No Alcohol in second beverage service NW 63- 10/6
 

On my first international trip on NW in almost a year (AMS-EWR) on NW flight 63, during the second beverage service, I'd say about an hour and a half before arrival, requests for alcoholic beverages were met with a stern "only soda and water" (paraphrasing). Is this a routine thing now, part of the cutbacks, or just a one-off thing because of lack of availability for that particular flight? The outbound was on KLM metal and alcohol was flowing.

That's a little odd - especially the "stern" look. Normally, NW just keeps giving away Northwest Red and/or White, and if you ask nicely, they give away real booze too...

I never thought the F/A's cared. Maybe that one was a little too "family oriented"...

Was the flight packed?

I was on 17/18 last month for a mileage run, and there was no problem getting liquor at any point while I was in coach.

Unusual. Either the stock was down, or they had a problem with drunks elsewhere on the plane and they decided to cut everybody off to avoid arguments. With only 90 minutes to go I guess I can stand to drink Diet Pepsi. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Sounds like an average NW int'l flight in Y...2nd beverage service 6 hours into the flight http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

But you're usually offered water (and tea transpacific) every hour on most flights... if you're thristy for pop or want to get drunk, you can always go to the gallery and ask - it's not like they're going to turn you away (unless Sophie is the FA)...

I think NW's service is decent - I flew DL transpac not to long ago and the only full beverage service was alongside the meals. And, of course, only NW & UA give booze away still...

[This message has been edited by IndustrialPatent (edited 10-08-2003).]

As well as almost every foreign carrier on the planet.

I believe the flight attendants have to inventory all unopened alcohol and duty free items before landing to avoid paying duty. Everthing must have been accounted for prior to your last beverage service. There isn't sufficient time to do so after the beverage service which usually accompany the last meal service.

You mean a non-US carrier. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif FlyerTalk isn't just for Americans, who, by the way are foregienrs to some of our FFT's.

I don't think that (hourly water service) has EVER happened to me on a NW flight, even in WBC. Though I remember being plied with bevvies in Y on a CO flight from EWR-ZRH...and KL usually seems do a better job too. And about going to the galley...I tried that once (after the FA totally skipped my row) on a AMS-MSP flight and was severly repremanded--maybe Sophie was filling in on NW.

I know these are just personal experiences and I fly barely a minute % of NW's int'l flights, but domestic first always seems to be consistantly good while int'l flights seem lacking.

EWR-AMS-MSP this month with lots of water offered. Two drink service offered with alcohol if you wanted. Lots of people went to the galley for extra and were not turned down. Service was good, but I seem to remember getting served food/snacks more often in the past and more recently on KLM.

goat: too many MSP-based crews me thinks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.

I guess everyone's mileage vaires... I've had only a couple bad flights across the ocean on NW -- and their on-time performance is superb.

When I had asked the GA about the chances of an OP UP at AMS, I was told that the flight was quite open. We were seated in the front section of coach, which was quite full, maybe it was empty at the back.

My wife tells me that during the meal service, through which I had slept, they served wine and soft drinks. The gent. in the middle row aisle wanted a bear and was told that they weren't serving beer, only wine.

[This message has been edited by knit-in (edited 10-09-2003).]

the-ca-goat

I'm an DTW-AMS guy. I remember clearly they do offer water (NW) or juice/water (KL) quite offen, maybe even every hour, in west direction. In east direction, it's more seldom. They do this service definitelly more offen than AF or OS (those are the only I can compare with).

I think IP alluded to this earlier...I've never flown int'l from DTW, which may be the problem.

I'm glad everyone seem to have better experiences than me!