6/19 EWR-JNB-- no PDB (or really service of any kind)
7/5 CPT-EWR- champagne or water (and also disappointing service)

SNA-EWR 7:30AM yesterday, water & OJ offered. I asked for bloody mary & was declined (very rare). In air, was kept plied with double gins...

7/13 UA2721 MCI-IAH B739 :tu: Choice of water, OJ or strong mimosa’s. Before a pilot and two NRSA, F was only booked 7/20 which is always a nice surprise.

Last two weeks:

EWR > NRT
HND > IAD
IAD > LHR
BRU > IAD

Water/Prosecco/OJ
Admittedly, I didn’t try for anything else, but refills abounded.

7/15 EWR BUF ERJ175

Nothing offered. Boarding finished early, catering was there and done before we boarded. Inquired why nothing was offered, and I was told "Catering". Nothing further that the one word. Ridiculous.

Maybe that's just how they pronounce "lazy"?

BUF EWR 7/18 ERJ 175. Plane early arrival, boarding completeled early, push back early. Nothing. Same story. Lazy. I wish I could just choose to leave out parts of my job with no push back. Not an option. Tired of the laziness. Is it a big deal, no, but that shouldn't matter. It's a product you expect to receive and you pay for. You're entitled to what you pay for.

What happened when you asked for a PDB?

I didn't ask on this segment. On the previous EWR BUF, same scenario I did. I said "Any reason no drinks were served", the response was "catering". Everything was early and ahead of schedule.

If you don't ask, they may assume you don't care and further justify not providing the service. Did anyone ask on the flight?

Understand folks don't feel they should need to ask and it should be provide without asking. In an idea world, yes. But if no one ask, it is easy to slip into the believe passenger don't care and it is not a big deal to skip Not suggesting making a scene, just short simple, "will you be offering PDB on this flight?" should reinforce the point.

If inflight, nobody asks for a meal, or a beverage, it's not an expected service? In first class, a PDF is an expected service, and it should be honored without asking. Just my opinion.

I've been on these kinds of short flights where the captain and FA announce that there's no service and that the FA will remain seated; yet they do get up and will accommodate First passengers. They will also [oftentimes] do requests for PDBs.

Polaris IAD to CPT
 

No pre departure drink or PJs…

Just reporting in….

No PDB on NRT-IAH in Polaris today. Inbound was a few minutes early. Boarding was delayed for some reason, no idea what was going on. Standbys were even on 10 minutes before scheduled departure...

Given the hit-or-miss nature of PDBs these days, with a much greater chance of a miss (even during perfectly normal boarding), do FAs have complete discretion, or does training procedures carve out exceptions during shortened boarding etc.?

I realize it increases the opportunity for focusing relentlessly on safety when not serving cocktails. :-)