Free drinks on delayed flights
Aug 1, 2013, 8:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 343
Free drinks on delayed flights
How often do your FAs on delayed flights (more than an hour) collect your drink coupons if you order an alcoholic beverage? I'm noticing a trend that the majority of FAs on delayed flights don't collect the coupons, even when offered. Any experience from others?
Aug 6, 2013, 10:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
Majority of the FAs would not take your coupons or credit card if it's delayed 1 or more hours.
I guess the ones that still take your coupons or credit cards for delayed flights are the flights that Southwest had no control over, like weather or air traffic controllers delayed. Which are understandable in my book.
I guess the ones that still take your coupons or credit cards for delayed flights are the flights that Southwest had no control over, like weather or air traffic controllers delayed. Which are understandable in my book.
Aug 9, 2013, 7:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,198
Sitting on a delayed flight for over an hour as southwest continues to hold it for connecting pax with no concern for the hundred plus still waiting. No free drinks. I understand waiting fifteen minutes or so but at some point when should the needs of the many outweigh the few?
Aug 9, 2013, 8:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,198
Now over two hours. Tough to be treated this poorly (no updates just sitting) on what used to be my favorite airline. Too much. I have never heard this one before. Pilot says corporate won't let plane go but he is overriding them and going. ..
Aug 9, 2013, 8:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
Sitting on a delayed flight for over an hour as southwest continues to hold it for connecting pax with no concern for the hundred plus still waiting. No free drinks. I understand waiting fifteen minutes or so but at some point when should the needs of the many outweigh the few?
Aug 9, 2013, 8:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
Ok. No free booze on the ground at the gate. Hopefully you will get your delayed free drinks in the air and report back.
Aug 10, 2013, 1:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,763
Aug 12, 2013, 2:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,198
Yes, the pilot actually said what I posted. After flying for twenty years it was pretty amazing to hear it, and I guess Southwest is amazed too, because my customer service response was that 'We need more time to respond'.
Summary was my flight was just a few minutes late due to late crew, told us to power down electronics.. and then nothing happened. Fifteen minutes passed and more passengers arrived. I was far enough I don't know if the door never closed or they reopened it. No big deal, last flight of day, etc. Another 15 minutes pass and nothing happens, no updates. People get restless.
Gate agent comes on PA and says we are waiting for some pax from a flight thats nearby and that they are almost there. Now its 30 minutes so a lot of grumbling, but for the next 10-15 minutes more passengers stream on (including a really sick one who sat next to me, though I can hardly blame Southwest for that). So now we're about 45 minutes in and the pax stop boarding.. but nothing, we're not going.
Another 15 minutes later and the pilot then comes on and says "Southwest corporate has told us to wait and I can't tell you why. I'm trying to find out more and will let you know". Of course I paraphrase a bit.
That's the end of it for another HOUR and 2 hours in the pilot comes back on and says "I can't get a hold of anyone to tell me why the flight is being delayed. If we stay longer we'll be illegal to fly so I'm making the decision we have to go. That means some bags may misconnect but I want to get you home." Literally the plane starts pushing back after he finishes the PA (to the extent most people had their phones/devices still on during the long delay). Within minutes we're on the runway and heading out.
I file my complaint to Southwest about what happened on the plane. That's when I got the 'we'll tell you later'
As per the OP, they did not offer free drinks. I think if I asked for a drink maybe they would not have charged, but I was not sure because the flight attendants were still carrying the credit card reader around (?) As far as I could tell they did give others drinks for free. It would have been nice to announce it.
PS On the way back 8/12 kiosks at Austin airport were down so a long line as basically everyone was on line, including people like me who just needed a BP print since the people I was visiting didn't have a printer. Not a good weekend for me and Southwest. No change fees is the only reason I stay semi-loyal to Southwest as they are just as messed up as every other airline now.
