Why bother with plates if what you're serving in GF resembles dog food anyway?
Aug 27, 2014, 1:05 pm
#91
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Presently in GF, seeing only bowls at the buffet, I asked one of the staff for plates. Her reply was "the bowls are what BA want us to display here" 
Ordered a burger from the menu. Served on a nice plate, it was ^
Ordered a burger from the menu. Served on a nice plate, it was ^
Aug 27, 2014, 1:51 pm
#93
Join Date: May 2003
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I checked the new crockery out today. They're quite shallow bowls, almost a cross between a bowl and a plate: a 'plowl'? They are decent sized, but smaller than the previous plates. Perhaps they are trying to reduce consumption. Despite the b!tching about the food, many passengers are happy to pile it up with Las Vegas buffet zeal. 
Aug 27, 2014, 4:20 pm
#94
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I'm sorry but I'm really struggling to see any basis to this observation. I tasted the food myself a few days ago and it was fine. Any red meat dish in sauce could be referred to as "dog food" if one so wishes, it is however a rather unfair and untrue accusation. The solid buffet choices balanced with good to order choices in the menu give customers choices based on how quickly they would like to eat, which in an airport environment is important. The salads and soups are really good, the hot dishes are great, the tartlet really nice. The fish cakes are really generous with good chucks of fish in them (not all just blended up).
What does irritate me considerably is why are there no Daily Telegraphs? Can you answer that? PM me if you have to as I'd love to know what the rationale behind this can be.
Aug 27, 2014, 4:28 pm
#95
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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I did ask, and the answer I got was that the Telegraph has altered their profile of "bulk distribution", shifting more to subscription based policies. Therefore BA get far fewer Telegraphs than before, and they end up in CCR. Flounge still gets The Times, FT, Independent, I, and the Wall Street Journal, plus overseas and the comics. The reason The Mirror is more visible is that they have made the opposite decision, increasing their "bulks". The Guardian has in recent years avoided "bulks" altogether.
Aug 27, 2014, 4:28 pm
#96
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If BA and others agree to certain rules, then it is OK for Air Botswana top tier elite to use the lounges. To preserve access to its own premium members , perhaps BA needs to have another level that cannot be matched to any other airline.
I see "democrization" of the lounges as is being done in BOM's new terminal. ALL airline lonuges share a common facility under one roof. It will be interesting to see which way it goes.
Airlines will be able to save a lot by this concept. The lines which do not want this may stay away from an alliance as does EK.
I see "democrization" of the lounges as is being done in BOM's new terminal. ALL airline lonuges share a common facility under one roof. It will be interesting to see which way it goes.
Airlines will be able to save a lot by this concept. The lines which do not want this may stay away from an alliance as does EK.
In certain cities such as LAX, LHR T4 (Skyteam) you will see alliance lounges where it makes sense - key market - no alliance member with a hub.
I think there will be more out of alliance deals --- ie. - EY/AB, AA/EY, QF/EK while at the same time things like earning EQMs while flying on alliance partners and lounge access will be paired back as well as mileage earning will be based much more on fare.
I wonder what EC would look like if the only way to earn TPs was flying BA/IB on their own metal - no code shares let alone alliance partners.
What would the lounge traffic be like at T4 if OW elites in Y didn't have access? Yet BA would still be getting the connecting traffic.
The entire alliance concept is coming up on 20 years old and IMO is running out of steam. With 787s and 380s and tactical code-sharing there is less need to have a rigid alliance structure.
Aug 27, 2014, 4:34 pm
#97
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I did ask, and the answer I got was that the Telegraph has altered their profile of "bulk distribution", shifting more to subscription based policies. Therefore BA get far fewer Telegraphs than before, and they end up in CCR. Flounge still gets The Times, FT, Independent, I, and the Wall Street Journal, plus overseas and the comics. r.
I'm ringing the News Desk at the Telegraph and stirring this up with them. A little front pager from a paper with an axe to grind might sort out this nonsense. Call me an interfering trouble making cow if you will, but I'm just in the mood!
Aug 27, 2014, 4:36 pm
#98
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True, unfortunately the minor issue of money then creeps into the equation. BA got those Telegraphs for free, that's the nature of Bulk Distribution, WH Smith may be less charitable.
Aug 27, 2014, 4:41 pm
#99
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Nevertheless the Snidest columnists in Fleet Street versus Britains Tightfistedest Airline would make for such a ruck. Far far more interesting that Salmon and Darling squabbling.
Aug 27, 2014, 6:22 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Alliances will remain. With 787 and 380s, they will need more pax to fill them up. Several alliance members will feed traffic to the "majors". Witness Air India into Star A. True AI is an international carrier, but India needs a host of other foreign carriers to pick up the traffic.
Aug 27, 2014, 8:52 pm
#101
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Alliances will remain. With 787 and 380s, they will need more pax to fill them up. Several alliance members will feed traffic to the "majors". Witness Air India into Star A. True AI is an international carrier, but India needs a host of other foreign carriers to pick up the traffic.
- More exceptions for lounge access to alliance partner elites; instead of expanding lounges to accommodate partner elites - more restrictions. Just because you are an elite in the alliance - you may need to be flying in a qualifying cabin to get lounge access for the airline you are flying.
- Less mileage earning opportunities on alliance partners
- Less elite qualifying mileage/tier point opportunities on partners
- More focus on qualifying for elite status based on usage of host program metal
- More special market partnerships outside of the alliance
The alliances will still help with feed; but elites may no longer get as many perks when flying outside their home program
Aug 27, 2014, 10:21 pm
#102
Join Date: Aug 2011
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FWIW, I bekieve the attitude of the OP should be shelved.! Master-servant attituse is too "old school' time of the Raj". OTOH, perhaps the OPs dogs get fed better than MOST of humanity.
I am just returning from the developing world and if any reader thinks I am being too negative to the OPs attitude .. well too bad. Nothing personal at all toward the OP - just toward the self-righteous attitude.
BA lounges are just fine - seriously they are. You should try a lounge while flying with Air Botswana ... no lounges for anyone. Not even Air Asia (rated as world's best LCC) has a lounge. BUT they do land safely :-)
I am just returning from the developing world and if any reader thinks I am being too negative to the OPs attitude .. well too bad. Nothing personal at all toward the OP - just toward the self-righteous attitude.
BA lounges are just fine - seriously they are. You should try a lounge while flying with Air Botswana ... no lounges for anyone. Not even Air Asia (rated as world's best LCC) has a lounge. BUT they do land safely :-)
Q not answered.
Aug 28, 2014, 9:39 am
#105
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I did ask, and the answer I got was that the Telegraph has altered their profile of "bulk distribution", shifting more to subscription based policies. Therefore BA get far fewer Telegraphs than before, and they end up in CCR. Flounge still gets The Times, FT, Independent, I, and the Wall Street Journal, plus overseas and the comics. The reason The Mirror is more visible is that they have made the opposite decision, increasing their "bulks". The Guardian has in recent years avoided "bulks" altogether.
Even the Mail was down to the last few available copies.
Last edited by V10; Aug 28, 2014 at 9:39 am Reason: added "afternoon"