dll

I have noticed on the last 4-5 737 segments SFO-LAX and return that they stopped using drink carts for beverage service - they come through the cabin with trays of OJ and water and offer those as they as what you'd like to drink.

IE, "would you like a glass of orange juice or water?" If you answer, "actually, may I have a diet coke instead?" they write it down and go retrieve it from the galley some time in the future. This is the way that WN has done their drink service for some time.

I asked the FA on the last segment if it was a service change and sure enough, he said that it is a change for the shorthaul beverage only flights. Seems reasonable enough to me - I rarely get anything other than a glass of water and it's nice not having the drink cart block the aisle for 75% of a short flight if you want to visit the lavatory. I am sure there is a cost reduction reason in there somewhere, too.

Anyone else noticed this?

lucky9876coins

You sure this is not just a case of ex-Shuttle planes? That's what it sounds like to me, especially since we're talking about 737's...

dll

That's what I thought, but last night's -300 had ovens in the forward galley and was mainline (not ex-SH), which is why I asked them. I now realize, BTW, that the thread title is a bit misleading - the drink carts are there, but the drink service FROM the cart has been modified. Carts remain stowed.

Haven't been on a s/h Airbus or 757 flight recently that didn't have BOB, so don't know if it's fleetwide (sort of doubt it or someone would have spoken up).

El Cochinito

I noticed this too on a recent 737-300 flight between MCI and DEN. I chalked it up to dumping excess weight off the plane to save fuel.

Hmbrglar

I had this on a recent 737 from ORD - BUF. Water, OJ and Coffee only. Of course they still had beer if you wanted it

Brattflyer

I tried to search for this but couldn't find it. In a recent thread on how UA could save money, someone mentioned eliminating the carts which are quite heavy, to save money on fuel. Could some UA employee be reading FT and then put suggestions into the suggestion box for which they are rewarded?
It wouldn't surprise me. FastAir, United Skies was that you?

hungarianhc

I don't believe any of the SFO-LAX / LAX-SFO trips are ex-shuttle.

FWAAA

Wouldn't the cart still be necessary to store all the trays of cans? All drinks are rolled onto the airplane from the catering truck in beverage carts - and airplanes generally have nowhere to store loose cans or the plastic cart inserts if there's no cart. Carts are heavy, but the carts are the storage cabinets for cans of beverages.

karung99

Noticed that on LAS to SFO too

notquiteaff

May 15/18 Ted was still using carts to distribute cups of beverages. At least on my flights on that route.

hemispheric

On Saturday, DEN-YVR, there were no drink carts. FAs would go through the aisle, asking each person what they wanted, then go back to the galley and bring the cans and cups of ice on trays. No limited selection (though they did come back later with water, OJ, coffee) but no drink cart either, and 2 FAs repeatedly running back to the galley after taking each row's orders.

LessO2

They have used old Shuttle planes on that route.

dll

I will also add here that the trays they were using were specially designed for drink distribution - looks like they hold 12 or so cups at a time and have recessed pockets where the drinks rest, a'la Southwest's system. Maybe they are standardizing to the lowest common denominator (ex-Shuttle) all 737 service and training requirements to the same level to reduce costs and confusion?

auh2o

I am pretty sure I was on an ex-shuttle 737-300 LAX-SFO this morning.

Clarkcc1

This was not the case on 4 SFO-LAX and reverse segments this weekend. Cart with drink of choice came by. Mix of 737s and 757s.