It sounds like they are leaving the nasty things for cross-country filights and international flights. I never use the things since they are nasty anyhow. Hell, considering how uncomfortable flying is, I only do it if the destination is more than a 6 hour drive away and I don’t have a lot of time.
#6 is very bad. The water tanks on the planes are rarely cleaned. This water is nominally potable but is mostly for the sinks in the lavatory. Sometimes the crew fills pitchers with this water and gives it to the passengers. When you see water poured out of pitchers or directly brought to you in a cup, take a close look. The water is often murky. You should not drink it unless your thirst discomfort is very high. If they are pouring water out of bottles, it is probably ok. Just be careful. Sometimes they fill the bottles from the tanks because people caught onto the problem with the pitchers.
The Wall Street Journal travel section did a bit about this a couple years ago. There was a lot of contamination. It had; bacteria, insects, fecal matter, you name it. After it was out, some of the network TV news shows did specials on it a few months later.
#7 is probably more a pet peeve than a pitable management failure. You get occasional crews that love to use the PA system. You could be sleeping or watching the movie and some hyperactive attendant keeps screaming jokes in a faux English accent or the captain keeps letting us know about the towns we are now crossing. When it happens, the flight becomes an intolerable ordeal.
Having said that, I don’t mind being interrupted us for Niagra falls on a clear day or Airforce One crossing by at close range. I just think the the PA system should be used more sparingly.
Well, that’s the point I’m making. I never sleep on airplanes and never eat the food unless I’m in first class and starving. Under normal conditions, how many people are unable to go three hours without eating? I have, on occasion, used one of the pillows as a back support in truly bad seating. But it’s the illusion that the airlines actually give a rat’s ass about you as a customer that’s going by the wayside.
Yeah, I did, after I posted it…
I stand by the meat of it, though. I have never flown first class (or business, actually) without being given both food and drink- even on a short run like LA to Chicago. American, so perhaps YMMV on different carriers. But I have also found it to be true on United, British Airways, and I think Virgin.
About the contaminated water thing- the new report was just released in the last week or two, and the carriers with water testing unhealthy or dangerous is worse than it was two years ago, not better! Don’t drink tap water on a plane, don’t even brush your teeth with it.