atrude777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5613 posts, RR: 54 Posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9657 times:
American, perhaps in an effort to retain the business of travelers spooked by their recent bankruptcy filing or maybe just because they were feeling benevolent when they woke up this morning, says they will return to the good ol’ days of in-flight inebriation beginning February 1st. That’s right: All American flights to Europe, Asia, and southern South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay) will offer free wine, liquor and beer.
While Free Alcohol won't make or break my decision on who to fly, it is good to see something being added back instead of cutting on board service wise with American during their BK proceedings.
Alex
[Edited 2012-01-18 12:42:50]
[Edited 2012-01-18 12:43:08]
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!
Indy From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 4368 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9610 times:
Quoting atrude777 (Thread starter): While Free Alcohol won't make or break my decision on who to fly, it is good to see something being added back instead of cutting on board service wise with American during their BK proceedings.
I don't know. it shows goodwill which so many airlines have completely forgotten about. With so much frustration over poor service I just may use AA on my next TATL flight. Ok when I move to RDU I probably will use AA anyway but even if my next TATL flight originates in IND I may give AA a try. I believe in rewarding the airline that goes out of its way to provide better service. The free alcohol is a small step but it is a step in the right direction.
atrude777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5613 posts, RR: 54 Reply 4, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9579 times:
Quoting SeaMeFly (Reply 3): misleading article...Their company webpage mentioned it was only for beers and wines... no where it mentioned liquors, too.
Thanks for the Correction, seems Liquor is not included then.
Edited the topic title for clarification.
Alex
[Edited 2012-01-18 12:43:37]
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!
Indy From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 4368 posts, RR: 9 Reply 6, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9534 times:
Quoting SeaMeFly (Reply 3): misleading article...Their company webpage mentioned it was only for beers and wines... no where it mentioned liquors, too.
That is ok. I learned the hard way that liquors are bad in flight.
BoeingGuy From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 2300 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9289 times:
Quoting DesertFlyer (Reply 8): Since I'm flying DFW-MAD on Feb 2 in their otherwise terrible Y product,
Maybe it's me, but I don't find Y on AA 767s to really be that bad. It certainly doesn't knock your sock off, but I don't find it terrible. It's a lot better than being crammed into a QF 744 with it's tight seat pitch for 14 hours. Gosh, that was awful.
The free beer and wine will be a welcome return. I take it that it doesn't apply to places like UIO or LPB.
AAIL86 From Finland, joined Feb 2011, 390 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9235 times:
Quoting BoeingGuy (Reply 9): Maybe it's me, but I don't find Y on AA 767s to really be that bad. It certainly doesn't knock your sock off, but I don't find it terrible. It's a lot better than being crammed into a QF 744 with it's tight seat pitch for 14 hours.
Or a UA744 on ORD-NRT.... or the 'beautiful' ex-Air One AZ 330 I flew to Italy in last summer...
At least the AA 763s are clean and well kept. Can't say the same about that 330...
Quoting AAIL86 (Reply 7): I see bankruptcy is having more positives that we could have possibly imagined.....
Not sure if its a good thing for them to do in Chpt.11, the rules have changed and they essentially have to sink or swim with the cash on hand that they entered with and whatever is made by operations, let's hope that the incremental income derived is greater than the cost and it not just being lookded at as a promotional item of things to come.
One benefit of Chpt.11 is that most clients remain as the danger of shutting down is not imminent which usually results in the majority of clients looking for other carriers.
mhkansan From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 373 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9169 times:
Quoting AAIL86 (Reply 10): At least the AA 763s are clean and well kept. Can't say the same about that 330...
Thats right! I just finished a trip to Europe with AA (ORD-CDG/FRA-DFW) both on the 763. I was very impressed with the cleanliness of both aircraft, except on the FRA-DFW leg they had just sprayed the tray table and not wiped it (on the quick FRA turns they probably ran out of time). Regardless, AA has done a fantastic job with their fleet of 767s and I didn't think it was bad at all in Y, even if I was in the bulkhead!
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9136 times:
But will this really make the average pax choose AA over another carrier, especially if AA doesnt come first in Orbitz/Expedia/kayak and the likes? People are still looking for the cheapest ticket, not if they get free beer or not.
panamair From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 4583 posts, RR: 26 Reply 14, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9141 times:
Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 5): Doesn't DL do this for international flights?
Yes, DL offers free beer and wine in Y for all international flights; UA offers free alcoholic beverages on Transpac/Asia, but still charges for alcohol on transatlantic and South America....
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8739 posts, RR: 52 Reply 15, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 9125 times:
The good thing I see behind this is that it gets their service levels a little closer to their other Oneworld alliance partners. If they want marketing to make flying on one is equivalent to the other, homogenizing service is a good thing.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
fxramper From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 7023 posts, RR: 93 Reply 20, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 8830 times:
Something the airline should have never taken away - free booze. It's a no cost issue so it's hard to figure out why some middle manager guru pulled free booze on internationals whenever they did. Flight attendants still give away and 'spill' more drinks then they'd give away in coach so I'm lost. If AA wants to put the booze blinders on the coach crowd so be it. Good luck to those granny flight attendants dealing with drunk college kids and entitled flyers.
eastern023 From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 802 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 8517 times:
Quoting LAXdude1023 (Reply 2): Now if only we could see something with those 763's on the 9+ hour flights.
Yes, PTV's would be welcome...
Quoting BoeingGuy (Reply 9): Maybe it's me, but I don't find Y on AA 767s to really be that bad. It certainly doesn't knock your sock off, but I don't find it terrible.
