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 27, 2016, 4:58 pm
#2221
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
Well, if you think about Y connecting pax to TATL flights where catering has been reduced. So they get onboard their Europe-LHR flight - family of four that spent $2,500 of $3,500 for their tickets - they have to spend $15 for soft drinks. They figure, we'll get food either @LHR or on the TATL flight. Not enough time at LHR or just expensive - let's eat onboard -- one moderate size meal and then ambient snacks and more snacks for sale. They already might have spent money to buy seats so they could sit together. When they get off the flight, they won't be flying BA again and they will be telling all their friends on BA you pay for seats - meals - drinks - snacks. They may even forget they got one meal free.
Dec 27, 2016, 6:19 pm
#2222
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,174
Just looking on the BA site, found this at the bottom of the menu page which I was thought was quite interesting.
* Flights arriving into London Heathrow or London Gatwick on 11 January that depart at or before 08.45 local time (except BA1439 from Edinburgh) will be catered with our current complimentary food and drinks.
* Flights arriving into London Heathrow or London Gatwick on 11 January that depart at or before 08.45 local time (except BA1439 from Edinburgh) will be catered with our current complimentary food and drinks.
Dec 27, 2016, 6:26 pm
#2223
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Just looking on the BA site, found this at the bottom of the menu page which I was thought was quite interesting.
* Flights arriving into London Heathrow or London Gatwick on 11 January that depart at or before 08.45 local time (except BA1439 from Edinburgh) will be catered with our current complimentary food and drinks.
* Flights arriving into London Heathrow or London Gatwick on 11 January that depart at or before 08.45 local time (except BA1439 from Edinburgh) will be catered with our current complimentary food and drinks.
Dec 27, 2016, 6:42 pm
#2225
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
Well, if you think about Y connecting pax to TATL flights where catering has been reduced. So they get onboard their Europe-LHR flight - family of four that spent $2,500 of $3,500 for their tickets - they have to spend $15 for soft drinks. They figure, we'll get food either @LHR or on the TATL flight. Not enough time at LHR or just expensive - let's eat onboard -- one moderate size meal and then ambient snacks and more snacks for sale. They already might have spent money to buy seats so they could sit together. When they get off the flight, they won't be flying BA again and they will be telling all their friends on BA you pay for seats - meals - drinks - snacks. They may even forget they got one meal free.
Dec 27, 2016, 6:51 pm
#2226
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
- No nonstop in market
- Cheaper
- Shorter routing than other connections
- Single connection
- The reputation of British Airways vs. U.S. domestics
- Not familiar with Norwegian, Wizz, Icelandair, Turkish - too risky to try
- Travel agent booked it/recommended it
- Have an AA frequent flier number - might as well get some miles
- Promoted fare by OTA
- Part of a package - booked via tour operator or cruise line
Dec 27, 2016, 8:45 pm
#2227
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,382
Could be a variety of reasons --
- No nonstop in market
- Cheaper
- Shorter routing than other connections
- Single connection
- The reputation of British Airways vs. U.S. domestics
- Not familiar with Norwegian, Wizz, Icelandair, Turkish - too risky to try
- Travel agent booked it/recommended it
- Have an AA frequent flier number - might as well get some miles
- Promoted fare by OTA
- Part of a package - booked via tour operator or cruise line
- No nonstop in market
- Cheaper
- Shorter routing than other connections
- Single connection
- The reputation of British Airways vs. U.S. domestics
- Not familiar with Norwegian, Wizz, Icelandair, Turkish - too risky to try
- Travel agent booked it/recommended it
- Have an AA frequent flier number - might as well get some miles
- Promoted fare by OTA
- Part of a package - booked via tour operator or cruise line
Even if it is my company's money I refuse to be laughed at by Alex Cruz. £1600 is a lot of money for me to pay for that MS crap and ask for an eyeshade or try to smuggle crisps to go without th my first drink on long haul. If you want some quality BoB look at the Air Asia offering. That's proper food. Even the EI breakfast is great.
Dec 27, 2016, 8:50 pm
#2228
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
I fall into the category of Business travelers that have a strict economy corporate travel policy. Although we have to go Economiy we can still choose the routing and the airline. Let me tell you that I will now give the last minute bookings to CPT/JNB to AF/KL instead of BA. As I have to connect somewhere because I depart from BRU, my average £1600 tickets in Y won't go to BA anymore. I have tested AF on long haul and they are miles ahead of BA. I will still fly BA when it is dirt cheap and I will downgrade to Silver on EC and upgrade to Platinum in FB.
Even if it is my company's money I refuse to be laughed at by Alex Cruz. £1600 is a lot of money for me to pay for that MS crap and ask for an eyeshade or try to smuggle crisps to go without th my first drink on long haul. If you want some quality BoB look at the Air Asia offering. That's proper food. Even the EI breakfast is great.
Even if it is my company's money I refuse to be laughed at by Alex Cruz. £1600 is a lot of money for me to pay for that MS crap and ask for an eyeshade or try to smuggle crisps to go without th my first drink on long haul. If you want some quality BoB look at the Air Asia offering. That's proper food. Even the EI breakfast is great.
Dec 28, 2016, 1:20 am
#2229
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: 30,540
How silly of them to want to travel between two points not connected by a nonstop flight, like over half of world flight movements
I've genuinely never met any non-FTer taking a so called 'ex EU' when genuinely travelling from London; but know thousands who fly with connections because we have to.
Last edited by orbitmic; Dec 28, 2016 at 2:37 am
Dec 28, 2016, 3:47 am
#2230
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 45
I fall into the category of Business travelers that have a strict economy corporate travel policy. Although we have to go Economiy we can still choose the routing and the airline. Let me tell you that I will now give the last minute bookings to CPT/JNB to AF/KL instead of BA. As I have to connect somewhere because I depart from BRU, my average £1600 tickets in Y won't go to BA anymore. I have tested AF on long haul and they are miles ahead of BA. I will still fly BA when it is dirt cheap and I will downgrade to Silver on EC and upgrade to Platinum in FB.
Even if it is my company's money I refuse to be laughed at by Alex Cruz. £1600 is a lot of money for me to pay for that MS crap and ask for an eyeshade or try to smuggle crisps to go without th my first drink on long haul. If you want some quality BoB look at the Air Asia offering. That's proper food. Even the EI breakfast is great.
Even if it is my company's money I refuse to be laughed at by Alex Cruz. £1600 is a lot of money for me to pay for that MS crap and ask for an eyeshade or try to smuggle crisps to go without th my first drink on long haul. If you want some quality BoB look at the Air Asia offering. That's proper food. Even the EI breakfast is great.
Dec 28, 2016, 4:10 am
#2231
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
I certainly do not take that view. I take spending my employer's money as if it were my own, and I chose the best overall value, travel time and product to ensure best value for my or my employer's cash.
Dec 28, 2016, 4:15 am
#2232
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: 30,540
I fall into the category of Business travelers that have a strict economy corporate travel policy. Although we have to go Economiy we can still choose the routing and the airline. Let me tell you that I will now give the last minute bookings to CPT/JNB to AF/KL instead of BA. As I have to connect somewhere because I depart from BRU, my average £1600 tickets in Y won't go to BA anymore. I have tested AF on long haul and they are miles ahead of BA. I will still fly BA when it is dirt cheap and I will downgrade to Silver on EC and upgrade to Platinum in FB.
Dec 28, 2016, 4:18 am
#2233
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: 30,540
Dec 28, 2016, 4:30 am
#2234
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,925
