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
Dec 26, 2016, 8:57 am
#2131
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
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The other question I have concerns the temperature of this high quality hot water? If one wants a high quality tea the optimal water temperature required is different than that for a high quality coffee. Will BA provide hot water at different temperatures? The high price charged indicates that this might be the case.
Yes, BA will undoubtedly be providing hot water at 'different temperatures'. However ....... I'd wager serious money on the reasons for doing so being wholly unrelated to a) a keen desire on their part to ensure that your BoB coffee or tea is of high quality and/or b) the 'high price charged'
The real reason for any variation in the temperature of hot water is likely to be far more prosaic : it will depend (as ever) on which you row you happen to be seated, and how long the trolley takes to get to you ........
Dec 26, 2016, 9:18 am
#2132
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,541
Using Caffe Nero analogy as you wish, then why not do that then? It seems an entirely acceptable solution, given that a teabag is only worth 5p at most. Instead you wish to have all of the elements of the cup of tea product except the teabag, without paying for it. You'd like the near boiling water delivered from a machine that must be purchased, cleaned and serviced and uses electricity to heat the water. You'd like the cup and saucer and teaspoon, which must be collected, washed and put away, and breakages and losses regularly paid for. You'd perhaps some sugar or sweetener, and no doubt some napkins. You'd like to sit in a nice comfortable warm cafe which must be leased or purchased, with furniture that must be bought, and business taxes paid. But no, you don't see those as part of the product - and instead you would like all of these elements of your 'cup of hot water' for free.
I assume that to be coherent, when you want a glass of tap water in a restaurant, you order a cordial with the cordial on the side so that you can pay since the cordial is merely worth 5p at most and that you want a glass that needs to be washed and might be broken, a waiter that has to be paid to hand the water to you, maybe ice cubes that come from a freezer that needs to be purchased and uses electricity and 'you'd like to sit in a nice comfortable warm café which must be leased or purchased, with furniture that must be bought, and business taxes paid.' Surely, you would not want to get those for free.
I can only repeat: I personally find it ridiculous to treat hot and cold and iced tap waters differently. Water is water is water and I see no reason to give it free at one temperature but not at the others. You disagree with me whilst systematically avoiding that specific question, that's absolutely fine.
As for that persistent vision of WW and AC as two clowns, I'm afraid that this is something that developed in my mind well before and well beyond the BoB question. I will spare you a reminder of their various funny declarations - from one of them wishing to kick a competing airline boss in the testicles to the other's definition of 'luxury' as this has been amply discussed every time.
Last edited by orbitmic; Dec 26, 2016 at 9:27 am
Dec 26, 2016, 9:27 am
#2133
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Mucci de la Cuisine Aérienne du Réseau Courte Durée de British Airways
Posts: 4,704
We are not charging for hot water. There will be no problem if you want hot water and you have your own cup. Many of our Asian customers carry hot water flasks and the crew will happily fill these with hot water.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
Dec 26, 2016, 9:33 am
#2134
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,541
We are not charging for hot water. There will be no problem if you want hot water and you have your own cup. Many of our Asian customers carry hot water flasks and the crew will happily fill these with hot water.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
Dec 26, 2016, 9:35 am
#2135
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
I'm very happy that the solution seems 'entirely acceptable' to you. As for me, quite frankly, the restaurants have exactly zero problem giving me free water and I have exactly zero moral issue accepting it, you will understand that since you seem to be the only one who has a moral issue with this, the rest of us might simply continue to ask for water when we want water, tea when we want tea, and ice cubes when we want ice cubes?
I assume that to be coherent, when you want a glass of tap water in a restaurant, you order a cordial with the cordial on the side so that you can pay since the cordial is merely worth 5p at most and that you want a glass that needs to be washed and might be broken, a waiter that has to be paid to hand the water to you, maybe ice cubes that come from a freezer that needs to be purchased and uses electricity and 'you'd like to sit in a nice comfortable warm café which must be leased or purchased, with furniture that must be bought, and business taxes paid.' Surely, you would not want to get those for free.
I can only repeat: I personally find it ridiculous to treat hot and cold and iced tap waters differently. Water is water is water and I see no reason to give it free at one temperature but not at the others. You disagree with me whilst systematically avoiding that specific question, that's absolutely fine.
As for that persistent vision of WW and AC as two clowns, I'm afraid that this is something that developed in my mind well before and well beyond the BoB question. I will spare you a reminder of their various funny declarations - from one of them wishing to kick a competing airline boss in the testicles to the other's definition of 'luxury' as this has been amply discussed every time.
I assume that to be coherent, when you want a glass of tap water in a restaurant, you order a cordial with the cordial on the side so that you can pay since the cordial is merely worth 5p at most and that you want a glass that needs to be washed and might be broken, a waiter that has to be paid to hand the water to you, maybe ice cubes that come from a freezer that needs to be purchased and uses electricity and 'you'd like to sit in a nice comfortable warm café which must be leased or purchased, with furniture that must be bought, and business taxes paid.' Surely, you would not want to get those for free.
I can only repeat: I personally find it ridiculous to treat hot and cold and iced tap waters differently. Water is water is water and I see no reason to give it free at one temperature but not at the others. You disagree with me whilst systematically avoiding that specific question, that's absolutely fine.
As for that persistent vision of WW and AC as two clowns, I'm afraid that this is something that developed in my mind well before and well beyond the BoB question. I will spare you a reminder of their various funny declarations - from one of them wishing to kick a competing airline boss in the testicles to the other's definition of 'luxury' as this has been amply discussed every time.
You've used the word 'morals' which is most certainly not my word! I'm just illustrating my point which I think is well made now.To answer your question, I do see a distinction between hot and cold water - cold water is a life essential. Heated water is not. Also, in on the ground establishments it is a license requirement that cold water is provided for free for customers.
We are not charging for hot water. There will be no problem if you want hot water and you have your own cup. Many of our Asian customers carry hot water flasks and the crew will happily fill these with hot water.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
Dec 26, 2016, 9:37 am
#2136
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,541
Dec 26, 2016, 9:42 am
#2137
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: 63,824
Dec 26, 2016, 9:45 am
#2138
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,541
Dec 26, 2016, 9:52 am
#2139
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,499
We are not charging for hot water. There will be no problem if you want hot water and you have your own cup. Many of our Asian customers carry hot water flasks and the crew will happily fill these with hot water.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
The cups onboard will be Twining Cups and come as a set purchase, cup, tea bag, milk, sugar and stirrer, if you want to use one of these we will charge you. The coffee cups (not sure of the brand) contain the coffee grounds and so they too will be charged for and will be delivered with milk, sugar and stirrer.
I'll get my coat...
Dec 26, 2016, 9:55 am
#2140
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
This is one of the most positive aspects of this change - it will allow passengers better quality products and much more choice. Could do with a cup of that now actually!
Dec 26, 2016, 10:10 am
#2143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,586
LOT: Domestics and short hops: Prince Polo chocolate wafer bar and still water. If you are on the longer shorthaul services such as to London you can have tea or coffee and still/sparkling water, the Prince Polo and/or the Frugo fruit flavoured sweets. BOB is present, rarely pushed.
They are offering tea/coffee routinely on the flights I fly, like BRU, CDG, AMS (never tried V3 op). It can be a winter/summer thing.
250ml bottles of San Pellegrino and Lindt truffles make an enjoyable BYOOB experience when pilfered from the Elite lounge.
Plus, enjoy a massage before a flight, even domestically
.
Dec 26, 2016, 10:23 am
#2145
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
If it's grounds in a cup, it sounds like instant coffee - something that I think is a step below even poorly made drip coffee.