Originally Posted by Wigg

Two westbound flights yesterday, so I tried both options.

Flight 1: Garlic Ginger Chicken - the SD noted the meal was not the same as on the menu, but to me it was close, but may have been honey-garlic chicken. (This always amazes me. With menus appear to be set for a month or so, how can the caterer not execute this, and how can AC not hold them to account?)

Probably 6.5/10. Taste was OK, but the chicken looks so bland.
A couple of observations on this flight:

• It appeared there were 2 SD's on this flight for some reason.
• No priority meal order taken - just row by row.
• SD's spent a lot of time behind the curtain. Even during boarding there was a lot of chit chat; service seemed to be secondary. After dionner was served there was quite a lull without any refill offer, etc. There was also a dead-heading pilot in the FA jumpseat, so that may have also contributed to their "disctraction". Luckily a short flight so not that frustrating.

Flight 2: Lasagna - probably 9/10. As others have noted this appears to be a good dish to be served as it reheats well. SD and FA's on this flight much more attentive and provided great service.

I think AC focuses a lot on the hard product, but does not have systems in place which at least provides consistency in the soft product. E.g. on about 8 return flights in late 2023 and now, priority meal orders were taken only about 60%/70% of the time; not a big deal as I always received my first choice.