Two drink limit in First? Policy or rubbish?
Dec 14, 2021, 10:22 pm
#76
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To answer the question, I had plenty of bubbles between MIA-LAX. My husband wanted a brandy which we knew AA no longer carry on Domestic. I have plenty of miniatures acquired during travels. I went and asked the lovely FA on his side of the 777 whether she would serve it. She told me that she was not permitted to open the bottle but she was more than happy to provide a glass whilst thanking us for asking. As she said, we’re supposed to cut you back or off if she though you were getting drunk. Old school AA with 30+ years service , she was what made AA really great long before US Air got its claws in.
This is in stark contrast to the lazy moo we were saddled with to EYW who sat there doing nothing.
This is in stark contrast to the lazy moo we were saddled with to EYW who sat there doing nothing.
Dec 15, 2021, 1:24 pm
#77
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP.
Posts: 1,325
1. Hot meals eliminated in First Class. Hot towels eliminated in First Class. Mints eliminated in First Class.
2. Pre-departure beverage eliminated in First Class. Alcohol being restricted during the flight to all passengers in First Class without merit or explanation.
3. Snack basket filled with reduced-sized carb-based junk. Jerky eliminated as it represents a Covid threat.
We now have a new class of cabin on American.........First Class-light. Same ticket price....same amount of seat pitch......but less of everything else.
2. Pre-departure beverage eliminated in First Class. Alcohol being restricted during the flight to all passengers in First Class without merit or explanation.
3. Snack basket filled with reduced-sized carb-based junk. Jerky eliminated as it represents a Covid threat.
We now have a new class of cabin on American.........First Class-light. Same ticket price....same amount of seat pitch......but less of everything else.
Dec 15, 2021, 8:43 pm
#78
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Miami Beach FL, Philadelphia PA, and Oxfordshire UK
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Posts: 737
I’ll just add my own observation to this interesting thread. My instinct is rogue FA.
So I flew down from PHL to MIA tonight, on the 788, me and my better half sitting in the middle pair. My other half asked for a scotch, and got 2 minis from the FA on his side of the cabin. I asked for a gin tonic and got served a single glass of it.
I had literally been at work since 8am, worked flat out, and legged it to the airport straight from work and got to the gate 2 mins before boarding, so I was gasping.
I said to the FA, very politely, - ahem, usually when I order a G&T in F, I get a mixed one, an extra bottle, and the can, or a glass with ice, 2 minis, and a can. Never just the drink.
Oh no sir, that is definitely not our policy. I was like - I flew up yesterday, and it definitely was the policy. I flew in F twice last week and it was the policy. But he was having none of it.
10 mins later he comes down the aisle with the can, no mini, and said - here you go, I’m making an exception just for you, as you are ExP. Aw thanks.
2 more bottles were forthcoming, so no evidence of the 2 drink rule tho. He just had to do extra work bringing them out when I wanted them.
Oh well, first world issues etc blah blah.
So I flew down from PHL to MIA tonight, on the 788, me and my better half sitting in the middle pair. My other half asked for a scotch, and got 2 minis from the FA on his side of the cabin. I asked for a gin tonic and got served a single glass of it.
I had literally been at work since 8am, worked flat out, and legged it to the airport straight from work and got to the gate 2 mins before boarding, so I was gasping.
I said to the FA, very politely, - ahem, usually when I order a G&T in F, I get a mixed one, an extra bottle, and the can, or a glass with ice, 2 minis, and a can. Never just the drink.
Oh no sir, that is definitely not our policy. I was like - I flew up yesterday, and it definitely was the policy. I flew in F twice last week and it was the policy. But he was having none of it.
10 mins later he comes down the aisle with the can, no mini, and said - here you go, I’m making an exception just for you, as you are ExP. Aw thanks.
2 more bottles were forthcoming, so no evidence of the 2 drink rule tho. He just had to do extra work bringing them out when I wanted them.
Oh well, first world issues etc blah blah.
Dec 15, 2021, 11:57 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
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Posts: 1,989
I’ll just add my own observation to this interesting thread. My instinct is rogue FA.
So I flew down from PHL to MIA tonight, on the 788, me and my better half sitting in the middle pair. My other half asked for a scotch, and got 2 minis from the FA on his side of the cabin. I asked for a gin tonic and got served a single glass of it.
I had literally been at work since 8am, worked flat out, and legged it to the airport straight from work and got to the gate 2 mins before boarding, so I was gasping.
I said to the FA, very politely, - ahem, usually when I order a G&T in F, I get a mixed one, an extra bottle, and the can, or a glass with ice, 2 minis, and a can. Never just the drink.
Oh no sir, that is definitely not our policy. I was like - I flew up yesterday, and it definitely was the policy. I flew in F twice last week and it was the policy. But he was having none of it.
10 mins later he comes down the aisle with the can, no mini, and said - here you go, I’m making an exception just for you, as you are ExP. Aw thanks.
2 more bottles were forthcoming, so no evidence of the 2 drink rule tho. He just had to do extra work bringing them out when I wanted them.
Oh well, first world issues etc blah blah.
So I flew down from PHL to MIA tonight, on the 788, me and my better half sitting in the middle pair. My other half asked for a scotch, and got 2 minis from the FA on his side of the cabin. I asked for a gin tonic and got served a single glass of it.
I had literally been at work since 8am, worked flat out, and legged it to the airport straight from work and got to the gate 2 mins before boarding, so I was gasping.
I said to the FA, very politely, - ahem, usually when I order a G&T in F, I get a mixed one, an extra bottle, and the can, or a glass with ice, 2 minis, and a can. Never just the drink.
Oh no sir, that is definitely not our policy. I was like - I flew up yesterday, and it definitely was the policy. I flew in F twice last week and it was the policy. But he was having none of it.
10 mins later he comes down the aisle with the can, no mini, and said - here you go, I’m making an exception just for you, as you are ExP. Aw thanks.
2 more bottles were forthcoming, so no evidence of the 2 drink rule tho. He just had to do extra work bringing them out when I wanted them.
Oh well, first world issues etc blah blah.
The two minis thing wasn’t really standard pre-COVID, but it would sometimes happen, usually with LUS FAs or on widebodies, in my experience.
I noticed many -more- FAs doing it during the earlier stages of COVID, presumably to minimize interactions with passengers, but wouldn’t be surprised to see less of it now, with this apparent war on alcohol.
Dec 16, 2021, 7:28 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2002
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The two minis thing wasn’t really standard pre-COVID, but it would sometimes happen, usually with LUS FAs or on widebodies, in my experience.
I noticed many -more- FAs doing it during the earlier stages of COVID, presumably to minimize interactions with passengers, but wouldn’t be surprised to see less of it now, with this apparent war on alcohol.
I noticed many -more- FAs doing it during the earlier stages of COVID, presumably to minimize interactions with passengers, but wouldn’t be surprised to see less of it now, with this apparent war on alcohol.
Yes, definitely matches my experience as well pre-COVID. Was not common on legacy AA domestically. Slightly more common in international J (and widebodies) due to the length of time to complete the initial beverage service in the cabin. Much more common domestically with legacy US FAs.
-FlyerBeek
Dec 16, 2021, 8:17 pm
#85
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 95
As of a few days ago... the offerings were:
Coke, Diet Coke, 7 Up, Ginger Ale, Water, Seltzer Water, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice and coffee.....
Plus the Hawaii flights have a tad bit more than just pretzels.
Last edited by Microwave; Dec 31, 2021 at 4:07 pm Reason: Removed unwelcoming content
Dec 16, 2021, 8:21 pm
#86
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Some airlines do have a "one drink at a time" policy, but it's never been clear to me whether a double (two mini bottles of alcohol) counts as one drink or two.
Dec 16, 2021, 8:49 pm
#87
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Pre-COVID, AA used to sell half bottles (375ml) of surprisingly drinkable wine in Y on the premium transcon and midcon-Hawaii routes. That's definitely at least two drinks worth of alcohol served at the same time.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Dec 16, 2021, 8:49 pm
#88
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: RDU/BKK
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 260
Somewhat related to this conversation: apparently supply chain issues have affected the plastic cups! Hard to tell from the picture, but on American Eagle (Republic) 7 December (RDU-JFK), my drink was served in an abnormally small cup and FA said it was because they could not get a supply of the regular ones. This meant that basically I was drinking gin on the rocks as there was maybe a splash of tonic at best. I think there’s a simple solution to this: bring back glassware!
Dec 16, 2021, 9:20 pm
#89
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Miami Beach FL, Philadelphia PA, and Oxfordshire UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA Executive Platinum, PriorityPass, Global Entry, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 737
Sounds like a very awkward FA.
The two minis thing wasn’t really standard pre-COVID, but it would sometimes happen, usually with LUS FAs or on widebodies, in my experience.
I noticed many -more- FAs doing it during the earlier stages of COVID, presumably to minimize interactions with passengers, but wouldn’t be surprised to see less of it now, with this apparent war on alcohol.
The two minis thing wasn’t really standard pre-COVID, but it would sometimes happen, usually with LUS FAs or on widebodies, in my experience.
I noticed many -more- FAs doing it during the earlier stages of COVID, presumably to minimize interactions with passengers, but wouldn’t be surprised to see less of it now, with this apparent war on alcohol.
So it comes to a point where maybe AA should standardise the offering. Order a G&T, you get a G&T in a glass. Job done. Rather than bending rules offering minis and cans on the side.
Just one of those things that makes flying a fun lottery - what to get/not to get and gives us a great reason for FT and an outlet to have a moan about it! 😂
Dec 16, 2021, 9:26 pm
#90
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Miami Beach FL, Philadelphia PA, and Oxfordshire UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA Executive Platinum, PriorityPass, Global Entry, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 737
Somewhat related to this conversation: apparently supply chain issues have affected the plastic cups! Hard to tell from the picture, but on American Eagle (Republic) 7 December (RDU-JFK), my drink was served in an abnormally small cup and FA said it was because they could not get a supply of the regular ones. This meant that basically I was drinking gin on the rocks as there was maybe a splash of tonic at best. I think there’s a simple solution to this: bring back glassware!
But last night on the return, it was china cups for tea coffee….. i guess some jams in the chain at some points….