Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that on many flights in F they seem to delay or not provide drinks before the flight starts and they have even cut back the amount of times that they come out to ask? It seems that they spend more time hiding in the galleys and eating the leftovers than actually servicing. I don't drink much but I like one before we take off and depending upon the flight maybe one or 2 more but over the last few weeks it is way down.

Happy to say, this has not been my experience. All FC flights recently have been drinks as usual.

My only experience with this is that because "EliteAccess" people rush on-board prior to F passengers, I've noticed the FA's waiting until a decent amount of F passengers have boarded for pre-departure drinks. (Otherwise the FA's get stuck in the aisle as coach passengers move through.) On a few flights, because F passengers weren't able to board until right before departure, pre-departure drinks weren't offered.

However, those exceptions excluded, I've experience no change in drink service before and during flight time.

Yes, I've noticed this on more and more flights recently. Also, FA's sitting in the galley area reading paperbacks etc. To be honest, thought it was just lazy FA's, didn't think it was anything to do with CO.

This is nothing new and the solution has been previously worked out and is about 100% effective. Point your eyes and one hand upwards and push the button marked "attendent" or whatever by the air vent. Sometimes you gotta do it a couple of times if the paperback novel is especially interesting or they are talking about food.

MisterNice

LOL, then face the wrath.....

I have been a quite a few flights with no preflight drink. I figured its lazy FA's also!
I almost asked one time if there was a policy change just to see what they would say. I could tell that I was not the only passenger in F that was wondering why we didn't get a drink!


[This message has been edited by CraigS (edited Feb 22, 2004).]

I sure hope I don't get too thirsty tomorrow on my penultimate flight as a Platinum Elite for the 2003 NonePass� year.

Valid point about the "BUTTON". It seems that it would more likely piss them off than actually get you something, especially if you push it for a drink. Someone in front of me did that the other day and she came out and said "as soon as I get done with what I am doing I will get it to you". No one knows what she was doing because there was no food on the flight.

Oh my goodness, heaven forbid you don't get your little 6 oz beverage before the flight leaves.

I've noticed that the level of service depends on each particular flight crew. I had good service in FC last week. I even got served a chicken Ceaser salad from IAH-MEM. (59 minutes with tail winds)

I think its hilarious when someone pushes the "call attendant" button. They FA's always seem to stay busy for at least 5 minutes before coming out and turning it off with complete indignation. I sure hope there is never a medical emergency.

You know, 20 years ago when I started flying first class, the FA's went out of their way to make their passengers welcome, pre-flight drink, a personal welcome of the passenger by name. First class sure ain't the same since they started letting people like me in.

Maybe after the next time Continental goes Chapter 11 you can get a good "Manufacturing" job at Burger King, where you won't have to worry about kissing your customer's you-know-what.

Continental's got a lot of great employees, but there's a few who need to learn that their economic security is dependent on customer satisfaction.

Recently flew CLE-xxx (location not disclosed to protect FA).
As usual with Elite Access boarding from a hub about 30 pax Stormed The Citadel (gate) all at the same time. (No pre-boarding of FC.)

I was lucky to be upgrade to FC (CO Gold).

After we were airborne, the lead FA apologized to all pax in FC for not offering pre-flight beverage service. She commented that the boarding process has gotten much more chaotic in recent months.

I only get upgraded about 50% of the time on CO (on NW the rate is over 80%). Even so, they should pre-board FC, then Elite Access.

I agree about the First Class, as there are often people who pay more for those seats and should get on but I find it funny when the flight attendant is fighting his/her way in and out of the crowd trying to serve drinks and slowing down the boarding process. When I used to ride in coach a lot more it used to irk me but when I'm in FC I am just amused by it.

quote:
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Originally posted by mywifeisincoach:
Oh my goodness, heaven forbid you don't get your little 6 oz beverage before the flight leaves.


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And to those people that seem to have a problem w/the little drinky, perhaps they are the problem w/the service industry. A perk is something that you are ENTITLED to after spending lots of money and time going in circles getting, in some cases, the bad service from these same people.

Watch it snake ***~~~~~~~~~~<, penultimate is one of those Enhanced , words. I think it's really affecting you, man.

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"The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You"