pianoamit

The point, I guess, is that you're kidding yourself if you think there will ever be food worthy of a Michelin restaurant in an airline lounge... My one experience in the CCR left me a very happy camper, so although I acknowledge that the service may be of variable quality (as, naturally, may the food), I cannot comment on having waited a long time for sub-standard food in the CCR.

Land-of-Miles

No-one apart from you compared BA lounges to a Michelin starred restaurant. The point made specifically re: the CCR was that it is restaurant style service. That is unquestionable.

I am not unhappy with the food choice it is what it is. I do however expect what it is to be served hot and the service itself to be acceptable. Service on a par with a good chain restaurant is absolutely achievable and realistic.

travelfan199

The quality of food has very little to do with the brand/caterer and far more to do with the budget. If you get paid Ł1.67 for a hot dinner, them expectations should be low.

Where I hope we'll se an improvement is in the staff motivation and service levels, but if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

srbrenna

I don't expect that much from the lounges. In fact I am very happy with the GC lounges. However, from my limited experience of the CCR, I can totally understand various posters being underwhelmed with it. I have had the famous burger. It was lukewarm and revolting. I have tried the Eggs Benedict and they didn't pass muster either. All-in-all the food simply isn't up to scratch.

The environment is a lot more pleasant but I found the service to be a bit indifferent - not bad but just so-so.

The CCR at JFK is miles better in every aspect ^ Even the F lounge at LGW was better service-wise.

knifeandfork

I've given up on eating in the CCR. These days, I tend to go through the magic white door, scan my BP, drop my roll aboard with the CCR cloakroom, scan my BP at the Flounge and help myself to what's on the slab in the refectory. Much better eats than the CCR.

Can't take a First Class only facility seriously if the white tablecloths have been enhanced away.

Dave_C

The food is what it is, but it's the service that is frequently terrible. The simple fact is that it is very easy to get right. Pizza Express for the most part gets it right on pretty much every high street in the country.

I'm definitely not expecting Michelin levels of service, but basic high-street restaurant chain levels would be nice.

oscietra

Quite right. It's basics like offering a drink the minute you sit down (I now get served at the bar and bring my own champers to the table for fear of ending up parched and listless as I peruse the menu).

Also, some of them are just miserable, but then having seen some of the appalling behaviour on the part of some passengers towards them, I'm not so surprised they look the way the do.

squeeler

Interesting comment. That has not been my experience in T5 GF, where I have always found the staff to be courteous, pleasant and efficient. (Other than the chef who persuaded me to eat the curry one day, which went through me on a TATL like a dose of salts! )

The managers have always been happy to chat, particularly when I have commented on one of their staff.

I echo the comments made about hoping the staff remain.

LTN Phobia

The problem, as I see it, is the number of staff or the lack thereof. When it's quiet, you can get consistently decent service in GF. However, when it's busy, they are run off their feet and you can't easy get served and plates are not cleared away for ages.

papyPiHi

Ouch, if the food is as bad as in our canteen, I might switch to *A, but let's see...

Professor Yaffle

The Gatwick lounge offerings (Club, not F) are an utter embarrassment, so hopefully this will improve the offering somewhat.

sigma421

With the exception of the staff management issues I doubt much will be changing. It's unlikely that the budget will have risen much (in fact if the tender was as competitive as the article suggests it's likely that the budget may have dropped, in which case we can look forward to a dreaded 'efficiency drive'). If BA are paying for rubbish then that's what they'll get.

HIDDY

Wouldn't surprise me....in todays world of economic downturns around every corner can we really expect top notch service and grub in every lounge?

Better to spread the budget across all the lounges rather than concentrate it all on one I would say.

LTN Phobia

I think the CCR experience depends on:

1. Where you sit. The Terrace is the "must be ignored" zone.
2. What you order. Stuff that has no choice but to be cooked freshly tends to turn up while hot.
3. Who you get in the dining area. There is a bunch of them who remember me and are rather attentive (although everyone should get good service). I have been pretty lucky overall.

Food delivery can be pretty slow though, so if I'm in a hurry, I hop off to the GF. I was having a chat with GF guardians and was saying that there should be a small buffet area in the CCR for those in a hurry.

I do wish they went with Do&Co. They already provide some catering to BA - I think CE hot meals and potted puddings, if I rememebr correctly, and I recall at least some of the catering at the Taste of London BA tent.

Ha ha, you haven't seen the food on offer at Star Alliance LHR T1 lounge in that case?

Tobias-UK

I agree with all that. I never sit out in The Terrace, always inside. For the most part I'll not wait more than a couple or so minutes to be offered a drink. If I'm particularly thirsty, I'll go to the bar myself.

The food can be on the warm side, but not always. Some slate the burger but my son loves them. A couple of guests I've taken to the CCR also have commented on them being tasty - including an American FTer! I don't mind them myself, but I'm not a big burger fan.

In the Dinning Room, yes there is usually a short wait. I suppose waiting time is a relative matter, what may be long to one person may be just about right for another who is simply passing the time away.