Shenanigans in FC ATL-LAX yesterday
Sitting in 1B on the 757 yesterday enjoying my PDB Bloody Mary and when the lead FA got the manifest she approached me, leaned in, and quietly said "we are FEBO this flight so I am taking orders from the back. We really appreciate your business and the fact that you have flown over a million miles so let me know if you want the chicken salad or the Burger". I was the only person she approached and I find it hard to believe I was the only MM in FC so I am a bit baffled.
Obviously I am OK with this (:)) but the guy next to me seemed pretty perturbed. I thought it was a nice gesture but if said guy next to me would have had an issue I would have gladly taken whatever was left. Has this happened to any of you guys? Probably could cause a real issue/scene with DYKWIA types so I am surprised the FA would take the chance. I actually half expected to see a Shenna battle cry on this board today but obviously no FTer saw the infraction :) |
A similar gesture for me about three months ago. But in that case, she gave the guy sitting next to me the same advance selection, probably to avoid the issue you ran in to.
Not exactly sure this rises to the dreaded level of an --- "S" alert ... |
I'm wondering if there's a list of passengers generated for meal orders as part of the manifest.
I've been in a situation where the row in front has been asked, then the FA approaching other passengers randomly around the cabin, and then coming to me and telling me that I had to take whatever was left. The first time I was on a paid FC ticket and I just inquired why I was the last one to be asked, the FA said he had a list and he had to follow the strict order. Second time I was upgraded, and I believe no other medallions were aboard as when the FO window opened (JFK-SDQ on a Saturday night), I was the only one upgraded, and the rest of the seats were occupied between 1 hour and 15 minutes before departure time (many NRSA Bps including the passenger sitting next to me). I was also the only to board when PREM was called. This time I also asked why I was the last to chose being a medallion, the answer was the same, "I have a list and you are at the bottom, but I'll let you choose". |
Originally Posted by avidflyer
(Post 23410520)
Sitting in 1B on the 757 yesterday enjoying my PDB Bloody Mary and when the lead FA got the manifest she approached me, leaned in, and quietly said "we are FEBO this flight so I am taking orders from the back. We really appreciate your business and the fact that you have flown over a million miles so let me know if you want the chicken salad or the Burger". I was the only person she approached and I find it hard to believe I was the only MM in FC so I am a bit baffled.
Obviously I am OK with this (:)) but the guy next to me seemed pretty perturbed. I thought it was a nice gesture but if said guy next to me would have had an issue I would have gladly taken whatever was left. Has this happened to any of you guys? Probably could cause a real issue/scene with DYKWIA types so I am surprised the FA would take the chance. I actually half expected to see a Shenna battle cry on this board today but obviously no FTer saw the infraction :) |
They could fix this completely by following the lead of other airlines and letting F/J passengers order their meals in advance. You know, technology.
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A choice of chicken salad or burger on a 4 + hour flight! Respectfully, I would not read too much into it. Now if it were 20 years ago, and the selections were a nice filet or chicken dish, that might be something to write about.
It is nice to see how over the past several months, MM's have been getting some recognition. |
Originally Posted by avidflyer
(Post 23410520)
Sitting in 1B on the 757 yesterday enjoying my PDB Bloody Mary and when the lead FA got the manifest she approached me, leaned in, and quietly said "we are FEBO this flight so I am taking orders from the back. We really appreciate your business and the fact that you have flown over a million miles so let me know if you want the chicken salad or the Burger". I was the only person she approached and I find it hard to believe I was the only MM in FC so I am a bit baffled.
Haven't seen this myself on DL but sure, it's possible you were the only MM on this particular flt. Personally don't like this idea of selecting which pax get to choose meals first but at least if they are non-rev, they usually say they will take whatever is available. |
Originally Posted by Sez_Who
(Post 23410949)
I thought it was UA policy to ask the 1k/GS pax in F for their orders before asking others, no?
