FA serving drinks from cans that were open
Aug 24, 2019, 9:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
FA serving drinks from cans that were open
I flew a CRJ 200 operated by a regional carrier.
FA came down the aisle with a drink cart and asked the woman in 1A what she wanted to drink. She said sparkling water. The FA pulled out a drawer and poured the remaining ounces out of an already-opened, mostly empty can. Then the FA opened a new can to top off the cup.
1B ordered Coke. Again, FA pulled out a pre-opened can of Coke.
Is this normal? How long ago could these cans have been opened?
FA came down the aisle with a drink cart and asked the woman in 1A what she wanted to drink. She said sparkling water. The FA pulled out a drawer and poured the remaining ounces out of an already-opened, mostly empty can. Then the FA opened a new can to top off the cup.
1B ordered Coke. Again, FA pulled out a pre-opened can of Coke.
Is this normal? How long ago could these cans have been opened?
Aug 24, 2019, 10:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,782
SOP (?) As a regional the flight was probably catered on the outgoing segment. So on the return, cans were already opened.
Aug 24, 2019, 11:25 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
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Completely normal.
Aug 25, 2019, 12:19 am
#4
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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IME it's also not unusual, at the start of service, to hear the FA(s) opening several cans in a row in the galley before they come down the aisle with the cart. So the answer to "how long have they open" could be "just a few minutes."
Aug 25, 2019, 12:50 am
#5
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Customers that want a fresh can should always ask for the whole can.
Aug 25, 2019, 6:29 am
#6
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It's completely normal and I fail to understand why it should not be.
Aug 25, 2019, 7:21 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Very limited supplies on board which my be required for at least 2 or more legs. If it's flat, just request another. Nothing peculiar here.
Aug 25, 2019, 8:11 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
The cups they serve hold less than a full can. Customer orders a drink, they open a can and pour. When the next customer orders the same drink they use that opened can. When that can's empty they open the next one.
How else would they do it?
How else would they do it?
Aug 25, 2019, 9:41 am
#9
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This is a rant against SOP. If you don't like it, ask for a whole can.
Aug 25, 2019, 9:42 am
#10
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Write to the chairman to complain.
Aug 25, 2019, 10:36 am
#12
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Aug 25, 2019, 10:53 am
#13
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Cambridge
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To show proper respect, the FA should kneel and present the drink to the 1-percenter by lifting the cup to lip-level of the customer... 
Aug 25, 2019, 11:37 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta PM
Posts: 323
Were there pre-departure beverages served? The cans could also have been opened a few minutes earlier to fulfill those drink orders.
Aug 25, 2019, 11:39 am
#15
Moderator: Travel Buzz
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Moderator Note: Thanks to all our mega-posters who commented. I think this thread has lost its fizz. Now closed.