Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
I had a go at
pointing this out many posts back. The reality is, in my opinion at least, is that the changes have been actually positive for 5 domestic lounges, with a sharply improved offering; the changes have been fairly neutral - some improvements, some negatives - for 8 lounges (Arrivals, Gatwicks, CCR, GCs); but the 2 LHR Flounges have taken a hit. Specifically one area of the Flounge, the hot buffet after 12 midday. I personally think wrapped cake versus the new fruit loaf (etc etc) is too micro focused, but I know many posters here would disagree with this. I have now visited every BaxterStorey lounge in the BA UK network and I do think a sense of perspective needs to be brought to this.
Arrrghhh - the cake!! It isnt just about wrapped or unwrapped cake. I have complained in this forum loudly and often that the miserly removal of cake (except in a UK afternoon) is truly pathetic. The lack of cake must have affected my reasoning and cognitive skills but I struggle to understand how this is an "enhancement?" It just isn't! More like a "streamlined" deterioration.... A better example of penny pinching "rationing" it would be hard to find.
Many OP's have focussed on the dire nature of the hot buffet but we must not forget the state of the cold buffet in the Flounge. This has also been drastically reduced with (here we go)
; no pastrami, no smoked salmon/gravadlax, vastly reduced selection of salads, cheaper butter (it doesn’t even say where it is produced - but I did see some very scrawny looking cows in Chennai recently..) Hmm; to continue with the list; less salad extras e.g. no pine nuts, no sunflower seeds, no poppy seeds, less bread selection. All "streamlined" away and consigned to the history books....
The replacements for the removal of the previously excellent selection of quality meats and fish are; heart attack, fat laden salami and "cheap as chips" buckets of catering tuna (less than £4.50 per kilo)
You sort of "get the drift" I think? ALL the buffet and occasional food in the Flounge; with the exception of the "gourmet" biscuits (which are still a reduction in choice from before) is cheaper and altogether inferior in taste and quality to the previous offerings. I think all the money was spent on these dratted biscuits !
I agree that the regional lounge at MAN is considerably improved (enhanced even!) but I thought that the LHR GF was supposed to be a flagship lounge.
I guess it is still some sort of "flagship" - a bit like the "Titanic" and firmly heading in the same direction....