Originally Posted by
Skystar
My understanding is that passengers booked under Latitude fares (Y, U, M
) receive complimentary food, whereas all lower booking classes do not receive this. To me it seems like madness that someone can fly transcontinental and not receive a meal, when in Australia you can get a hot meal on an hour long hop, irrespective of Economy booking class.
Under a Star Alliance RTW fare, AC flights are booked in H, which corresponds to Tango Plus. However if such flights are booked under other Star carriers, they are booked under M.
If a flight were to be booked under another Star airline's codeshare code, would catering then be complimentary (given M is a Latitude fare bucket on AC)?
With a virtual monopoly and rolling in profits, QF can well afford to feed customers in all classes on domestic flights...unfortunately, AN tried to offer the same full service and couldn't pay its bills. The sad reality of most air travel is it is a commodity for which the vast majority are not willing to pay much for, hence the loss of frills. Go check out Europe where this is increasingly happening among full service carriers where margins are thin. Even in C on SK flying intra-Scandinavian flights there is not free food or drink!
Suggest you just grin and bear it. Keep a C$10 bill at the ready and buy one of AC's combos: a sandwich or hot item (chicken General Pao is pretty good), two very nice dark chocolate bars from Lindt, and choice of beer, wine or something harder. Great deal if you've bought a dirt cheap ticket and feel a bit peckish. Alternatively, you can book one of several of AC's transcons that continue to AC, or come in from Asia, and that have the same flight number as the Asian segment. AC still provides a complimentary meal on these flights IIRC...and the aircraft will be a widebody for a bit extra comfort. However, I would gladly trade a newly configured A320/319 or E170/190 with seatback TV and nicer economy seats...