BA Economy Flyers Will No Longer Be Allowed to “Raid the Larder”
Jeff Edwards December 02, 2016
Most long-haul British Airways passengers will soon need to open their wallets if they want a between meal snack en route.
British Airways will reportedly end its longstanding policy of allowing passengers to request free snacks during long flights. The so-called “raid the larder” policy will remain in place for most premium cabin passengers, but for those flying in economy class, the new policy for between meal snacking will be strictly cash-and-carry.
The airline says that the revised snack policy came about from a periodic evaluation of how to best serve every passenger. BA officials point out that on the carrier’s longest flights, a complimentary snack box will be provided in all cabins between meal service times.
“We are always making changes to what we sell through our inflight retail,” British Airways officials told the Independent. “We are adding a few additional products that will join our current popular confectionary range.” Those new snack options, which include Pringles and Maltesers, will also come with new price tags of between two to five dollars.
The elimination of free between meal snacks won’t be much of an issue for many British Airways transatlantic passengers, as there is no longer a “between meals” for economy class flyers. Earlier this year, British Airways reduced meal service on flights of less than eight-and-a-half-hours in duration. This means many intercontinental passengers in economy class cabins are only served one meal.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
You’re Reading
Compare VS, LGW-LAS, in Y: Nibbles & drink soon after takeoff Main meal (3 courses, plus cheese) Light snack during afternoon (Fab lolly, or popcorn, or sweets, for instance) Snack box before landing (sandwiches, crisps (US: chips), cake, breath mints - nice touch) Think there might even have been an extra bijou snackette between the last two! A 10.5hr flight, and I never felt peckish.
Just one more reason to avoid this airline. Or this brexity know-it-all rainy Island altogether if you ask me.
BA like to insult the intelligence of their customers with statements like “We are adding a few additional products that will join our current popular confectionary range.” BS. British Airways are just charging for what was previously free. The same with the elimination of food on UK domestic and short European flights from Jan 2017. With a substandard hard and now substandard soft product, it just makes the choice to fly another carrier even easier.
"Something called Maltsters"??? They're a very popular chocolate! Malted milk balls!
"The airline says that the revised snack policy came about from a periodic evaluation of how to best serve every passenger." What a crock. Any fool knows this is all about saving BA money. For once I would like to hear the spin masters in PR at these companies shoot straight. I would have a great deal more respect for them if they were just truthful about what it is really all about. The bean counters and the six sigma lean folks at these companies are constantly looking for ways to save these companies money.