Here’s a good reminder that perception of service onboard flights can differ significantly between passengers….
In this post:
“I’m in first class, I shouldn’t be pouring the can”
View from the Wing lays out the case for why he doesn’t like the practice of flight attendants giving passengers the can of what they’re drinking (in addition to the cup or glass, which may or may not already have some drink poured into it).
He argues that if you’re flying first class, you shouldn’t be pouring your own drink, as someone should be doing it for you. Meanwhile if you’re in economy, he argues that there may just not be enough space for the can, especially if you want to work. As Gary explains:
- “On a flight where a flight attendant left full cans of soda behind for first class passengers, it occurred to me how much I don’t like that practice. And it’s even worse 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.”
- “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!”
Personally, I prefer receiving the can in any cabin!
While I respect Gary’s take, it’s interesting how our perception of the practice of offering cans onboard flights differs. The one point I agree with him on is that the Emirates in-seat minibar is a gimmick, since most people don’t want a room temperature can of soda.
Other than that, though, my take is very different. While first class is better than economy, we also have to be realistic about service in domestic first class, as you might have one flight attendant serving 20 passengers drinks and meals. They’re not going to be able to refill every drink every time it gets low, even if they’re hustling.
Regardless of whether I’m traveling in first class or economy, I also like to be able to control how full my glass or cup is. Given the chance of turbulence, I think it’s much better to have the can and then just pour a little bit at a time in a glass, to avoid spilling (since liquid is less likely to spill out of the top of a can than out of the top of a cup).
When you fly domestic first class, you’re paying (hopefully) a reasonable premium for more space, priority services, food, and drinks. You’re not going to a Michelin three-starred restaurant. It’s also worth mentioning that if I’m ordering a mixer, of course I prefer to be able to control the ratio, which requires having the can.
As Gary points out, I think in economy most passengers find it generous and prefer when they’re given the can. Gary argues that while he has space for a cup and a laptop, he doesn’t really want to also find space for the can.
All I can say there is that if I have my laptop open in economy, I absolutely don’t put an open cup on the same tray, as that gives me massive anxiety (over the years, I’ve lost two laptops to liquid spills on planes). If I work on flights in economy, my play is to just order a cup of water with no ice, chug it, and keep doing what I was doing.
I feel like if I were to work on my laptop while ordering a drink in economy, I’d still prefer to have most of the drink in the can, as that would be less likely to spill on my keyboard.
So I appreciate flight attendants who give out the can, and I think if you don’t want it, it’s fine to just tell them that. Gary suggests that when he asks this, that “annoys them because they aren’t collecting trash and they’re trying to get through service.” I would certainly hope that most flight attendants don’t act annoyed in such a situation…
Bottom line
We all have different perceptions of inflight service, and I think handing out the can with a drink service is the prime example of that. Personally, I like when I’m given the can, regardless of the cabin I’m traveling in (especially on domestic flights, where I have no real expectations of service). However, others clearly feel differently.
Where do you stand on flight attendants handing out cans during drink service?
I'm really tired of flight attendants giving me the evil eye when I ask for the can, in economy
Team Can
Decline the can... duh
The airlines should just use those half sized cans. The FA can ask you whether you want the can, the cup with ice or both. Problem solved.
100% agreed Ben - I always want the can. I have never read Gary's blog and I certainly won't be anytime soon!
BTW on many airlines they just pour you a cup from a big bottle.
Solved the problem :)
I agree with Ben on this one.
First of all, Vodka and Diet Coke? That’s absolutely disgusting. Hopefully it was vodka on the rocks and the can of Diet Coke was saved for later. We can only hope.
And secondly, flight attendants absolutely HATE pouring Diet Coke into a cup with ice. It take a minimum of 3 pours due to the extreme carbonation at altitude. Giving out a can is far more efficient and expedient. On short flights with a...
First of all, Vodka and Diet Coke? That’s absolutely disgusting. Hopefully it was vodka on the rocks and the can of Diet Coke was saved for later. We can only hope.
And secondly, flight attendants absolutely HATE pouring Diet Coke into a cup with ice. It take a minimum of 3 pours due to the extreme carbonation at altitude. Giving out a can is far more efficient and expedient. On short flights with a beverage service, it’s all about efficiency and speed.
