day. As a Physician, I know it is far from the healthiest drink in the world, but I enjoy it and there are far worse things out there that I could drink, so I am okay with my consumption of Diet Coke.

I twice has been told that my Diet Coke consumption is bad for me, once by my Gastroenterologist and once by a Flight Attendant, I take the Gastroenterologist's opinion seriously, I do not take the Flight Attendant's opinion seriously at all.

We ended up laughing about it as I responded to the Flight Attendant, neither was polishing off this meal which AA provided me which I am sure is high in salt and fat, but I ate it, so c'est la vie, may I have another Diet Coke and maybe a water for good measure.

AA100k

enpremiere

If a remark about consuming copious quantities of Coke Zero, regardless of context or intent, is worthy of upsetting a frequent traveler's day then it's an excellent day in operAAtion land.

Buffaloflyer

Well as the airlines like to point out to us, the FAs are "primarily there for your safety" so maybe he was extending his duties as it pertains to your health.

I wasn't there so I cannot comment on tone or inflection which may or may not have revealed the true nature of the comment (joking, half serious, dead serious) however I would hope that it was a joke. If you determined with 100% certainty that it was not a joke then it may be worth a brief complaint as it is not appropriate to seemingly judge a Pax for their choices. If you did complain though I am pretty sure the FA would say they were joking and AA would side with their employee in this case.

Dr. HFH

You just bought an airline ticket for hundreds or thousands of dollars; and you're concerned about the "extreme" cost of purchasing water airside?

dayone

To those who drink three or more cans of diet cola a day and believe that they are healthy as a horse, they should abstain for two weeks and reevaluate.

highops

canadiancow

That does not match my experience. And I drink more Coke Zero than anyone in this thread has admitted.

Diet Coke foams up and spills. Coke Zero does not.

I had numerous cans given to me on a flight yesterday. The only spill was when the FA decided to pour it for me. The other 10 pours (a can lasts quite a while in small glasses with ice and sometimes rum) were just fine, with barely any foam.

Either way, I'd feel the same way as the OP. You want to cut me off after my 20th beer on a 2 hour flight? Fine. Don't comment on my non-alcoholic consumption.