Haven't seen this myself on DL but sure, it's possible you were the only MM on this particular flt. Personally don't like this idea of selecting which pax get to choose meals first but at least if they are non-rev, they usually say they will take whatever is available. |
Originally Posted by SCEflyer
(Post 23410876)
A choice of chicken salad or burger on a 4 + hour flight! Respectfully, I would not read too much into it. Now if it were 20 years ago, and the selections were a nice filet or chicken dish, that might be something to write about.
It is nice to see how over the past several months, MM's have been getting some recognition. |
Originally Posted by Sez_Who
(Post 23410949)
Personally don't like this idea of selecting which pax get to choose meals first.
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Originally Posted by kpfleming
(Post 23410863)
They could fix this completely by following the lead of other airlines and letting F/J passengers order their meals in advance. You know, technology.
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I agree that there should be a way to order the preferred meal in advance.
But until that time, I am quite happy to see the FAs go by some sort of rank order. |
I have had this in Y on a TATL. Purser approaches me before take off and says "Mr Gralistair, I see you are one of our Diamonds. Please ask if there is anything we can do to help" Me "Thankyou, actually there is. Sometimes you run out of the Cold Chicken Salad option before getting to me as I could not get an EC seat, is there any chance at all please of ensuring I get that option?" ---- "No problem sir, leave it to me" ^:)
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On monday's BWI-MSP flight, the FA took orders starting at 1A working front to back across the rows. When the FA got to Mr 3D, he had missed out on his choice. He then asked the FA why he was last and didn't get his cohoice, the FA said that they do them in row order, front to back and if he wanted his choice to sit in 1A.
However on last night's MSP-BWI flight, the FA took them starting from the back and worked forward :-) So much for consistency. |
Originally Posted by ontherun
(Post 23411178)
On monday's BWI-MSP flight, the FA took orders starting at 1A working front to back across the rows. When the FA got to Mr 3D, he had missed out on his choice. He then asked the FA why he was last and didn't get his cohoice, the FA said that they do them in row order, front to back and if he wanted his choice to sit in 1A.
However on last night's MSP-BWI flight, the FA took them starting from the back and worked forward :-) So much for consistency. |
Originally Posted by kpfleming
(Post 23410863)
They could fix this completely by following the lead of other airlines and letting F/J passengers order their meals in advance. You know, technology.
In fact I just booked a FC transcon flight on AA instead of Delta and that is one of the main selling points. American has had the pre-order meal system now for I think two years now and it works great. I personally really appreciate being able to not only choose my selection but also knowing what I am going to be eating. By the way, as someone with no status and who is in First with a paid for FC ticket, I find it immensely annoying to be passed over first for someone with status with a free upgrade. |
Originally Posted by Miesque
(Post 23411234)
By the way, as someone with no status and who is in First with a paid for FC ticket, I find it immensely annoying to be passed over first for someone with status with a free upgrade.
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Originally Posted by avidflyer
(Post 23411203)
It is called FEBO (Start taking orders from: Front Even Back Odd) based on the flight number.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yJgOQaS-ix...management.jpg |
Originally Posted by davetravels
(Post 23411295)
F airline food - - FEBO Amsterdam - - Same same. . . . . except in Amsterdam, your selection is alwayz available! ;)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yJgOQaS-ix...management.jpg |
Originally Posted by avidflyer
(Post 23410520)
Has this happened to any of you guys?
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How you look at this is generally based on whether you are a Diamond or not.
When I was a DM, I was impressed with this gesture. As a GM that was always fortunate when I got to sit up front, I understood. I have found that the best kind of recognition goes something like this--a few years ago, I was on a BWI-SLC sector that used a 757 (sadly they have gone to A320s on this route). On this particular trip, we were supposed to have one of the NW 5500 series 22 F seat planes; we ended up with a PMDL 24 seat F. Gate Gourmet only catered 22 F meals. I was sitting in row 1, and the FA came up to me and asked what I wanted for dinner; I didn't like what was on offer (they only had one entree choice), so I said I'll just drink my dinner and eat from the snack basket. The FA was thrilled, because they now had meals for every other F seat. The FA made sure my glass was never less than half-empty all the way to Utah. |
This sort of thing makes me scratch my head. Delta is trying to fill the first class cabin with paid F passengers yet they take the meal order by status? That is just wrong. Anyone who paid for F should get first choice over upgrades.
