Transatlantic meal service in Economy
May 17, 2015, 7:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 27
Transatlantic meal service in Economy
Hello, my name is Jehan.
I've Been a lurker for 2 years and finally decided to register to be able to contribute.
Most of the threads and topics here seem to deal with First and Bussiness class travel. Its all fun and interesting to read about, but apart from a few lucky strikes Economy is where I'm traveling (and I actually don't mind).
I've got a round trip to NYC coming up and sent here to see
There seems to be a Consensus on this bland that the meal service for transatlantic daytime flights is sub par... But I've only round First and Bussiness reviews though. Anyone care to disclose what it's like In economy? Where no expectations in general are to be held.
I'm flying GOT - LHR on BA 0791
LHR - JFK on BA 0115
JFK - LHR on BA 0112
LHR - GOT on BA 0790
Anyone got any experience and can give me a clue what service in Economy Will be like? I've read BA usually serves a breakfast Even on short haul flights. But the 0791 departs at 11.15 am...
I usually eat a good meal in the departure area before boarding a longer flight so I wont have to worry too much abuor what they offer.
On My outbound flight there is just over 2hours transfer time at LHR terminal 5. Will that be enough for a sit down meal? Any T5 recomendations (Will obviously not have lounge acess).
Transfer on my return leg is just one hour so I"ll have to do without eating. I'm not a breakfast person so its not a big problem. Just curious, is there ANYTHING edible offered on the LHR-GOT route? Or just tea/coffe?
I've Been a lurker for 2 years and finally decided to register to be able to contribute.
Most of the threads and topics here seem to deal with First and Bussiness class travel. Its all fun and interesting to read about, but apart from a few lucky strikes Economy is where I'm traveling (and I actually don't mind).
I've got a round trip to NYC coming up and sent here to see
There seems to be a Consensus on this bland that the meal service for transatlantic daytime flights is sub par... But I've only round First and Bussiness reviews though. Anyone care to disclose what it's like In economy? Where no expectations in general are to be held.
I'm flying GOT - LHR on BA 0791
LHR - JFK on BA 0115
JFK - LHR on BA 0112
LHR - GOT on BA 0790
Anyone got any experience and can give me a clue what service in Economy Will be like? I've read BA usually serves a breakfast Even on short haul flights. But the 0791 departs at 11.15 am...
I usually eat a good meal in the departure area before boarding a longer flight so I wont have to worry too much abuor what they offer.
On My outbound flight there is just over 2hours transfer time at LHR terminal 5. Will that be enough for a sit down meal? Any T5 recomendations (Will obviously not have lounge acess).
Transfer on my return leg is just one hour so I"ll have to do without eating. I'm not a breakfast person so its not a big problem. Just curious, is there ANYTHING edible offered on the LHR-GOT route? Or just tea/coffe?
May 17, 2015, 7:27 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
Transatlantic meal service in Economy
Hello and welcome! ^ I'm not a specialist on T5 eating outlets, but in terms of onboard catering, this thread will have all the answers: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-guide.html
May 17, 2015, 7:35 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: usually somewhere between 30000 and 40000 feet...but actually the English countryside
Programs: BA GGL/Lifetime Gold, EK Gold, Lowly M&M, Marriott tit, Hhonors Diamond, numerous others
Posts: 1,156
May 17, 2015, 7:57 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 27
Hello and welcome! ^ I'm not a specialist on T5 eating outlets, but in terms of onboard catering, this thread will have all the answers: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-guide.html
That was exactely what I needed, thank you.
May 17, 2015, 8:07 am
#6
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,819
I'm spectacularly poorly placed to advise you, other than that I know that the BA off duty crews seem to make a bee-line for Pilot's Bar and Kitchen, and it can't just be because it's on their rat-route in and out. That's by gate 20.
From GOT you should get a biscuit/small bag of crisps/nuts plus drinks. To GOT it will be a croissant and orange juice plus drinks.
May 17, 2015, 8:18 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
BA food in Y is very good, and certainly the best Y food I've eaten on any airline. Drinks run first then a three course meal, usually consisting of a meze-type salad, pudding and the choice of two meals (usually pasta or chicken). A light snack on arrival shall be had and free drinks throughout.
At T5, I personally love Plane Food for a more refined/light lunch. If in the mood for a proper, hearty meal, I'd go to Pilot's Bar.
At T5, I personally love Plane Food for a more refined/light lunch. If in the mood for a proper, hearty meal, I'd go to Pilot's Bar.
May 17, 2015, 8:27 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: AMS
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Asiana Club Silver, Flying Blue Ivory
Posts: 368
Welcome to FT.
I've flown quite a lot of Y TATL in the past year, with a variety of carriers (BA/KL/AA/UA/US). And I really must say that I can't complain about the food. The comedy routine about airplane food is outdated. A lot of it, however, has to do with expectations. If you expect fine dining, then you'll be underwhelmed. If you let your expectations be set by '80s comedy films, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
In Y, the only one that I can remember standing out was KL, as they had truly excellent chocolate dessert offering.
All other food between the airlines, like so much of the Y experience, is interchangeable. It's understandeable: They're catering to a broad audience here, so they have to make it palatable for a wide group of people. So you're unlikely to encounter any too exciting flavours or exotic spices. Aside it needs to be produced in mass and they try to reduce cost and need it to be easily served to anywhere from 100-200 people.
