I've been on four DL segments over the last three days. Mainly because NW pricing is not remotely competitive on itineraries like TYS-ELP and TYS-CHS. But that's a different rant.

Everywhere I encountered cheerful GAs and FAs. The pilot even rang a little ceremonial bell at 4pm to celebrate the close of the first day of DAL's (re)trading. New uniforms, clean M80s, all round pleasant journeys. Even (gasp!) little snacks in coach.

As I contrast this with a number of recent NW experiences, attitudes and perceptions (including some from this board), it's hard not to draw worrisome conclusions if NW does not get Chapter 11 behind them and soon.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (MobilePhone SCP-5400/US/1.0) NetFront/3.0 MMP/2.0)

I haven't been following Delta too closely, but I suspect they haven't had similar antagonistic management-stomping-on-union antics that NWA has pulled.

I understand how you feel. I still think NW treats Plats very well but I have been on a few UA flights lately as a Silver and there is a noticable difference in the air (the GA's still really stink IMO). I think NW is on the right track but they just need to add some front-line customer centric focus to close the deal. You will not find a more pro-NW guy than me and even I do sometimes wonder if the free UG's are worth it...but only for a second

I haven't had any issues with NW in-flight lately -- 11 segments on NW/KL in March (mostly NW) and all was hunky dory.

Earlier in the year I did TTU a couple incidents of no-preflight-beverage service with no good excuses, but in the March flights (with one exception that I mulled over for a couple days and decided if I couldn't make up my own mind I wouldn't TTU it) everything was either up to snuff or there were obvious reasons (late plane/catering, awesome cattle call boarding that packed the aisles full). All of the FA's were great, no 'tudes on exhibit.

Maybe we were lucky, but that's our recent snapshot of NW -- all in F, of course.

DL really is a different situation. As the airlines were headed into C-11, DL made an effort to maintain & improve their in-flight service in contrast w/ the NW "race to the bottom". It's why I can stand to fly all day in Y on DL but not on NW.

On my DTW-MSP-LAS flight on 4/29, I had what I would consider both the excellent and the very bad that people here mention. I will be writing to TTU tonight, but thought I would share some details here. I was in F for this. I apologize in advance, as this will be long winded.

DTW-MSP: The FC FA was amazing. I don't think I've EVER had as good service as I had from this guy (with the exception of Carla who does the MSP-HNL service). Pre-flight drinks were served, coats hung, cabin cleaned before take off. This was after a 45 minute delay awaiting inbound AC and a quick turn. This guy didn't even look frazzled. Once in the air, another drink service was offered, and when I ordered a gin and tonic, was asked if I wanted one strong one, or split into two decent ones. While I like strong G&T's, it was a great touch, and I did take him up on it. The snack box was passed out, another drink service, another pass with the snack box, and water service. He did not sit once second of the time he didn't have to. He also greeted each passenger by name during the first drink service. It was a shame that it was such a short flight, as he was excellent.

MSP-LAS: No pre-flight drink. Coats were hung, but the cabin trash was not cleaned until the last second. Drink service came around once in the air. FA was a bit rude, but not too bad yet. FA sat down for a little, then started the meal service. (No pretzels/nuts served, as is typical...) Not a smile graced her face during the meal service, and it seemed to be just a load of trouble for her. I had a G&T during the first drink service that was now empty, but was not offered another during meal service, nor was I offered wine as the other passengers were. I guess she assumed I didn't want any as I had a empty G&T? I did ask for aa G&T during meal service and it was greeted with a huffy "certainly'. I was the second from last person served, so it was not like she had the rest of the cabin to go.

No further drink service was offered as a whole, not even water. I take the Y FA up for another drink when she saw my glass empty and offered. She disappeared for most of the flight.

On the LAS-MSP return, I was in Y and seemed like the FA's didn't want to bother with anything. After the initial drink service, did not see them until close to landing. This was not a red-eye flight, either. Not the nicest bunch of people ever. My DL flights in Y, as well as my CO flights in Y, have all had GREAT FA service that were attentive and nice.

MSP-DTW: In F, completely uneventful. Not bad, not good.