Summary was my flight was just a few minutes late due to late crew, told us to power down electronics.. and then nothing happened. Fifteen minutes passed and more passengers arrived. I was far enough I don't know if the door never closed or they reopened it. No big deal, last flight of day, etc. Another 15 minutes pass and nothing happens, no updates. People get restless.
Gate agent comes on PA and says we are waiting for some pax from a flight thats nearby and that they are almost there. Now its 30 minutes so a lot of grumbling, but for the next 10-15 minutes more passengers stream on (including a really sick one who sat next to me, though I can hardly blame Southwest for that). So now we're about 45 minutes in and the pax stop boarding.. but nothing, we're not going.
Another 15 minutes later and the pilot then comes on and says "Southwest corporate has told us to wait and I can't tell you why. I'm trying to find out more and will let you know". Of course I paraphrase a bit.
That's the end of it for another HOUR and 2 hours in the pilot comes back on and says "I can't get a hold of anyone to tell me why the flight is being delayed. If we stay longer we'll be illegal to fly so I'm making the decision we have to go. That means some bags may misconnect but I want to get you home." Literally the plane starts pushing back after he finishes the PA (to the extent most people had their phones/devices still on during the long delay). Within minutes we're on the runway and heading out.
I file my complaint to Southwest about what happened on the plane. That's when I got the 'we'll tell you later'
As per the OP, they did not offer free drinks. I think if I asked for a drink maybe they would not have charged, but I was not sure because the flight attendants were still carrying the credit card reader around (?) As far as I could tell they did give others drinks for free. It would have been nice to announce it.
PS On the way back 8/12 kiosks at Austin airport were down so a long line as basically everyone was on line, including people like me who just needed a BP print since the people I was visiting didn't have a printer. Not a good weekend for me and Southwest. No change fees is the only reason I stay semi-loyal to Southwest as they are just as messed up as every other airline now.
Last edited by pitflyer; Aug 12, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Aug 12, 2013, 4:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
Yes, the pilot actually said what I posted. After flying for twenty years it was pretty amazing to hear it, and I guess Southwest is amazed too, because my customer service response was that 'We need more time to respond'.
Summary was my flight was just a few minutes late due to late crew, told us to power down electronics.. and then nothing happened. Fifteen minutes passed and more passengers arrived. I was far enough I don't know if the door never closed or they reopened it. No big deal, last flight of day, etc. Another 15 minutes pass and nothing happens, no updates. People get restless.
Gate agent comes on PA and says we are waiting for some pax from a flight thats nearby and that they are almost there. Now its 30 minutes so a lot of grumbling, but for the next 10-15 minutes more passengers stream on (including a really sick one who sat next to me, though I can hardly blame Southwest for that). So now we're about 45 minutes in and the pax stop boarding.. but nothing, we're not going.
Another 15 minutes later and the pilot then comes on and says "Southwest corporate has told us to wait and I can't tell you why. I'm trying to find out more and will let you know". Of course I paraphrase a bit.
That's the end of it for another HOUR and 2 hours in the pilot comes back on and says "I can't get a hold of anyone to tell me why the flight is being delayed. If we stay longer we'll be illegal to fly so I'm making the decision we have to go. That means some bags may misconnect but I want to get you home." Literally the plane starts pushing back after he finishes the PA (to the extent most people had their phones/devices still on during the long delay). Within minutes we're on the runway and heading out.
I file my complaint to Southwest about what happened on the plane. That's when I got the 'we'll tell you later'
As per the OP, they did not offer free drinks. I think if I asked for a drink maybe they would not have charged, but I was not sure because the flight attendants were still carrying the credit card reader around (?) As far as I could tell they did give others drinks for free. It would have been nice to announce it.
PS On the way back 8/12 kiosks at Austin airport were down so a long line as basically everyone was on line, including people like me who just needed a BP print since the people I was visiting didn't have a printer. Not a good weekend for me and Southwest. No change fees is the only reason I stay semi-loyal to Southwest as they are just as messed up as every other airline now.