Typical service will be a hot meal tray, where you get a choice out of 2 different distances (often 1 of them being a vegetarian pasta), which comes with a little bit of lettuce, often a piece of bread or crackers and a tiny dessert. You'll be offered a unexciting, mass-produced, acceptable wine with this.
There will be a secondary breakfast/snack service, which usually comes in a paper box that promises way more than it delivers upon opening.
If you want to know what the meal experience is: go to the supermarket and get a pre-made microwave meal there. It's fine, filling enough but not great and definitely not as good as if you made it yourself.
Yes, that should be enough time, and there's plenty of options. Be prepared for bill shock, though. Like any airport, since you're a 'captive' audience, prices will be on the high side.
You can find restaurants here:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/shop,...estaurants-a_z
As for quality: you can do a lot worse than a full english at Wetherspoons.
I've flown quite a lot of Y TATL in the past year, with a variety of carriers (BA/KL/AA/UA/US). And I really must say that I can't complain about the food. The comedy routine about airplane food is outdated. A lot of it, however, has to do with expectations. If you expect fine dining, then you'll be underwhelmed. If you let your expectations be set by '80s comedy films, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
In Y, the only one that I can remember standing out was KL, as they had truly excellent chocolate dessert offering.
All other food between the airlines, like so much of the Y experience, is interchangeable. It's understandeable: They're catering to a broad audience here, so they have to make it palatable for a wide group of people. So you're unlikely to encounter any too exciting flavours or exotic spices. Aside it needs to be produced in mass and they try to reduce cost and need it to be easily served to anywhere from 100-200 people.
Typical service will be a hot meal tray, where you get a choice out of 2 different distances (often 1 of them being a vegetarian pasta), which comes with a little bit of lettuce, often a piece of bread or crackers and a tiny dessert. You'll be offered a unexciting, mass-produced, acceptable wine with this.
There will be a secondary breakfast/snack service, which usually comes in a paper box that promises way more than it delivers upon opening.
If you want to know what the meal experience is: go to the supermarket and get a pre-made microwave meal there. It's fine, filling enough but not great and definitely not as good as if you made it yourself.
On My outbound flight there is just over 2hours transfer time at LHR terminal 5. Will that be enough for a sit down meal? Any T5 recomendations (Will obviously not have lounge acess).
You can find restaurants here:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/shop,...estaurants-a_z
As for quality: you can do a lot worse than a full english at Wetherspoons.
May 17, 2015, 10:14 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,993
On the return flight however (from LAX) we got a generic cheesecake, which was better IMO.
May 17, 2015, 3:57 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HPN
Posts: 352
Just flown back to JFK on the 177 (dep LHR 1310) in Y today.
First full bar service - asked for a G&T and got two. (Same happened on the outbound - is this because I recently made Bronze or did the CC just take a shine to me?)
Meal was a quinoa salad "starter" with a not bad chicken tikka masala with basmati rice (other choice was a pasta bake), bread roll and butter and a rather nice chocolate mousse with butterscotch sauce underneath. Wine was served with it with tea and coffee afterwards.
Pre-landing was a egg mayonnaise or chicken mayonnaise sandwich, kitkat and tea or coffee.
I have never had any complaints about BA's food in Y, although there was more of it back in the day. At the start of the year I flew ex-JFK in Y and back in W on a POUG and I'd say the Y food was slightly better!
First full bar service - asked for a G&T and got two. (Same happened on the outbound - is this because I recently made Bronze or did the CC just take a shine to me?)
Meal was a quinoa salad "starter" with a not bad chicken tikka masala with basmati rice (other choice was a pasta bake), bread roll and butter and a rather nice chocolate mousse with butterscotch sauce underneath. Wine was served with it with tea and coffee afterwards.
Pre-landing was a egg mayonnaise or chicken mayonnaise sandwich, kitkat and tea or coffee.
I have never had any complaints about BA's food in Y, although there was more of it back in the day. At the start of the year I flew ex-JFK in Y and back in W on a POUG and I'd say the Y food was slightly better!
May 17, 2015, 4:51 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,111
I did LHR-SFO-LHR a few weeks ago in Y.
LHR-SFO main meal was a pretty good chicken curry (no choice by the time the crew got to me, but I think the other choice had been pasta of some sort), salad, some sort of small dessert. A lot like post #12 above. Second meal was a granola bar or similar - I ate my Plane Food picnic at that point! The main meal was fine, the second meal was risible.
SFO-LHR main meal that I had was supposed to be a cottage pie and it was bad. Layers of different coloured mush. The salad with it was made of nice vegetables but the main meal was awful. The breakfast was unmemorable, I'm afraid.
So, varying between the quality of a Tesco Finest microwave meal and below quality of any supermarket ready meal. I recommend bringing backup food.
LHR-SFO main meal was a pretty good chicken curry (no choice by the time the crew got to me, but I think the other choice had been pasta of some sort), salad, some sort of small dessert. A lot like post #12 above. Second meal was a granola bar or similar - I ate my Plane Food picnic at that point! The main meal was fine, the second meal was risible.
SFO-LHR main meal that I had was supposed to be a cottage pie and it was bad. Layers of different coloured mush. The salad with it was made of nice vegetables but the main meal was awful. The breakfast was unmemorable, I'm afraid.
So, varying between the quality of a Tesco Finest microwave meal and below quality of any supermarket ready meal. I recommend bringing backup food.
Last edited by flatlander; May 17, 2015 at 4:52 pm Reason: refer to post 12