So was on MSP-LAX last week, and with 24 seats in FC, there was only one tray of snacks, 3 bananas, 3 apples, mixed nuts, potato chips and kit kats. By the time the FA got to the 4th row, most of everything was gone and no replacements.

The FA told passengers nicely that they always short change the snack basket. Eventually those that complained got snuck some Pringles or snack boxes from back.

Given the amount of money that NW spends on say the meal, why don't they have enough chips for all on snack flights?!?!?!?

Yes and Stacy's Pita Chips are gone...I am bumming.

I liked those too...

Usually the snack basket is overflowing for me, but I often see people take 3 or 4 items from the basket each. I grab 1 or 2 to be courteous to others. Maybe those in front of you were pigs?

I usually stick with the nice free booze.

MisterNice

I don't get it... was there very little chicken in the snack basket?

Wouldn't that be poultry?

Well, I figured that paultry = very little chicken.

I think OP coined a new word and didn't even know it!

:-:

I saw if a FC passenger wants to grab 3-4 items, why not? It's FC! Besides, with exception of the fruit, everything else can be served again on the next flight if not used....

Pissing off those in FC, is pissing off it's top elite, those flying on the demestic legs of WBC passengers, and those few that purchase FC outright.

I flew BWI-MEM last month and there was no snack basket at all. I waited for quite a while, but after it wasn't in sight, I asked. FA said they didn't have it, but she had one bag of snack mix left from the last flight. The cabin was only half full in F (DC9). For a flight that's just under 2.5 hours, leaving at 515PM you'd think you'd be sure to have the basket loaded, since that really borders on actually having a meal in F (in my opinion).

I did a TTU for that and the fact that my DTW-MKE was Cx'd that day (and the MEM connection was originally $10 cheaper but I didn't take it because I needed to get home a little earlier), and did get some miles for it. So I'm not bitter or complaining anymore, just sharing (though I really was looking forward to a little kit kat after I ate my potbelly's!).

How often are people experiencing no snack basket, or one that runs dry?

If they know they are running low, you'd think you'd limit it to 2/person or something...just a thought.

Me too. I actually hate them but spouse was upgraded with me on some recent flights and I told her in advance that they would have her favorite pita chips. They were nowhere to be found, but she thought the kettle chips were a good consolation prize. I guess NW has substituted those for the pita chips.

I have not been on a mainline flight this year that didn't have either a meal or a full snack basket, including some short hauls like DTW-MSP and MSN-MSP. Usually there is a second chance at a refilled basket on the longer flights.

From what I've observed, one snack basket will cover just about 4 rows, no more. It seems crazy to stock a 757 with just one. One of our NW FA FT'ers can let us know what's the norm as far as what's stocked and how it's used.

Or maybe even NW Scoop could chime in and tell us what's supposed to be there and when so we can compare it against what's ACTUALLY there so we can TTU when it isn't right.

When there isn't a basket, and there's supposed to be one, is NW being charged for one? Is there supposed to be a basket on west coast red-eye's? An FA told me no - as she made a HUGE speech to everyone that she saved items from the last flight so we'd have something for the red-eye flight. I realize that most people try to sleep on overnight flights, but shouldn't there still be something to nibble on for 4 hours-ish flights in FC regardless of the hour of the day?

And a stupid question I couldn't find the answer to anywhere on nwa.com, what's the minimum flight time for a meal on nwa. I know others list it clearly, but I didn't see it anywhere...just curious!

FWIW, I've seen 1 basket do just fine in the AM on a 757 MKE-MSP, but that's a little different...

GOOD MAN! Me too!

It's not there. Just like the opaque EUA process, meal rules seem to be a mystery on NW. The lack of clear published standards for service levels can contribute to sloppiness on the part of employees and it certainly creates an impression of inconsistent service.

Contrast this with CO:

Meal/snack rules - http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...c/default.aspx

Upgrade process - http://www.continental.com/web/en-US.../upgrades.aspx

I highly doubt that employees are checking nwa.com for instructions on how to provide service.

Meal service information can be found in the FlyerTalk/NW Wiki:
http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php...verage_Service