Disappointed with lack of pre-departure beverage (PDB) & other experiences
Dec 29, 2018, 4:21 pm
#211
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
Took my mileage run in paid first and was very much looking forward to 3 PDB's since I paid for them afterall, but would have been 0 for 3 had I not asked on the final flight. She was offering water and I politely asked if they stopped doing "other" beverages and she said they were trying to board quickly but would get me whatever I wanted. So I type this with a Vodka/Soda at my side. Cheers!
Jan 1, 2019, 1:05 pm
#212
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Add Polaris flight for me. I did not get PDB for ORD-PVG. I had no complaint about it because I was the last-minute Op upgrader.
Jan 1, 2019, 6:11 pm
#213
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
DEN-IAD on 12/23 had no PDB offerings. I was one of the first on board; they went the entire boarding without the FAs asking anyone in F. OTOH, the flight had been delayed about an hour, so maybe they didn't want to get in the aisles.
Contrast to IAD-DEN on 12/21 where I was literally the last pax on board and the FAs still came by to take PDB order.
Contrast to IAD-DEN on 12/21 where I was literally the last pax on board and the FAs still came by to take PDB order.
Jan 1, 2019, 8:27 pm
#214
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
FLL-ORD today had no PDB. We boarded on time, plane was catered, but FAs just stood in the galley chatting. I asked about PDB and they said "in the air you can have whatever you want." They then offered water only. We left 10 minutes early and they had plenty of time. They were just lazy IMO.
Jan 1, 2019, 9:07 pm
#215
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
I have noticed a real trend on the E175 aircraft for the FA to not even attempt PDB. I feel a little bit for them, as having 1 FA monitor the boarding door, as well as take care of 12 FC passengers, does seem a bit much. But when boarding is finished early and they are just standing around anyway, that is when I get annoyed.
Jan 2, 2019, 12:05 pm
#216
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: 1K
Posts: 121
Of my 45 or so flights last year, only one didn't have a PDB offered, so I can't complain too much. The flight with no PDB offer we were delayed 45 minutes and the flight attendant was standing in the aisle talking to passengers and complaining that the pilot wasn't here yet. That said, on my flight home yesterday from FRA, PDB offered, and then one drink for the entire lunch service. It wasn't until after dessert etc when they turned the lights off did a flight attendant come by and ask if we wanted refills. We were in the old global first seats, so I'm wondering if this just had to do with them leaving to go help the business section in the back.
Jan 9, 2019, 8:00 am
#217
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Virginia
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 89
I flew IAD-DEN yesterday on a 737-900. There was no offer of a PDB to anyone in FC. I wasn't sure if this was a new thing as I'd seen this thread but hadn't read it until this morning. I got the first offer of a beverage 60 minutes after boarding, right after I was served dinner.
Jan 9, 2019, 8:50 am
#218
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR, GVA
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 78
No PDB on EWR to GVA in retrofitted 767. We didn't really care since we had a few at the Polaris lounge.. I've seen FA's bringing a tray with beverages on other flights tho..
Jan 9, 2019, 9:10 am
#219
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
SLC-LAX E-175: As soon as I sat down I was offered anything I would like..
Jan 9, 2019, 9:12 am
#220
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,351
Jan 10, 2019, 2:35 pm
#221
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
UA 3401 CLT/EWR. Boarded 1140 then delayed until 1300 because gas guys overloaded tanks. FA did not offer FC Cabin anything. Flirting with GA and surfing on i phone took priority. Over an hour
Jan 12, 2019, 5:38 am
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,332
PEK-EWR Tuesday Jan 8, FA offfered anything from the drink cart in addition to the standard offering of water, OJ or sparking wine.
Ordered scotch and got two bottles in return.
Ordered scotch and got two bottles in return.
Jan 20, 2019, 6:40 pm
#223
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVPG, DL GM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,266
Well I had my first no PDB flight on UA today on MIA-ORD on flight 1464. Absolutely horrendous crew - no drink or meal service until 1.5 hours into the flight (at which point we were just over an hour from ORD). We boarded 40 mins before departure and then ended up being delayed with the door closed waiting for more bags to be loaded - still the crew didn’t feel the need to serve a PDB. I’ve come to expect this on AA but so far my UA experience has been good and DL seems to always get it in.
Jan 20, 2019, 10:25 pm
#224
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 24
Flew PDX-SFO and SFO-LIH, on 1/18 PDB offered on both flights, Coffee with Baileys for me. Cheers
Mar 11, 2019, 5:25 pm
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
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03/11/19
ua783
lax-iad
no pdb. that said, looks like catering is just loading at T-7 minutes.
David
ua783
lax-iad
no pdb. that said, looks like catering is just loading at T-7 minutes.
David