While I agree with the rest of OP's post, I have to agree that my hit rate on DL is even worse than AA, and that's really saying something. I'm writing this currently on the ground in 1B, no PDB service on an on-time Delta flight. FAs chatting in galley. As is my usual experience, the most common excuse on both AA and DL is complete silence and refusal to acknowledge the omission.

Fortunately I've come to expect this so brought the special coffee from the skypub.

Stated where?

In a press release prominently distributed within the travel industry press to induce travelers to book with AA:
https://viewfromthewing.com/hot-meal...ing-next-week/
https://onemileatatime.com/news/amer......-hot-meals/
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/a......-meals.html
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/amer...-meal-service/


As Leff correctly noted at the time:

It's a benefit - I personally don't partake, but that doesn't make it any less important for those that choose to.

All the excuses stem from our favorite AA justification for anything - "primarily there for your safety"

In the earlier days post merger the US flight attendants (particularly those based in PHX) would almost always offer PDB as was standard on US. AA flight attendants were usually water or OJ. The lines have long since blurred however it’s really hit or miss granted I generally try to board last and it’s often too late for a drink.

This is an interesting observation - I also board late, but in my experience, I don't think I can recall a single time when it was simply too late for me to get a PDB. Either it's served or it's not; and for the more dedicated FAs who do serve it, it's never been any problem to follow up with the stragglers to get us a PDB. I can't think of a single time when early-boarders got a PDB and I haven't - but of course that's just one guy's experience. I could envision a scenario where I ran and caught a flight right as the gate was closing, but while I've done that on my share of occasions, it hasn't to my recollection ever been a flight on which a PDB was otherwise served to really test the theory.

08.17 MIA-PUJ: No PDB
08.22 PUJ-MIA: No PDB
​​​​​08.23 MIA-PHL: No PDB
08.26 PHL-DFW: No PDB
08.27 DFW-PHL: No PDB

Remarkable consistency. However, once in the air, service was generally fine if slightly apathetic.

I've had my share of no-PDB flights where service was okay in-air, but I'm not ready to concede that it's an acceptable service standard. I rate service as 1-star if there's no PDB, regardless of the other service elements. IMHO it's an indispensable core aspect of the F experience and it can't really be made up for in-air. Relatedly, while it's conceptually possible that you get no PDB but great attentive and energetic service in-air, in practice that's a fantasy and your best case scenario if you weren't served a PDB is "okay" service.

I like to board a bit late when in FC. Upon boarding, if crew "working" galley, I say " If you are doing PDB, I am sitting in X and would like X". Some crew like and some don't. But it is a gentle service reminder to crew and I am not ashamed.

You actually call it pdb? When I'm not offered and I want something, I just ask if I have time to get a drink before takeoff. It's pretty rare that I'm denied (though it's also pretty rare that I bother to ask; even if it's offered I don't always take it)

Also my airplane go-to drink is coffee and Bailey's (not sure why; I pretty much only drink that on planes) and even when they do offer, they often don't have coffee brewed before takeoff.

I loves me some adult bevies but you can't wait another 20 minutes, Karen?

Yeah I'm not trying to be an a**hole, I always ask for glass of wine on the ground or rarely a beer. I'm certainly not asking for or expecting a mint muddled mojito or similar lol

All due respect: when FAs maliciously choose to skimp on PDBs have you really gotten in flight beverage service? Honestly curious, not sparring here

Have you ever not got gotten in flight beverage service when asking for it? Even in econ when they skip the cart service, I've never been denied when asking.

My solution is to only fly AA internationally.

YES. Matter of fact I've been trained out of even asking in that scenario as I get berated every time. It seems when the "due to the bumpy ride and short three hour flight time" etc etc code words go out, that's game over. Again not trying to spar here, just coming from my personal experience. If yours is better I'm very glad to know it.