Are you serious? I don't mind the 763, but no PTVs in a 10 hr flight (i.e DFW-SCL) is pretty bad. Also, if AA can up their game on their catering, meals in coach are not edible. I used to fly them but I got sick of this. I find AC to be a better deal. I live in IAD so I don't mind the conexion at YYZ. Sorry AA...a bit too late.
Acey559 From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1338 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 8404 times:
I think it's a good step. AA has only been in bankruptcy less than two months, at least they're starting to make positive strides. When DL and UA went into chapter 11 they were in pretty bad shape, and they're doing leaps and bounds better now, especially Delta. I hope things continually improve and they can introduce more nice amenities over time.
Avianca From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5857 posts, RR: 40 Reply 24, posted (1 year 4 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 8382 times:
Quoting flyingalex (Reply 16): Yes, on international flights of six hours or longer.
did this changed? If I am not wrong ATL-CCS is shorter than 6 hours and I had my free Heineken 2.5 years ago on that route!
And yes very good decicion made by AA, who does not whant a nice Beer or Wine with the lunch / dinner...
Cheers
Avianca
Colombia es el Mundo Y el Mundo es Colombia
25 United727: VVI?? UM, I guess CO now would be inline with UA?
26 GEN2STEW: Knowing AA I'll bet a small fortune that it is 1 comp beer OR wine; so it should not cause too much rambunctiousness. As for the granny flight attend
27 N243NW: I know it's only one experience, but I flew MAD-DFW a couple months ago and found the food in Y to be not only edible, but actually pretty good. And
28 744lover: That's a real glass from a previous wine I had for lunch. Actually this is something that concerns me: what is the rock bottom line for service quali
29 Viscount724: So all U.S. carriers are still behind virtually all their foreign competitors, especially to Europe. I can't think of any non-U.S.carriers that charg
30 AAIL86: Well true on the first part... I think most of us agree that we perfer BA to AA, LH to UA or KL to DL in general. But let's not forget that AF crams
31 WildcatYXU: LO. They charge for alcoholic beverages in Y.
32 JFKPurser: Actually, this has nothing necessarily to do with bankruptcy. Since the JBA began, BA has pressured AA to bring their cabin products closer to BA sta
33 BoeingGuy: Not when I flew AF SEA-CDG-JNB a few years ago they didn't. All was free and excellent service.
34 Viscount724: WildcatYXU was referring to LO (LOT Polish Airlines) not AF.
35 RamblinMan: Right. AF has the horrid 10-across 777s, LO charges for alcohol, LH lacks PTVs in the 747s... European carriers on the whole aren't exactly leaps and
36 ChazPilot: Interesting....I'm a loyal OW Alliance flyer and fly multiple RTW itineries each year in economy. Previously I have avoided AA anytime another option
37 cbrboy: According to seatguru.com all QF 744 variants have 31in pitch Y seating, while AA 763s have 30in pitch Y seating. I suspect you would not have enjoye
38 Nimish: Woo hoo - good to hear about this - something to liven up those miserably boring long flights! Of course, now I hope UA also decides that this is a no
39 etops1: I think it's a stupid Idea from a FA's perspective . When we began charging for booze is regulated from having people getting waisted onboard. Now wit
40 flyingalex: In addition to LOT, AB and DE charge for alcoholic beverages on their flights to the US. AB does include one free alcoholic drink with your meal thou
41 notaxonrotax: Oh yes, punish the 99% for the malicious act of the 1%. I have heard about people damaging their IFE-remote control or screen too……….let´s tak
42 WildcatYXU: It goes further. LO and OS are both on the "no PTV in Y" list and OS has 10 across 777s as well. At least they don't fly the 777s here.
43 JFKPurser: With all due respect, Sir, I have seen with my own eyes during my 26 years in the sky how much more people will drink in Y when booze is free. It oft
44 notaxonrotax: Fair enough. I have seen some sad stuff too. My 99% - 1% percentage may not be entirely correct, but the HUGE majority of people I witnessed did NOT
45 JFKPurser: Honestly, it's not about the work. I'm there to serve people in any cabin, and I would like them to feel comfortable. A beverage is a beverage. And b
46 hohd: UA and US are now the only ones charging for beer/wine on flights to Europe, India and S. South America. With UA's partners LH and others still provid
47 IrishAyes: Unless I'm mistaken, DL re-introduced free beer and wine when they emerged from Ch. 11. So AA may be following in their footsteps. I just flew DTWGRU
48 ual777uk: In Y, not in F or J. [qote=hohd,reply=46]UA and US are now the only ones charging for beer/wine on flights to Europe, India and S. South America. Wit
50 LOWS: for the 1000th time...the LH 744s are getting PTVs and new Y seats if they are staying in the fleet. I never understand why people need them so much.
51 IrishAyes: Look at how many airlines are installing Wi-Fi on board their planes, and then see the number of laptops and iPads, etc that people use on board as a
52 chopchop767: I tend to disagree: I don't think free alcohol in Y contributes much to an airline's reputation as a 'premier' airline. I'd say consistency in the le
53 malaysia: AA has better avg menu/portion specifications in my opinion on international Y class vs other American carriers.
54 eastern023: No way this is true... UA is somemewhat better, but AA the food is not even edible so the portion size is less relevant....and I am really NO peaky e
55 aa61hvy: Nice! Just wished they did this months ago. Spent $49 on vodka going to LHR from DFW.
56 mikey72: Is that an LH advertising line ?..bring a book It's an 'archaic' state of affairs for an airline such as LH. How long have PTV's been standard in eco
57 FlyASAGuy2005: How is it any different than having free alcohol in F?? You do your due diligence to serve as much as you think they can have then cut them off. Just
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