Free drinks for AY Plats [and other experience reports of Plat recognition]
#466
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 177
Platinum recognition on AY is sometimes weird. On my recent flight, a FA said "Sä varmaan haluut lehden" (in English something like "I bet you want a paper") and handed a tabloid, Ilta-Sanomat, without any choise.
Is it so difficult to say: Welcome aboard, good to see you back. Would you like something to read?
Is it so difficult to say: Welcome aboard, good to see you back. Would you like something to read?
The soft perk of free newspapers has been running already quite a long time. Still it appears not to be handled appropriately. Today I was on AY754 in Y, with my better half. No recognition at all. When the newspapers came to our row 8, I asked for IS. "It is 3 euros". I replied something like "... I am plat". "It is 3 euros". "Really? I think it is free for plat customers". "Are you plat? Sorry, I do not have the list on my hand. Here it comes. Any newspapers for the lady?". Soon after she came with two bottles of champagne. "Please have here some champagne for you both". For us as Fanta-only, this compensation trial did not work very well...
#467
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,232
non-AY OWEs
Mrs999 and I are both OWE by virtue of being BA Gold. The last year or two, when flying AY Y we have almost always been offered newspapers, usually with the purser/FA bringing them to our seats before takeoff (i.e., well before the sales trolley comes through). However, we have never been offered a free drink.
#468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,879
Mrs999 and I are both OWE by virtue of being BA Gold. The last year or two, when flying AY Y we have almost always been offered newspapers, usually with the purser/FA bringing them to our seats before takeoff (i.e., well before the sales trolley comes through). However, we have never been offered a free drink.
And seriously speaking, you must have had a string of bad experiences, as it is normal for OWE to get a free drink.
#469
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 3,154
Mrs999 and I are both OWE by virtue of being BA Gold. The last year or two, when flying AY Y we have almost always been offered newspapers, usually with the purser/FA bringing them to our seats before takeoff (i.e., well before the sales trolley comes through). However, we have never been offered a free drink.
#470
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: Finnair (AY) Platinum, Air France Silver, Tallink Club One Silver :)
Posts: 1,655
The free drink platinum benefit is advertised as:
You and your travel companion will receive a free drink and a newspaper when flying in Finnair Economy Class.
I've had a number of flights where we were two on the booking and indeed both of us got NF and a paper. Any experience on "how far" one can go with the number of travel companions, or is this strictly a "+1" benefit, like the lounge access. Of course I'm not expecting that in case of a group booking everyone would get a champagne, but on my next flight we'll be three of us on one booking.
Any experience?
You and your travel companion will receive a free drink and a newspaper when flying in Finnair Economy Class.
I've had a number of flights where we were two on the booking and indeed both of us got NF and a paper. Any experience on "how far" one can go with the number of travel companions, or is this strictly a "+1" benefit, like the lounge access. Of course I'm not expecting that in case of a group booking everyone would get a champagne, but on my next flight we'll be three of us on one booking.
Any experience?
Earlier this month I had a HEL-BUD-HEL trip. We were travelling as a party of 3 (1 plat, 1 gold and a silver, so we would have just needed a basic to cover the whole spectrum ).
On the HEL-BUD flight when asked for 3 champagne, the FA was first hesitant (she was for sure still new, as she was getting "directions" from her colleague), so she asked if she can give out 3 bottles. Her colleague at the end replied to "usually it is for 2 ppl, but you can decide". So we all got champagne.
On the BUD-HEL segment 10 days later, the FA was a lot firmer. He said that only Plat +1, so if we want a third one, we have to pay for that. He also mentioned, that it would be different for a family, where 2 adults could get the champagne, and kids would get soft drinks / juice.
#472
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,649
#473
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 3,154
#474
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,649
Their website in the Plat page says "You and your travel companion will receive a free drink and a newspaper when flying in Finnair Economy Class", it doesn't explicitly say one beverage per person. Let's say someone orders a gin & tonic, they will be handed two containers of free liquid. As some FA's like to provide more than one serving, it makes me think there is no official policy.
#475
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 3,154
Their website in the Plat page says "You and your travel companion will receive a free drink and a newspaper when flying in Finnair Economy Class", it doesn't explicitly say one beverage per person. Let's say someone orders a gin & tonic, they will be handed two containers of free liquid. As some FA's like to provide more than one serving, it makes me think there is no official policy.
#476
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum, IHG Gold, Diners
Posts: 1,274
I've never had problems to get champagne for me and the mrs, and cokes for the two juniors. I could have sworn I had seen it being mentioned plat + 3 somewhere is the max, but as I can't find it, I must have dreamt it.
#478
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
I'm assuming "companion" would mean either being on the same PNR or someone sitting with you.
(Otherwise we all should send a champers to the sorry traveller on 58Ö)
(Otherwise we all should send a champers to the sorry traveller on 58Ö)