Summary was my flight was just a few minutes late due to late crew, told us to power down electronics.. and then nothing happened. Fifteen minutes passed and more passengers arrived. I was far enough I don't know if the door never closed or they reopened it. No big deal, last flight of day, etc. Another 15 minutes pass and nothing happens, no updates. People get restless.
Gate agent comes on PA and says we are waiting for some pax from a flight thats nearby and that they are almost there. Now its 30 minutes so a lot of grumbling, but for the next 10-15 minutes more passengers stream on (including a really sick one who sat next to me, though I can hardly blame Southwest for that). So now we're about 45 minutes in and the pax stop boarding.. but nothing, we're not going.
Another 15 minutes later and the pilot then comes on and says "Southwest corporate has told us to wait and I can't tell you why. I'm trying to find out more and will let you know". Of course I paraphrase a bit.
That's the end of it for another HOUR and 2 hours in the pilot comes back on and says "I can't get a hold of anyone to tell me why the flight is being delayed. If we stay longer we'll be illegal to fly so I'm making the decision we have to go. That means some bags may misconnect but I want to get you home." Literally the plane starts pushing back after he finishes the PA (to the extent most people had their phones/devices still on during the long delay). Within minutes we're on the runway and heading out.
I file my complaint to Southwest about what happened on the plane. That's when I got the 'we'll tell you later'
As per the OP, they did not offer free drinks. I think if I asked for a drink maybe they would not have charged, but I was not sure because the flight attendants were still carrying the credit card reader around (?) As far as I could tell they did give others drinks for free. It would have been nice to announce it.
PS On the way back 8/12 kiosks at Austin airport were down so a long line as basically everyone was on line, including people like me who just needed a BP print since the people I was visiting didn't have a printer. Not a good weekend for me and Southwest. No change fees is the only reason I stay semi-loyal to Southwest as they are just as messed up as every other airline now.
Also in other words, yes. You would have gotten a free drink on the flight.
Announcing free drinks on the flight? NOT a good idea.
Aug 13, 2013, 7:29 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,198
I guess that makes sense; I felt odd asking for a drink in case they DID charge for it, since I didn't want to PAY for a drink or then say 'never mind' if they asked for a CC. On another flight that I had a delay (a long time ago) which was only like 20 minutes for passengers they did announce "First round free since everyone was so nice to wait"
Aug 13, 2013, 10:33 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
I guess that makes sense; I felt odd asking for a drink in case they DID charge for it, since I didn't want to PAY for a drink or then say 'never mind' if they asked for a CC. On another flight that I had a delay (a long time ago) which was only like 20 minutes for passengers they did announce "First round free since everyone was so nice to wait"
Aug 13, 2013, 2:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: Frequent Flyer
Posts: 435
Policy is to comp drinks with a 3+ hour delay. However you will find most FA's will comp a drink with any delay.
It's part of our customer service to help everyone be happy when they land. In a lot of instances, the FA's the only person our customers are in contact with due to everything being done online. Our jobs are dependent on customers being happy when they leave the Aircraft.
No, we don't typically announce free drinks- there just may not be enough beer/wine/liquor on the plane for that! (I'm surprised this crew did
In most instances the FA's talk about comp'ing drinks so we are all on the same page - however sometimes that does not happen. I'll apologize in advance if you are on a flight delayed by us (vs. weather) and the FA doesn't comp your drink. We know without our passengers we have no job.
It's part of our customer service to help everyone be happy when they land. In a lot of instances, the FA's the only person our customers are in contact with due to everything being done online. Our jobs are dependent on customers being happy when they leave the Aircraft.
No, we don't typically announce free drinks- there just may not be enough beer/wine/liquor on the plane for that! (I'm surprised this crew did
In most instances the FA's talk about comp'ing drinks so we are all on the same page - however sometimes that does not happen. I'll apologize in advance if you are on a flight delayed by us (vs. weather) and the FA doesn't comp your drink. We know without our passengers we have no job.