I'll see james318's long-winded post and raise you this:

On a recent DL flight, I was in the boarding door exit row. I had two carryons: a large backpack and a small "rucksack". asked kindly and jokingly to the FA if I could stuff my bag under my seat since there was no seat ahead of me and the overhead bins were full (the FAs obviously weren't paying attention to the bins since I was the first in the entire row on both sides of the A/C to arrive and our bins were completely stuffed already).

She snapped back at me "Absolutely not! You're in an exit row, sir, and you're expected to maintain a level of professionalism. You'll have to find a place overhead." After this, she walked away to chat with another FA. I went to the to the coat closet and asked the nearby F attendant if I could put my larger backpack and my rucksack in here since the overhead bins above my row were full. She just shrugged and walked away.

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This was one of several just "stellar" DL flight attendants I've encountered. Another time on a ATL-SYR flight, a FA told me to move from my window exit seat so that a soldier in uniform could have the entire right exit row to "stretch out". She didn't ask, but she "told" me. The soldier spoke up before I could reply and said thanks, but he wouldn't need that much space and he was fine. The FA served him and everyone else around us with a smile, but when she served me, her questions and replies were cold as ice, as if I had insulted her children or something.

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Not that we're venting or anything...

Moral of the story is this: you're going to receive everything from superb service to piss-poor service if you fly a lot. Much of it is just luck. I'd say of all my NW flights this year, perhaps only 5% had any issues worth writing home about, if even that much. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I don't see the attitudes from NW FAs that I hear about from some of you. I would agree that many GAs need some work, though.

My only observation about the service this year is that it has been great. I posted earlier on my observations that shortly after the beginning of the year it seemed service jumped up a notch. Hate to curse myself but I've been upfront 41/41 , so no experience in Y, ., but I have either been extremely lucky or there has been a serious attempt to improve service. I have been on more than a few flights with no pre-flight drinks, but they have been on cattle call flights where the stream of peasants seems never ending.
Guaranteed that this post will jinx me to 22B my next flight!!

I am about 75/25 with UGs as a GE and I guess in the last year I have not seen really rude FAs, but I have noticed a trend in Y, more and more FAs will not help put bags in the bins. I have seen an FA ask who owned the bag that prevented them from closing the bin door and then made them get up a fix it!

I agree. Most flights are just standard service, nothing to scream about. I do find though that -I- feel Y service could be much better, but that could stem from sitting in F most of the time.

Peasants! lol

NOT MY WORD, one day I was boarding a 757 from second door and the guy in front of me looks to the right and says to the FA.....Oh, so that's where the peasants sit...., he was obviously joking, and I'll admit I did laugh!!

Not their job! I've heard from F/As on several airlines that they're not allowed to lift bags because of the risk of injury. If you can't lift it, check it!

Flew MSP-JFK this morning. Absolutely wonderful LFA and Y FA. Y FA did pre-flight drink service on the A319 while battling the peasants during boarding and all with a smile, even joking with some of the boarding Y pax about it.

LFA immediately came around after take-off and took drink orders on a napkin, and returned with them moments later via the hand tray, at which point he took breakfast orders (cereal or pancakes/eggs/sausage (is that a new one? Haven't had that before...)). A little while later, breakfast was served from the galley with a refill already on the tray of whatever drink we had ordered. Syrup was warmed in the oven with the pancakes, too. Nice touch! Tray was removed after meal service and was asked if we'd like anything else. Drinks or other requests were served via the hand tray again. Took a quick little nap and then we were descending over Manhattan for our arrival into JFK.

Not once did I see the galley cart. Every time the FA came back he had a bright smile. Not bad for a 7am departure.

Fantastic. I hope I have a simmilar FA on my way out to SJC tomorrow!

It may not be "their job", but whenever I see a FA refuse to help a passenger put a bag in the overhead because of risk of injury, it always makes me wonder how their going to assist us in the event of an emergency. Some of the passengers look a bit heavier than the carry-ons! (Though sometimes that's not the case )

I recently had an experience where the bin above me would not shut and the flight attendant asked ME to re-arrange the bags. And no, it wasn't my bag that caused the obstruction! With a little shuffling, I got the bin to close. But then I was her best friend for the rest of the flight! She made sure I had my meal choice (seated in 3C) and even gave me 2 amenity coupons. It's all about the karma.