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So, has it been determined yet, whether or not the FA manifest differentiates between paid F pax and Medallion UGs? . . . . . But then, shouldn't mileage or cert UGs be, perhaps, above free UGs, but below paid F?
I can see this getting convoluted. |
Originally Posted by kpfleming
(Post 23410863)
They could fix this completely by following the lead of other airlines and letting F/J passengers order their meals in advance. You know, technology.
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Originally Posted by bennos
(Post 23413072)
Thank goodness for SPMLs! I always put one in when booked into F or UG'd in advance. (For an UG at the gate I just assume I won't like either option.)
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Originally Posted by readywhenyouare
(Post 23412945)
This sort of thing makes me scratch my head. Delta is trying to fill the first class cabin with paid F passengers yet they take the meal order by status? That is just wrong. Anyone who paid for F should get first choice over upgrades.
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Originally Posted by avidflyer
(Post 23413449)
But I did and always do pay for F ? She did not mention that but did mention the MM status.
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Originally Posted by Sez_Who
(Post 23410949)
I thought it was UA policy to ask the 1k/GS pax in F for their orders before asking others, no?
About the only thing I miss from my days with AA is the pre-order meals. Before that system was in place, they were strictly FEBO. The only time being a CK got me better service was on an ERJ 145 from MEM to ORD. I was in the A side exit row and the FA walked straight to my seat, asked what I wanted, delivered my order with a cup full of almonds (unprompted) and then starts cart service with 1A. It actually made me a little uncomfortable with all the EXPs giving me the "who the heck is that jerk" stare. |
So in other words to beat the system -
One has to determine what the random meal distribution is going to be on any given day and factor in the equipment and toss the rules manual if there is going to be a blue moon in that month ! But really in this day and age of computers should not be too much of a hassle to manifest those folk riding in the front cabin based on status; fare paid; upgraded and nrsa standby. Judging that flights with meals are going to be at somewhere near 3 hours - that is an awful lot of time to filter the manifest so that the meals (choice if any) are first offered to the customer who paid full fare; then to those that paid a lesser fare (Y) but were upgraded; then the DM PM GM etc. who get a status upgrade and what is left goes to whoever is left in the cabin. If the computer can work a standby/upgrade list at the gate just simply print the darn thing out and give it the FA working F/B with the meal pecking order and be done with it. Often times when FC has not been provisioned correctly I have noted the FAs will rob the meals for purchase in the back cabin and comp them ! Better something than nothing. |
Originally Posted by avidflyer
(Post 23413449)
But I did and always do pay for F ? She did not mention that but did mention the MM status.
Also, AFAIK DL doesn't want FAs to know fare class (from the manifest) or whether an elite was upgraded into the premium cabin so as prevent FAs from giving various types of service to different revenue passengers (including award tickets). However, nonrevs are clearly identified to FAs and are supposed to get last choice on meals (or no meal if there was a catering error). Similarly, nonrevs aren't supposed to request drink refills that aren't offered by the FA and they shouldn't, for example, request that an additional bottle of champagne be opened just for them, etc. The manifest does show FF status and some FAs and pursers make sure that top tier elites get their preferred meals. Ideally this is done discretely and I really appreciate this when it happens. It doesn't require jumping around the cabin, just asking some passengers for their second and even third choices (this seems to be how it's supposed to be done with nonrevs) and then reconciling the numbers in the galley before meal service. |
Originally Posted by readywhenyouare
(Post 23412945)
This sort of thing makes me scratch my head. Delta is trying to fill the first class cabin with paid F passengers yet they take the meal order by status? That is just wrong. Anyone who paid for F should get first choice over upgrades.
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Originally Posted by SCEflyer
(Post 23414577)
I agree with you, but wonder how many pax in F really pay to sit in that cabin, and in any case, would the manifest make a difference between paid F, including A or P, and upgrades?
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