"a" versus "an" à la carte subscription

[Amda Zako]

This one is for you, les anglo-saxons !

Would you say:

1. an à la carte subscription
2. a à la carte subscription
3. neither of the above

Merci beaucoup !

 

[suzi br]

I would say 1.

 

[JulianStuart]

Of course it's number one: the phrase begins with a vowel sound.

 

[Parla]

What is an "à la carte subscription"? I know the phrase only from restaurant menus.

 

[Amda Zako]

What is an "à la carte subscription"? I know the phrase only from restaurant menus.

It would be a subscription, say to a mobile service, where you could pick how many text messages and minutes you want. Maybe I could say something like "a pick and choose subscription"...
When you want to sound pompous in English, slip in some French!

 

[Parla]

Thanks for explaining, Amda. It's not a term used in US English.

 

[JulianStuart]

I've seen it on occasion in the US, with the same meaning, which is just like on menus : set meal or a la carte. Pre-selected bundle/package or your own mix-n-match combination. Early days of satellite TV were like that, perhaps stll are, adding special channels one by one.