Mar 26, 2020, 9:45 pm
Last edit by: UAPremierGuy
As of 9/21:
Flights under 900 miles
Flights over 2,200 miles* / over 4.5 hours
**Some domestic and short-haul international flights will include a fruit and cheese plate instead of tray meal service and will also have snack basket service before landing.
cmd320 notation (unofficial): the 2,200mi + section for F and J is a bit misleading. Domestic flights within the continental US other than premium transcons (JFK-LAX/SFO, MIA-LAX on 77W) do not receive a full meal and instead only see a sandwich/fruit and cheese plate.
fly747first notation (official) MIA LAX on 772 receives full meal and amenities as Flagship Business except for lounge access
Flights under 900 miles
- Water, canned drinks and juice by request only
- No snacks, alcohol or food available in the Main Cabin
- Alcohol available in First by request only
In the Main Cabin – includes Premium Economy and Main Cabin Extra
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and bottled water during boarding*
- No snacks, alcohol or food for purchase
- Water, canned drinks and juice by request only
In First:
- Complimentary fresh snacks on flights departing between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.*
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and bottled water during boarding*
- Drinks, including alcohol, by request only
- No drinks served before departure
Flights over 2,200 miles* / over 4.5 hours
In the Main Cabin – includes Premium Economy and Main Cabin Extra
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and water, canned drinks or juice during the flight
- No snacks or food for purchase
- No alcohol or meals except on long-haul international flights
In First and Business:
- Complimentary fresh snacks on flights departing between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Complimentary pretzels or Biscoff cookies and water, canned drinks or juice during the flight
- Meals served on one tray, not in courses**
- No drinks served before departure
- Alcohol will be available
**Some domestic and short-haul international flights will include a fruit and cheese plate instead of tray meal service and will also have snack basket service before landing.
cmd320 notation (unofficial): the 2,200mi + section for F and J is a bit misleading. Domestic flights within the continental US other than premium transcons (JFK-LAX/SFO, MIA-LAX on 77W) do not receive a full meal and instead only see a sandwich/fruit and cheese plate.
fly747first notation (official) MIA LAX on 772 receives full meal and amenities as Flagship Business except for lounge access
Coronavirus Reduced Inflight Food and Beverage Restrictions as of 03/2020 and changes
Jul 22, 2020, 2:04 pm
#721
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: DFW
Posts: 311
Similar to any other time an FA violates policy, your best bet is to write in a complaint after the flight with as much relevant detail as possible. Confronting them in flight is rarely going to yield a positive result.
If you'd like to do what you can to maximize your chances of getting a drink, I might recommend greeting the FA during boarding, acknowledging the fact that service is limited on the flight, but if they wouldn't mind getting you a (whatever your drink of choice is) in the air. If the FA refuses that request on the ground, at least you would have the ability to talk to a FSM so somebody in power can remind the FA of the policy.
By the way, beverages on request is the standard on flights of all length, long and short. So you are entitled to request a beverage even on the short flight if you want.
Jul 23, 2020, 8:11 pm
#722
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA/CLT/HKG
Programs: AA EXP (Former US CP)
Posts: 731
If an FA refuses to serve a beverage, I doubt having a picture or website with the service standards pulled up is going to make a difference. Any fa that refuses to serve a drink it's doing so not because they don't know the policy, but because they are either apathetic or lazy.
Similar to any other time an FA violates policy, your best bet is to write in a complaint after the flight with as much relevant detail as possible. Confronting them in flight is rarely going to yield a positive result.
If you'd like to do what you can to maximize your chances of getting a drink, I might recommend greeting the FA during boarding, acknowledging the fact that service is limited on the flight, but if they wouldn't mind getting you a (whatever your drink of choice is) in the air. If the FA refuses that request on the ground, at least you would have the ability to talk to a FSM so somebody in power can remind the FA of the policy.
By the way, beverages on request is the standard on flights of all length, long and short. So you are entitled to request a beverage even on the short flight if you want.
Similar to any other time an FA violates policy, your best bet is to write in a complaint after the flight with as much relevant detail as possible. Confronting them in flight is rarely going to yield a positive result.
If you'd like to do what you can to maximize your chances of getting a drink, I might recommend greeting the FA during boarding, acknowledging the fact that service is limited on the flight, but if they wouldn't mind getting you a (whatever your drink of choice is) in the air. If the FA refuses that request on the ground, at least you would have the ability to talk to a FSM so somebody in power can remind the FA of the policy.
By the way, beverages on request is the standard on flights of all length, long and short. So you are entitled to request a beverage even on the short flight if you want.
Jul 23, 2020, 8:18 pm
#723
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: DFW
Posts: 311
FSMs are ground based managers at all FA bases, hence why I suggested requesting a beverage of your choice to be served in the air while you are on the ground. Fsm's are flight attendants' direct superiors and are the only people with the power to compel FAs to perform their duties. They will also be the ones to follow up with the FAs if anybody does write in a letter complaining that they were denied a beverage when it should have been provided.
