Disappointed with lack of pre-departure beverage (PDB) & other experiences
Apr 26, 2019, 10:03 pm
#271
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ, PDX
Programs: UA 1 MM, AA, DL
Posts: 929
Apr 27, 2019, 2:25 am
#272
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,213
Several of my recent flights have been sans-PDB. I overheard FAs on one asking if they had time for PDBs (this was one of several where the flight was late because the prior flight hadn't left the gate by our scheduled boarding time), and the purser had said, "We'll play it by ear."
I get the desire for a quick board and turnaround... is it that hard to do PDBs, though?
I get the desire for a quick board and turnaround... is it that hard to do PDBs, though?
Kudos to the FAs on both flights.
Apr 29, 2019, 5:55 pm
#273
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,338
Ua907 ord-fra 4/29
None offered in Polaris. Asked why not. “We didn’t have time”. BS. We were late departure but not by much. Plenty of time. Another lazy crew.
Last edited by tcdtcd; Apr 29, 2019 at 5:56 pm Reason: Routing in reverse
Apr 29, 2019, 7:10 pm
#274
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,324
Apr 30, 2019, 5:28 pm
#275
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,202
UA 832 EWR - FLL April 30, boarded on time, pulled back on time at 10:30 AM, but still no PDB offered to anyone.
Apr 30, 2019, 9:07 pm
#276
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
I can't remember the last flight I had with no PDB. I know it's happened, but it's been a while. Glad for that!
Apr 30, 2019, 10:01 pm
#277
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,335
Just had a lack of PDB on a ORD-west coast flight. Plane was catered and ready to go but the FAs just sat at the front chatting away. Finally one asked the other, "Should we offer them a beverage? Do we have the time?" We had plenty of time. It was a 739 with 20 F seats. Finally an FA comes around and asks our drink order. Problem is only the folks in row 1 got their beverage. No clue why no one else got theirs.
Not the end of the world to me but the overall FA experience was pure laziness. They served the meal, offered a drink and we never saw them again until we hit bad turbulence over the Rockies and the pilot told them to be seated. After the turbulence ended they disappeared again. No beverage offerings.
-RM
Not the end of the world to me but the overall FA experience was pure laziness. They served the meal, offered a drink and we never saw them again until we hit bad turbulence over the Rockies and the pilot told them to be seated. After the turbulence ended they disappeared again. No beverage offerings.
-RM
May 1, 2019, 7:05 am
#278
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,174
As compared to WN where "folks" (Joe Biden's favorite word) give a darn.
May 1, 2019, 1:04 pm
#279
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,338
May 1, 2019, 1:33 pm
#280
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,213
That's complete BS. Is anyone listening, UA? I honestly think that the vast majority of the problems with UA are due to lackadaisical crew members. No commitment to the company. No urgency to please the people who make their paychecks possible. Instead, a vastly entitled bunch that is always looking for a way to get out of doing their job to the fullest.
As compared to WN where "folks" (Joe Biden's favorite word) give a darn.
As compared to WN where "folks" (Joe Biden's favorite word) give a darn.
I must say the lack of PDB impacts me more on domestic flights with a tight connection or originating from the airport and have just come through security and the coffee/tomato juice/water is very welcomed, versus a Polaris flight where I have enjoyed the lounge and do not really need a PDB when I board - but do realize it is part of the advertised perks of flying Polaris, but I would rather get my slippers and PJs than a PDB.
May 1, 2019, 4:23 pm
#281
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If I'm not offered a PDB I'm more than willing to ask.
In my (admittedly limited) experience on UA, though, I've always been offered. So far, so good!
In my (admittedly limited) experience on UA, though, I've always been offered. So far, so good!
May 2, 2019, 10:49 pm
#282
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 6
Shout-out to the crew of UA1444 IAH-DFW on May 2. This flight is so short that a lot of times the flight attendants don’t even get up to do an in-flight service and since we were over 2 hours delayed I was not expecting a PDB... but the flight attendants did a full PDB service.
May 3, 2019, 12:06 am
#283
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Shout-out to the crew of UA1444 IAH-DFW on May 2. This flight is so short that a lot of times the flight attendants don’t even get up to do an in-flight service and since we were over 2 hours delayed I was not expecting a PDB... but the flight attendants did a full PDB service.
Maybe I'm just extremely lucky but my recent UA flights have had some of the best FAs I've ever had on any airline, anywhere.
May 3, 2019, 2:36 am
#285
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,898
Had a flight EWR-IAD last week. We were "delayed" but thanks to flight time padding we weren't. No rush at boarding, but still no PDB. Also, no offer to hang my coat until I gestured, and it was hung at the back of the cabin instead of the closet (A320). It also wasn't given back to me so I had to swim upstream to get it on landing!
