All Hot Meals Gone Domestically

[Art at ISP]

USA320,

I beg to differ with you but the overwhelming majority of people I have flown with and colleagues alike are appalled at the new transcon service-it may be ok for coach, but it is an embarassment in first, especially when other carriers have beefed up their first class service. The response has been overwhelmingly negative.

On a short to medium flight it's fine--but on a 6 hour transcon, it's an embarassing mistake. The cost differential is likely neglible, but it sends the wrong message to those who fly every week-the bread and butter of the customer base. And for the record, we were never the ones asking for the artificially low fares, we just wanted FAIR fares. This is indicative of a company that doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up. Time will tell if it is temporary or they are testing the waters to do away with first altogether.

For those of you who complain about lack of service on a 30 minute flight, get over it. These flight attendants work harder than any flight attendants I have seen at ANY other airline, and they deserve our appreciation and thanks for a job well done, not a complaint about not getting soda. Let's remember that their PRIMARY function is to insure the safety of the passengers.

My best to you all........

 

[US1YFARE]

I'm not so sure. There are lots of times I have asked for, or would have preferred, the IFC meal in coach to what was being served in FC.

And, if you want a drink on a 30 minute flight, buy a bottle of water before you get on board. I feel sorry for the flight attendants on a full flight who have to do the express service--it's like an auction--who wants a coke, me, me me, no, i want diet coke, well, i only have coke, i don't want coke, i want diet coke...ok, who wants a coke....

 

[700UW]

What ever happened to the juice or water cups on short flights?

 

[US1YFARE]

What ever happened to the juice or water cups on short flights?

[post="246749"][/post]​

water, diet coke, coke and sprite (i think) already poured in cups and carried on a tray is the express service. it's still an auction. people act like they are going to die of thirst, but they always ask for something that's not on the tray. I am still amazed that people would complain about beverage service on clt-rdu--it is so short. that's almost as bad as expecting beverage service on phl-bwi.

 

[700UW]

They should offer diet spirte on the express as some people dont want to drink a diet coke which has caffiene in it.

 

[ClueByFour]

Earlier this week I flew out to LAX and back and the F/A’s asked the US1 CP passengers what they thought of the Inflight Café presentation. Interestingly, virtually all of the passengers preferred the new FC meal.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

[post="246719"][/post]​

Really? I flew to SFO and both US1s, 3 US2s, 3 US3s, and two deadheading pilots (who got the last pick in any case) thought it was tacky.

It's universally decried on other forums, almost all of whose participants have status with US, and they think it sucks (in so many words, of course).

Keep spinning. It's amusing to watch.

 

[JS]

Emphasis added...

On behalf of all the F/a's that bust their butts out there just to serve coke,sprite,and diet coke on the express beverage flights "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU"

Most passengers can't see past their row and wonder what the heck we are doing just sitting on our jumpseats under 10,000 feet. It's nice know you understand our nightmare.
I was on an AA DFW-AUS flight a couple of months ago and they served juice and water cuplets along with coffee. That to me is the only way these short flight should be served. A prepackaged drink along with a few coffees and your done. It takes way too much time to pour ice into cups, then soda, then hand to pax with napkin. Now if we had 3 or 4 f/a's on the 737 or A319/20 in coach we could do it. Of course I'm talking about the express serve flights. The no serve ones, you could'nt do with an army of f/a's and make everyone happy. Anyway, can't you go a half an hour without something to drink?

[post="246714"][/post]​

Of course. I can also reach my destination with no tray table, no seatback pocket, no reading light, no air vent, no beverage, no meal and no snack, regardless of how long the flight is.

You and some later posters saying "they're on board primarily for your safety" have bought into the union mantra that has dragged service down to practically nothing.

It is really sad that the king of LCC, Southwest Airlines, now has *better* service than US Airways! You would think that the king of cheapness would never serve a beverage on a flight short enough where people don't "need" a beverage. In fact it is the exact opposite.

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

Why can't you all purchase your own hot meals and end this moldy worn out topic?

