You could ask for anything else you'd want though, yes?

... it's 5 pm 'somewhere'!

Has been the same on every flight for me this year. Water or OJ (or mimosa).

Possible justifications:

• It takes the edge off
• It helps with the hangover from the night before
• On a celebratory trip (e.g., anniversary)
• Spent four figures on the ticket, might as well get something out of it

I rarely drink on morning flights, and when I do, I usually regret it later.

Fly Delta and you can have whatever you want as a PDB.

New Yorkers love to drink so this is totally appropriate ;-)

Mimosas. Always. LOL

Mimosas are the standard before-noon drink choice? Not sure I understand the confusion.

The pre-selected PDB tray has been somewhat standard on UA for a while now, and you should be able to ask for something else if you want. Normally regular orange juice is on the tray too though.

My pet peeve on FT: there's tons of posts in this and the Trivial Gripe thread, with complaints about only being offered two (or three) choices for PDB.

This is only the FAs trying to be efficient and easily and expeditiously provide pax with what they believe the two or three most popular choices are.
If you ask for something else and then get denied, that's maybe when a complaint might be warranted, otherwise most FAs will be happy to go back and get your specific drink choice, IME.

Nothing offered on SFO-PHX Sunday night. FA did not greet pax, either. That level of service continued throughout the flight. More than my fair share of apathetic or borderline hostile UA crews lately. Flights have been reliable, though, which I cannot say about AA.

I am more amazed at how many take that option (that early)

BLUF: I was offered a PDB of sparkling wine or water after the very last minute battlefield upgrade last night on IAH-PHL, which was a pleasant surprise.

Let me set the scene...I had a very last minute booking for a flight IAH-PHL last evening, with nothing showing available up front where I am normally booked. Due to the emergency nature of the travel I was booked in coach then; I was originally in a nice row 21 emergency row aisle seat with an empty middle seat, so for me best possible spot sans my normal first seat. I was number one on the upgrade list as boarding was finished, then I and another gent got the battlefield upgrade due to a couple that missed a connection. Crew was very engaging on the flight also, save for not having the guy in front of me pull his seat upright for landing.

This has been my general experience the vast majority of time.

Was going SLC to BZN recently, and the FA came by asking me if I wanted a PDB. I inquired as to what they had, and she responded asking what I wanted. That�s when I realized I was on Delta.

Yes, you should. However, most of the time, I�m told I can get that when we�re in the air�

Happy is as happy does, as I imagine Forrest Gump would have said. However, after being fed various lines by FAs about why I can�t select my PDB, I�m afraid to report that I mostly wait till we�re in the air.

I guess this still counts… UA2331 ORD-MCI A320 - cleared stand by into row 8 and lost my upgrade on the later flight. Pax in F turned down their PDBs, so the first two rows got the extras..

UA 1414 ORD-TPA today. Typical water/OJ. Flight delayed for 30 mins. Purser Elaine came around to take breakfast and drink orders for �once we are in the air�. I clarified that this meant no pdb? She lectured that oj/water IS a pdb, it�s done now, (even though we will be sitting for another 15 mins) and there are regulations against service alcohol on the ground. News to me.