MIASkies From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 1335 posts, RR: 1 Posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10453 times:
I wonder if this will make AA think about not offering food on their flights!
This platinum level passenger took mater into his own hands and went into the galley of an AA 752 enroute from LAS to MIA this a.m. & demanded a meal, not just pretzels!
My thing is...if your a platinum level passenger, why are you flying coach? you know Coach does not offer meals! and 2nd of all, I wonder how many cocktails this passenger must have had? hahahaha.
Toxicmegacolon From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 28 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10345 times:
Quoting MIASkies (Thread starter): I am Platinum (and close to requalifying for next year in only three months) and I always fly coach.
Is that by choice? I'm platinum on NW, and have never been forced to sit in coach
AASTEW From Dominican Republic, joined Oct 2001, 443 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10310 times:
Typical customer these days! They have champagne tastes with beer budgets!
PAX are no longer paying the fares when we did serve food on the mainline carriers. People need to get over it. You want low fares, you gotta give up something people!
However, Buy on Board meals were provided on his LAS-MIA flight. The dummy couldn't buy one of those meals!
MIASkies From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 1335 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10291 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1): I am Platinum (and close to requalifying for next year in only three months) and I always fly coach.
Obviously...anyone can fly coach, I am not saying because your platinum that you must fly Business or First etc... but obviously if he is at Platinum status on AA, he must fly quite often! meaning he should be aware (if he lives on this planet) that AA no longer is serving full meals on Domestic Coach Class! and if he wanted a meal, he should have flown business or first.
Still like you said Starlionblue...what a bozo!.... I find this story to be quite funny. Im sure the flight attendants had quite a few laughs after the passenger left!
Lrgt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 710 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10270 times:
This doesn't look like much of an fight. He did not get violent, just acted like an idiot trying to threated an employee with reporting them. I see people do this to employees every day! Why was this such a big deal that NBC would have a chopper over the plane to report the story!
The funny thing is if he asked nicely the may have given him a meal to eat in the galley (not at his seat- that would make the other pax envious and demand meals of their own!
Regis From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10247 times:
This guy is my hero. Kudos for him for demanding service in exchange for all the $$$$ he pours into AA. The fact that he will not be charged by the FBI attests that he did not go over the line. Maybe if all start acting like him AA will start treating us pax as customers and not cargo.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 7, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10179 times:
Quoting Regis (Reply 6): This guy is my hero. Kudos for him for demanding service in exchange for all the $$$$ he pours into AA.
Well I will agree that it would be a nice (and cheap) gesture for AA to offer a drink to Plats and Exec Plats. Not that they don't have our loyalty already... On the other hand demanding something clearly not offered is a bit much. IMHO he remains a bozo.
Quoting MIASkies (Reply 4): but obviously if he is at Platinum status on AA, he must fly quite often! meaning he should be aware (if he lives on this planet) that AA no longer is serving full meals on Domestic Coach Class!
Agreed. Though maybe he never flew coach before lol!
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
DeltaFFinDFW From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1383 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 10080 times:
People - keep in mind that Platinum on AA is NOT equivalent to platinum on DL or NW. Platinum on AA only takes 50K miles - aka GOLD on DL on NW. Executive Platinum is the top tier on AA.
My take, shut the hell up and sit down. I have been Platinum on DL for six years - flown over 150K/year and I'm not an arrogant a$$hole. He was probably pissy because he didn't get an upgrade!
EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 12562 posts, RR: 64 Reply 9, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 10039 times:
Kudos for him for demanding service in exchange for all the $$$$ he pours into AA.
Hogwash. The $$$$ he pours into AA are likely on loss-leader "el-cheapo" tickets that AA would have sold to a leisure traveler anyway, so considering the fact that he expects AA to create special perks for him as an "elite traveler" means he's a high-cost, low-yield customer - a primadonna whose business AA is probably better off without.
They'd make more money selling one cheap ticket each to 20 different people who aren't frequent fliers than selling 20 cheap tickets to this one guy who expects to be treated like a rock star everywhere he goes.
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan
777STL From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3035 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 10035 times:
How do you guys get all those miles? I assume you fly a lot for work?
That'd be a lot of money if you were paying out of pocket.
DeltaFFinDFW From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1383 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9951 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 11): I think it would be tricky to make Exec Plat by flying only coach in the US, but flying across the pond a lot makes it possible.
Not true. I fly 95% of my flights domestically. If you took the 3 trips to Europe out of my numbers last year, I still would have made it.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15871 posts, RR: 66 Reply 13, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9912 times:
Quoting DeltaFFinDFW (Reply 12): Not true. I fly 95% of my flights domestically. If you took the 3 trips to Europe out of my numbers last year, I still would have made it.
