Lack of meal choice in F
Feb 3, 2010, 3:54 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: in a cabin
Posts: 6,524
I find it insulting. 
Paying some 5000EUR and upwards for 'First' there is no excuse for not having enough for at least two options for each PAX.
The hype about F on the website just makes it worse. There is nothing first class about the food in BA F.
Paying some 5000EUR and upwards for 'First' there is no excuse for not having enough for at least two options for each PAX.
The hype about F on the website just makes it worse. There is nothing first class about the food in BA F.
Feb 3, 2010, 4:00 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: WA
Programs: AS , AA, Hilton, Hyatt, Kimpton, Hertz
Posts: 310
I know that this might sound unbelievable in this forum, but my wife and I just complete 3 sectors in CX 1st. 2 longhaul and one 4 hour flight. We choose different meals from each other in every case and none of the 6 mains were noticably better and in some case less interesting than the typical BA 1st meal.
With the exception of the Krug and cavair/cold smoked salmon dish BA F catering compaired quite favorably to CX.
With the exception of the Krug and cavair/cold smoked salmon dish BA F catering compaired quite favorably to CX.
Feb 3, 2010, 4:00 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, USA
Posts: 523
Why don't BA First passengers get a menu a few days before and select what they want on a flight, At least then people would get what they want. I know I would rather preselect a few days in advance than not get what I wanted. (I'm a bit of a fussy eater).
Perhaps the you first team could even do this introducing themselves and making sure customers are aware of CCR, arrivals lounges and arrange extras like cars on collection etc.
There could then be some extra first meals on board or just club meals for op-ups and the crew to eat after everyone is happy.
Joejet
Perhaps the you first team could even do this introducing themselves and making sure customers are aware of CCR, arrivals lounges and arrange extras like cars on collection etc.
There could then be some extra first meals on board or just club meals for op-ups and the crew to eat after everyone is happy.
Joejet
Because that's too customer oriented.
Feb 3, 2010, 4:14 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,951
Premier and Gold card holders usually get first pickings where there is more demand than supply of a given item. Where there are more than one Goldcard holder, then CIV scores can come into play.
You do not want to annoy pax that regularly spend on BA flights now do you?
You do not want to annoy pax that regularly spend on BA flights now do you?
Feb 3, 2010, 5:53 pm
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,248
Feb 3, 2010, 6:07 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,576
Well somebody has to be first and last, so there has to be some sort of criteria. Not everyone is going to be happy one way or the other so it is natural that BA intend to look after it's most frequent fliers first. Not that it always happens in any case
Feb 3, 2010, 9:52 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA ex-EXP, 2MM (ex DL, ex TWA)
Posts: 1,433
But this simply should NOT MATTER, and everyone should be happy@! They need to cater at a level that this is not an issue.
Feb 4, 2010, 12:31 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
And then they still over cater in case you don't like the look of what you pre-ordered. I'm normally quite laid back when it comes to meal choices (although I don't like overcooked fish which is easy to do especially when reheating, so I tend to avoid fish).
I look at the menu, and if everything is OK for me, I say to the cabin crew to give me what's left because other passengers may have a stronger preference. Or, if I don't mind all but one etc, I'd say 'please don't give me [whatever] but anything else is fine, so leave me to the last'. It's appreciated by the crew and it helps breed further indecisiveness in me.
I bet there are a lot of passengers who don't have a strong preference but just pick one for the sake of picking one. Maybe they could have a system of 'strong preference'?
I would say that running out of meal choices so badly as the OP has reported is really poor though.
I look at the menu, and if everything is OK for me, I say to the cabin crew to give me what's left because other passengers may have a stronger preference. Or, if I don't mind all but one etc, I'd say 'please don't give me [whatever] but anything else is fine, so leave me to the last'. It's appreciated by the crew and it helps breed further indecisiveness in me.
I bet there are a lot of passengers who don't have a strong preference but just pick one for the sake of picking one. Maybe they could have a system of 'strong preference'?
I would say that running out of meal choices so badly as the OP has reported is really poor though.
Feb 4, 2010, 2:01 am
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Highlands
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 106
Just to clarify, we were on a Amex 2-4-1 ticket. But ticket type and status would seem to be irrelevant here. Can I Help You said earlier that for an F cabin of 7 passengers the meals loaded would be 4 beef, 3 chicken, 2 fish, and 2 of the other choice (which in this case was another beef dish). Even if we had all been GCH it was likely that at least one of us (and potentially several of us) would not get either their first or second choice. As the remaining dishes were all beef this doesn't represent much of a choice - and can in no way be described as "First class" service.
In addition, surely if a passenger has paid for an F ticket (whether by cash or miles) they are entitled to expect that either their first or second choice is available?
The lack of any acknowledgement of my feedback just rubs salt in the wound!
In addition, surely if a passenger has paid for an F ticket (whether by cash or miles) they are entitled to expect that either their first or second choice is available?
The lack of any acknowledgement of my feedback just rubs salt in the wound!
Feb 4, 2010, 2:52 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: LON, RUH and DXB
Programs: BA Bronze, GF, EK, WY
Posts: 2,607
This TR http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...d.main/163716/ highlights the differences between LX and BA F. And it would seem the LX crew get a better deal too
Feb 4, 2010, 3:25 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London, Sydney
Programs: Muccihood de la Rotisserie Doree, BAEC Gold, SAS Eurobonus basic, Ansett Golden Wing :-(
Posts: 3,114
I look at the menu, and if everything is OK for me, I say to the cabin crew to give me what's left because other passengers may have a stronger preference. Or, if I don't mind all but one etc, I'd say 'please don't give me [whatever] but anything else is fine, so leave me to the last'. It's appreciated by the crew and it helps breed further indecisiveness in me.
I do the same in CW. I just say "Anything will do, whatever you have the most of - but if anything is left over at the end I'll have a second main course please, doesn't matter what."
I really like the act of eating on a plane, with a nice wine - so the quantity and timing are more important features of the dining experience than whether it's lamb or chicken or fish.
James