Originally Posted by
JAXBA
Perhaps the phrase "The discussion about 'eliminating the pre-pouring and pro-active offering of orange juice as a PDB, while it still remains available on request for those in the know, who happen to have an on-the-ball crew' " would be more accurate but it's a bit of a mouthful…
For most people, OJ is no longer offered upon boarding. It has been 'enhanced/eliminated', ostensibly for time/wastage reasons.
Yes, that’s a good summary of what appears to be happening in practice.
In essence, there’s no big surprise here. It’s the sort of classic chronological pattern that you see in many consumer sector businesses (not only in the airline world ..... although BA are of course particularly skilled at it) which are constantly looking to cut costs.
The various stages within the timeline are familiar :
- it begins with the perspective that a particular item (in this case, a preference for orange juice as a PDB) is not popular
- this becomes the justification to stop pro-actively offering it as an option. You continue to stock the item concerned, but make it available ‘on request’ only
- confusion soon develops amongst staff and the ‘on-request’ option is not communicated - whether intentionally or otherwise - to potential consumers (ie those who show hesitation when faced with the newly-reduced choice on the tray)
- this confusion further manifests itself in some such requests being categorically refused - as experienced by the OP & wife ; and for any staff keen to make their own life that little bit little easier, this is a welcome opportunity
- consumers / passengers gradually give up requesting the item
- senior management says there is no demand for the item, and either stops providing it at all OR carries so little of it that the desired cost saving target is soon achieved.