BA to Launch Pre-Ordering of Meal Options
Jul 31, 2014, 11:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
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BA to Launch Pre-Ordering of Meal Options
A BA crew member has announced the following info earlier today on the forum at Business Traveller:
A senior manager has released details that BA are planning to introduce pre order catering on longhaul flights. "Customers will be able to pre order their meal up to 48 hours before their flight. The service will be provided free of charge in Premium cabins and chargeable in WT and WTP. ( there will still be a limited number of special meal options that will be provided free of charge)".
Will be interesting to see what course this will take - whether it will be a charge simply to 'reserve' your choice from the onboard menu, whether there will be an extended online menu or whether BA will follow KLM's initiative and offer 'upgraded' Y meals for sale. One thing that is for sure is it seems BA's long list of 'special' meals available will reduce significantly - I guess the only freebies accommodated will be a vegetarian option, and of course medical/religious options. I think it will be bye bye to the Seafood Meal and the like (for free anyway).
I personally would welcome the option to do so, and when flying WT, I would happily pay extra for a better meal as offered by KLM, Air Berlin etc. I probably would pay extra for a better meal in Club World too
A senior manager has released details that BA are planning to introduce pre order catering on longhaul flights. "Customers will be able to pre order their meal up to 48 hours before their flight. The service will be provided free of charge in Premium cabins and chargeable in WT and WTP. ( there will still be a limited number of special meal options that will be provided free of charge)".
Will be interesting to see what course this will take - whether it will be a charge simply to 'reserve' your choice from the onboard menu, whether there will be an extended online menu or whether BA will follow KLM's initiative and offer 'upgraded' Y meals for sale. One thing that is for sure is it seems BA's long list of 'special' meals available will reduce significantly - I guess the only freebies accommodated will be a vegetarian option, and of course medical/religious options. I think it will be bye bye to the Seafood Meal and the like (for free anyway).
I personally would welcome the option to do so, and when flying WT, I would happily pay extra for a better meal as offered by KLM, Air Berlin etc. I probably would pay extra for a better meal in Club World too
Jul 31, 2014, 11:05 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Near Edinburgh
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I hope we can tell them how overcooked we want the beef.
Unfortunately, I suspect this will be an opportunity to enhance the existing options.
Unfortunately, I suspect this will be an opportunity to enhance the existing options.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:13 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, Belgi
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The devil will, I'm sure, be in the detail.
Hopefully some more meat (probably chicken) can be put onto the bones shortly.
Hopefully some more meat (probably chicken) can be put onto the bones shortly.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:15 am
#4
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Given that I got double disappointment on my last F flight, in the sense that both my first choice of starter, plus first and second choice of main course had become unavailable - after all, I'm only some bottom-feeding Silver on a UuA - I welcome this, as it takes away some of the guesswork for BA when load planning catering for lightly loaded premium cabins.
As long as this doesn't equate to total "enhancement" of having a "little extra" onboard as they do for F at the moment, it seems like a good thing.
As long as this doesn't equate to total "enhancement" of having a "little extra" onboard as they do for F at the moment, it seems like a good thing.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:15 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
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In theory, a great idea. I would like to see the implementation...
I think there is probably a growing trend (and cost to BA) where people order special meals in order to "avoid" a salad when the crew runs out of a certain option. It seems slightly perverse when a middle-of the road silver like me on an I-class fare, booked 3 months out in row 2 always gets his first choice. Yet someone who's paid twice the price, last minute, in row 7 sometimes misses out.
I think there is probably a growing trend (and cost to BA) where people order special meals in order to "avoid" a salad when the crew runs out of a certain option. It seems slightly perverse when a middle-of the road silver like me on an I-class fare, booked 3 months out in row 2 always gets his first choice. Yet someone who's paid twice the price, last minute, in row 7 sometimes misses out.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:19 am
#6
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I really enjoy this feature when I fly on AA and I'd see it as a good enhancement to BA, particularly in the premium cabin where it's disappointing not to have your first choice of meal.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:21 am
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
This would be great. Good for me and presumably good for BA in that they can cater more effectively.
Wonder what the implications for opups would be?
Wonder what the implications for opups would be?
Jul 31, 2014, 11:24 am
#8
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In theory, a great idea. I would like to see the implementation...
I think there is probably a growing trend (and cost to BA) where people order special meals in order to "avoid" a salad when the crew runs out of a certain option. It seems slightly perverse when a middle-of the road silver like me on an I-class fare, booked 3 months out in row 2 always gets his first choice. Yet someone who's paid twice the price, last minute, in row 7 sometimes misses out.
I think there is probably a growing trend (and cost to BA) where people order special meals in order to "avoid" a salad when the crew runs out of a certain option. It seems slightly perverse when a middle-of the road silver like me on an I-class fare, booked 3 months out in row 2 always gets his first choice. Yet someone who's paid twice the price, last minute, in row 7 sometimes misses out.
Making use of published benefits afforded to you to get a row 2 seat on an attractive fare isn't perverse.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:29 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR
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This is a good idea as long as it doesn't lead to rationing in F. I often have a main as a starter due to the portion sizes of the starters, or another main later during the flight on longer routes, and I expect that flexibility in F. If it becomes starter/main/cheese or dessert and now you're cut off, it would be shameful. The bistro menus have been enhanced to the point of nothingness on most flights now.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:30 am
#10
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Didn't they announce a trial for this on the JFK route some time last year? Did that ever happen?
Jul 31, 2014, 11:30 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Posts: 765
Will be very glad to see this coming in. I really enjoyed it on AA and it works very well.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:30 am
#12
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,379
They said that the situation, i.e. BA treating "low value" customers better than the "high value" passengers, is perverse. Which it is.
Jul 31, 2014, 11:32 am
#13
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Posts: 44,800
I still find the use of "pre" with so many things annoying.
Is pre-ordering a meal actually different to ordering a meal or , since it is a pre-orcder, an order will still be required
If it is an ordering service such as airlines such as TG offer where there is a wide range od choices , hopefully it will be good
If it is just like the AA meal ordering service, where it just allows selection from the standard inflight menu, then rather uninteresting
Is pre-ordering a meal actually different to ordering a meal or , since it is a pre-orcder, an order will still be required
If it is an ordering service such as airlines such as TG offer where there is a wide range od choices , hopefully it will be good
If it is just like the AA meal ordering service, where it just allows selection from the standard inflight menu, then rather uninteresting
Jul 31, 2014, 11:40 am
#14
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Jul 31, 2014, 11:51 am
#15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by themapelligroup
I really enjoy this feature when I fly on AA and I'd see it as a good enhancement to BA, particularly in the premium cabin where it's disappointing not to have your first choice of meal.
If only BA meals were the same quality as AA.
Originally Posted by themapelligroup
I really enjoy this feature when I fly on AA and I'd see it as a good enhancement to BA, particularly in the premium cabin where it's disappointing not to have your first choice of meal.
If only BA meals were the same quality as AA.
Also hope onboard changes will be possible if I fancy something else.