The whole can is the only way to go.
I was pleasantly surprised when I flew China Airlines from Narita-Taipei- LA. On the second leg, the FA asked me if she could make the bed for me. I smiled at her and advised her that she was not my maid.
As for Gary, long ago, I posted a comment on his blog about a rich European landlord who rented his house in LA to an unsuspecting prolific tenant, who sued her previous landlords to...
I was pleasantly surprised when I flew China Airlines from Narita-Taipei- LA. On the second leg, the FA asked me if she could make the bed for me. I smiled at her and advised her that she was not my maid.
As for Gary, long ago, I posted a comment on his blog about a rich European landlord who rented his house in LA to an unsuspecting prolific tenant, who sued her previous landlords to hit a jackpot and enjoyed free rent. She sued him for tens of thousands of dollars and called a city inspector for violating building codes while paying no rent for nearly six months. The landlord rented his house without paying tax to city. I commented that LA and NYC have the most restricted laws on short-term rentals in the country. A couple of days later, he posted an article about NYC just implemented a new restricted law relating short term rentals plus a condescending remark that it was soooo predictable, etc... Needless to say, I no longer comment on his blog. I rarely read his blog long before the incidence.
I imagine Gary prefers to spend his time at the whine bar rather than the lounge preflight
My complaint is sometimes on the regional flights, FA often denies request of getting the whole can even when asked explicitly if I can get the can
That's what I like about AA, they give you the can
Not on the regional though, even if I asked most of the time they still denies it.
Gary is a pompous #$@%^&%. I no longer read his posts. 100% want the can btw...
“Someone else should pour your drink” - poppycock and balderdash. If the flight is over 90 minutes wheels up to wheels down I’d like the can regardless of class.
I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t given the can without asking in economy (except on Southwest!), and I always ask for it in first. Never gotten a lick of pushback.
Alaska has migrated to the 7.5oz cans which I think is great for short...
“Someone else should pour your drink” - poppycock and balderdash. If the flight is over 90 minutes wheels up to wheels down I’d like the can regardless of class.
I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t given the can without asking in economy (except on Southwest!), and I always ask for it in first. Never gotten a lick of pushback.
Alaska has migrated to the 7.5oz cans which I think is great for short flights but less effective on a transcon/midcon. In fairness Alaska does more services than others and their FAs are in the aisle more. Still seems a waste of aluminum.
Where did Gary get these ideas of superior grandeur so that it is beneath his station in life to pour a drink into a glass? Is this Prince Andrew being re-created for the lower classes. What a snob!
Ben, come on... You're German! Certainly you know plenty of people who would like a room temperature can of soda.
Only if it's on a lounger by the pool reserved at 3am with a towel.
Thanks for the (needed) laugh, Eskimo!
"I'll have a coke."
"Would you like that in the can?"
"No, I'll just have it right here, thanks."
-- National Lampoon's European Vacation, 1985
Other than on short flights I'd rather have the can.
Imagine if Gary had to experience actual hardship in his life!
Yes he always faces hardship.
Life is hard when he can't decide if 1A or 1D is better.
Sometimes you don’t get the can in the coach you only get a small cup of pop along with a few ice cubes. The flight attendant claims that they do not have much stock. and if you have your own drink or beverage, sometimes they won’t even give you ice claiming they do not have enough to give to passengers who bring their own beverages.
On which airline(s) did you experience this?
The larger question here is obviously why is anyone drinking Tito’s with Diet?
You probably drink Tito with Kool-Aid.
I must say that I couldn't relate to much of anything that Gary wrote in that little tantrum of his. Someone has to pour his drink? What entitled rubbish! I expect better of him than this dribble. Perhaps he needs to join Nonstop Dan in whining about being "stuck because of the war zone".....in Singapore. From which there are loads of flights - but not on Emirates in First Class. That's the kind of tone...
I must say that I couldn't relate to much of anything that Gary wrote in that little tantrum of his. Someone has to pour his drink? What entitled rubbish! I expect better of him than this dribble. Perhaps he needs to join Nonstop Dan in whining about being "stuck because of the war zone".....in Singapore. From which there are loads of flights - but not on Emirates in First Class. That's the kind of tone deafness that was on display in that article.