 

[USA320Pilot]

I do not read every post on this forum and scan most of the topics. If this information has already been posted I apologize. Here is an excerpt from the Charlotte Observer:

Starting this week, US Airways says it is temporarily halting the meals on transcontinental flights because it is switching food vendors. Instead, first-class passengers will receive a complimentary meal in a box, known as In-Flight Cafe -- the same meal boxes available for purchase in coach.

US Airways spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said she did not know how long first-class passengers would receive meals in a box, but promised "traditional first-class meals will return."

Complete Story

According to Corporate Communications, US Airways will return to hot meals in First Class in the not-so-distant future.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

I do not read every post on this forum and scan most of the topics. If this information has already been posted I apologize. Here is an excerpt from the Charlotte Observer:

[post="246844"][/post]​

So if this was already posted and you are to lazy to check for yourself we are supposed to forgive you for posting it again?

This is exactly what I would expect from you and your so called research too. You go around looking for anything to post so you can take credit for being first one to say something but taking no care for checking sources for what you post as long as it agrees with your mantra and your agenda.

 

[Phantom Fixer]

USA320Pile-It,

Well if this ain't Just typical U thinking.....Lets discontinue something that will alienate our FF's until we have something else in place to correct the need.

U , if it was thinking for a scant Nano-Second would have handled this in a seamless manner as to not offend the people paying to fly FC on a 3 to 6 hour flight.

 

[PSA1979]

Emphasis added...
Of course. I can also reach my destination with no tray table, no seatback pocket, no reading light, no air vent, no beverage, no meal and no snack, regardless of how long the flight is.

You and some later posters saying "they're on board primarily for your safety" have bought into the union mantra that has dragged service down to practically nothing.

It is really sad that the king of LCC, Southwest Airlines, now has *better* service than US Airways! You would think that the king of cheapness would never serve a beverage on a flight short enough where people don't "need" a beverage. In fact it is the exact opposite.

[post="246832"][/post]​

And SWA also has no first class service. When you add F/C you take away a flight attendant for coach. We used to serve all flights, except 10 minute ones, because we had 4 f/a's on a 737 all working in coach. Now, we have 2 for 132 people. It just won't work on those short flights.
I get the feeling you hate flight attendants and think they are useless, servants there for your every whim. Well, we are safety professionals, Certified now,just like pilots and mechanics. The FAA requires f/a's, the airlines don't. Greyhound doesn't and you get no service there. The days are gone where we jumped up when the landing gear went up to start getting the carts ready to go down the aisle. My life and well being is more important than your tiny glass of coke. Bring your own bottle and quit b*tching about not being waited on hand and foot. This is the transportation business, we get you from point A to point B. Nothing else is guaranteed.

 

[BoeingBoy]

"You and some later posters saying "they're on board primarily for your safety" have bought into the union mantra that has dragged service down to practically nothing."

FAR 125.289

No certificate holder may use any person, nor may any person serve, as a flight attendant crewmember, unless, since the beginning of the 12th calendar month before that service, the certificate holder has determined by appropriate initial and recurrent testing that the person is knowledgeable and competent in the following areas as appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities:

(a) Authority of the pilot in command;

(b) Passenger handling, including procedures to be followed in handling deranged persons or other persons whose conduct might jeopardize safety;

© Crewmember assignments, functions, and responsibilities during ditching and evacuation of persons who may need the assistance of another person to move expeditiously to an exit in an emergency;

(d) Briefing of passengers;

(e) Location and operation of portable fire extinguishers and other items of emergency equipment;

(f) Proper use of cabin equipment and controls;

(g) Location and operation of passenger oxygen equipment;

(h) Location and operation of all normal and emergency exits, including evacuation chutes and escape ropes; and

(i) Seating of persons who may need assistance of another person to move rapidly to an exit in an emergency as prescribed by the certificate holder's operations manual.

Funny how I don't see anything in there about catering to every whim that the most demanding of passengers might have.....

Jim

 

[700UW]

Good posts PSA and Jim.

They want the Waldorf Astoria service at the Motel 6 rates.

 

[USAirBoyA330]

Tell em PSA!
He will be the first one God forbid an emergency should arise looking around panicked and asking the flight attendants 30 questions we covered during the safety demo while his mouth was blabbing 5 miles a minute on his cell phone and snapping his fingers for you to get his drink.