AA LAX Catering Issues Late 2017 (Listeria 1 Nov 2017)
Nov 2, 2017, 2:33 pm
#46
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
FWIW, AA 27 was pre-catered on the inbound flight out of DFW, but as a domestic coach flight. (No menus, two meal choices, crappy wines, etc.). Better than nothing, I suppose, but pretty bad for "Flagship Business".
Meanwhile, this mostly seems self-inflicted by AA since literally no other airlines that use Gate Gourmet took the same approach: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed.../#256838bb41c1
It's also not clear why they couldn't have had Gate Gourmet continue to cater beverages even if they didn't trust the food preparation.
Nov 2, 2017, 3:38 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 205
A friend got this e-mail:
"On Wednesday, Nov. 1, American Airlines stopped using the services of Gate Gourmet, an onboard caterer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This may affect the dining experience on departing flights from LAX.
We're making alternate arrangements for catering from other providers, but we may not be able to meet our standard catering levels over the next few days.
Until we find a new catering service, we'll offer customers who are affected an electronic travel voucher for use on a future flight.
We apologize in advance for this potential disruption."
He has a LAX-NRT flight tomorrow. Wonder how the voucher will be. I also wonder if he can reroute to avoid LAX (or on partners).
"On Wednesday, Nov. 1, American Airlines stopped using the services of Gate Gourmet, an onboard caterer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This may affect the dining experience on departing flights from LAX.
We're making alternate arrangements for catering from other providers, but we may not be able to meet our standard catering levels over the next few days.
Until we find a new catering service, we'll offer customers who are affected an electronic travel voucher for use on a future flight.
We apologize in advance for this potential disruption."
He has a LAX-NRT flight tomorrow. Wonder how the voucher will be. I also wonder if he can reroute to avoid LAX (or on partners).
Nov 2, 2017, 3:46 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DE
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott, Hilton, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 57
Wow, there seems to be a lot of inconsistency in customer experiences. I have two upcoming red-eye flights (tonight and Saturday night) out of LAX (to DFW and ORD) and in addition to yesterday's email apologizing for the catering issue, today I received a separate email apologizing and a voucher for $100 off a future flight. That seems more than fair for lukewarm mixed nuts, a half-baked chocolate chip cookie, and an amaretto to put me to sleep.
Nov 2, 2017, 4:01 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
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On a limited basis (i.e. international premium cabins only), it's perfectly viable.
Bingo. If I want a company to bring a chateaubriand to my Gulfstream at LAX or VNY on a few hours notice for a 0400 departure, it can be done. I may not like the price. But the service is absolutely available.
AA could absolutely find sufficient catering to at least cover long-haul international premium cabins on very short notice.
Well, this IS the same airline that serves shelf-stable crap left on the airplane overnight because they claim that there's no catering available at outstations in mid-sized cities (Fresno comes to mind. Previously SMF too). Bollocks. There's catering available at FAT. There's catering available at SMF. There is, in fact, catering available at every airport in this country that AA would want to serve.
^ What you said!
AA could absolutely find sufficient catering to at least cover long-haul international premium cabins on very short notice.
It's also interesting that GateGourmet called the issue resolved, and AA still isn't catering. Why? Are other GG customers also not getting any catering, or just AA?
Now, maybe they couldn't execute a full swap this quick, but I'd bet they could at least cater the premium cabins from another, if they were willing to pay. There's always other options too - catering from local restaurants, vouchers that get you a complete meal and proper advance notification, or even pizza delivery.
In a previous job, I had to arrange catering on a regular basis for ~400 people with < 2 hours notice if we were busy. You get creative.. 25 from this place, 50 from here, pizza for 1 group.. etc. Don't tell me it can't be done.
In a previous job, I had to arrange catering on a regular basis for ~400 people with < 2 hours notice if we were busy. You get creative.. 25 from this place, 50 from here, pizza for 1 group.. etc. Don't tell me it can't be done.
Nov 2, 2017, 4:02 pm
#51
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
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LAX-JFK in J will get you access to the AC before the flight. A good move by AA during this crisis would be to offer more food in the clubs while this gets resolved.
