Flew SJU-EWR on Friday. Was booked in FC on the much aligned "Z". I opted to take an earlier flight home rather than waiting - ended up in Y. Anyway two thirds of the way through the flight I notice the FA walk up to the guy in front of me - she had a glass wrapped in one of those washclothes they give you to freshen up in FC. Turns out the glass was a sundae....

I remember reading an snippet in Maxim a few years ago about the likelihood of getting a FC meal in coach and a FA wrote in a letter to the editor the next month (and I quote him/her) that you had a better chance of surviving a fiery crash than getting a FC meal in coach. While I know the basic food groups and the fact that this wasn't a full meal - it still seemed a bit odd.

The way I figured it maybe he was a CO employee - but he wasn't chatting away with any of the FAs before that.

While in F, I've tried to send my sundae to a friend in back a couple times, and I've always been declined. I was told I could take it back myself, but they weren't supposed to be seen back there delivering F food to Y pax. Makes sense to me.

So you're probably right, sounds like an employee...

I've passed on drinks, sundaes, and full meals back to my friends/family who may be stuck in Y. In most cases, the FA's don't mind as long as they're done serving everyone in F first with their meal service.

Don't see anything odd about it at all.

Since I'm managing to stay within 10 lbs. of my high school graduation weight - 25 years later - I usually decline the fattening, rather tasteless glop CO calls a sundae (which isn't made from a quality ice cream in the first place) and think it's great that they choose to give it to someone else - crew, coach or whatever.

I try to avoid the excess calories of the sundaes. Since I board first I try to notice if a nice well behaved child is boarding the plane. Most FAs were glad to send the sundae back to the child, and not once did they say they wouldn't do it. My favorite was an angelic little curly blonde with a princess t-shirt. How could I refuse. I sent the FA back with the message and sundae saying "from one princess to another" The FA said she was ecstatic!

I have taken sundaes back to coach a few time - always to kids, except for one college-age kid who drooled a bit when he noticed me counting the sundaes during boarding. It was just too cute and innocent, the look on his face. After the service, I made a small sundae in a plastic coffee cup and surprised him with it.

Occasionally we do nice things for non-employees, too.

You and occasionally some of your co-workers too! It's appreciated. ^

I fly the IAH � SJU route at least once a month (sometimes 2 or 3). After a while you get to know the FA and the times they work. There are 5 �regulars� on the flight and often there are no upgrades on the flight. When the FAs have a regular in the back they usually treat them like they are in F. These regulars are also costars and have a min of 175,000 EQM last year.

It's bad business to bring F amenities to Y... for a "displaced" elite regular, employee, or otherwise. Period.

I totally agree. I think it looks really bad to all the other passengers in Y. When you're flying coach, you expect that the people up front are going to get better food, better service, better seats, etc. And [most] people are fine with that because they know that they either paid more or upgraded for those amenities. However, when somebody who is in the same cabin as you is getting special treatment, it reeks of favoritism. (that's why non-elites don't like United's E+/E- in my humble opinion).

The exception would be sundaes for kids, gotta love the kids (except when they kick your seat). If there's an employee you really want to give a sundae to, why not buy them an ice cream at the airport. Now if there's a WN executive on your plane, you should give them a sundae just to be funny.

I tend to agree for the most part, however it's occasionally nice to just be nice and welcoming. And who knows - perhaps my drooling college kid will grow up to be a mega-uber-duper-frequent flyer with a fondness for my airline.