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 2, 2016, 7:00 am
#1051
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18
Cancel a booking
Has anyone successfully cancelled a booking for post January 11th?
I've just tried to cancel a booking for February over the phone on the gold line, but it's been referred to customer relations who will phone me back tomorrow.
I've just tried to cancel a booking for February over the phone on the gold line, but it's been referred to customer relations who will phone me back tomorrow.
Oct 2, 2016, 7:02 am
#1052
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: 30,531
Oct 2, 2016, 7:14 am
#1053
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 357
I'm not bothered by the food especially, but the inability to get a coffee or simple cup of tea on an early-morning flight, or a decent glass of water, is unacceptable. And, frankly, on a 3hr flight I want a spicy tomato juice or G&T.
Presumably you'll have to pay extra for Worcester Sauce now, or will that be enhanced away entirely?
I think that BA & Heathrow Airport need to (at the very least) put a water fountain with bottle-fill capability at every gate.
Incidentally, based on Twitter answers, the new BA-approved euphemism for "enhancement" is now "positive change for the future".
Presumably you'll have to pay extra for Worcester Sauce now, or will that be enhanced away entirely?
I think that BA & Heathrow Airport need to (at the very least) put a water fountain with bottle-fill capability at every gate.
Incidentally, based on Twitter answers, the new BA-approved euphemism for "enhancement" is now "positive change for the future".
Oct 2, 2016, 7:17 am
#1054
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: 30,531
Oct 2, 2016, 7:18 am
#1055
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Can you cancel a long haul flight if it includes a eu-lhr connection? Might be a way to rebook if a cheaper fare comes up?
Oct 2, 2016, 7:33 am
#1056
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: 30,531
Oct 2, 2016, 7:36 am
#1057
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
But tea and coffee would be by far one of the biggest sellers and costs BA next to nothing. Massive margins and very profitable. My guess is bottled water would also sell well and be quite profitable. Giving these for free would hugely affect the bottom line for BoB.
Free water and coffee/tea buys BA a good PR. If Finnair can do it, I am sure BA can do it better.
In fact, the biggest profit centre among all the menu items are the soft drinks, alcoholic spirit miniatures and beers.
Oct 2, 2016, 7:40 am
#1058
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: 30,531
On UK flights, crisps seem to sell well as well.
Oct 2, 2016, 7:49 am
#1059
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Oct 2, 2016, 8:08 am
#1060
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
Indeed, the vast majority of those flying on BA will have chosen them because they were the best option for that specific trip, not because they got a free G&T and a bag of bird seed.
Oct 2, 2016, 8:12 am
#1061
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
You can say that. And you may be right. But even BA seemed to believe otherwise in all of its advertising campaigns until last year or so...
Oct 2, 2016, 8:28 am
#1062
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
All now gone. It looks like they now think it all makes zero difference and they're probably right.
People choose on price/ convenience, not on 'free' stuff
Oct 2, 2016, 8:37 am
#1063
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
My attitude towards BA does not change significantly as a result of BOB.
I still distrust the brand and assume the company is going to screw me over at the slightest opportunity, but I like the lounges and the GUFs and will surely like the CCR and Jokers come January...
Monkeying around with RFS though, or restricting lounge access, would really going to impact me during 2017. If (when?) they start attacking these benefits, I simply won't bother preferring OW any more (I stopped preferring BA some time ago).
My sub £10k annual spend won't even pay the Cruzifier's tapas bill, but I will take some small satisfaction in boarding a KLM at AMS instead...
I still distrust the brand and assume the company is going to screw me over at the slightest opportunity, but I like the lounges and the GUFs and will surely like the CCR and Jokers come January...
Monkeying around with RFS though, or restricting lounge access, would really going to impact me during 2017. If (when?) they start attacking these benefits, I simply won't bother preferring OW any more (I stopped preferring BA some time ago).
My sub £10k annual spend won't even pay the Cruzifier's tapas bill, but I will take some small satisfaction in boarding a KLM at AMS instead...
Oct 2, 2016, 8:59 am
#1064
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,647
@bluesaturn: Thanks for the suggestion bringing an empty bottle and filling it in the toilet - at least where water is of drinkable quality. Probably even better fill it in the lounge with bottled water.
Oct 2, 2016, 9:29 am
#1065
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Ah, you are still doing the "guarantee" thing I see! 
Incidentally, that is actually a rather moot point: if the goal was to fill plane, everyone could do that: some airlines and services have gone bankrupt with loads near 100%. The difficulty relates to yields rather than loads.
If, as I presume you suggest, you can guarantee that BA will be able to continue filling planes with similar or higher yields as now and reduce costs, then it's great for them. They have nothing to worry about, can safely ignore the passengers who claim to be disgruntled, and in fact press ahead with faster and more radical continued product deterioration in all classes of service. The only mystery questions become why they have not done it earlier (frankly, if BA never had anything to gain from offering free drinks and food in the first place, I really do wonder why on earth they did for so long) and why other European legacy carriers have not done it either. They must have all had pretty wasteful managers.
Incidentally, that is actually a rather moot point: if the goal was to fill plane, everyone could do that: some airlines and services have gone bankrupt with loads near 100%. The difficulty relates to yields rather than loads.
If, as I presume you suggest, you can guarantee that BA will be able to continue filling planes with similar or higher yields as now and reduce costs, then it's great for them. They have nothing to worry about, can safely ignore the passengers who claim to be disgruntled, and in fact press ahead with faster and more radical continued product deterioration in all classes of service. The only mystery questions become why they have not done it earlier (frankly, if BA never had anything to gain from offering free drinks and food in the first place, I really do wonder why on earth they did for so long) and why other European legacy carriers have not done it either. They must have all had pretty wasteful managers.
In all seriousness: This very well can come down to " Yes shareholders, we lose money per pax flown but we will make it up in volume" school of thought.