I’m on my way down to Atlanta to pay my respects to President Carter and want to commend the flight crew on my Chicago to Atlanta flight for the great service onboard despite the very bumpy flight.
Bumpy Flight. Smooth Service. Thanks, American Airlines.
I’ve still got Platinum Pro status on American Airlines (thanks to a status trial via World of Hyatt) and my upgrade cleared on the 606-mile flight from Chicago (ORD) to Atlanta (ATL). I was seated in 1A.
I had a light dinner in the Admirals Club in ORD before the flight and boarded the flight well-sated.
Onboard, the captain announced it would be a very bumpy flight (with storms in the area) and that flight attendants might not be able to perform any service. I knew there was a large winter storm between Chicago and Atlanta that we would be flying over, so this made perfect sense to me…it was not flight attendants trying to be lazy.
We took off after a very long taxi and indeed the flight was bumpy from the start. In fact, the chop really never let off.
But after about 20 minutes, the flight attendant working first class got up and offered everyone a drink in the cabin and a selection from the snack basket, despite the bumps.
And then she offered refills.
And second refills.
Keep in mind, this was on a 606-mile flight!
Truth be told, the service wasn’t even necessary…I would have been fine without a snack basket and beverage on this short journey. But I greatly appreciated the genuine care that the flight attendant showed for us onboard…and while this would be nothing out of the ordinary in Europe or Asia, it is becoming increasingly extraordinary in the USA, where I’ve increasingly seen flight attendants decline to perform service due to “bumps” or the “short duration of the flight.”
I love flight attendants who love their job and that’s what this beverage service with two refills showed…a flight attendant who cares.
Haven’t been to ATL on AA in a long time but if they still use the T gates, those are nice and more convenient than Delta’s gates.
They do use T gates, but gate area is falling apart. Ghetto.
T Gates unless you’re on a very late arrival or very early departure. They have a small bank in D and overflow in E. Real bummer to land at midnight and have to make the trek.
“I love flight attendants who love their job and that’s what this beverage service with two refills showed…a flight attendant who cares. ”
Exactly. Many would have used it as an excuse to sit on their butt.
Once on the 67 mile flight, on a CRJ-200 from ORD to MKE, the FA asked me if I wanted a drink after we took off. I declined but she was very willing to get me something if I changed my mind. I appreciated that.
Must have been a brand new FA, they are jaded and ruined after six months.
Compare that to Europe where Iberia consistently serves a snack to all 100 economy passengers on an 82 mile flight from PMI to MAH.
If it’s going to be a bumpy flight, then typically they’ll do the service before take off.
It’s crazy the cultural difference.
It really makes a difference when the FA loves their job.
The bigger story is you actually got upgraded as a PP!