Impressive. My mistake on that one. I mostly don't fly west of Dallas from the East Coast and I didn't think of the longer flights. Transcontinental flying would of course rack up the miles.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Airgeek12 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9899 times:
*rolls eyes*
the bozo! than again the F/A did "push" him! But still.. he shouldn't have expected a meal in economy. He's probobly used to domestic F/C list reply #1 said.
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 31 Reply 15, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9785 times:
Quoting DeltaFFinDFW (Reply 8): My take, shut the hell up and sit down. I have been Platinum on DL for six years - flown over 150K/year and I'm not an arrogant a$$hole. He was probably pissy because he didn't get an upgrade!
It's the problem with FFPs you give someone a shiny piece of plastic and it all of a sudden it gives them the right to get mouthy with crew....
Oh and as others pointed out AA PLT is pretty easy to get 10,000 EQMs in 90days!
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
ANNOYEDFA From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 451 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9743 times:
I love passengers like that. My responce would of been since AA'S crew meals has been cut YOU AND ME BOTH then I would of waved him off and sat back down. People think they should pay their $100.00 for their LAS-MIA flight and get something other then a seat. What a joke!
PVD757 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3375 posts, RR: 18 Reply 17, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 9723 times:
When I used to work for AA a few years back, I had a couple Platinums hum their cards at me when I was rebooking a canceled flight(weather). After ducking the Chinese stars, I took them and cut them up right in front of them. Five minutes later, the police had escorted them out of the terminal until they calmed down. People are more willing to help, if they are interacting with other humans and not fecal-humming chimps that feel they are somehow owed in life.
Dtwclipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9680 times:
I'm P.E. on NW, and would never be sooooo stupid. I also realize that PE on AA is not the same as it is on NW. I believe that would be "executive Platinum" on AA.
99% of the time I am upgraded on my coach tickets. These are often B or Y fares. I have flown coach DTW-ORD, but that is because these flights are always full, and I often book them at the last moment.
On one trip, DEN-DTW in first, the flight was scheduled for dinner. The A/C was not catered in DTW for the turn, and hence no meal was offered. What did I do? Not make a scene on the plane, but wrote about it to NW and was offered a nice WP Bonus.
Xkorpyoh From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 813 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9658 times:
well..here is my story.. i am platinum too and i am used to the idea of no meals. So i eat eat before or after a flight.
Last month I flew AA LHR / EGLL), United Kingdom">LHR-ORD / KORD), USA - Illinois">ORD in coach and got my vegetarian meal as requested. I was connecting LHR / EGLL), United Kingdom">LHR-MIA / KMIA), USA - Florida">MIA and was upgraded to first class where they offered dinner. I tried to request the vegetarian meal from Europe and the AA agents were unable to requested. They didnt know why. The agents at LHR / EGLL), United Kingdom">LHR tried again, no luck. Finally, at the gate in ORD / KORD), USA - Illinois">ORD, the gate agent called catering to see if they could do something for me. Only a salad was available. The problem was that AA discountinued special meals in all domestic flights including first class!...and their own agents didnt even know about it!!!
so.. because i was not getting any meals and i needed to sleep badly, i decided to downgrade to coach, get 3 seats in the back and sleep all the way down. i ate in the food court and rested like a baby.
I feel I was discriminated by AA since i was denied a meal when others in the same cabins were getting it. The ability to upgrade is one of the benefits that i receive from taking my business to AA and now there is really no point in even upgrading for me. In many flights, they dont even offer a meal in first anyway. I even find those domestic first class seats uncomfortable. They dont even have foot rest. Now that AA has decided to add more seats in coach (another reason why i preferred AA over other carriers), I dont see any reason why I should keep flying AA (They dont really "know the reason why I fly", as their misleading advertising goes.)
I just flew DL first class this weekend and was very impressed with their service. On the first intl leg, my vegetarian meal was requested and listed, but it didnt make it on the plane. The F/A prepared a salad for me and then gave me a voucher that i could use for a meal upon arrival. Really?!?!. I never expected that!.
I used to hate DL, but i think they have really improved. The F/A were very friendly and attentive. the gate agents too. I am now considering switching to DL. They won't have food or pillows either in coach, but at least i will have IFE if i fly Song or have more flight choices to fly CO(Best airline in the US!) and the other skyteam members.
Bottom line, AA is loosing its competitive advantage with all these cuts. I have been loyal to AA for some many years but it is time to try something else.
The behaviour of that pax was obviously unacceptable, but I assume he was probably upset and overeacted. I guess he was expecting to get upgraded and didnt eat before the flight.
