Airport Starbucks -- are they just terrible?

[Anonymous]

I've gotten food poisoning from an airport Starbucks, had another drink I had to throw out on the plane because the milk was rancid, and had this weird exchange last week at an airport where there was no sugar out, so I asked the woman for sugar. She said "What kind of sugar?" And I said "Regular sugar. Not the fake stuff, real sugar, any kind." So she hands me three packs of Splenda. I say "No, that's not sugar, that's splenda. Can I get sugar?" And she says "What kind of sugar?" So I say "Real sugar. Not sugar substitute" She looks at me blankly so I say "The white or the brown packet, not the pink, yellow or blue packets." So she gives me regular sugar, but looks REALLY put out about it. I guess I should have just said "the white packet" to start with. But how can you work at Starbucks and not know the difference between sugar and sugar substitute? That seems very basic for a coffee place. I know Starbucks prides itself on its extensive training program for employees -- are the airports a separate hiring system?
I just never have these issues at regular Starbucks -- only in airports. Wondering if it's just me.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps it's that Starbucks at that airport?

I don't fly much - basically only use Dulles to get to Europe once a year. The Starbucks there are always perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Starbucks is pretty bad in general and their food is never fresh regardless if airport location or not.

[Anonymous]

Some aren't actually corporate owned, but are "licensed" stores like in grocery stores.

[Anonymous]

in the pre-covid times, I once overheard a corporate manager person basically pleading with one of the two hourly employee at the airport starbucks kiosk to accept her promotion to store manager. She was like, "why me? i've only worked here for 6 weeks," and corporate was like, "you're the only person who shows up on time for every shift."

[Anonymous]

I mean, maybe ask yourself why you “need” Starbucks that badly that you go back to this empty well, over and over, expecting water.

Notice I didn’t say “coffee.” You can get coffee plenty of places at the airport. I said “Starbucks.” Which honestly you can even get at the Hudson News in the form of a bottled or canned cold beverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Perhaps it's that Starbucks at that airport?

I don't fly much - basically only use Dulles to get to Europe once a year. The Starbucks there are always perfectly fine.

NP. No. All airport Starbucks are lousy. They have long lines and employ low IQ people 😬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Perhaps it's that Starbucks at that airport?

I don't fly much - basically only use Dulles to get to Europe once a year. The Starbucks there are always perfectly fine.

NP. No. All airport Starbucks are lousy. They have long lines and employ low IQ people 😬

It’s more like the low IQ people are the ones who stand in long-azz lines and loudly complain about how they’re in danger of missing their flights because they NEEEEEEEEED Starbucks. I once saw a sign that estimated the wait was an hour at the Starbucks, and idiots were still standing in line. I smiled to myself as I walked three stands down to Dunkin.

[Anonymous]

virtually every airport Starbucks I've been in is horrible. I've actually stopped frequently them altogther. The customer service is horrible and just don't love ANYTHING there enough to deal with it.


Signed,
A flight attendant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks is pretty bad in general and their food is never fresh regardless if airport location or not.

+1

[Anonymous]

If you fly Southwest, their on-board coffee — Signature Blend from Community Coffee — is very good. I’d drink that instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Perhaps it's that Starbucks at that airport?

I don't fly much - basically only use Dulles to get to Europe once a year. The Starbucks there are always perfectly fine.

NP. No. All airport Starbucks are lousy. They have long lines and employ low IQ people 😬

PP you replied to. I won't fight you on that, since I never set foot in a Starbucks unless I'm waiting for my red-eye. There is never a queue and the SB person can always make my tea beautifully. But perhaps that's a low bar: only one client, and putting a teabag in hot water! Conversely, perhaps dealing with a long queue of rude clients about to miss their planes gets really old...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Perhaps it's that Starbucks at that airport?

I don't fly much - basically only use Dulles to get to Europe once a year. The Starbucks there are always perfectly fine.

NP. No. All airport Starbucks are lousy. They have long lines and employ low IQ people 😬

It’s more like the low IQ people are the ones who stand in long-azz lines and loudly complain about how they’re in danger of missing their flights because they NEEEEEEEEED Starbucks. I once saw a sign that estimated the wait was an hour at the Starbucks, and idiots were still standing in line. I smiled to myself as I walked three stands down to Dunkin.

100% this

[Anonymous]

OP back—it’s always different airports and if the airport has a local coffee spot, I’ll generally choose it if it’s in the right terminal. I’m generally flying for work and need some caffeine to work on the flight. You often don’t get fbeverage service on the flights now until halfway thru the flight, so I try to buy in the airport. Plus I need milk to drink coffee. I was wondering if I just had a string of bad luck but it sounds like others have also had bar experiences. Makes me appreciate the Starbucks employees in downtown DC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Starbucks is pretty bad in general and their food is never fresh regardless if airport location or not.

Yep. They are pretty much all the same