Sorry to hear about your experience.

I was on a long-haul (LH, I think) where they'd serve (diet) coke in glasses, poured by the FA from a 1.5l bottle. After asking for two refills, the FA - apologetically - suggested that he could just leave two full bottles with me, and then when they were empty I could call him for a replacement.

I fly regularly some domestic AF routes, and I always ask for -- and get -- a coffee and two diet cokes.

No frowns, shocks or outrage - after all, the ticket is paid for an one beverage more or less won't make the difference -- and so I do not understand the obsession that some FAs (in particular on US flights, I may add) exhibit about "handing over the can".

If you ask for a can of coke and you get this answer, that's when you should really be worried!


(link from League of Gentlemen - "I can I can't?" sketch - directly from BBC's website)

If you fly the same day as I do I will hike one back to you.

I had the opposite happen to me the other day. I was returning on a NW flight and asked for just a glass of Diet Pepsi. The FA said I had to take the entire can because it couldnt be used again. I thought that was kind of strange because several times I have had my glass filled from an open can before. I ended up just pouring my one glass and left the rest of the can on my meal tray.

I was often flying alone or even with my dad with SAS "in the good old days" - ten years ago. I remember flying Y, and asking for two cans of diet coke (I guess i was about 8 yo - started early with the diet coke..), and the FA stared at me, asking me if I didn't want some fruit juice or even the kids magazine(Good old days, doubt they still have it...). I asked again, and she said they were almost out of pop... Anyways, I managed to get my two cans. By the way, SAS doesn't let anyone under 18 become Frequent Flyers, so I always got miles with UA for those flights. Good, old days - when the lounge attendants at OSL knew me, and gave away tons of stuff(probably made for kids traveling alone). But I was happy.

Flew US Air from Raleigh/Durham to PHX a couple of weeks ago. Think I went through six cans on the trip - but they were nice about it. (However, I didn't get any miles posted to my Mileage Plus Account...)

No my friend, they won't.

I think it depends on the flight attendant.
 

But I do notice that United gives me a full can every time without asking for it.

Some flight attendants are just plain small and mean. So they act accordingly. What amazes me about American airlines is the relatively high percentage of such people. These are not terrible jobs, can't they find someone that actually LIKES to be of service to people? I guess not...

As a teen back in the early seventies, I was flying SFO-GDL on Hughes Airwest and the flight attendent left me the whole six-pack. "I'll just pick up anything you don't drink later, honey." I guess she could tell a Coke-aholic when she saw one.

I've never had a problem getting a full can on AA.. regardless of where I'm sitting on the plane

I'll also personally vouch for the fact that this is not true.

You can always go to Europe and fly Ryanair. You can have all the cokes you want. Full can every time. (Of course you have to pay for them).

I often ask for milk in FC, which they keep 3 or so for the coffee. After 2 refills they tell me they are out of milk. :D

Real United flight yes, TED by United has a policy of a cup per person, and yes you can have refills, but no you can't have full can initially.

United's policy is an embarassment. I can drink the equivalent of a can, but I have to drink it bit by bit by having my cup full of ice constantly refilled. We should all make it a policy to turn on the FA light for another glass of Pepsi. After a while, they will get tired of that and start giving out full cans.

What really irritates me is that when you ask for a can, they look at you like your some kind of a pig. Really, am I the only one who can easily drink a 12 ounce can of soda?

Well, I can too - but for a short flight, I streeeeetch out the drinking so I don't have to use the bathroom on the plane. For the transatlantic flights, I know I'll need to use them at least the once. I could probably go through 2 or three litres in that time, but again, the fewer visits to that hellhole the better...

I hate airlines that refuse to give you the can of soda. I like JetBlue for that reason. In their marketting they say, "If you want the whole can of coke, just ask, and we'll give it to you." And they always do.

A tactic I always use to get the whole can, plus I prefer it this way because I am cold on the airplane anyway. I usually ask for no ice. They usually start pouring and reallize the whole can is almost gone, so they end up giving it to me.