I used to be a Band 4 regular. As in properly regular Band 4 flyer, with 4-6 Band 4 flights a month.

Then I became a Band 3 regular for a while. Maybe for about 18 months. Again, pretty regular Band 3 flyer. Where I saw those navy-wrapped piece of chocolate and wished that they at least had a BA logo printed on them. Fussy, I know.

Now I'm back to being a Band 4 regular. Probably 4-8 Band 4 flights a month.

One thing I SUDDENLY noticed tonight (I wasn't even flying - the last time I flew was on Sunday!) was the huge issue of the missing Band 4 chocolates, just because I mistakenly believed that there was chocolate ice cream in Club Kitchen on short long haul flights. Come to think of it I don't even know if chocolate ice cream is available on a long, long haul flight, although I'm pretty sure I saw it at Taste of London BA centre tent with displays from their suppliers.

Never mind, I shall stop with the justification for this thread... and get on with my actual topic.

I distinctly recall that there used to be chocolates, to be precise two pieces of 'fancy' chocolate, in a box, on Band 4 dinner flights.
It started off with something quite fancy. Then it went onto Lily O'Briens which disappointed me somewhat - they weren't as nice but acceptable and certainly better than nothing. That's what I remember from some time ago when I was previously a Band 4 regular.

But I haven't had any chocolate on Band 4 flights for some time. (I'm talking CE here, by the way.)

When were they scrapped, and why? Were they enhanced away? I am not a big chocolate eater but I miss them somewhat.

Even just the nice Do & Co wrapped thing that comes with some afternoon teas would do... I wish they brought them back.

Hi,

Seems a bit odd as I had chocolates both ways ( Do & Co -very nice) on my dinner time flights to HEL ( admittedly a Band 3 ) a week ago.

Regards

TBS

You get them on Band 3! But not on Band 4, but with Band 4 you get a plated pudding, which you don't on Band 3 - you get a pot of pudding, like a mousse.

Or, maybe what I am thinking are Band 4 dinner flights are actually departing too early to be a full on dinner flight... I have just realised that possibility.

Hi,

We did not get a potted pudding just cheese and biscuits!

Regards

TBS

That is getting confusing... I think we need help from one of the BA crew members! Those catering differences are starting to tax my brain rather severely.

Actually I have just looked up the Catering Guide on here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...2-13-beta.html

It looks like what I thought were dinner flights were all Afternoon Tea flights in fact - which on Band 4 seem to be be the same as Lunch - as they all depart before 16:59!
That explains the lack of chocolates.

And it looks like Band 3 must have recently lost the pot of puddings. Maybe the crew members could confirm.

In the four-and-a-half years I've been flying band 4 KBP-LHR-KBP I don't ever remember having chocolates

Except from duty-free

I think BA woefully under perform on the chocolate front.

Why is there no chocolate option in the basket of biscuits and nibbles handed out on short flights?

Why is there no chocolate available in the lounges? I am sure it would be popular. And pretty cheap compared with other lounge offerings.

Perhaps one had chosen the new BA chocolate-free fare for a cheaper, better value journey giving you the choice in how you want to fly. However, if you want to "indulge" in "luxury" next time you fly, why not select from our extras package a delicious sliver of chocolate for just �5!

(Inspiration: Monarch champagne offer)

BA version of the LX chocolate basket would be a nice idea. Supplied by a nice British chocolate supplier, of course (sorry, Cadbury's don't count).

Who is a nice British chocolate supplier these days?

Green & Black's would be nice - unfortunately in the same category as our beloved Cadbury though..

I'm sure I recall Fortnum's doing individually wrapped chocolate pieces at some point? Probably a bit much for BA these days though

I've had the occasional chocolates on both SH and LH - I'll see if I can find a pic somewhere - but I can't say I spotted any system in when you were going to get them...

I agree that a decent chocolate offering in both the lounge and on board is needed.

However, sod the British chocolate (i.e. brown fat) idea - just serve up Belgian chocolates (Belgium is a construction by Lord Palmerston anyway ).

Artisan du Chocolat is good - BA already use their chocolates on long haul in CW and F.

F box is very similar to this one: http://artisanduchocolat.com/artisan...gence-box.html

CW one is like http://artisanduchocolat.com/chocolate-ofavour-box.html but I think it has two rather than three.

I quite like them. If you want to try them without having to fly CW or F, you can get them from Selfridges


Hotel Chocolat is not as good but not too bad either. http://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/home

I don't know if Artisan du Chocolat do a similar thing to LX chocolates (the mini-slabs that they give out from a basket) but I think Hotel Chocolat do pretty plain mini-slabs and batons.

I think Band 4s are the same as other Band's when it comes to deserts and chocolate in that at Lunch time you get a desert (plated on a Band 4) and in the evening you get chocolates. On Band 4 flights, you always get cheese and biscuits whether evening or lunch.

Band 4 catering that is catered down route, as is the case in 90% of out stations, will vary from out station to out station as they all have differing levels of what they are able to provide. Some will provide a desert and chocolates and some just one or the other.

I think you are right in that you used to get chocolates in addition to a desert but other Bands now get a desert or chocolates, so in some way enhanced but in the case of Band 4s maybe not so enhanced.

On all the Bands, you get chocolates in the evening and a desert at lunch.

Thank you so much Littlegirl, as always!

That makes sense, although greedy me says I would love to see both for anything after about 4pm on Band 4 because you usually end up getting to the destination pretty late in the day/evening.