Yes, there is a big difference in Y and J. I guess that in one third of all the flights that I take in Y, no-one comes and welcomes me. The staff in Y are less senior and lack the experience of the J and F staff, and it shows.

The children's meal always has to be ordered in advance, so you can't fault them there. If you had ordered it, then you would have received one.

If and when the purser comes around, I do always ask for something when they ask... usually I ask if they can bring my meal as a special meal with a bottle of red wine. This usually works but sadly, a large percentage of the time they forget to do even this.

It all depends on the crew lottery... sometimes you win, sometimes you lose!