My solution is to not fly AA anywhere if I can help it.

These are all news/blog reports. Where’s the public press release from AA (I see nothing on AA’s Newsroom site on this topic from Feb 2022)? Where is this benefit advertised anywhere on AA’s website?

I appreciate that you enjoy your Milwaukee's Best or malt liquor when you can get one, but particularly for people who pay for first class tickets, it is reasonable to expect to receive what is included in the ticket price.

My favorite excuse is that it is illegal or unsafe to serve alcohol on the ground.

I've consistently been getting full PDBs lately. As I'm usually running for the plane it would be annoying to not get the promised service.

AA = consistently inconsistent.

8/29 MEX-DFW - no PDB
8/29 DFW-DCA - water only

Service in the air was great on both legs though.

PDB offered today PHX-KOA.

How is that a Karen? I am not making a scene or demanding anything; simply letting my preference be known. For you, an airplane may be a necessity. For me, its a traveling bar and I treat it as such. Sometimes service is quick and sometime slow. But with today's service levels, asking is better than hoping! YMMV.

Increased incidents of PDBs probably linked to FA contract negotiations rather than a spontaneous universal recognition of job description and requirements. Expect a re-fall off after the new contract, or a total disappearance if/after a strike.

I must be lucky, aside one one TATL AA flight (DFW-LHR) I have been offered (not always partaking) a pdb on every donestic AA flight this year. Two or three were not open bar though if I recall correctly. 18 first flights which is a good sample size albeit not many compared to other FT’ers.

edit: I jinxed myself… no pdb offered (and generally underwhelming service) on my PHX-LAX today

3/3 on my legs today for PDB:
AA2420 IAH-DFW
AA1039 DFW-LAX
AA2205 LAX-HNL

(first two had water/OJt trays, but all 3 fulfilled other drink requests before boarding finished)

Snack baskets gone?
 

On my recent flights (for about a month), PDBs have been rare and there hasn’t been a snack basket. Instead, there has been a metal tray with Biscoffs and pretzels. But at least now I know that some pretzel bags are blue and some are orange.

9/14 AA2995 JFK-MEX: Nothing. We were a bit delayed due to late arrival of an FA, but still. Pretty below average senior crew once in the air.

9/18 AA264 MEX-MIA: Water or OJ. Very good crew once in the air

9/18 AA2225 MIA-JFK: Water or OJ. Widebody flight and the FA working my aisle was probably the rudest and least professional AA FA I’ve ever had, doing things like waving and snapping her fingers in pax’s faces while also literally barking at pax during the drink and meal services. Unsurprisingly, she seemed like a very senior FA

I finding more and more Eagle FAs not doing PBDs. The Mail Line commuters must be telling them "we don't do that service anymore since COVID."

This weekend....
CLT-MIA, 0540 departure, full offering. F/A was taking forever though and kept pausing boarding... a manager got on the plane to start helping pax with bags and closing overhead bins and try to move things along so we weren't late
MIA-MCO, midday flight - anything but coffee
CLT-ORD, "we haven't been catered yet"
PIA-CLT on PSA/Eagle, flight came in late but turned around and left on time... F/A handed out cups of ice water as the jetway was retracting (and overall excellent service from the Dayton-based crew, both pilots and F/As chatting with passengers up in the gate while waiting for the plane to come in)

Today, 10/3

AA3011 ABQ-DFW (Skywest) PDB offered at 0500 and great service onboard.
AA470 DFW-PHL No PDB despite a slightly early departure. FAs happily chatting it up in the galley while boarding. So far, terrible service onboard.

I've had much more luck with regionals lately with PDBs than mainline.