Originally Posted by John Portland

On our recent flights from SFO and SEA, we saw meal service taking 2.5 to 3 hours in Club World, without waiting for desert or cheese. They took orders after takeoff. Then they provided a separate drink service while the food was heating. There were no express options offered. Even when flying 9 hours from the West coast this slow approach largely precludes meal service for many.

It feels like there could be a difference in cultural expectations. Most Americans who are paying for a flat bed on the way to Europe are hoping to get a reasonable amount of sleep. US airlines have figured out what these business customers want, so they take meal orders through their websites and on the plane prior to takeoff. The food is heating as the plane is climbing to altitude and served within 1 hour of takeoff. Giving customers a choice between a one-tray meal within 1 hour or a multi-course service over 2 to 3 hours is a popular approach.

I believe that BA’s current approach of only offering slow meal service will hurt business over time as more Americans figure this out. The BA lounges in SFO, SEA, and PDX are not offering high quality pre-flight meals for business class customers. There is something comforting about eating on a plane before going to sleep, but not if it takes 3 hours on a 7 or 9 hour flight.