UA78 NRT-EWR (16 April 2019) -- Skipped 2nd Meal Service due to turbulence
#77
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There's a difference between safety and what the OP described, fwiw.
#78
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Ability to cancel meals is a form of power and authority crew have over passengers and seems to me that the OP's crew were quite happy to wield that power. Some FAs are not and even if they have to would do so apologetically and offer some consolation. And some times the decision is wrong but few of these power seekers are modest enough to admit they (for whatever reason) got it wrong so they may choose to see it through regardless of what transpires subsequently. A simple announcement prelanding that the turbulence did not turn out bad as we projected and sorry you missed your meal service, but we had made the decision to safeguard safety would have gone a long way to appease the passengers.
#80
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Ability to cancel meals is a form of power and authority crew have over passengers and seems to me that the OP's crew were quite happy to wield that power. Some FAs are not and even if they have to would do so apologetically and offer some consolation. And some times the decision is wrong but few of these power seekers are modest enough to admit they (for whatever reason) got it wrong so they may choose to see it through regardless of what transpires subsequently. A simple announcement prelanding that the turbulence did not turn out bad as we projected and sorry you missed your meal service, but we had made the decision to safeguard safety would have gone a long way to appease the passengers.
Had exactly the same feeling on a domestic flight this week. Just after doors closed, the captain came on the PA in real power trip fashion and announced no drink/food service on the whole flight due to severe turbulence. And ordered us to remain seated and buckled up at all times, like telling inmates of a boot camp.
The cabin crew then repeated the orders in the same hostile style.
On the whole (fairly short) flight, not a single chop. People were waiting for an apology and/or explanation. Of course, we did not hear anything from the crew.
#81
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#82
Join Date: Feb 2015
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The operational word is think. It all depends on what the crew think as opposed to a more objective metric. The same way the FA can deboard a passenger if they think the passenger is a risk. Very likely the treshold for safety and 'thinking' it is unsafe varies from airline to airline, pilot to pilot, and FA to FA. I have seen the opposite where FAs have continued meal service in moderate turbulence, holding on to things to stop being thrown to the side, rest of us belted up and I wondered should they not be cancelling the meal service for their safety. There will be some over zealous purser that cancels service at the slightest excuse and there will be the stubborn ones that see it as a slight if they do, then there are those in between.
Ability to cancel meals is a form of power and authority crew have over passengers and seems to me that the OP's crew were quite happy to wield that power. Some FAs are not and even if they have to would do so apologetically and offer some consolation. And some times the decision is wrong but few of these power seekers are modest enough to admit they (for whatever reason) got it wrong so they may choose to see it through regardless of what transpires subsequently. A simple announcement prelanding that the turbulence did not turn out bad as we projected and sorry you missed your meal service, but we had made the decision to safeguard safety would have gone a long way to appease the passengers.
Ability to cancel meals is a form of power and authority crew have over passengers and seems to me that the OP's crew were quite happy to wield that power. Some FAs are not and even if they have to would do so apologetically and offer some consolation. And some times the decision is wrong but few of these power seekers are modest enough to admit they (for whatever reason) got it wrong so they may choose to see it through regardless of what transpires subsequently. A simple announcement prelanding that the turbulence did not turn out bad as we projected and sorry you missed your meal service, but we had made the decision to safeguard safety would have gone a long way to appease the passengers.
#83
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Texas
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Doesn't seem like much of a loss, mainly because the meal is so inappropriate in the first place. NEVER am I interested in having a breakfast on a flight at 3pm local time or whatever time it is when such a flight from NRT is heading towards the east coast. The science shows clearly that jet lag can be reduced the sooner that passenger acclimates to the destination time zone. So besides being gross, serving breakfast at 3pm just prolongs jet lag.
#84
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Maybe an apology or eating humble pie and admitting there was no massive turbulence as you said and sorry we did not serve your meal - but no that would be a slight on one's ego and power...
#86
Join Date: May 2004
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Here in SE Asia where turbulence is a common occurrence I've had a number of flights where they will announce prior to take off that they will not be serving hot drinks "due to weather conditions" . The flights have turned out relatively uneventful and the flight attendants still get up to serve meals and water. Agree with others that the threshold for US airlines to turn on the seatbelt sign or reduce service is low. If the flight attendants were up, there's no good reason they couldn't sling a croissant at the business class passengers at a minimum.
#87
Join Date: Feb 2013
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After all, United advertises things like "A wide selection of complimentary inflight beverages is available throughout your flight" for domestic first and not "drinks will be served if we feel like it".
Safety is always the top priority in aviation, no doubt about that. But on my flight the FAs seemed just too happy they didn't have to get up and serve drinks/food. There is a big difference between saying "As you folks heard from the captain, there will be no service today" (as they did) or "we are sorry we won't be able to provide any drink/food service today".
Fly the friendly skies ...
Last edited by worldclubber; Apr 22, 2019 at 2:40 am Reason: punctuation had disappeared
#88
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Doesn't seem like much of a loss, mainly because the meal is so inappropriate in the first place. NEVER am I interested in having a breakfast on a flight at 3pm local time or whatever time it is when such a flight from NRT is heading towards the east coast. The science shows clearly that jet lag can be reduced the sooner that passenger acclimates to the destination time zone. So besides being gross, serving breakfast at 3pm just prolongs jet lag.
#89
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Doesn't seem like much of a loss, mainly because the meal is so inappropriate in the first place. NEVER am I interested in having a breakfast on a flight at 3pm local time or whatever time it is when such a flight from NRT is heading towards the east coast. The science shows clearly that jet lag can be reduced the sooner that passenger acclimates to the destination time zone. So besides being gross, serving breakfast at 3pm just prolongs jet lag.
#90
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I'm probably in the minority but I actually enjoy the pre-arrival "breakfast" served at 2 or 3pm, especially if it's catered ex-USA and of the tasty Southwest variety.
It offers plenty variety with the egg, potatoes, etc. and is light enough with the additional fruit and Yoghurt. Oftentimes it is also the last meal of the day for me.
It offers plenty variety with the egg, potatoes, etc. and is light enough with the additional fruit and Yoghurt. Oftentimes it is also the last meal of the day for me.