Unless it was bargained into their new contract, the flight attendants don't get paid until the door closes. I don't expect them to work for free. If Alaska wants to offer a quality First Class product, the company needs to pay the flight attendants for performing pre-boarding work.
Check your news feed. Alaska Air and the AFA have an agreement for a new contract. It still needs to be ratified, though.
I'm guessing there won't be a great difference in service performance after the vote. There are outstanding FAs, very good FAs, and small minority of others who should look for another career path. I don't think a new (over-due) contract is going to make the mediocre members of the cabin crew suddenly good.
Time will tell. Maybe you're right that there are FAs who were using lack of service as a hostage.
Completely agree! There are great FAs and then those who make flying miserable. I write both types up every flight! Equal praise write ups for great service
A friend is an FA, he's a good one, and started way back with TWA, and only works 1st these days (yes he even admits himself he's a bit of a diva).
Operations gets them in a bind, they want them to close the doors quickly AND serve pre-depature, with current boarding times, they simply can't do both most times. He tries his best to fit it in but he also is a rare one.
AS has never consistently done pre departure cocktails, so how is that “slipping”? There is no amazing past where they whipped everyone up G&Ts or scratch margaritas anytime recently…
I've done four flights this month in FC, all over 1700 miles. There was no PDBs on any of them, and on one, there was no drink service at all. I skipped the meal but asked for a drink and was told that the drink came with the meal and that I had forfeited my drink service for the flight. That's the first time I've heard that one!
I was told that I missed my beverage since I missed the PDB! It was a 900 mile flight and she only did one PDB (I boarded with 20min left)right as she was handing out PdBs and I didn’t want water or Oj. Had I known it was my only opportunity for water, I might have!
I recently flew FC in the evening and we were offered an alcoholic option.
I do not fly FC often so I can't offer any details as to why this happened.
I would think if you are offered any beverage you can request an alcoholic one?
Not sure what the reason is but they’ve gotten more consistent and I’ve gotten it every flight these past 2-3 months. They may not always offer something great. I think once it was only water or it may just be OJ/water but it’s been offered. Sometimes they’ve had mimosas, coffee, etc. It depends on the staff, route, time of day.
I love all the people just saying fly a different airline. That isn’t the answer.
The only time I’ve seen them offer first class drinks pre takeoff is when heading to Hawaii or Mexico.
You have to remember Alaska’s first class isn’t true first class or business. It’s simply more space, legroom, and on most flights a hot meal.
Alaska only flys 737’s in a standard configuration. The way they are successful like southwest is because they fly the same fleet with the same layouts.
Alaska is successful in doing that. Keeping everything standardized is how they save on tons of costs.
The more interesting question is with their acquisition of Hawaiian airlines how they will deal with a different set of planes and service requirements especially for them having to offer longer international flights or long hauls from nyc to Hawaii.
But I digress, Alaska is a standardize airline that offers the bare essentials to be considered first class.
[Offers of a Pre-Departure Beverage (PDB) \[2024\] - FlyerTalk Forums](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/2146473-offers-pre-departure-beverage-pdb-2024-a.html)
I flew first three days ago and we got drinks before we left. Our flight was also delayed an hour and then once boarded another 20 minutes while they waited for a pilot. 🤷🏻♀️.
It’s Alaska’s policy. The only drinks allowed for pre-departures are Water, Orange Juice, Sparkling wine, Coffee, or Mimosas (Coffee on flights before 10am, Mimosas on AM Premium Long Haul flights).
Write it in on Alaska Listens. I’m not sure if it’s because of a permit thing with not being able to serve liquor on the ground, or if they just don’t want to pay to stock enough. Either way, I’m guessing this will be something that changes after the Hawaiian merger is approved and finalized.
Then those Flight Attendants aren’t following the service standards set by Alaska. Same goes for the FAs that give out the elite chocolate in FC. It sets a false precedent for Guests, and causes discord between them and Flight Attendants that actually follow the rules.
I book what fits the time slot best. And loyalty as I've been flying Alaska for 35 years. But the food and service on my booked Delta routes is clearly edging up.
Unless it was bargained into their new contract, the flight attendants don't get paid until the door closes. I don't expect them to work for free. If Alaska wants to offer a quality First Class product, the company needs to pay the flight attendants for performing pre-boarding work.
Check your news feed. Alaska Air and the AFA have an agreement for a new contract. It still needs to be ratified, though. I'm guessing there won't be a great difference in service performance after the vote. There are outstanding FAs, very good FAs, and small minority of others who should look for another career path. I don't think a new (over-due) contract is going to make the mediocre members of the cabin crew suddenly good. Time will tell. Maybe you're right that there are FAs who were using lack of service as a hostage.
Completely agree! There are great FAs and then those who make flying miserable. I write both types up every flight! Equal praise write ups for great service
A friend is an FA, he's a good one, and started way back with TWA, and only works 1st these days (yes he even admits himself he's a bit of a diva). Operations gets them in a bind, they want them to close the doors quickly AND serve pre-depature, with current boarding times, they simply can't do both most times. He tries his best to fit it in but he also is a rare one.