KITH From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 359 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9592 times:
Yes the PAX should know better then trying to get a meal in coach but the FA behavior reprehensible. SHOVING a pax and then refusing to let them write down the name of the FA. I hope they are fired for this. I've been in a similar situation with NW @ ANC re: the covering of the name tag. It's called the death by 1000 cuts, and AA is getting to the 900's pretty quickly. -Matt in KITH
Jetdeltamsy From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 2984 posts, RR: 8 Reply 21, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9523 times:
The passenger was an idiot. The flight attendant who shoved him was a bigger idiot and should be fired if it's true. The passenger should be "de-platinumed".
This only illustrates the unreasonable sense of entitlement so many of our customers have today. Our companies bestow titles on them such as "platinum" or "medallion" and some peoples expectations become outrageous. The titles are only to recognize the customer's revenue generation so that front line personnel know to go the extra mile for these folks.
Worked for too many airlines to list. Banktupcy after bankruptcy after bankruptcy.
FlyTheFlag From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9440 times:
Platinum on American doesn't get unlimited upgrades. Unless you are top tier, you only get 4 x 500-milers per 10K flown. Unless you buy additional 500-milers out of your own pocket, you ride in the back.
Flybyguy From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 1791 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 8980 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 1): What a bozo. Just because you fly a lot doesn't mean you can act like a moron.
The man was a loyal customer who was wondering where his company's dollars are going to. If I were him I would also wonder why AA is raping my company with ridiculously high fares while I get served a $0.25 bag of pretzels (probably $0.10 wholesale) and a half can of coke. Discount fares offered by AA are rarely ever available to people on a traveling businessperson's schedule.
The problem is Value. I've said it time and time again. AA thinks it knows "Why we Fly", but value is what the public seeks as well, I know I do. Anyone can offer a cheap seat, but not everyone can offer good value.
The legacies can never truly attain a low fare structure until they compete on the level of JetBlue, Airtran and Southwest. These carriers seem to know that "high product value + low fares = profits".
[Edited 2005-03-16 04:31:40]
"Are you a pretender... or a thoroughbred?!" - Professor Matt Miller
RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4181 posts, RR: 30 Reply 24, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 8809 times:
Wow! Very aptly put Flybyguy! You hit the nail on the head. I was getting steamed reading all the posts defending AA. While I agree that the pax was a bozo (no need to get confrontational over some food, lousy food at that), most of the people on here are defending AA as though it is doing the public a good.
They (AA) can kiss my a**!!! They and the other legacy carriers need to go back and learn the basics of business. They treat their repeat customers -- their revenue generators -- like dogs and they somehow are wondering why they have to provide their employees intensive training in how to deal with hostile customers.
Tell me, other than police, security and rescue units (and perhaps some other government safety organizations), what other employees, public or private, are given mandatory training in how to deal with hostile customers? Does anyone see a pattern here???
Bend Over - Here Comes The Change.
25 SNATH: Given what an idiot this guy is, you are far too polite! Tony
26 Tango-Bravo: Thankfully, it's "some," not "all." Nontheless, the legacy airlines have allowed themselves to be "taken for a ride" -- in a huge way -- by some cust
27 Brido: AA doesn't serve meals in coach anymore. Everybody knows it. **Not happy? Write a letter to corporate and leave the crew alone!** People are too much.
28 CRFLY: WOW... It is very sad to see and hear all these bad things about AA... The one that used to be my favorite airline is now a piece of what it used to b
29 September11: that passenger must be high on marijuana
30 Falcon84: This guy is my hero. Kudos for him for demanding service in exchange for all the $$$$ he pours into AA. The fact that he will not be charged by the FB
31 M404: What kind of meal service can someone expect on a 11:35pm departure? Do the LCCs offer such a service? Is their really a competitional reason to offer
32 RDUDDJI: This pax gets my vote for the TSA's "selectee" watchlist!
33 Ckfred: This shows that the major U.S. carriers need to seriously consider a domestic business class. It would be the same seating as coach, in terms of the n
34 Flybyguy: You may have taken my statement out of context. I am aware with inflation and deregulation fares are pretty low by 70s standards, but I'm also saying
35 1MillionFlyer: Business' want to spend minimum dollars on airfare, they could give a crap if their employee gets a meal on the plane or not. I have to purchase 14 d
36 Falcon84: I am aware with inflation and deregulation fares are pretty low by 70s standards, but I'm also saying value is even lower. What do you consider "valu
37 Northwestair: I looked and found ticket for 16mar for 339.20 not bad for a walk up fare from LAS-MIA. Couldn't find one for 500.00 or 800.00
38 VHXLR8: Whilst this guy's behaviour might have been uncalled for, you must see where he's coming from!! Nothing to eat on a flight of that length is pretty lo
39 Airlinerfreak: Well I think that this guy has every right to be upset as you pay that much money a year to AA, I think you should get a free meal. But this is intere
40 Northwestair: I am under the impression that this was a RedEye Flight. Even during the Good Old days Airlines never searved a meal cause everyone was a sleep. Just
41 Starlionblue: Of course he can be upset, but he should write a letter, not demand something he should know he won't get fromt he poor F/A.
