Sep 29, 2016, 2:55 am
Last edit by: Aus_Mal
This thread is for opinions on the concept of Buy on Board, concerned with the rights or wrongs of the decision to introduce it.
An information thread exists for your questions, particularly if they are on factual matters, here:
Buy on board: Information guide for BA shorthaul economy services
There is a separate thread for experiences, anecdotes, reactions and related comments, which is to be found here:
Buy on board: Experiences and reactions from BA's shorthaul economy services
Useful sub-links
chongcao posted a comparison of other oneworld airlines' BOB prices
Not happy about these changes?
If you have an existing booking, you may be able to complain and get 1000 Avios or cancel for free until 28 days before departure. BA's complaint form.
However, in November 2016, phone calls to BA indicated that "no refunds would be given as food & drinks were complimentary and not part of the T&C."
An information thread exists for your questions, particularly if they are on factual matters, here:
Buy on board: Information guide for BA shorthaul economy services
There is a separate thread for experiences, anecdotes, reactions and related comments, which is to be found here:
Buy on board: Experiences and reactions from BA's shorthaul economy services
Useful sub-links
chongcao posted a comparison of other oneworld airlines' BOB prices
Not happy about these changes?
If you have an existing booking, you may be able to complain and get 1000 Avios or cancel for free until 28 days before departure. BA's complaint form.
However, in November 2016, phone calls to BA indicated that "no refunds would be given as food & drinks were complimentary and not part of the T&C."
Buy on board: Implemented on BA short haul - opinions on the concept
Oct 19, 2016, 3:49 am
#1591
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PVG
Programs: BA Gold, TK E+, ex AA EXP
Posts: 510
they paved the route for Vueling to take over all the LHR-BCN at times when the J feeders are not needed
Oct 19, 2016, 3:52 am
#1592
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA BLUE BADGE
Posts: 1,323
BA's onslaught against its customers will contine unabated. Those people moaning about BoB have to realise that they are not the demographic BA are targetting anymore. Any business you give them is a bonus.
Oct 19, 2016, 5:44 am
#1593
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
RESULT 
Dear Mrs T8191, .....
The food and drink options available on board will be fairly priced and will be comparable in price to airport outlets where we know many of our customers already purchase items on the way to their flight. We won’t be charging inflated prices like no-frills carriers.
As a gesture, please accept 1,000 Avios. The Avios have been added to your Executive Club account and can be used to purchase items on board short-haul flights from 11 January 2017.
We’re grateful you've taken the time to give us your feedback about our new catering offering, thanks again for getting in touch about this. We value your support as a Gold member of our Executive Club, and we look forward to welcoming you and Mr T8191 on board your flight in March. If I can help you with anything else please feel free to contact me directly.
The food and drink options available on board will be fairly priced and will be comparable in price to airport outlets where we know many of our customers already purchase items on the way to their flight. We won’t be charging inflated prices like no-frills carriers.
As a gesture, please accept 1,000 Avios. The Avios have been added to your Executive Club account and can be used to purchase items on board short-haul flights from 11 January 2017.
We’re grateful you've taken the time to give us your feedback about our new catering offering, thanks again for getting in touch about this. We value your support as a Gold member of our Executive Club, and we look forward to welcoming you and Mr T8191 on board your flight in March. If I can help you with anything else please feel free to contact me directly.
Oct 19, 2016, 6:02 am
#1595
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: London
Posts: 1,503
As we are now up to 39 pages on this, I apologise if this same question has been asked before - why are the alcoholic drinks so expensive? I can't claim to understand the specifics of UK taxation, but I would be surprised if alcohol on a plane is subject to the same taxes as beer and spirits on the ground.
If they are dead-set on not continuing to provide free drinks (which is such a differentiator for BA), then at least make them much cheaper. Do they really pay tax on drinks in the sky??
If they are dead-set on not continuing to provide free drinks (which is such a differentiator for BA), then at least make them much cheaper. Do they really pay tax on drinks in the sky??
Therefore the costs of BoB will be based on how much similar items cost on EasyJet, for example - and I assume market research - on how much people are prepared to pay for items before they reach a point where they stop buying at all.
One thing I am worried about is ba.com doesn't mention that free cups or plastic glasses are provided with the drinks. I don't want to be mixing my G&T in my mouth on the way down, minature of gin in one hand and can of tonic in the other
Oct 19, 2016, 6:23 am
#1596
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Under the Heathrow flight path
Programs: BAEC Gold, ICH Plat, Radisson Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 531
A lot of the cost of alcohol in pubs is UK tax on beer, wine and spirits - my question is whether airlines have to pay that tax. If they are free from that tax, then yes the price charged looks like profiteering to me.
It may be that all of the BoB alcohol on board is UK duty paid - but I don't see how that works when, for example, the aircraft isn't in UK airspace when the product is purchased.
It may be that all of the BoB alcohol on board is UK duty paid - but I don't see how that works when, for example, the aircraft isn't in UK airspace when the product is purchased.
The enhancement would be real for me if I could buy a sandwich however taking away free drinks, hot, cold let alone alcoholic exposes it purely as a cost saving exercise for BA and an add on cost for regular travellers.
Oct 19, 2016, 6:31 am
#1597
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
It's a quick hop to LGW to get an EI to DUB before launching west with AA. Seemed silly to waste money on paid CE for 35-45 minutes. So, we now have 1,000 each to add to the 750 each we will get by flying S fares for half an hour or so.
Please excuse this temporary aberration.
Oct 19, 2016, 12:17 pm
#1598
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, HH Diamond, Hertz PC,
Posts: 1,986
Oct 19, 2016, 12:35 pm
#1599
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,235
I'll bet all the retailers in T5 must be planning their sales campaign already... to encourage passengers to BBYF (buy before you fly) rather than BoB!
Oct 19, 2016, 12:35 pm
#1600
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 415
Probably discussed earlier but just came across it.
Comedy: "Are you contacting us about Short Haul Buy on Board Catering? Yes/No"
Is now one of the default options for the complaints forms!
Comedy: "Are you contacting us about Short Haul Buy on Board Catering? Yes/No"
Is now one of the default options for the complaints forms!
Oct 19, 2016, 12:48 pm
#1601
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: City of Kingston Upon Hull
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 4,940
Oct 19, 2016, 12:50 pm
#1602
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Oct 19, 2016, 12:56 pm
#1603
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
I sent off the same short message from both my wife and myself and got exactly the same response as Uncle T. Wwell, it was about 1000 words long and I didn't bother to read it, except for the words "As a gesture, please accept 1,000 Avios."
Oct 19, 2016, 1:23 pm
#1604
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Guys the only way this will 'hurt' BA profitability is if as many people as possible stop flying them ! Like a boycott.
Action, not words. BA has already made their decision and will not change it. If they suddenly see a drop in passengers and wonder why, it will be obvious.
If passenger numbers don't get worse, then BA will be laughing all the way to the bank!
Action, not words. BA has already made their decision and will not change it. If they suddenly see a drop in passengers and wonder why, it will be obvious.
If passenger numbers don't get worse, then BA will be laughing all the way to the bank!
Oct 19, 2016, 1:39 pm
#1605
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL, WoH Lifetime Globalist, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 711
Have just experienced a BoB flight on AB. Seemingly no takers judging by the time it took to wheel the trolley aft and forwards. That gave the cabin crew (2 of them in the front galley area) plenty of time to chat behind closed curtains for the majority of the flight time. Doc Copper.