F meals not catered on 1000 mile flight
Jun 5, 2019, 11:23 am
#62
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Alameda, CA, US
Programs: BAEC Gold (GGL/CCR), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,346
Many years ago on AF CDG-SFO the Caterers were on strike. We literally had vending machine sandwiches that were brought on board...in a trash bag...in J! The wine did flow as only beverages were boarded. Got zilch as was an Industrial Action. I always carry a bag of Almonds just in case
Jun 5, 2019, 11:37 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,227
At least let the pax know in advance.
Compensation should be meaningful as a punitive measure, so they get their act together. Or they can just not give a hoot and watch their stock price slide into oblivion.
I’m only half kidding.
Jun 5, 2019, 12:08 pm
#64
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,667
Missing your takeoff slot and tying up a gate over a catering bust on a morning flight? Once they finally convinced Dispatch they seriously wanted to wait for catering to come back they probably got told no, fire up the plane, and fly. Not to mention the other pilots now laugh them out of the airport. My mainline pilot friends all tell me there really are repercussions for busting the schedule over nothing. But yes an announcement and an opportunity to deplane should have been offered.
I was actually strapped in 10 rows behind one of them when the caterer completely didn't show. Capt. "H" got on the intercom and announced that there would be no onboard service and why, that he was going to keep the schedule "since most of you would prefer that", but the door would be open for five more minutes if you wanted to wait for a later plane. Of course I've seen other captains handle it another way--by announcing he "had directed the flight attendants to remain seated the entire flight due to expected turbulence". Even though nothing was forecast when I left for the airport. Or on the radar on my phone. Mysteriously didn't occur. At all . Smooth as glass. We all knew what was going on. We thought.
I was actually strapped in 10 rows behind one of them when the caterer completely didn't show. Capt. "H" got on the intercom and announced that there would be no onboard service and why, that he was going to keep the schedule "since most of you would prefer that", but the door would be open for five more minutes if you wanted to wait for a later plane. Of course I've seen other captains handle it another way--by announcing he "had directed the flight attendants to remain seated the entire flight due to expected turbulence". Even though nothing was forecast when I left for the airport. Or on the radar on my phone. Mysteriously didn't occur. At all . Smooth as glass. We all knew what was going on. We thought.
Last edited by jayer; Jun 5, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Jun 5, 2019, 1:00 pm
#65
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,682
I am not sure how AA would do it, but when BA did flew it, Concorde was actually a different class of service (as in, above F). So if the Concorde didn't fly and its passengers had to be accommodated on a different aircraft, it was essentially a downgrade and they were compensated accordingly.
Jun 5, 2019, 1:34 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
With 10-15 complaints each year over multiple years of elite level status (inferred from your "range"), I would think the people reading complaints you send in at this point would be doing their share of eye rolling.
Maybe you seriously have the worst luck for major problems...Or maybe you're just expecting WAY too much from them. This just seems like a ridiculously high number of complaints about anything.
Jun 5, 2019, 3:57 pm
#67
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
With 10-15 complaints each year over multiple years of elite level status (inferred from your "range"), I would think the people reading complaints you send in at this point would be doing their share of eye rolling.
Maybe you seriously have the worst luck for major problems...Or maybe you're just expecting WAY too much from them. This just seems like a ridiculously high number of complaints about anything.
Maybe you seriously have the worst luck for major problems...Or maybe you're just expecting WAY too much from them. This just seems like a ridiculously high number of complaints about anything.
Jun 5, 2019, 6:13 pm
#68
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 256
I just submitted my complaint due to the same issue.
No meal on a 4.5hour flight from CLT to LAS in F
A Cheese plate was the only thing served. I don;t expect much at all in way of compensation but it really made everyone unhappy when all F passengers most likely didn't eat lunch/dinner due to expecting it to be on the flight.
No meal on a 4.5hour flight from CLT to LAS in F
A Cheese plate was the only thing served. I don;t expect much at all in way of compensation but it really made everyone unhappy when all F passengers most likely didn't eat lunch/dinner due to expecting it to be on the flight.
Jun 5, 2019, 6:20 pm
#69
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
I just submitted my complaint due to the same issue.
No meal on a 4.5hour flight from CLT to LAS in F
A Cheese plate was the only thing served. I don;t expect much at all in way of compensation but it really made everyone unhappy when all F passengers most likely didn't eat lunch/dinner due to expecting it to be on the flight.
No meal on a 4.5hour flight from CLT to LAS in F
A Cheese plate was the only thing served. I don;t expect much at all in way of compensation but it really made everyone unhappy when all F passengers most likely didn't eat lunch/dinner due to expecting it to be on the flight.
I think the meal window ends at 8pm, and there are some flights from PHL/CLT to western cities that leave after that don't necessarily get meals (there are some exceptions).
Jun 5, 2019, 8:01 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 255
YIKES
With 10-15 complaints each year over multiple years of elite level status (inferred from your "range"), I would think the people reading complaints you send in at this point would be doing their share of eye rolling.
Maybe you seriously have the worst luck for major problems...Or maybe you're just expecting WAY too much from them. This just seems like a ridiculously high number of complaints about anything.
With 10-15 complaints each year over multiple years of elite level status (inferred from your "range"), I would think the people reading complaints you send in at this point would be doing their share of eye rolling.
Maybe you seriously have the worst luck for major problems...Or maybe you're just expecting WAY too much from them. This just seems like a ridiculously high number of complaints about anything.
And yes, sometimes I joke about them having my picture and contact info up in every service center due to the number of complaints over time.
Jun 5, 2019, 8:25 pm
#71
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Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
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Posts: 10,060
There are quite likely many others in the AA customer service hall of shame board with well more than 10-15 complaints per year. If you're expending that effort to advise them of their wrongs, are you also sending compliments when you have good experiences?
Jun 5, 2019, 8:34 pm
#72
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 255
I actually do, albeit via Twitter or certs. Not sure what it does for the FA or AAgent but at least AA confirms they get logged. I am also probably one of the few flyers who emails AAdvantage Account Service to get additional recognition certs each year.
Jun 5, 2019, 9:37 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
I've been on a DFW to AUS flight which was delayed by more than 30 mins for catering. We were sat on the plane on the ground waiting for the drinks to be loaded for more time than we were up in the air. Didn't really figure out why - it was the last flight of the day so maybe they were waiting on breakfast to store on the plane overnight?
Jun 6, 2019, 5:46 am
#75
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
This is business, it isn’t a two way street. The customer may not always be right, but the customer should always get what they paid for, period.