AA Domestic F - My Expectations Were Low.

[amaroo]

My expectations were low and I was pleasantly surprised.

Sandwich and can of coke on LAX-DCA flight in economy. And had some sort of snack and cup of soft drink on other short flights in economy.

If that has gone that so be it.

On the whY theme - earlier this year we enjoyed the MCE (Main Cabin Extra) AA provide for status flyers.

The OpUp we got (x 4 ) for our YUL-MIA sector reminded me not to bother throwing money away purchasing F or J seats on AA ... luckily, I've never had the need to endure status runs.

 

[serfty]

Had a discussion with the FAs today (an hour ago!).

The "short flight" reductions in food are highly unpopular but likely to stay - but with a refinement in what is offered so it's not so meagre. They were particularly unhappy serving "self open" "meals" to pax and not presenting it properly, plus not having a hot option to offer was causing consternation.
...

Flights of 2:30 are to get meal again.

Before September AA flights of 2:15 and longer got meals, from September, this was changed to 2:45, so now splitting the difference.

...

Edit: orders taken front to rear on eastbound, rear to front westbound. Served in mixed order on both flights based on who was ready (ie. Who wasn't in the lav or seat mate climbing up getting stuff from lockers), but broadly served front to rear.

FEBO has gone the way of the dodo.

Now it's from the Front for Northbound and from the Back for Southbound - "Northbound" and "Southbound" are flights that don't takeoff and land in different time zones.

For those flights that do change timezones, then it's from the Front for Eastbound and from the Back for Westbound.

Of course, pre-ordering should help with that in any case.

Here's an FT thread from an AA FA: FEBO dead 1 Sep 2014 - new system based on flight direction & time zone change

 

[serfty]

Here's a post from FT today:

Originally Posted by TWA884

A flight attendant friend forwarded me this email from Hector Adler:

Fine Tuning Domestic First Class Service

Since the launch of our revised foot print for domestic First Class service which aligned offering on both legacy carriers effective September 1, I received numerous notes from many of you. We have also analyzed customer feedback through proactive surveys sent to a select group of frequent travelers, we reviewed letters sent to Customer Relations and we monitored Social Media channels. Evaluating feedback is always part of our internal process and I want to let you know about adjustments that we will be making as soon as practical. Yes, we hear you and we are responding!

First, let me say that over 70 percent of the comments we received had to do with the change of meal tray service to flights of 2:45 hours or longer versus the prior standard. Given that this is the crux of the issue, we will be reinvesting an additional $6 million dollars to adjust meal tray service to flights of 2:30 hours; we will also maintain tray service on exception markets as previously announced and add additional markets to include ORD-AUS; DCA/IAD-MIA and DFW-MEX. These changes will align our so called “meal windows” to the standard offered by Delta and adds 150 more flights a day with tray service.

On flights of 2:00 to 2:30 hours, we will offer warmed mixed nuts in addition to a redesigned snack basket containing only a choice of higher quality sandwiches, Milano cookies and bananas. On early morning flights, the basket will be adjusted to include breakfast-type breads, fig bars, apples and bananas. And yes, a bigger napkin will be provisioned along with the enhanced basket.

Another important change will be the reinstatement of ice-cream dessert service on dinner flights of 3:30 hours or longer. This was a signature element of American’s service and we are bringing it back to match the prior standard.

We are working to implement these changes as soon as practical. Full details will be included in an upcoming bulletin. We expect to add tray service to the additional exception markets beginning October 16. All other changes will occur in phases beginning November 1. The adjustment to the meal tray service is the most complex as it will require us to order additional equipment and food product from suppliers.

As part of the overall feedback evaluation, we have identified certain entrees that are not flying as well as we had anticipated (yes, the chicken) and we are working with the supplier to make changes.

An important point that I want to reiterate is that the new service footprint was not about achieving cost savings; it was about rationalizing two different product concepts between the two legacy carriers. And in fact, with the changes I just described and the initial investments made to bring about the September 1 change, we have now invested nearly $20 million dollars in the domestic first class service.

 

[get me outta here]

Well, had to laugh at this: And yes, a bigger napkin will be provisioned along with the enhanced basket..

Here's a post from FT today:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Here's a post from FT today:

Thank goodness the sundae is being re-instated, they are fantastic

 

[Mal]

Here are three of my recent meals.

1. Was a breakfast. The large glump in the middle was similar to an omelette using the finest reconstituted egg.

2. Was a beef enchilada. Whatever mystery meat they added was supposedly beef. The strange stuff at the front of the plate is overcooked black beans, and at the back is overcooked rice.