Jul 23, 2020, 8:19 pm
#724
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
I’m pretty sure even on intercontinental flights the ‘purser’ doesn’t actually have any authority to direct cabin service.
Jul 24, 2020, 2:15 am
#725
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
The sad thing is the cheese plate is at least a fresh food item (and somewhat healthy) and IMO better than the shelf stable snack boxes that DL/UA/AS are serving. Plus the snack basket on the longer flights makes AA still better in my book.....it’s just sad to see AA go backwards on all of those routes CLT called out above.
Deltas CEO has committed to bringing back full service and you know AA will have no choice at that point so it’s just a matter of time.
Deltas CEO has committed to bringing back full service and you know AA will have no choice at that point so it’s just a matter of time.
Jul 24, 2020, 9:23 am
#726
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
Jul 24, 2020, 1:34 pm
#727
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
7/23 AA 434 ATL-CLT A-319:
No your eyes are not deceiving you that is a PDB! My first since late March. The FA apologized for only giving us water or OJ on the ground but gave us full drinks in the air. I got two minis and was offered more on the 45 minute flight. No service in Y.
7/23 AA 4368 CLT-RDU EMB-175: No service either cabin.
No your eyes are not deceiving you that is a PDB! My first since late March. The FA apologized for only giving us water or OJ on the ground but gave us full drinks in the air. I got two minis and was offered more on the 45 minute flight. No service in Y.
7/23 AA 4368 CLT-RDU EMB-175: No service either cabin.
Jul 25, 2020, 5:26 am
#728
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Jul 25, 2020, 9:37 am
#729
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Indeed. It's difficult to justify paying for F with such poor service levels, but even more difficult when middles in C+ are blocked and on a 757 or A321 I can get seats in C+ with better room than F.
Jul 25, 2020, 2:04 pm
#730
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: DFW
Posts: 311
I believe there is a "permanently" missing in that sentence somewhere.
I can see "better breakfast offering" being perhaps the former BoB breakfast platter, with the English muffin, hard boiled egg, almond butter, etc. Or it may be a banana, muffin/granola bar, or something more "breakfasty." Whatever it is, it will mostly likely be served chilled/room temp (wouldn't bank on a hot Egg McMuffin LOL), and unlikely to require any utensils (wouldn't bank on yogurt/granola either) to avoid the need to pick up used utensils.
AA has made it clear that they are cost cutting while still trying to stay competitive with UA/DL. Can anybody come up with an example where UA/DL's F&B offering is unequivocally better than what AA has available (whether proactively or upon request)? If I'm following the updates correctly, DL still doesn't have liquor in premium cabins within the US (beer and wine only with the latest update, right?) nor does DL serve any hot food including on transcons. UA's offering I believe is comparable to AA's, except I don't believe they offer meals on the flights to Hawaii though I may be mistaken.
I can see "better breakfast offering" being perhaps the former BoB breakfast platter, with the English muffin, hard boiled egg, almond butter, etc. Or it may be a banana, muffin/granola bar, or something more "breakfasty." Whatever it is, it will mostly likely be served chilled/room temp (wouldn't bank on a hot Egg McMuffin LOL), and unlikely to require any utensils (wouldn't bank on yogurt/granola either) to avoid the need to pick up used utensils.
AA has made it clear that they are cost cutting while still trying to stay competitive with UA/DL. Can anybody come up with an example where UA/DL's F&B offering is unequivocally better than what AA has available (whether proactively or upon request)? If I'm following the updates correctly, DL still doesn't have liquor in premium cabins within the US (beer and wine only with the latest update, right?) nor does DL serve any hot food including on transcons. UA's offering I believe is comparable to AA's, except I don't believe they offer meals on the flights to Hawaii though I may be mistaken.
Not sure if linking outside blogs is against the rules (even though I'm not the owner of the site) but it should be easy enough to find for anybody that's interested in reading his take. Note that I haven't seen this info confirmed anywhere else, so it's possible (but unlikely) that he got it wrong.
Jul 25, 2020, 2:09 pm
#731
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,482
Per his post, AA is going to offer exactly that, or a turkey croissant (cold) during breakfast, or the cheese plate vs Turkey Havarti sandwich during Lunch and Dinner. This is a very nice enhancement in my opinion, especially since this applies to flights 900 miles or more so if my math and memory serve me right, some of the shorter mid-cons will actually get a more substantial offering than they previously received pre-covid.
Jul 25, 2020, 2:15 pm
#732
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: DFW
Posts: 311
Oh wait...
Sheesh. Some people are never happy
Jul 25, 2020, 2:30 pm
#733
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,482
Jul 25, 2020, 3:35 pm
#734
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,967
I have a feeling Eagle will be, once again, will be left out of this. There are a lot of 900+ mile Eagle flights. Still, two thumbs up for AA making the right move to add something back.
Jul 25, 2020, 11:11 pm
#735
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
This is indeed a step in the right direction and I AAPLAUD AA for leading the pack on Domestic F offerings. AA has been by far the best domestic carrier for premium passengers of the Big 3 during the last few months.