Disappointed with lack of pre-departure beverage (PDB) & other experiences
Sep 29, 2017, 2:06 pm
#166
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 821
No PDB a while back on the early morning TPA-IAH flight...I sat patiently for my morning Tito's and OJ......I asked if I can have my drink....The response I got was "everything is already locked up".....I was like....well unlock everything and lets get this going.
Jul 7, 2018, 1:55 am
#167
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
PEK-SFO. Only OJ, water or champagne. She wouldn’t budge when I asked for a cocktail, claiming the liquor carts are locked on the ground. Wonderful new Polaris service.
Jul 7, 2018, 2:15 am
#168
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Jul 7, 2018, 2:24 am
#169
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
50+ UA flights out of PEK tells me there has never been such a policy. Happy for someone to prove me wrong.
Jul 7, 2018, 6:23 am
#171
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,595
IME on long haul flights, the PDB service - or lack thereof - is a good indicator of how service will be during the flight. No or rushed haphazard PDB means sloppy uncaring service is in my future.
Jul 7, 2018, 7:27 am
#172
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I love this indicator thing. It would be interesting to start a new thread about predicting the quality of onboard service from the initial action of FAs. What do you think?
Jul 7, 2018, 8:08 am
#173
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
My first experience of the Polaris hard product LHR-SFO June 5 there was no PDB. I just drank the bottle of water that was in the cubby (I suspect it was for during the flight but I try and drink as much water as I can during a flight).
Service was very good on the flight (but I had given the FAs a box of chocolates as I think day time flights are a hard gig for them).
Seriously though with the access to Polaris loumges/Club lounge one can certainly have a PDB with a better ambience than a metal container, albeit PDB is marketed as a benefit.
it is more annoying to me on domestic flights not to receive the PDB, especially if I have not had access to a lounge or it is my originating airport so spend the additional time at home rather than an airport lounge and generally had everything timed down to the minute so a PDB is very welcome, although inconsistently offered.
Service was very good on the flight (but I had given the FAs a box of chocolates as I think day time flights are a hard gig for them).
Seriously though with the access to Polaris loumges/Club lounge one can certainly have a PDB with a better ambience than a metal container, albeit PDB is marketed as a benefit.
it is more annoying to me on domestic flights not to receive the PDB, especially if I have not had access to a lounge or it is my originating airport so spend the additional time at home rather than an airport lounge and generally had everything timed down to the minute so a PDB is very welcome, although inconsistently offered.
Jul 7, 2018, 8:32 am
#174
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,341
UA 2034 ORD-CHS 737-700 July 4. No PDB. Weather fine, no irrops, flight on time. Very lazy crew throughout the 1h50m flight.😡
Jul 7, 2018, 11:07 am
#176
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
Jul 7, 2018, 12:18 pm
#177
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
The FAs are not supposed to break the seal of the box containing the alcohols before leaving the ground from foreign countries. That's why they don't serve champagne for the Pre Departure Beverage that is more highly taxed and they serve some cheap sparkling wine. Some FAs may do it but it's agains the rules and then if the plane has to go back to the gate, taxes may be charged on the alcohols. Example, last Sunday, the PVG-ORD left the gate. After 3 hours it came back to the gate and only left the next day. It would not have been good for the FAs of that flight to have opened the box of alcohols before leaving the gate.
Jul 7, 2018, 3:18 pm
#178
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
The FAs are not supposed to break the seal of the box containing the alcohols before leaving the ground from foreign countries. That's why they don't serve champagne for the Pre Departure Beverage that is more highly taxed and they serve some cheap sparkling wine. Some FAs may do it but it's agains the rules and then if the plane has to go back to the gate, taxes may be charged on the alcohols. Example, last Sunday, the PVG-ORD left the gate. After 3 hours it came back to the gate and only left the next day. It would not have been good for the FAs of that flight to have opened the box of alcohols before leaving the gate.
The only place I've seen this in practice is Saudi Arabia (for different reasons of course).
Jul 7, 2018, 3:37 pm
#179
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
So you're telling me that most UA FAs are breaking the rules (if not law) on international departures? That would be 95+% of all my int'l departures since the PDB rules expanded to include all offerings. I find this hard to believe, and certainly should be discussed/written as a matter of common policy/practice.
The only place I've seen this in practice is Saudi Arabia (for different reasons of course).
The only place I've seen this in practice is Saudi Arabia (for different reasons of course).
Jul 7, 2018, 3:43 pm
#180
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
So you're telling me that most UA FAs are breaking the rules (if not law) on international departures? That would be 95+% of all my int'l departures since the PDB rules expanded to include all offerings. I find this hard to believe, and certainly should be discussed/written as a matter of common policy/practice. …