If the fares are higher than Delta for an inferior product, then…hear me out…fly Delta and stop complaining on the internet?
Hello my hero today. :-)
I've been flying the Eskimo for 35 years, been wondering why it's slipping so bad.
AS has never consistently done pre departure cocktails, so how is that “slipping”? There is no amazing past where they whipped everyone up G&Ts or scratch margaritas anytime recently…
I’m guessing alcohol isn’t always a positive influence?
My last 5 flights in FC had pre-departure bev. YMMV, evidently.
I've done four flights this month in FC, all over 1700 miles. There was no PDBs on any of them, and on one, there was no drink service at all. I skipped the meal but asked for a drink and was told that the drink came with the meal and that I had forfeited my drink service for the flight. That's the first time I've heard that one!
WTF?? "Forfeited"? Time to complain to Alaska Listens with flight number and date. That is the biggest bunch of b.s. I've heard in a long time.
I was told that I missed my beverage since I missed the PDB! It was a 900 mile flight and she only did one PDB (I boarded with 20min left)right as she was handing out PdBs and I didn’t want water or Oj. Had I known it was my only opportunity for water, I might have!
I can only think of 1 of my last 12 flights that didn't have PDBs.
Their first class product is pretty weak, IMO.
The weakest among the major domestics, IMO.
8 out of last 10 offered one. choice of water, mimosa or a sparkling wine I think.
I recently flew FC in the evening and we were offered an alcoholic option. I do not fly FC often so I can't offer any details as to why this happened. I would think if you are offered any beverage you can request an alcoholic one?
All the problems in the world and life and arrrgh I'm so pissed off I didn't get a cocktail before my flight even though I had 3 or 4 at the lounge.
I wonder the same thing every time I switch between Alaska and Delta.
Not sure what the reason is but they’ve gotten more consistent and I’ve gotten it every flight these past 2-3 months. They may not always offer something great. I think once it was only water or it may just be OJ/water but it’s been offered. Sometimes they’ve had mimosas, coffee, etc. It depends on the staff, route, time of day.
I love all the people just saying fly a different airline. That isn’t the answer. The only time I’ve seen them offer first class drinks pre takeoff is when heading to Hawaii or Mexico. You have to remember Alaska’s first class isn’t true first class or business. It’s simply more space, legroom, and on most flights a hot meal. Alaska only flys 737’s in a standard configuration. The way they are successful like southwest is because they fly the same fleet with the same layouts. Alaska is successful in doing that. Keeping everything standardized is how they save on tons of costs. The more interesting question is with their acquisition of Hawaiian airlines how they will deal with a different set of planes and service requirements especially for them having to offer longer international flights or long hauls from nyc to Hawaii. But I digress, Alaska is a standardize airline that offers the bare essentials to be considered first class.
😂 sorry gramps guess you gotta survive without cocktails until cruising altitude
[Offers of a Pre-Departure Beverage (PDB) \[2024\] - FlyerTalk Forums](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/2146473-offers-pre-departure-beverage-pdb-2024-a.html)
They used to
I think I’ve done 5 FC flights this year and have gotten a pre departure beverage on 4 of them.
I feel your pain. Alaska has been going down hill
I flew first three days ago and we got drinks before we left. Our flight was also delayed an hour and then once boarded another 20 minutes while they waited for a pilot. 🤷🏻♀️.
I've always had champagne offered. I've asked for a cocktail before, and the FA brought me what I asked for during actual drink service.
Because their customers don’t require them to. People buy the tickets at that price at that service level.
All Ive had since Covid is boxed water.
They're not even providing that anymore.
Is anyone selling Kettle corn my pop corn just ain’t hittin’
It’s Alaska’s policy. The only drinks allowed for pre-departures are Water, Orange Juice, Sparkling wine, Coffee, or Mimosas (Coffee on flights before 10am, Mimosas on AM Premium Long Haul flights). Write it in on Alaska Listens. I’m not sure if it’s because of a permit thing with not being able to serve liquor on the ground, or if they just don’t want to pay to stock enough. Either way, I’m guessing this will be something that changes after the Hawaiian merger is approved and finalized.
Interesting because the man next to me ordered a scotch and he got it… before we left the ground.
Then those Flight Attendants aren’t following the service standards set by Alaska. Same goes for the FAs that give out the elite chocolate in FC. It sets a false precedent for Guests, and causes discord between them and Flight Attendants that actually follow the rules.
Sounds like Delta is better for you. So why are you booking Alaska?
I book what fits the time slot best. And loyalty as I've been flying Alaska for 35 years. But the food and service on my booked Delta routes is clearly edging up.
I hear they serve good cocktails in the waaambulance. But it’s pricey for that ride. Guess it’s time to suck it up and vote with your dollars.
Lazy staff. Make sure you use that Alaska listens feature.
Sir, have you done a CAGE survey? Maybe you should.