3. Chicken gloop. Old boiler hen that should have been used for soup was used here.

 

[serfty]

...
3. Chicken gloop. Old boiler hen that should have been used for soup was used here.

I guess that's the reference:

... we have identified certain entrees that are not flying as well as we had anticipated (yes, the chicken) ...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thank goodness the sundae is being re-instated, they are fantastic

Never had it - I presume we will get it on our JFK-SFO flight in May? Looking forward to trying it!

 

[Flying mermaid]

On the whY theme - earlier this year we enjoyed the MCE (Main Cabin Extra) AA provide for status flyers.

The OpUp we got (x 4 ) for our YUL-MIA sector reminded me not to bother throwing money away purchasing F or J seats on AA ... luckily, I've never had the need to endure status runs.

We generally get the USA sectors as part of AONE4s, however I have bought discounted F sectors as well - on longer flights I find the extra room is worth it - certainly not the food (although have become a huge fan of warmed nuts!)

 

[blackcat20]

I certainly looking forward to the sundae on JFK-LAX.

 

[RooFlyer]

Here's a post from FT today:

I find that a pretty amazing but welcome backflip (well almost). As I was reading it, I was thinking what a massive stink that would cause in their supply chain; the enormous volumes involved would have meant the initial changes would have caused some supplier havoc, but then to somewhat reverse them would cause more. I see the guy acknowledges this ... but it still seems a pretty quick turn-around .

Sorry, gotta say it ... can anyone imagine a Qantas turn-around of this promptness or scale? An equivalent in QF might be the introduction of Café Breakfast Although as we know, this was sooooo popular with the punters (not). Of course, I can dream ....

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

Now it's from the Front for Northbound and from the Back for Southbound - "Northbound" and "Southbound" are flights that don't takeoff and land in different time zones.

For those flights that do change timezones, then it's from the Front for Eastbound and from the Back for Westbound.

<snip>

You know, I don't fly US carriers a lot, maybe two to four times a year, for many years ... and until recently I was blissfully unaware of the serve from front or back thing. I used to think food was important to me ... but apparently its not THAT important, which I'm relieved to find

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry, gotta say it ... can anyone imagine a Qantas turn-around of this promptness or scale?

It's called competition!

As much as I sometimes bag the food on qantas domestic business class, I read a trip report of Virgin's domestic offering and it made QF look good!

I guess they can't afford to lose too much business in the USA - even if many of their seats up front are free upgrades.

 

[dajop]

And of course don't forget no meals at all after 8pm even for four hour flights, even for purchase ....

 

[amaroo]

We generally get the USA sectors as part of AONE4s, however I have bought discounted F sectors as well - on longer flights I find the extra room is worth it - certainly not the food (although have become a huge fan of warmed nuts!)

MCE is a fantastic initiative providing that extra lift in comfort down the back - would be great if QF introduced throughout their fleet.

Across the LOTFAP we do QF107/108/8 ... in between flights I can suck up whY and spend the coin on hotels and restaurants .... when buying x 4 that coin adds up! After years of commute flying around OZ - I'm geared for Domestic travel down the back. Different story for long haul.

 

[knasty]

For an upcoming LGA-ORD it preselected 16A which has the permanent tray block next to it in 16B. Nice to have a guaranteed shadow but still opted to try the 500 mile upgrades anyway as I have no other use. I think there are 4 blocked seats on the 738 16 & 17 B & E. Anyone got these instead of MCE?

 

[amaroo]

For an upcoming LGA-ORD it preselected 16A which has the permanent tray block next to it in 16B. Nice to have a guaranteed shadow but still opted to try the 500 mile upgrades anyway as I have no other use. I think there are 4 blocked seats on the 738 16 & 17 B & E. Anyone got these instead of MCE?

Take a look here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....iles-helicopter-airboat-57072.html#post973071

 

[RooFlyer]

MCE is a fantastic initiative providing that extra lift in comfort down the back - would be great if QF introduced throughout their fleet.

Across the LOTFAP we do QF107/108/8 ... in between flights I can suck up whY and spend the coin on hotels and restaurants .... when buying x 4 that coin adds up! After years of commute flying around OZ - I'm geared for Domestic travel down the back. Different story for long haul.

(Sighs longingly). yes

 

[Flying mermaid]

.... when buying x 4 that coin adds up!

true - one of the benefits of having 3 ankle biters all grown up and no longer a drain on the purse (more or less) is than we can be a lot more self indulgent.....

 

[serfty]

Be aware that AA are adding row 7 back to these aircraft at the expense of much of MCE as well as removing those 'blanks' to give an extra 10 seats.