British Airways Launches Pre-Flight Meal Selection Service for Premium Flyers
Joe Cortez November 12, 2014
After a successful trial period, British Airways will be extending its pre-flight meal selection service to premium travelers beginning November 18.
Flyers holding premium tickets for British Airways flights no longer have to wonder if their first choice of meal will be available. Following a successful trial period, Business Traveler reports the British flag carrier will begin offering travelers with premium tickets on select routes the option to pre-order their meals.
With the new service, flyers in First, Club World, and World Traveler Plus will be able to select their in-flight meals between 30 days and 24 hours before their flight. The menus will be rotated on a monthly basis, with multiple offerings based on class of service. Flyers in First and Club World will be able to choose between as many as four entrees, while those flying World Traveler Plus can select between two meal options.
“Food choices are very personal, and our customers consistently tell us they want choice and control,” said Lynn McClelland, head of catering for British Airways. “This new option to pre-order meals offers this personalized service and gives control back to the customer.”
The meal selection service will roll out on November 18 for British Airways flights on or after December 1. Initially, the new service will only be available on select flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to several western destinations, including McCarran International Airport (LAS), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Rio de Janeiro/Galeao International Airport (GIC). Additional routes are expected to be added in early 2015. Flyers on these routes will be able to select their meals through the “Manage My Booking” section of British Airways’ website
This service is part of a larger, technology-based update for the air carrier. Earlier this year, British Airways began testing new functions for its mobile app with the help of the FlyerTalk community and announced plans to introduce “Sonic Seasoning” to its long-haul flights.
[Photo: British Airways]
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QANTAS is presumably offering this option on a few select routes as well. My flight DFW-SYDNEY next week in Business does not, however, after checkingg my Manage My Booking options. It's really not so revolutionary; I've been selecting my meals on American Airlines successfully for some months now. It's a nice option!
AA has a had something very much like this for a year or two now. And since AA flies multi-cabin flights domestically, in AA's case it even is available domestically. (IIRC, BA doesn't fly multi-cabin flights within the UK, which is why on BA it only appplies internationally.) And, of course, AA and BA are partners within the oneworld alliance (and in fact share some USLHR routes).