Why Do I Have to Wait for a Bartender for a Diet Coke in the Skyclub?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
Why Do I Have to Wait for a Bartender for a Diet Coke in the Skyclub?
Non-US carriers don't seem to bother with bartenders in their clubs - the bottles are just out (OK, don't tell me how I'm wrong on this point even if I am, it's not the point of the post.)
The Skyclubs have bartenders - but also make you see the bartender for non-alcoholic drinks. Why?
I assume it's not about reducing consumption - soda from a machine is cheap.
In fact, I suspect that many customers who would just grab a soda if they didn't have to wait for a bartender end up ordering alcohol if they are forced to deal with a bartender. So this practice might actually cost Delta money.
The Skyclubs have bartenders - but also make you see the bartender for non-alcoholic drinks. Why?
I assume it's not about reducing consumption - soda from a machine is cheap.
In fact, I suspect that many customers who would just grab a soda if they didn't have to wait for a bartender end up ordering alcohol if they are forced to deal with a bartender. So this practice might actually cost Delta money.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
No bartenders or waiting at the 4 DTW clubs (or MSP C club, and NRT). There's probably a few others out there.
#3
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
DL's bar experience is really fragmented. Most of the PMNW clubs don't have bartenders, which I don't really get since we're approaching the 10 year mark since the merger. Some of the ATL clubs used to have Freestyle machines, but they pulled them for some reason.
I'm hoping that the DCA club will get a soda machine, since that bar line can get long, but I'm not optimistic.
I'm hoping that the DCA club will get a soda machine, since that bar line can get long, but I'm not optimistic.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Probably not adding value here but I agree 100% with this complaint. I just don't get beverages at Skyclubs (except those that have soda machines.. there are a few) because it's a pain to deal with a bartender. I'm sure you can bend over backwards to explain why they don't have self-service alcohol at a lot of places but I can't for the life of me figure out why the damn soda machine is behind the bar.
#5
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Probably not adding value here but I agree 100% with this complaint. I just don't get beverages at Skyclubs (except those that have soda machines.. there are a few) because it's a pain to deal with a bartender. I'm sure you can bend over backwards to explain why they don't have self-service alcohol at a lot of places but I can't for the life of me figure out why the damn soda machine is behind the bar.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Non-US carriers don't seem to bother with bartenders in their clubs - the bottles are just out (OK, don't tell me how I'm wrong on this point even if I am, it's not the point of the post.)
The Skyclubs have bartenders - but also make you see the bartender for non-alcoholic drinks. Why?
I assume it's not about reducing consumption - soda from a machine is cheap.
In fact, I suspect that many customers who would just grab a soda if they didn't have to wait for a bartender end up ordering alcohol if they are forced to deal with a bartender. So this practice might actually cost Delta money.
The Skyclubs have bartenders - but also make you see the bartender for non-alcoholic drinks. Why?
I assume it's not about reducing consumption - soda from a machine is cheap.
In fact, I suspect that many customers who would just grab a soda if they didn't have to wait for a bartender end up ordering alcohol if they are forced to deal with a bartender. So this practice might actually cost Delta money.
1) Income must be maximized and costs minimized.
2) Customers will blindly cooperate with 1) regardless of customer service cuts.
#7
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
I hate it when the bartender seems to pour on the over-the-top charm when I order a Coke Zero, and I can sense a frown / pout when he / she hears that it's not an alcoholic drink, probably thinking - - - Here's another no-tipper!
That's why I LUUUV the new self serve iced tea dispensers!
That's why I LUUUV the new self serve iced tea dispensers!
#8
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
It seems like it's just Delta's culture to avoid letting people do self-service on anything. Need to do a same-day change? Call in! Need to remove yourself from the C+ upgrade list? Call in! Need to change your flight? Call in, because the website/app will error out! Want a diet coke? Ask the bartender!
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
Programs: DL DM/MM , IHG Plat, MR Titanium, HH Gold, EK Frequent Kettle, UA Silver, AA Hater
Posts: 2,020
I loved when they had the fancy machine in ATL A.
Seems like every time they try something I like, they get rid of it! (cranberry cookies!)
Seems like every time they try something I like, they get rid of it! (cranberry cookies!)
#10
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I hate it when the bartender seems to pour on the over-the-top charm when I order a Coke Zero, and I can sense a frown / pout when he / she hears that it's not an alcoholic drink, probably thinking - - - Here's another no-tipper!
That's why I LUUUV the new self serve iced tea dispensers!
That's why I LUUUV the new self serve iced tea dispensers!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
But that's what I don't get. Bartenders are expensive. Having a bartender raises costs. One can argue that by making people wait in line for coke zero it means that they end up saving money on alcohol costs (due to people not wanting to wait in line).. but that is a stretch at best.
It seems like it's just Delta's culture to avoid letting people do self-service on anything. Need to do a same-day change? Call in! Need to remove yourself from the C+ upgrade list? Call in! Need to change your flight? Call in, because the website/app will error out! Want a diet coke? Ask the bartender!
It seems like it's just Delta's culture to avoid letting people do self-service on anything. Need to do a same-day change? Call in! Need to remove yourself from the C+ upgrade list? Call in! Need to change your flight? Call in, because the website/app will error out! Want a diet coke? Ask the bartender!
1) You can't sell over-priced premium beverages without one.
2) Have you never seen anyone make repeated trips to a club self-service bar, only to return to a discrete corner of the club in order to fill a water bottle with free spirits?
Keep in mind that the club bartenders are contract employees, not DL employees. I doubt that any of the bartenders are funding top-of-the-line BMWs on their salaries.
Having a separate self-serve soda machine** removes the possibility that someone, after waiting in line, will end up saying, "What the hell... I'll buy an XXX"... especially after they see what the non-XXX alternatives are.
** In ATL, it would be a coke machine. JFK, a soda machine. MSP, a pop machine. The Pop vs. Soda Page
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
In any case, there are vending machines in the concourse.
#13
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Really? I had no idea. Can I use my DL Reserve card to get free drinks from them?
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
The weird thing is that this forum is literally littered with complaints about how low-rent the skyclubs are, when Delta does something to move them upmarket, we get complaints that the clubs aren't slummy enough.
Uh, really! Vote with your feet.
"The clubs are DUMPS!"
"We want a FANCY club... BUT we want a big taco bell soda fountain in the middle of it!"
Uh, really! Vote with your feet.
"The clubs are DUMPS!"
"We want a FANCY club... BUT we want a big taco bell soda fountain in the middle of it!"
Last edited by Canarsie; Mar 14, 2018 at 3:59 pm Reason: Consolidation.
#15
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Did that really require three separate posts?
A Freestyle machine would be reasonable, and would blend in fine with the decor of the SC.
Coke makes smaller versions that take up very little space.
A Freestyle machine would be reasonable, and would blend in fine with the decor of the SC.
Coke makes smaller versions that take up very little space.