First for me - preflight drinks in E
Nov 9, 2007 | 8:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: IAD, DCA
Programs: UA-Plat, Marriott-Plat, AAI, AAII
Posts: 3,758
First for me - preflight drinks in E
Flight 211 Tuesday morning IAD-LAX.
Shortly after I sat down in 10F I was offered preflight coffee or water by a smiling FA carrying a tray with a couple of cups of water and a pot of coffee. Note this was not like sitting in 8D (752) and getting offered the leftovers from F, this FA was actually working the E cabin.
While I declined because all I wanted to do was go back to sleep and wake up in LA, I found it a pleasant surprise.
Shortly after I sat down in 10F I was offered preflight coffee or water by a smiling FA carrying a tray with a couple of cups of water and a pot of coffee. Note this was not like sitting in 8D (752) and getting offered the leftovers from F, this FA was actually working the E cabin.
While I declined because all I wanted to do was go back to sleep and wake up in LA, I found it a pleasant surprise.
Nov 9, 2007 | 10:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,414
Sounds like a FA who deserved a GTEM card!
Nov 9, 2007 | 10:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD, collecting parking tickets on the ///M3
Programs: UA 2K, MM, SPG PLT
Posts: 363
Nov 10, 2007 | 1:06 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: UA 1K 1MM / AA PP, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 949
Now if this attitude could simply proliferate through the rest of the system!! I LOVE it when you get an FA or crew who THINKS this way. Its a state of mind, not just a drink service ^
Nov 10, 2007 | 4:35 am
#5
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
This happened to me as well! IAD-ORD on a 6am departure. Ooooh.... a trend? Could this be an actual UA enhancement?
Nov 10, 2007 | 4:51 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: TPA & MCO
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP & UA Gold
Posts: 3,051
Did s/he serve just a few E+ pax, or everyone?
Nov 10, 2007 | 5:50 am
#7
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
For my flight, it was everyone in coach. Keep in mind there may have been only 40 people in coach on this mega-early departure.
Nov 10, 2007 | 6:12 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 117
How early? What's the hour cutoff for coffee in E? 
Nov 10, 2007 | 6:23 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: IAD, DCA
Programs: UA-Plat, Marriott-Plat, AAI, AAII
Posts: 3,758
I believe she was working her way forward from the back of E, so everyone. To be honest, it was a very light load and I don't think a single FA could have handled a whole plane load of pax. And it did not appear that the other FAs were participating in this special service. I got the impression that this single FA was just trying to make our 7AM flight a little more pleasant.
Nov 10, 2007 | 5:16 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA, AA, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 668
When in Y on a 757 I usually am in 8D. 75% of the time I am offered leftover OJ or water. On a few occasions I have been asked if I want anything and have been served coffee as well!
Nov 11, 2007 | 12:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PVG
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG LT GOLD
Posts: 111
I saw this last week on a 777 from PVG to ORD. There were apparently a few glasses of left-over drinks from Business Class and were offered to the folks in E+. I wish they had done this by checking the passenger status so that I might have had an shot at those drinks, sitting on the 3rd row. The guy sitting across the aisle from me, in the 2nd row, did not even seem impressed with the free champaign...I would have at least said thank you.