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 3, 2016, 1:05 am
#1111
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 44
You can pay avios through the app. What the app taketh away the app can giveth.
The app can know a lot of stuff. If you visited the lounge, for instance. It can award avios for onboard spending this trip only. Its service operating procedures are universal. It can be updated in months.
Blessed be the name of the director of marketing.
The app can know a lot of stuff. If you visited the lounge, for instance. It can award avios for onboard spending this trip only. Its service operating procedures are universal. It can be updated in months.
Blessed be the name of the director of marketing.
Oct 3, 2016, 1:09 am
#1112
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,757
Have they not trialed this at all or are they jumping straight in?
Oct 3, 2016, 1:18 am
#1113
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Despite what BA have done here for every person they lose they will gain a new punter for whatever reason. BA'S aircraft will still be packed in all cabins across all flights you can guarantee it. Aircraft sitting on the tarmac with no passengers on it and not willing to fly with BA is not going to happen I highly doubt it anyway.
Also if you lose a regular spender and replace with occasional travellers that isn't the same.
BA's revenue per available seat kilometre was down quite sharply last results IIRC.
Oct 3, 2016, 1:26 am
#1114
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
I have to be in London on 11th January (D-day) for one of my regular day trips. I am toying with the idea to book BA just to see day 1 of BOB in action, and the fact that BA is surprisingly cheaper. I normally take LX into LCY, but my curiosity is getting the better of me 
No doubt, the staff will not be particularly enamoured with the changes nor will the passengers who are not aware.
I can take either the ZRH-LHR 709 at 07:10 or the 711 at 10:40. The 709 aircraft nightstops, so I am not sure if the BOB menu would be shipped over with the previous evening's flight? Or would the originating flight from LHR on the 11th be the first to carry the new menu?
In any case, I am on the 709 on the 13th!
No doubt, the staff will not be particularly enamoured with the changes nor will the passengers who are not aware.I can take either the ZRH-LHR 709 at 07:10 or the 711 at 10:40. The 709 aircraft nightstops, so I am not sure if the BOB menu would be shipped over with the previous evening's flight? Or would the originating flight from LHR on the 11th be the first to carry the new menu?
In any case, I am on the 709 on the 13th!
Oct 3, 2016, 1:44 am
#1115
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
I have to be in London on 11th January (D-day) for one of my regular day trips. I am toying with the idea to book BA just to see day 1 of BOB in action, and the fact that BA is surprisingly cheaper. I normally take LX into LCY, but my curiosity is getting the better of me No doubt, the staff will not be particularly enamoured with the changes nor will the passengers who are not aware.
No doubt, the staff will not be particularly enamoured with the changes nor will the passengers who are not aware.Don't forget to take a nice lot of food and drinks with you to rub it in!
Oct 3, 2016, 2:20 am
#1116
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,398
Not sure if there have been any trials or not. But (notwithstanding any potential issues surrounding payment practicalities & logistics) we do know that extensive and detailed research has been conducted ; the clear result of which was that BA customers were found to be quite special, in that they all much prefer to pay for food & drink onboard, rather than being offered it on a complimentary basis as hitherto.
Oct 3, 2016, 2:37 am
#1117
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Cymru
Programs: BAEC, HHonors
Posts: 60
AC has had BOB in domestic Y for quite awhile now and quite frankly I can exist in their Y on 4.5->5.5 hour YYZ-YYC or YVR domestic short haul flights just by eating before I get to or by buying something in the airport. I don't mind buying a beer on the plane on a trip that length. If this BOB is a cost saving move it might work but if BA thinks it's going to be a money spinner i think they are going to be mistaken on the relatively short European flights.
Oct 3, 2016, 2:38 am
#1118
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: 63,772
I can take either the ZRH-LHR 709 at 07:10 or the 711 at 10:40. The 709 aircraft nightstops, so I am not sure if the BOB menu would be shipped over with the previous evening's flight? Or would the originating flight from LHR on the 11th be the first to carry the new menu?
In any case, I am on the 709 on the 13th!
In any case, I am on the 709 on the 13th!
Oct 3, 2016, 2:55 am
#1119
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
However, it will be good to see if the M&S produce is as delicious and fresh as the BA website is portraying.
I shall await the fanfare to announce an on-time arrival. Oh wait...
Oct 3, 2016, 3:00 am
#1120
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,109
Oct 3, 2016, 3:06 am
#1121
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 666
I just got excited by a Flybe call for expanding LHR so they could serve 12 domestic routes. Sadly, on further analysis, none of them compete with BA routes. As I use BA domestic flights for business, I need to go to places like Manchester and Glasgow, not Carlisle and Humberside!
As Flybe is BoB also - it would just mean freeing me from BA's monopoly now they are a LCC too.
As Flybe is BoB also - it would just mean freeing me from BA's monopoly now they are a LCC too.
Oct 3, 2016, 3:13 am
#1122
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
Oct 3, 2016, 3:32 am
#1123
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Isle of Man
Programs: IHG Platinum Elite, BA Pleb
Posts: 347
They see the revenues that EasyJet make from Buy on Board but forget that Aer Lingus barely scrapes their costs back. I think they think that BA customers will just suck it up because BA's brand is strong. No doubt they'll have hired marketing consultants who've told them what they want to hear.
I'm not so convinced as you are that this is the case, I don't think BA's brand is that strong anymore, but the proof isn't wibbling on a message board two days after the change, it's two years down the line. Any fool can fill a plane, the question will be whether BA still get the high-yield passengers or whether they're full of people who think they may as well fly BA for an extra tenner compared to Ryanair.
I don't know the answer, my instinct is that this is an error of judgment, but in eighteen months with yields up and costs down I could well be shown to be totally wrong.
Oct 3, 2016, 3:33 am
#1124
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: 63,772
If you do, pay by App (or try to) and ask for the bluetoothed receipt, for the full effect. I appear to be on a JER-LGW and a LHR-NCL on that day (so far, it's a long way off by my travel standards). OK, I'll have to find a way to downgrade to ET, but I'm also intrigued how this works on shorter routes.
Oct 3, 2016, 3:33 am
#1125
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: 30,516
To be honest, whilst this is indeed fine enough in many places, 1) some airport toilets do not have separate hot and cold taps, and water from warm or lukewarm circuits is far more likely to be contaminated, 2) there are a small number of airports (a few in Eastern Europe, a few in some Mediterranean islands) where I would avoid drinking bathroom tap water for either safety or taste reason.