2/21/23 UA71 AMS to EWR: Mimosa or sparkling water.

2/21 BUF EWR ERJ175. Full bar offered before take off with refills - reason - most likely no service in the air due to turbulence. Kudos to the FA for being proactive. Turns out flight was fairly smooth. Nice to have such a great FA.

02/22: FLL-EWR OJ or Water offered.

FA's in F were efficient, but a little too much so. Forgot my Coke Zero in the air, second try worked. No second drink service / checks before landing. Loud/lots of boarding announcements ("Patty, no more bags, we're full!" shouted down the aisle). A bit rough for a 6am flight.

2/24 UA 279 ORD-RDU A-319: OJ or Water

I am wondering if the inconsistencies on the PDB is because the FAs are not paid until the door is closed so PDB service is before the FAs are getting paid and as far as I am aware none of us tip the FAs. Perhaps their union should be negotiating that FAs be paid when the GA scans the first boarding pass. Serve the PDBs or do not serve them - but be consistent, and yes I know it is a stated benefit of domestic first but I am not sure I would want to work and not be paid, unless I am volunteering my time for a charitable cause.

I don't think that's it. I can't remember if it's AA or DL, but one of them gets paid before the door is closed and the PDB is just as hit or miss as with UA (only difference seems to be that UA further hits or miss with either OJ or water and nothing else).

A “what can I get you?” By an amazing Republic Airways FA yesterday ord-Ind.

That’s partly it - Polaris staffing has remained cut back to the Pandemic levels, and hasn’t been / won’t be fully restored. Permanently cutting the second galley position on all wide bodies except the 773 and having FA’s work the galley and work the aisle creates a rocky service flow, lots of hanging around waiting for the customer, limited refills … and most often no PDB, which is the first thing to go when FAs are busy checking the galley and getting people settled.

My last five segments in Polaris have had no PDB. It’s actually very poor - I wouldn’t mind if they were offering a broad selection of beverages, but the fact it’s only sparkling wine / water now and even that can’t be accomplished is a problem. Every other airline manages this internationally. When you add it to the truly awful food offerings, the entire soft product needs a rethink - as well as the staffing and service flow.

2/28 UA2391 MCI-DEN B737-900ER :tu: Offered water or OJ. This is also UAs first flight out of the new, consolidated MCI, so :tu::tu: for a PDB.

3/4 UA677 MCI-ORD B737-900ER — choice of water or OJ

I was offered and accepted a refill from the purser for my champagne PDB on UA901 SFO-LHR the other day. I was shocked!

So what's the deal?

I was on LAS-ORD flight this weekend. The FA came by with a tray of H2O and sparkling wine. I asked her for a Diet Coke. She said at 10,000 feet she would bring me one. I said that my last half-dozen flights the FA brought me one when requested. She said that is not policy. We had a "discussion" about that being policy or not. I thought that the tray was standard and you could request another beverage. She would not budge, so no DC for me. Were the other FAs who served me a DC going against policy?

I would like to know what the current policy is. Matthew or anyone else, please let us know.

And "service is our passion"? Sheesh.

Lucky the Captain didn't come have a "discussion" with you... :D

Boarding 787-10 from the front door was a cluster the other day, and so there wasn't really opportunity for the FAs to do PDBs other than pass out water bottles. However, very kind FA got me a bloody mary anyway. So I got the only legit PDB on the plane... :)

3/7 UA 2331 IAD-RDU 737-700: Water or Sparkling wine. The FA offered refills too which I don't usually see.