If the FA is kind enough to leave the whole can of soft drink with me, I say "thank you" and am pleased. And that goes for wherever I am seated.
Are we all shocked that libertarian Gary Leff has the worst possible opinion? I’m not.
Ben is right; Gary is wrong. End of discussion.
Does anyone clean the top of the can ?
Or , are you ingesting the finger dirt residue from employees who don't wash their hands ?
I wipe it with alcohol wipes to give my JD & Coke an extra kick.
Gary Leff is insufferable, and morbidly obese. The guy never shuts up about inflight catering, and his fixation on free breakfasts borders on the pathological.
Just yesterday, he had yet another rant about how American hotel breakfast buffets aren't policed or secured, and "anyone could just walk in and eat for free."
"...anyone could just walk in and eat for free."
Good grief he's awful. And if asked why he cares so much about hotel cheap industrial-made breakfast stealing, he'll always pivot to the RWNJ answer of "We ALL pay for breakfast theft in the form of higher rates and breakfast cost cutting!!! AAAAARGH!!!!! KEEP SHITTY BREAKFAST EXCLUSIVE AND THEFT FREE!!!! AARRRRRGH!!!!!"
Who is the person sneaking into the breakfast buffet for a 2oz yogurt cup and a shelf stable muffin? If anyone is hungry enough to do that, clearly they need the food.
What a silly take by Gary. First, pretty sure even billionaires can handle pouring their own can.
Second, the idea of domestic F being the stomping grounds of the landed gentry…
I'm increasingly seeing more and more airlines worldwide refuse to give you the can at all, regardless of cabin for safety reasons. In case of turbulence, flying metal cans can cause much more injury than plastic cups.
I don’t buy it. We won’t give you the can bc it could hurt someone, but here’s a literal glass.
Cmon Sean M. this is corporate BS making a positive spin on a negative by hiding behind safety.
Might as well say flying service cart, food tray, utensils, ice, water, etc. can cause injury and we might as well have no service at all.
For safety reasons, no one should travel.
This is a known hazard for air travel. It's not like a it's intentional.
This is not a Final Destination movie fantasy made in Hollywood.
I don't remember the last time I wasn't given a can on a domestic flight. On longer flights I usually have a couple glasses of wine and stick with water.
A half empty can isn't much of a risk as opposed to a laptop, phone or real glassware. I guess some people need something to be terrified of. Beware of those killer cans
Gary sounds insufferable. He probably rages at home because he has to put the toothpaste on his toothbrush himself.
Give me a can unopened in F. Last weekend on AA flight in F received can (opened) and glass partially filled, but the total did not equal the can volume and the coke was mostly flat. Can likely opened and some poured out earlier. I would rather open myself or see the FA open the can.
Fully agreed, give me the whole can especially if the flight is longer than 60 mins. With FA these days going into hiding after any service and call buttons either being ignored or pax gets shouted at for using it, leaving me the whole can is the way to go.
Yeah agree with you. On short-haul, always give me the can. I get the first class argument, but meh on a 2-3 hour flight I rather not bother the flight attendant if i don't have to.
I think Gary probably brainstorms the worst possible take on a trivial matter and then posts it like his own opinion to get engagement
Yep, he is insufferable. I dropped his site ages ago. The garbage content outweighed what little usefulness the rest of the site had.
Nailed it. There's nothing too trivial and stupid for Gary not to publish. This is one of those.
To be honest you might be giving him too much credit
These women have three jobs, smile, pour your drink, cleanup. Yet they can’t ever seem to get this right.
25% of flight attendants are men my man. And no, their job is not to be your servant. Sorry.
"And no, their job is not to be your servant. Sorry."
He doesn't even fly up front, ever. He's like a back seat driver for the front of the plane, and still fails at something as simple as that.
Ji, I would hardly call a male stewardess a @man@. Lol. And NO, their job is simply to be nice to their customers. PERIOD!!!
Super edgy to bring up FA gender stereotypes that have been stale since the 1980s.
The only thing sadder than a troll is someone who can’t even do that right.