42 Flybyguy: I checked AA.com and saw a fare of $553.00 based on schedule departure and return on weekdays during the 1st Week of April. I am NOT denying that the
43 RedFlyer: $339.20 LAS-MIA? Good fare between two huge vacation destinations that see mostly tourists/holiday travelers pass through. Also, was that the roundtri
44 ANCFlyer: What an idiot . . . a Platinum level flier should know what to expect. If the F/A shoved this person they are guilty of simple assault. Both should be
45 Starlionblue: Why raise your voice with anyone, F/A or not? It seldom yields the desired results. I just take it, then write a letter to management or speak to a s
46 NWAFA: The Flight Attendant was wrong for pushing the passenger. This Jack(*&%^$ was just that...Platinum on AA is not like it is on other airlines...Plus th
47 Incitatus: There is nothing in the list of platinum benefits that says "complimentary meals". So in this case, being platinum does not make him any different fr
48 Nyskymasters: Once again all I seem to hear is how bad the legacy carriers are. For those of you that feel that way, PLEASE DO NOT FLY US! I would rather you be hap
49 UN_B732: However, the meal costs like $4 per ticket. They'd keep that $4 if they wanted to, I bet. How do you know he's low-yield? We don't! He could have paid
50 FSPilot747: I actually defend this guy's sentiments. I think it's outrageous that a legacy carrier serves pretzels and drinks across the country. I flew them the
51 MIASkies: Well said Nyskymasters!! I agree 100%!!... I love AA and will continue to fly regardless of perks or lack there of as some have pointed out. I am luc
52 ANNOYEDFA: jetdletamsy: who are you to call anyone an idiot? Were you there? I have had 3 passengers in 3 years assualt me in some type of way. When you start th
53 Jetdeltamsy: Dear Annoyed, Anyone who physically assaults someone is an idiot. And as for when i "start the job"...i've been doing "the job" since 1982. I have ne
54 Flybyguy: It's beginning to be apparent to me that "low fares" on the Legacy side is nothing more than budget slashing. They couldn't care less if people wanted
55 RedFlyer: Aptly put, Flybyguy. The legacies' problem is their business model, which is over two decades old and has not evolved. Any business model in any indus
56 Starlionblue: Agreed, and this is why Virgin Atlantic is succesful. They tried something new. Note that they are definitely a full-service carrier.
57 Schipholjfk: I hope rest of your crew members have better attitude than you do. While what this passenger did was wrong, however, in general there has been a decl
58 Carfield: I totally see the point of the article but there was one part that I was not too happy to see as an EXP. The F/A tried to cover his/her name tag... th
59 Nyskymasters: Thank you MIASkies, its a pleasure to serve you in Miami. Let us all keep in mind that some LCC's have been given unfair advantages over some legacy c
60 Tom in NO: Pay a coach fare, accept the coach fare service. Pay a first class fare, accept the first class fare service. It's as simple as that. Tom at MSY
61 Flybyguy: Well, that goes in line to stimulating competition and competitive prices. I'm sure the fares were pretty high before the LCCs came to town. So, your
62 KabAir: So I have a two-pronged question that I don't think I've seen brought up on the forum yet that relates to this. Allow me to set the question up: I hav
63 KabAir: Whoops - by the way, meant to say $210 profit in my UA example in my previous post, not $240. Time for some Adult Math Classes!
64 Ckfred: You have to remember that any passenger who "blows a gasket" is now going to be treated as a threat to the crew and the aircraft. A friend of mine is
65 Nyskymasters: Flybyguy... I really don't know what markets you refer to. Yes my legacy carrier does have a hard time fighting LCC partly due to them not paying on a
66 AA767400: Yes true, But I rather have someone else pay my salary. I think that this person is wrong. You are mad at the airline you don't go and verbally abuse
67 MQrampBOS: Ah, if only everyone knew taking the high road were so rewarding.
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then I would of waved him off and sat back down. 
People think they should pay their $100.00 for their LAS-MIA flight and get something other then a seat. What a joke! 
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