One thing I've noticed since the merger is inconsistency! What is the norm for pre-flight drinks in first class? I fly the same flights weekly and it's different from one to another. Is it strictly the flight attendants decision on whether or not they want to? I have truly noticed that the times they do serve drinks pre-flight, most of the time, the flight attendant is a lot nicer and harder working than the others. I was just curious if I'm right that it's the lazy attendants decision whether or not they want to serve drinks!

In the past eight years, I can count on one hand the number of DL crews who failed to serve predeparture drinks.

Usually they only skip it if the flight is late and the FA's trips down the aisle would slow down boarding in the main cabin.

My experience is that it depends on the Sr. FA and how full the flight is. Also, many times when there is no pre-flt service, they are still loading the supplies through the starboard side door.

There are a lot of excuses you can make - late catering, full flights, lots of carry-on, but in my experience the Delta crews almost never miss the PFD, while the NWA crews got it done maybe half the time pre-takeover and almost never now. I'm at about 25% in the last month (3 for 13) on NWA flights and at 100% on DL.

I have spent hours sitting on a fully-catered plane, watching the FAs congregate in the forward galley chatting while the pax in FC sit drinkless and holding their coats in their laps. As a NWA-loving, Detroit based flyer, I can only say that if this was MY airline to run, I would be raising hell and making it manditory except in the case of extreme delays in boarding or catering.

IMO it has nothing to do with OPS and everything to do with the attitude of the crews. I hate to be so blunt, but in hundreds of flights I have come to the conclusion that most Delta crews know the meaning of service, and provide it to the passengers, while most NWA crews do the minimum if you are lucky, and usually less than that...... Too much work, and it interferes with reading US magazine and gossiping!!!

There are many exceptions to this rule, but I have to say that when I get on an NWA flight, I am not counting on that drink. Is anybody from management paying attention? Do they even know?

+1 .. as I said "policy" leaves this to the Sr. FA on-board. PLEASE don't BLAST me, but to be blunt, the younger the SR. FA, the better your chances of getting a drink pre-departure.

I find that the Delta FC isn't much better than NW lately in terms of PFD. They seem ok with just the water and not much else.

Each time they don't do PFD, we should TTU (talk to us emails) so that they can ensure that there is consistant service. They do actually pay attention to this. Not sure if in the past Delta did but this certain aspect of NW is a good part of the integration.

I noticed that the NW FAs seem to think that the water bottles are an excuse not to do Pre-flight drinks on occassion but its not widespread.