Nov 3, 2023, 9:24 am
Last edit by: canadiancow
Meal pre-orders can be done 30 days to 72 hours before departure for flights departing from the major hubs to most(?) intercontinental destinations.
AC introducing meal pre-ordering
Mar 3, 2023, 2:18 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,191
IIRC, it's in the card menu. That's what I (used to) usually order. Although it was a SD that brought it to my attention because I never really looked at the menu that closely before that.
Mar 3, 2023, 2:35 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYC / random hotel in YYZ
Programs: Back of the bus
Posts: 922
High-status (i.e. high-spend) individuals booking last minute (i.e. expensive) tickets can only be hurt by this. On the outbound of the current trip I'm on, I had to change the flights within 72 hours of departure. That would eliminate my ability to pre-order. From what I know of most of my high-status high-fare friends, this is pretty common.
That's not even figuring in scenarios like:
"Hi Mr. Kennedy, this is the Toronto concierge. We noticed your inbound is delayed, so we've rebooked your connection to the next flight."
"No thanks, I can make it. Please put me back."
"Oh okay."
And there goes my meal selection.
That's not even figuring in scenarios like:
"Hi Mr. Kennedy, this is the Toronto concierge. We noticed your inbound is delayed, so we've rebooked your connection to the next flight."
"No thanks, I can make it. Please put me back."
"Oh okay."
And there goes my meal selection.
I'm pretty sure the bigger concern with booking last minute isn't what food you're getting, it's that you have a seat. Do you really think 75% of pax will pre-book their food? This is obviously a trial to get datapoints and see how well this works and whether to look at rolling it out to other flights.
As a non-SE that books Rev J, I'm all for this. My full fare J is not worth less than your full fare J flight. Revenue is revenue no matter how you look at it. Knowing I'm more likely to get my choice in advance I will book in advance which ultimately helps the airline plan.
I'd like to see the datapoints on how much of last minute flights now are from SE's vs everyone else. With higher loads and all of the flight issues I'm hearing enough stories about non-SE's paying full fare to get where they need to go so I doubt that it's just high status folks paying for last minute.
Mar 3, 2023, 2:37 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYC / random hotel in YYZ
Programs: Back of the bus
Posts: 922
I've never had an issue with this other than being told they sold out.
Mar 3, 2023, 2:39 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,207
Last I had heard, this has not come back yet since Covid. It hasn't been listed in the recent AC Cafe menus either.
Mar 3, 2023, 3:48 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,516
They very prominently advertise Business Class breakfast and Business Class dinners now. You can’t miss it. $17.95 for each.
They also have sliders now.
Mar 3, 2023, 4:03 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,553
You can't please everyone. Remember --- there were likely tons of SEs before who don't spend high that gamed the system (and still do) which is why you have revenue requirements for SE.
I'm pretty sure the bigger concern with booking last minute isn't what food you're getting, it's that you have a seat. Do you really think 75% of pax will pre-book their food? This is obviously a trial to get datapoints and see how well this works and whether to look at rolling it out to other flights.
As a non-SE that books Rev J, I'm all for this. My full fare J is not worth less than your full fare J flight. Revenue is revenue no matter how you look at it. Knowing I'm more likely to get my choice in advance I will book in advance which ultimately helps the airline plan.
I'd like to see the datapoints on how much of last minute flights now are from SE's vs everyone else. With higher loads and all of the flight issues I'm hearing enough stories about non-SE's paying full fare to get where they need to go so I doubt that it's just high status folks paying for last minute.
I'm pretty sure the bigger concern with booking last minute isn't what food you're getting, it's that you have a seat. Do you really think 75% of pax will pre-book their food? This is obviously a trial to get datapoints and see how well this works and whether to look at rolling it out to other flights.
As a non-SE that books Rev J, I'm all for this. My full fare J is not worth less than your full fare J flight. Revenue is revenue no matter how you look at it. Knowing I'm more likely to get my choice in advance I will book in advance which ultimately helps the airline plan.
I'd like to see the datapoints on how much of last minute flights now are from SE's vs everyone else. With higher loads and all of the flight issues I'm hearing enough stories about non-SE's paying full fare to get where they need to go so I doubt that it's just high status folks paying for last minute.
But I agree a paid J pax (with or without status) should have higher priority over me although it is not how it works now. The only good thing left for me is probably the FA will usually accommodate my request for something from the Bistro menu if I really hate the chicken or pasta option.
Mar 3, 2023, 5:16 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: YVR
Programs: Proud Aeroplan 0K member
Posts: 52
$18??? They used to cost about $13 for breakfast and $15 for rest of day, if my memory serves me right. At those prices it was worth it for me, especially for breakfast. Now it's too expensive to justify, IMO
Mar 3, 2023, 6:11 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,605
Maybe this is lead up to something similar to what SQ has where there are many more than the standard choices that could be ordered. However, with the terrible OTP, and especially the delays at Pearson and Trudeau, this could make for pretty comical catering should passengers misconnect. "I am sorry sir, but since your upgrade cleared based on another passenger misconnecting, all if have for you is X" (fill in the X with something weird).
Mar 3, 2023, 8:05 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,607
That's not even figuring in scenarios like:
"Hi Mr. Kennedy, this is the Toronto concierge. We noticed your inbound is delayed, so we've rebooked your connection to the next flight."
"No thanks, I can make it. Please put me back."
"Oh okay."
And there goes my meal selection.
"Hi Mr. Kennedy, this is the Toronto concierge. We noticed your inbound is delayed, so we've rebooked your connection to the next flight."
"No thanks, I can make it. Please put me back."
"Oh okay."
And there goes my meal selection.
What happens now in this scenario if you've chosen VGML or KSML etc?
Mar 4, 2023, 7:09 am
#40
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
SPMLs are tagged with a specific passenger name. The same thing could happen here, but I suspect they'll just adjust catering based on preorders. So you'd no longer be listed as having preordered.
Mar 4, 2023, 7:45 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,607
Fwiw BA just announced pre-ordering meals too. I wonder if some supplier just released a feature that was needed to enable it. Or I guess the timing is just a bit of a coincidence. They apparently had it prepandemic in J and PY but now they're bringing it back and also launching it in economy. AA had it in my last flight (in PY) but it was the same meals as on board and my experience was as mentioned above that I just didn't know what I wanted days in advance.
Mar 4, 2023, 12:34 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Accor Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 417
Immediately pre-COVID, I think it was 120% of expected loads on all mainline flights.
But assuming they're still doing that, would it be 120% of expected loads, or preorders plus 120% or remaining expected loads?
I, for one, have never had great experiences with preordering on any airline other than SQ out of their only hub. UA, AS, NH, and maybe one or two others. Either the preorder options were, at best, the same as the onboard menu, and I therefore had to know what I was in the mood for days before departure, or I ran the risk of not getting what I want (in the moment) by not preordering.
But assuming they're still doing that, would it be 120% of expected loads, or preorders plus 120% or remaining expected loads?
I, for one, have never had great experiences with preordering on any airline other than SQ out of their only hub. UA, AS, NH, and maybe one or two others. Either the preorder options were, at best, the same as the onboard menu, and I therefore had to know what I was in the mood for days before departure, or I ran the risk of not getting what I want (in the moment) by not preordering.
At the end of the day this comes down to money. AC could provide better food, but they don't feel the value is there for their business.
Mar 4, 2023, 12:52 pm
#43
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,268
And, of course, one can enjoy drooling over SQ's BTC choices for weeks before the flights.
Mar 4, 2023, 2:05 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Hilton Diamond , Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 66
I don’t trust them with custom food orders..