The Full Can Blunder: How This Airline Soda Gesture Can Ruin Your Flight

I boarded an American Airlines flight from Austin to Dallas, and the flight attendant standing in the first class galley was still wearing a “WAR” pin on his uniform. “We Are Ready” (to strike). That seemed odd, since cabin crew have ratified the agreement their union negotiated with the company.

I was upgraded to first class on a $57 basic economy ticket. That was pretty great value. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel cheated out of my $57, but it was notable that no predeparture beverages were offered, and the crewmember wasn’t interested in hanging my jacket.

He did a pass through the first class cabin for drink service, and was leaving full cans of soda. It occurred to me how much I don’t like that practice, and I feel the same way about leaving the full can in first class and in coach but for different reasons.

If you’re a first class passenger why are you pouring your own drinks? That’s why the Emirates first class in-seat minibar never made sense to me.

Of course, since Emirates offered a personal bar in first class seats, Etihad had to do it, too. If you want a limited selection of warm beverages I guess that’s great, but they literally have staff whose job it is to bring you whatever you wish.

If you’re sitting in back giving out the whole can is generous plus you probably won’t see service again for awhile. At the same time, in coach you just don’t have a lot of room to work with. The can takes up too much space on the tray.

I’ll be using my laptop. I can fit a cup on there but don’t really want to stick both a cup and a can of soda on the tray beside my computer. Besides, I don’t want to drink a full can!

That’s why I’ll usually ask crew not to leave the, which annoys them because they aren’t collecting trash and they’re trying to get through service. In any case, the only soda where I’d consider finishing a whole can – and honestly even there I’d question myself for doing so – is Dr. Brown’s.

I’d much prefer being asked “do you want the can, sir?” And I can say no until some airline starts carry Dr. Brown’s.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. To all the flight attendants bashing passengers as “Karens” and claiming to be busy with “safety and security” matters: Get over yourself. On how many flights do you actually encounter a safety and security concern? You sound like resentful, unhappy (and lazy) employees. If being polite to people who actually pay your salary by buying a ticket is too stressful for you, perhaps you should consider another career. Many passengers aren’t aware of your obligation to pour or not to pour water or soda. Just respond the first time you’re asked to do something against policy with a polite explanation! How hard is it to be nice? Galley Llama: Deliberately refusing to respond when a passenger asks a direct question makes you an entitled Galley Jack**s. You are deliberately disrespectful?! And you think YOU have the right to COMPLAIN about passengers???
    Your rudeness just aggravates the situation and creates a dynamic of conflict. Try being nice! Or better yet – tell your boss about your decision to completely ignore passenger questions that “annoy” you. Please come back and post their response.
    I’m not really surprised that FA’s believe they are only obligated to attend to “safety and security” matters and resent the obligation of providing refreshments. But I do wonder if you read your job description when you accepted the job?? If you think that service is beneath you – then get another job! Your “on display” attitude of superiority makes everyone miserable and resentful.
    And I would love to tell you how many flights I’ve been on and observed FA’s rushing thru service, and then doing nothing but talking among themselves, totally ignoring passengers and complaining and rolling their eyes when a call light goes on. I’ve become so disgusted by the behavior of the FA’s on every flight I’ve taken in the last 10 years, I do my best to limit interaction with them. I carry my own water and snacks with me. Because I am an old nurse who learned long ago you cannot fix stupid, lazy, crazy, or mean……
    And finally – given the amount of turbulence encountered on many flights these days, I don’t know why anyone would serve – or accept – a sticky beverage in an open cup, (or even ask for an entire can of soda).

  2. Thats it. We need tighter FAA regulations with an eye towards the customer experience instead of profits for the airlines now.

  3. Feel like Gary posted the bait and all the disgruntled FAs jumped on it…

    There for our safety AND security now? The plane is merely a conveyance?

    Obviously we don’t want anything unsafe to happen, but let’s also realize that Flight Attendants are FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. It’s right there in the job title. Nobody who is working as an FA applied for “Flight Safety Officer.” The job is sky waiter with tips in the form of free travel benefits. If you don’t want to do the job of sky waiter, get another job.

  4. Imagine complaining about getting too much of a something from an airplane.
    Here’s a thought: hand the can back to the crew member the next time you see them.
    Or offer it to someone around you.

    This sounds like not only a first world problem, but a 1% first world problem.

    How about articles that apply beyond the person writing them?

  5. Gary, when I am in Y, I ask for the can of cranberry because as you suggest, FA might not appear again. As for limited space, shoes come off for comfort and can goes into shoe, not one spilled yet.

  6. “If you’re a first class passenger why are you pouring your own drinks?”
    “they literally have staff whose job it is to bring you whatever you wish.”

    How wonderfully reminiscent of Downton Abbey!

  7. FA friend tells me they absolutely hate requests for Regular/Diet Coke when it has to be poured, it’s the most ‘fizzy’, takes 3-4 ‘pours’ to fill the glass. Much easier to hand-a-can, let the passenger do it.

  8. Might I suggest that the first class passenger who doesn’t feel that he or she should have to pop and pour their own soft drink that on your next transatlantic travel take your Rolls Royce or Diamler and drive yourself. First class is a big notch above even premium economy and if your can’t handle pouring your own beverage perhaps during your transatlantic drive you can stop by the RMS Titanic where I have read that the first class service was exemplary.

  9. Wait, Wait Wait! Austin to Dallas/Ft. Worth?!?! Isn’t that flight just a 40 minute actual in the air flight?? Okay, maybe 50 minutes! You were lucky that you received a drink. Then you compare it to Emirates?!?! Ugh!
    Be lucky you actually received a drink!

  10. I prefer a whole can of diet cola myself, usually with a glass of ice. JetBlue usually gives the whole can as standard practice in coach in my experience. Yesterday I flew on Asiana, where asking for the whole can gets you one without protest. The glass of ice takes a few minutes. I had a flight attendant fill my water bottle after I had emptied it and she returned it with a smile. I did not have to call the flight attendant again during the almost 11 hour flight.

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