Nov 2, 2017, 4:05 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 123
On the Transcon in business last night, they served predeparture drinks. They offered cold sandwiches (turkey, ham, and vegan wrap) or cheese plates in lieu of the hot meals. They still had the snack baskets. Not sure if they still offered meal options in coach.
No email or correspondence about any compensation though. I wrote to AA customer service to inquire and haven't heard back yet.
No email or correspondence about any compensation though. I wrote to AA customer service to inquire and haven't heard back yet.
Nov 2, 2017, 4:25 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Just got a $200 voucher from AA for my LAX-HND flight (while still in flight).
Even though I think this is being handled pretty poorly, I do think that's reasonable compensation. Would still like the communications about what's actually going to happen once on the flights to be better, though.
Even though I think this is being handled pretty poorly, I do think that's reasonable compensation. Would still like the communications about what's actually going to happen once on the flights to be better, though.
Nov 2, 2017, 5:04 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DE
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott, Hilton, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 57
Just got a $200 voucher from AA for my LAX-HND flight (while still in flight).
Even though I think this is being handled pretty poorly, I do think that's reasonable compensation. Would still like the communications about what's actually going to happen once on the flights to be better, though.
Even though I think this is being handled pretty poorly, I do think that's reasonable compensation. Would still like the communications about what's actually going to happen once on the flights to be better, though.
Nov 2, 2017, 5:21 pm
#55
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: CT, USA
Programs: Marriott/SPG Plat (won't last), Hilton Gold
Posts: 454
A friend got this e-mail:
"On Wednesday, Nov. 1, American Airlines stopped using the services of Gate Gourmet, an onboard caterer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This may affect the dining experience on departing flights from LAX.
We're making alternate arrangements for catering from other providers, but we may not be able to meet our standard catering levels over the next few days.
Until we find a new catering service, we'll offer customers who are affected an electronic travel voucher for use on a future flight.
We apologize in advance for this potential disruption."
He has a LAX-NRT flight tomorrow. Wonder how the voucher will be. I also wonder if he can reroute to avoid LAX (or on partners).
"On Wednesday, Nov. 1, American Airlines stopped using the services of Gate Gourmet, an onboard caterer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This may affect the dining experience on departing flights from LAX.
We're making alternate arrangements for catering from other providers, but we may not be able to meet our standard catering levels over the next few days.
Until we find a new catering service, we'll offer customers who are affected an electronic travel voucher for use on a future flight.
We apologize in advance for this potential disruption."
He has a LAX-NRT flight tomorrow. Wonder how the voucher will be. I also wonder if he can reroute to avoid LAX (or on partners).
Nov 2, 2017, 5:34 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
I presume this is also affecting double-catered flights back to LAX, like the daybreak flight BNA-LAX (which traditionally has no hot breakfast up front because of the double-catering)? Or are they getting alternative catering at the normally double-catered airports?
Nov 2, 2017, 6:37 pm
#58
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
This is a pretty good general article about listeria and shared that in food processing centers the drains are the most common source of contamination and the fact it's very easy to spread from there onto the surfaces.
https://www.foodmanufacturing.com/ar...inate-listeria
Nov 2, 2017, 6:40 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,698
Bingo. If I want a company to bring a chateaubriand to my Gulfstream at LAX or VNY on a few hours notice for a 0400 departure, it can be done. I may not like the price. But the service is absolutely available.
AA could absolutely find sufficient catering to at least cover long-haul international premium cabins on very short notice.
AA could absolutely find sufficient catering to at least cover long-haul international premium cabins on very short notice.
Please call any of the LAX based catering groups and ask them to cover that as a standby contingency - NONE of them would take this.
Nov 2, 2017, 7:14 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
Just got a $200 voucher from AA for my LAX-HND flight (while still in flight).
Even though I think this is being handled pretty poorly, I do think that's reasonable compensation. Would still like the communications about what's actually going to happen once on the flights to be better, though.
Even though I think this is being handled pretty poorly, I do think that's reasonable compensation. Would still like the communications about what's actually going to happen once on the flights to be better, though.
$200 seems really low to me so interested to hear the catering situation on board.
ETA: I see your post above now. That is weak. Is there sufficient food/drink for everyone on board?
Last edited by 869; Nov 2, 2017 at 7:17 pm Reason: new info