On planes and trains, first class often involves a meal and drinks, all free. However, getting them depends on getting a crew member who is willing to provide them. If you have a crew member who isn’t interested, often you’re stuck because, unlike in coach, there is no place to buy them.

Why don’t airlines and railroads make first class into self-serve?

1. If I want a drink, I should be able to get it when I want, even if it means serving myself.

2. If I want a meal, I can see having a crew member manage that, but if I’d rather just have some grab-and-go food, that ought to be an option.

Brightline (the Florida railroad) has self-serve food and drinks in its lounges, and many airlines do; Air Canada even had self-serve alcoholic drinks in one that I visited.

Why don’t more airlines and railroads do self-serve first class, including on board?

Domestic usa / Europe F have limited space - with current 737 / A319-320, the self-serve station would require removing paid revenue seats (2-4 rows of seats?). Ditto A175 type planes.

Are you kidding? I get fed up with self-serve in many businesses- usually it comes with a crappy interface anyway.

I have seen little "pantries" in Business Class on BA- very nice to go back there and get water or snacks. Some practical reasons not to make it 100% self-serve:

1. Way too many people walking in the aisles.
2. I'm sure they want to limit alcoholic beverage service to that served by FAs so it can be controlled. Many air rage incidents include too much alcohol.
3. Sanitary reasons- too many people poking at food (think of buffets) unless it's all pre-wrapped and that limits freshness and variety.
4. Portion control. You know there will be someone who will scarf up all the expensive stuff.

If you're talking about an alcoholic drink, it appears that self-service is prohibited on commercial flights by U.S. law:

"Federal law prohibits passengers from consuming alcohol aboard a flight that is not served by a flight attendant."

Source:

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-lev...nruly-behavior

Same reason as why a Michelin star restaurant won't do all-you-can eat buffets.

No tip?

David

Tipping is ridiculous in the U.S., but when Europeans come to work in the service sector here -- e.g. on J visas -- they seem to take to it.

But to go down the Transatlantic primrose path--

Fortunately, us yanks don't sit around for hours outside of restaurants and cafes, smoking the entire time. It entirely defeats the idea of "al fresco."

Also, we don't typically add a fee for olives or bread, or some other unnecessary table-topper that, upon receiving the bill, inevitably begets the fabled European shrug (in this case, from waitstaff).

I’m a yank and there is no defense of America’s tipping culture. It’s gotten out of hand. Let’s hope it doesn’t make its way to the airplane.

Good customer service (which is often enhanced without unions and with tipping)? You are correct.

LOL...Tips.

It's an American thing, almost like death & taxes, and ain't going away for at least a generation or two. However, for you Euro Brit foreigners (especially Aussies!), if you worked in the States and were on the receiving end of tips, would it change your view?

As this thread has devolved in to the subject of tipping. I am locking it up
Obscure2k
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