Most in FC do not pay triple for their seat. Either thay are upgraded or get someone else to pay for FC. But if the snack basket is what keeps you on NW you need little to make you happy.

That's actually a very valid point. While I don't necessarily agree that every little thing that isn't up to one's standards needs to be reported to TTU, I do agree that flying FC shouldn't only mean a bigger seat, more legroom, and more personal space. I do think that a semblance of a higher level of service, both in ingestible products as well as rapport with the passengers, needs to be understood and demonstrated by crew.

That really isn't the point. If it were, then it would be established that it's OK to treat mileage upgraders worse than full-fare F passengers. FAs aren't supposed to discriminate based on how much you paid. The fact that many people do, in fact, buy FC seats means they're buying into something that is supposed to be a higher level of quality.

Keep in mind that the airlines tend to compete with each other on first class fares, too, not just the cheapest coach tickets. So someone could spend roughly the same amount to fly NW, CO, DL, UA, AA, etc. That needs to be understood, and you can't simply throw that away because Northwest elites enjoy a higher-than-industry-average complimentary upgrade rate. I've been on several flights in the last week where the FAs have openly disclosed to me that I was the only one out of the 16 passengers who didn't buy a FC seat. So, it's not that easy just to say most don't pay a lot for FC or everyone is just an elite upgrade, etc.

Hub catering certainly could have something to do with it. Most such flights are catered for the returns at the same time.

Maybe the snacks were destined for a ride on a hotel shuttle as soon as all those pesky passengers disappeared? :D :D :D :D :D

Well, that was not the point I was trying to make. ;)
Anyone in FC, regardless of how they got there, should be treated the same. My point in my original post is that if the fact that the basket is past around or not affects which airline you fly you should rethink your priorities.

Both good points ;) but my point is that if it is not an "official" benefit then saying it was "withheld" is not necessarily a true statement. NW should publish a snack basket schedule (like meal times) or just say the snack basket will be available on every flight. Short of that I think it is tough to TTU not getting it when it is not clear that you are supposed to get it on every flight. I always get a "snack" just not always the basket.

"Snack Basket Schedule"
 

Well... Avidflyer, you asked for it, I talked to in-flight and this is what they provided, hope this clarifies for many of you when the basket should be offered.

Wow, thank you Zipper! Lets add this little nugget-o-data to the wiki for future reference. As usual, thanks for the effort!

This would make sense why I see inconsistent snack basket service on BHM-MEM and back. The flight is usually scheduled for 66 minutes in one direction, and 59 minutes in the other. When the snack basket first came out we pretty much got it every time on those flights, but now it is very hit or miss.

Oh come on!
 

Thank you.

I live in MSP area, fly NW a decent amount, but there is a point where I stop being an outright apologist.

The flight attendent didn't pass around the snack box in First Class.

The italics are to mark the banality of the task.

The bold is to remind that this is in First Class. (There is a whole another discussion on the poor standard that this FA didn't even meet)

I can't believe we are even having the discussion whether this is an event worth mentioning to TTU, a service to address service complaints and improve the NW product (among other things).

In the OP's case the basket should have gone around based on NW's "guidelines". But this string ended up being very useful to me. I have wondered when the SB is available and have noticed that in some flights (MSP-DTW/MSP DTW-IND/MEM) it was not offered and now I know why. It would be very UN productive if folks start to TTU about no snack on a DTW-MEM flight as there should be no snack basket on that flight. You need to know what SHOULD be to critique what was. It would be like sending a TTU about not getting a meal on a red-eye.

Not sure what you can't believe about this string but IMHO this is exactly the kind of stuff FT is all about.

I think you missed something. There should be a snack on every flight (perhaps just peanuts or nuts with the drink) but not necessarily a snack basket.

Any perceived lapse in service should be TTU'd. NW can sort it out.

I miss typed. It should have read:

"It would be very UN productive if folks start to TTU about no snack BASKET on a DTW-MEM flight as there should be no snack basket on that flight."

The note from The Zipper does mention that if the basket is not scheduled then you get pretzels and mixed nuts. The OP never said there was no snack, just that the Snack Basket was not passed around.