Complimentary Beer/Wine Discontinued Jan 1, 2014 for transpacific/asia flights
Dec 21, 2013, 3:38 pm
#106
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Folks, I don't think this is nearly the issue it's being made out to be. For the people flying in F/BF they will see no change.
Most FAs will even tell you that on TPACs to Asia that alcohol comsumption is not nearly as much as on other routes.
While it does make UA look cheap, as far as calcuated risk I don't think UA will lose anything over this.
Most FAs will even tell you that on TPACs to Asia that alcohol comsumption is not nearly as much as on other routes.
While it does make UA look cheap, as far as calcuated risk I don't think UA will lose anything over this.
Dec 21, 2013, 3:54 pm
#107
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Dec 21, 2013, 3:54 pm
#108
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Van down by the river
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Marriott PP/LT Plat, Golden Circle Diamond
Posts: 718
And if you are a UA FF you get some drink coupons so that takes the sting out of it.
I'm just being realistic that the risk to UA for doing this, and any negative consumer action to leave the carrier is minimal at best.
Dec 21, 2013, 4:58 pm
#109
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,659
Actually, I'd prefer to buy food on international flights compared to the sh*t that's served now in Y. I have had some meals that were completely inedible. There was a 1"x1" piece of what appeared to be bark in my meal out of Dubai earlier this month. The FA told me that it was a spice and appeared in Indian food. It was definitely nothing I've ever seen (I'm a cook, have cooked Indian food and eat Indian food a lot, including in India). I try to bring several sandwiches on board. Just hoping my GPUs clear next year. I'll be close to 1MM and then I'm fleeing.
I think I have left over drink coupons for my flights to SIN in Jan and back in Feb. I'll need them even more to continue to fly UA.
I think I have left over drink coupons for my flights to SIN in Jan and back in Feb. I'll need them even more to continue to fly UA.
Dec 21, 2013, 5:05 pm
#110
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: IAH/SIN
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 82
With HKG opening next year, I wish AA would get a 737 from IAH to DFW. I can't stand a MD80 and would move over to AA more for TPAC travel with decent metal. I don't fly on hardware older than I am.
Dec 21, 2013, 5:09 pm
#111
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I'd take a Mad Dog over The Devil's Chariot (aka CRJ) any day of the week.
Dec 21, 2013, 5:29 pm
#112
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
Actually, I'd prefer to buy food on international flights compared to the sh*t that's served now in Y. I have had some meals that were completely inedible. There was a 1"x1" piece of what appeared to be bark in my meal out of Dubai earlier this month. The FA told me that it was a spice and appeared in Indian food. It was definitely nothing I've ever seen (I'm a cook, have cooked Indian food and eat Indian food a lot, including in India). I try to bring several sandwiches on board. Just hoping my GPUs clear next year. I'll be close to 1MM and then I'm fleeing.
I think I have left over drink coupons for my flights to SIN in Jan and back in Feb. I'll need them even more to continue to fly UA.
I think I have left over drink coupons for my flights to SIN in Jan and back in Feb. I'll need them even more to continue to fly UA.
FWIW, I do agree that on a 10+ hour flight, if I want to enjoy a glass of wine, I'd rather pay $7-10 for something decent than drink prison toilet wine for free.
glitch in the matrix? somehow posted twice
Last edited by iluv2fly; Dec 21, 2013 at 9:38 pm Reason: merge
Dec 21, 2013, 6:22 pm
#113
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,304
Left 12 years ago 50k short of 1MM status and never looked back!
Dec 21, 2013, 6:29 pm
#114
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC/SFO
Programs: AA/AS/UA; Bonvoy
Posts: 282
Unsurprising, but disappointing.
Dec 21, 2013, 6:41 pm
#115
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,659
Folks, I don't think this is nearly the issue it's being made out to be. For the people flying in F/BF they will see no change.
Most FAs will even tell you that on TPACs to Asia that alcohol comsumption is not nearly as much as on other routes.
While it does make UA look cheap, as far as calcuated risk I don't think UA will lose anything over this.
Most FAs will even tell you that on TPACs to Asia that alcohol comsumption is not nearly as much as on other routes.
While it does make UA look cheap, as far as calcuated risk I don't think UA will lose anything over this.
Dec 21, 2013, 6:49 pm
#116
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,524
Star Gold for life means you get treated decently on the rest of the alliance. If I ever reach 1MM, that's all I'll use it for, the way UA is headed.
Dec 21, 2013, 7:10 pm
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Falls into the category of: Oh Magoo what will you do next.
Again.
They already do this in the lounges.
I get 10 chits a year and normally do 5-6 TPACs. You're telling me it's a legit move because I can still get 1 drink per direction? 
Yes, i can see your point, a free drink every 10 hours is certainly a very nice way of UA saying welcome on board.
Oh but there will be hell to pay onboard for the FAs when unknowing pax are informed of this new policy.
And don't kid yourself, it will likely have downstream effects.
Again.
They already do this in the lounges.
Yes, i can see your point, a free drink every 10 hours is certainly a very nice way of UA saying welcome on board.
And don't kid yourself, it will likely have downstream effects.
Dec 21, 2013, 7:46 pm
#118
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
Perhaps UA misread DL's press release.
Now Delta is again upping the ante by not only offering free beer and wine to all patrons, but now giving free spirits to all customers on most international flights! Flights which will have free spirits include all flights from the USA to Asia, Europe, intra-Asia, and most South America flights. Flights to/from Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America and select destinations in South America are excluded from this upgraded offering. To know if your flight is one of the many with free drinks, check on delta.com and verify there is BusinessElite service instead of standard First Class. If there is, then you will be drinking for free at 30,000 feet!
I am happy to say, that the "D" in Delta now stands for Drinks, so DRINK UP! Will other major carriers follow? I sure hope so, because other than ultra conservative Saudia, US based airlines are some of the world's only major airlines (not including low cost carriers) who do not provide free booze in the section of the plane where it's needed most to cope with ever shrinking seats! http://upgrd.com/blogs/doublewidesfl...l-Flights.html
Now Delta is again upping the ante by not only offering free beer and wine to all patrons, but now giving free spirits to all customers on most international flights! Flights which will have free spirits include all flights from the USA to Asia, Europe, intra-Asia, and most South America flights. Flights to/from Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America and select destinations in South America are excluded from this upgraded offering. To know if your flight is one of the many with free drinks, check on delta.com and verify there is BusinessElite service instead of standard First Class. If there is, then you will be drinking for free at 30,000 feet!
I am happy to say, that the "D" in Delta now stands for Drinks, so DRINK UP! Will other major carriers follow? I sure hope so, because other than ultra conservative Saudia, US based airlines are some of the world's only major airlines (not including low cost carriers) who do not provide free booze in the section of the plane where it's needed most to cope with ever shrinking seats! http://upgrd.com/blogs/doublewidesfl...l-Flights.html
Dec 21, 2013, 7:50 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
Folks, I don't think this is nearly the issue it's being made out to be. For the people flying in F/BF they will see no change.
Most FAs will even tell you that on TPACs to Asia that alcohol comsumption is not nearly as much as on other routes.
While it does make UA look cheap, as far as calcuated risk I don't think UA will lose anything over this.
Most FAs will even tell you that on TPACs to Asia that alcohol comsumption is not nearly as much as on other routes.
While it does make UA look cheap, as far as calcuated risk I don't think UA will lose anything over this.
Dec 21, 2013, 7:52 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,490
The ethical path would be to steer those passengers who express a need to drink to AA. :-:
