Running out of booze
Jan 13, 2015, 12:16 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 451
Running out of booze
On my recent flight back from the US, the CW cabin ran out of one of the wines I was drinking and tanqueray gin.
The crew member made it clear that they were not loading enough as their bar now has to last for the inbound and outbound leg. She said it sort of works for the shorter flights to JFK and BOS, but on longer west coast flights (as this was) where people are drinking over a longer period, it's not working.
Is this a recent change? Seems a bit crap to be regularly running out of booze; if the crew are reporting that it's not working, BA should revert back to what did work.
The crew member made it clear that they were not loading enough as their bar now has to last for the inbound and outbound leg. She said it sort of works for the shorter flights to JFK and BOS, but on longer west coast flights (as this was) where people are drinking over a longer period, it's not working.
Is this a recent change? Seems a bit crap to be regularly running out of booze; if the crew are reporting that it's not working, BA should revert back to what did work.
Jan 13, 2015, 1:40 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Spire, Radisson Gold
Posts: 991
Snip snip. That's the sound of costs being cut!
On a mildly unrelated note, I can't begin to imagine your pain when they ran out of tanq. I think I'd have a breakdown on board.
Worring if they're running out on an 'average' flight, though. I could see it if the flight was delayed and people were sitting there drinking 8 bottles ofdom taittinger whilst they waited - but if your flight was 'as normal', it's not really on.
On a mildly unrelated note, I can't begin to imagine your pain when they ran out of tanq. I think I'd have a breakdown on board.
Worring if they're running out on an 'average' flight, though. I could see it if the flight was delayed and people were sitting there drinking 8 bottles of
Jan 13, 2015, 1:48 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
It's a good job that my sister wasn't on the plane, as you guys (and gals) wouldn't have had a chance! She drank them out of wine once on a flight to to US, I just kept my head down in shame. 
Jan 13, 2015, 1:54 am
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Londondinium
Programs: BAEC Sludge
Posts: 96
And it's obviously about cutting costs. I fear that all we can do is complain officially.
Jan 13, 2015, 3:39 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
It's a pity, I remember years ago when VS started doing this and it was just SOP that they would run out. It won't take much, just a flight where you have above average takers for (usually) gin or vodka and it will happen.
On LGW-LAS they would simply close the bar in Y after the first drinks and meal service since pretty much every flight booze would be guaranteed to run out.
Pity they are going this way, I would expect CW and F (if, god forbid, it happens there) might have some pull in changing this but I'm not holding out much hope.
On LGW-LAS they would simply close the bar in Y after the first drinks and meal service since pretty much every flight booze would be guaranteed to run out.
Pity they are going this way, I would expect CW and F (if, god forbid, it happens there) might have some pull in changing this but I'm not holding out much hope.
Jan 13, 2015, 12:51 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Happens on every CW I've had recently - champagne (ran out and only had pink left after the first run), wine - only 1 choice of red straight after dinner and Gin (about 4 hrs before landing on most recent flight)
Jan 13, 2015, 1:01 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,406
I wrote a mild-mannered complaint (my first ever complaint actually), the main thrust of which was that G-MEDK wasn't up to CE standards, but I also mentioned that Champagne was rationed to 1 bottle on a 4hr flight. I got 5000 avios, which seemed to be for the lack of booze rather than G-MEDK being unfit for purpose.
Jan 13, 2015, 1:20 pm
#13
formerly rxfleming
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: AUH, DXB (and GLA)
Programs: BA GGL, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat Elite
Posts: 2,455
Running out of booze
Data point: Ran out of champagne on my J flight to DXB after a ground delay of 5 hours last Christmas. Got 25k. I'm Gold.
Jan 13, 2015, 1:32 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
Left without booze, I would be pushing for a serious avios compensation!
Jan 13, 2015, 1:33 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC, AA, Emirates, Hilton, Hyatt, Taj Hotels
Posts: 2,345
Jeez - I thought this only applied on the 'Bucket and Spade' routes out of LGW.
My last CW flight just after Christmas was just so lacklustre in all respects that after a cursory look at the boring menu (and even the plain white menu card lacks any 'style'), I just turned in and went to sleep.
BA cabin services are really sinking fast aren't they?
My last CW flight just after Christmas was just so lacklustre in all respects that after a cursory look at the boring menu (and even the plain white menu card lacks any 'style'), I just turned in and went to sleep.
BA cabin services are really sinking fast aren't they?