Bumpy Flight But Smooth Service On American Airlines

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.