AC Food & Beverage - Business Class - North America (Jul 2021 - ???)
Aug 3, 2022, 7:36 pm
#616
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: TK *G
Posts: 3,099
I suppose this down to catering rather than cabin crew but honestly what makes the meal most drawn out is having the cheese served at -20 and having to wait until it warms up to a temperature where it can be tasted at all. ...
And yet they never seem to have trouble finding space for all the meals when they shrink the seats and squeeze more passengers in. They went to over 450 on the 777HD and still managed to have food for everyone when there was profit in it... It seems a bit of a stretch to think they couldn't squeeze both a slice of carrot cake and three pieces of fruit for all of 30-40 business class passengers on a 777.
And yet they never seem to have trouble finding space for all the meals when they shrink the seats and squeeze more passengers in. They went to over 450 on the 777HD and still managed to have food for everyone when there was profit in it... It seems a bit of a stretch to think they couldn't squeeze both a slice of carrot cake and three pieces of fruit for all of 30-40 business class passengers on a 777.
And while it’s nice to learn from AC’s perspective, it’s even better for me to simply note down the airlines that can serve multi course meals efficiently and the ones which always allow me to pick multiple dessert choices.
Aug 3, 2022, 8:08 pm
#617
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,352
On AC 122 YVR-YYZ yesterday the SD said it's cheese or dessert or fruit, but I could have my second pick if there was extra after everyone was served. After reminding her a fair bit later, she brought a cheese plate. It's not great that way as it disrupts the flow of things (you're holding onto the empty plate and cuttlery after they've finished the main service and have retreated to the galley).
I asked a friend in AC management to clarify and he mentioned that they attempt to load enough of the cheese plates for all J pax and then load a quantity of dessert and fruit plates to mirror the expected ratio of demand for each. If there are no catering errors/shortages, everyone should be able to get a cheese plate and then their pick of dessert or fruit. He said they haven't reduced the offerring or the amounts loaded to cut costs. That said, there are a number of issues with GateGourmet lately for all carriers worldwide due to understaffing and supply chain, and there is also the (potential?) labor action.
He clarified that the cheese, fruit plate, and dessert item, plus the port (which previously was part of the cheese service) and the coffee/tea (previously part of the dessert/fruit service), are now offered on the same trolly to reduce contact points between crew/pax due to covid, not to discourage getting your cheese entitlement (
). Obviously crew re-entering the cabin to give you the cheese plate loaded for your seat is counterproductive to the aim of reducing contact points, but may be justified if there was a catering issue/shortage. But it may also be due to crew wanting the food or training issues, which are not so justified. Unfortunately you wouldn't really know.
Given that AC is already paying for the food, and this is their "signature class", it's really up to them to maintain their own standards -- whether to manage the catering vendor or ensure FAs/SDs know what the meal offering consists of. It would be nice to see more consistentcy... which might be a big ask, given the myriad of delays and cancelations these days 🙂
I asked a friend in AC management to clarify and he mentioned that they attempt to load enough of the cheese plates for all J pax and then load a quantity of dessert and fruit plates to mirror the expected ratio of demand for each. If there are no catering errors/shortages, everyone should be able to get a cheese plate and then their pick of dessert or fruit. He said they haven't reduced the offerring or the amounts loaded to cut costs. That said, there are a number of issues with GateGourmet lately for all carriers worldwide due to understaffing and supply chain, and there is also the (potential?) labor action.
He clarified that the cheese, fruit plate, and dessert item, plus the port (which previously was part of the cheese service) and the coffee/tea (previously part of the dessert/fruit service), are now offered on the same trolly to reduce contact points between crew/pax due to covid, not to discourage getting your cheese entitlement (
). Obviously crew re-entering the cabin to give you the cheese plate loaded for your seat is counterproductive to the aim of reducing contact points, but may be justified if there was a catering issue/shortage. But it may also be due to crew wanting the food or training issues, which are not so justified. Unfortunately you wouldn't really know.Given that AC is already paying for the food, and this is their "signature class", it's really up to them to maintain their own standards -- whether to manage the catering vendor or ensure FAs/SDs know what the meal offering consists of. It would be nice to see more consistentcy... which might be a big ask, given the myriad of delays and cancelations these days 🙂
Carfield
Last edited by Carfield; Aug 9, 2022 at 3:57 am
Aug 3, 2022, 8:48 pm
#618
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,920
Aug 7, 2022, 9:24 am
#620
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
YUL - LGA on A220, afternoon flight
The flight was delayed for 2 hours due to late inbound flight (due to maintenance issue). Catering screwed up, so only water in plastic cups was available.
Revenue customers got the snack box of chicken sandwich with tomato and cucumber and some kind of creamy dressing, couscous with dried cranberries, and berry pound cake.
The non-revs, who got the lucky upgrade, got a lovely bag of almonds. The non-rev next to me was confused on why she was not served a box.
The flight was delayed for 2 hours due to late inbound flight (due to maintenance issue). Catering screwed up, so only water in plastic cups was available.
Revenue customers got the snack box of chicken sandwich with tomato and cucumber and some kind of creamy dressing, couscous with dried cranberries, and berry pound cake.
The non-revs, who got the lucky upgrade, got a lovely bag of almonds. The non-rev next to me was confused on why she was not served a box.
Aug 26, 2022, 12:59 pm
#623
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
They had sparkling wine (full black bottle of bottega so I guess Prosecco) on a 737 max YVR-YYC. I never seen that offered for such a. Short flight in J before. Just like the mini gold bottles that they sell In Y. Half the J cabin took it, SD said it was something they are rolling out to shorter routes. Maybe it’s been around before but it’s the first time I’ve been offered it on that route in 10+ years flying it. It could be that I just don’t pay enough attention lol For that route I usually skip the snack and any service.
Pleasant surprises but yeah the Prosecco sucked lol 😂
Pleasant surprises but yeah the Prosecco sucked lol 😂
Aug 26, 2022, 3:41 pm
#624
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
Mainline has had prosecco on those short flights since the return of booze in the pandemic. First gold, then the downgraded black bottle. I find that they don't offer it proactively, or even bring it on the cart. If you ask, it's there. I do a lot of western triangle flying.
Aug 26, 2022, 6:46 pm
#625
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Mainline has had prosecco on those short flights since the return of booze in the pandemic. First gold, then the downgraded black bottle. I find that they don't offer it proactively, or even bring it on the cart. If you ask, it's there. I do a lot of western triangle flying.
There's no other airlines in NA that serve sparkling in such short flights so kudos to AC
Aug 27, 2022, 9:28 am
#626
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,354
United has Prosecco on every mainline flight (the majority of mine are intra-California). I haven't flown anyone else enough to comment.
Aug 27, 2022, 11:03 pm
#628
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,779
I'm thrilled to see that AC has eliminated the chicken sausages from the pancake option.
Aug 28, 2022, 3:29 pm
#630
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75K, WJ Gold, NEXUS, Marriott Gold
Posts: 316
YYZ-YVR last week
APPETIZER - Smoked tuna, potatoes, kale, mixed greens, soy-ginger dressing Served with roasted cauliflower salad and warm bread
MAIN COURSE - Cod, arrabbiata sauce, rice and quinoa blend, peppers, rapini
Both courses were very yum.
APPETIZER - Smoked tuna, potatoes, kale, mixed greens, soy-ginger dressing Served with roasted cauliflower salad and warm bread
MAIN COURSE - Cod, arrabbiata sauce, rice and quinoa blend, peppers, rapini
Both courses were very yum.