Comarm

After seeing everything in this thread I wasnt expecting any PDB, but here is my experience so far on my way to NRT.

2017-08-30 DL 2162 CHA-ATL Full PDB (even managed to get a drink service in the air on the 23 minute flight)
2017-08-30 DL 1990 ATL-YYZ Partial PDB (Sparkling wine only alcohol offered on ground, everything else available)
2017-08-31 DL 6285 YYZ-DTW Partial PDB (No alcohol)

bergamini

I would say my PDB record the past month is not great, 5/13 although I was only offered beverages on 4/13 (a very new FA on a CR9 didn't ask me in 2A but did everyone else).

I do travel at fairly busy times for business travelers and am almost always on an A fare. Two times we had significant mechanicals (> 1.5 hours) with ground holds and no PDB nor a beverage during the wait.

I realize it is anecdotal but I feel like it's going away. I'm getting it more on Express flights than mainline. Including June/July, I'm getting it about 2/3 of the time on Express and 1/3 of the time on mainline.

7/30/2017 MSN>MSP - No
7/30/2017 MSP>BWI - Yes
8/4/2017 BWI>DTW - No
8/4/2017 DTW>MSN - No
8/7/2017 MSN>DCA - Yes
8/11/2017 BWI>DTW - No
8/12/2017 DTW>MSP - Yes
8/20/2017 MKE>DTW - Yes but "forgot" me as I boarded with SKY
8/20/2017 DTW>BWI - No
8/24/2017 DCA>DTW - No
8/24/2017 DTW>IND - No
8/27/2017 IND>MSP - Yes
8/28/2017 MSP>DCA - No

AANYC1981

This is a very bad track record, especially for mainline DL. I hope you're reporting or tweeting DL about your experiences with PDB.

MCO Flyer

This is very strange. I have been flying with DL regularly for 5 years now and I have only missed 2 PDB when in F. One on a ATL-DCA leg were I just came off a D1 flight so I didn't really care too much and on a MIA-MCO leg were the FA took my order but we were running behind schedule and she came back and apologized and said she would get my drink in the air. It seems DL has gotten much better with PDB over the years and I would only expect this success rate on AAnother AAirline.

bergamini

Yeah, it has gotten to the point that I don't expect it. I just decided to start keeping track after a similarly dismal July where I didn't keep track.

CHOPCHOP767

I suppose this tends to support the necessity of the thread which I thought was kind of silly given my experiences over the year. DTW as the common offender is also surprising.

StayingHomeIsBetter

As I suggested here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28678863-post895.html

I suspect that PDB failures can be correlated to ridiculously short turn-around times.

More frequent success on connection carrier flights (which I too have observed) could be because it takes less time to board a smaller plane.

SJC ORD LDR

My last flight without PDB was JAX - MSP with a DTW based crew. I think there is something about DTW that makes them less likely to be service oriented.

CrazyEddie

I usually have pretty good luck, and when we don't get a PDB, I understand it can be due to a late departure. On a recent flight, however, we were boarding late and the FAs didn't provide a PDB - but the GA and the FO had both announced that even though we were leaving late, the arrival would be *early*. I was therefore a bit miffed when we didn't get the PDB and the FAs were laughing, eating and on their PDAs (one while greeting the PAX). This thread has inspired me to keep track, as I expect that one outlier will seem insignificant if I pay more attention.

kubus_gt

53 flights, 51 PBDs... the two that didn't was 1 that was pretty much coming in hot, turn and burn, and 2nd was short 35min flight that was also late. Previous year, I noticed GoJet always had an excuse for no drinks.

bergamini

Today I had both BWI>MSP and MSP>MKE with PDB so my luck is changing! I actually am thinking DTW crews may be the common denominator. Anyway, MSP>MKE was a 739 that was full and running late, but the tall, young, and very attractive FA very deftly maneuvered the throngs of boarding pax and got us all PDB's. I gave him a JWD and he blushed. Well worth it.

readywhenyouare

No PDB on DL 2181 tonight. And it was the flight attendants that delayed us. The pilots and the plane have been on the ground over two hours.

CHOPCHOP767

Full PDB and OUTSTANDING service by FA Felicia onboard DL 5271 Bos to Ric (expressJet). She is LGA based and had one of the best attitudes I've seen on Connection in years. Jokes, smiles, and plenty of beverage runs

readywhenyouare

Delta Connection flight attendants often have a much better sense of humor than mainline. We had a really funny one on ATL-OMA on Expressjet.

KDCAflyer

I'll take an Endeavor FA over mainline almost any day.