[Rumor] New "enhancement" only one bottle of Champagne per passenger in Club Europe
Dec 5, 2016, 4:24 pm
#46
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The should offer the second (and further) bottles for sale.
And maybe the complimentary first bottle should be restricted to just GGL/Gold/Silver (delete as applicable) on J/C/D fares in CE. And maybe the cost of the additional bottles can be dynamic and linked to pax status and fare basis... @:-)
And maybe the complimentary first bottle should be restricted to just GGL/Gold/Silver (delete as applicable) on J/C/D fares in CE. And maybe the cost of the additional bottles can be dynamic and linked to pax status and fare basis... @:-)
Dec 5, 2016, 11:01 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
Replacing the piccolo size individual bottles with full size bottles "a la Club World and GB Airways back in the day"(top ups on demand style)would address any consumption issues and allow everyone fair crack of a potentially half decent glass of bubbles (assuming they don't order in stuff especially selected for Club Europe and instead open up the Club World cellar for all Club passengers. I would call this an enhancement in the passengers favour.
Dec 13, 2016, 12:32 pm
#50
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Dec 13, 2016, 12:38 pm
#51
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I personally would consider other airline options. Recent weeks based in Amsterdam, have reminded me of the other airline options out there and some are very good
Dec 13, 2016, 12:41 pm
#52
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ON Lufthansa the other week I didn't even have to ask for refills, as soon as my glass go low, it was topped up.
Dec 13, 2016, 1:06 pm
#53
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Lufthansa does not even serve champagne in business class on shorthaul. Although I wish BA were servicing nicer (and cheaper) sparkling wine than the champagne that it is on offer now.
Dec 13, 2016, 1:30 pm
#54
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Dec 13, 2016, 1:44 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Reading UK
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Oh dear! Let's not let the facts get in the way.
BA are currently serving Castlenau in CE. Previously it was Monopole then Pommery then back to Monopole. There was a very brief period of German sparkling wine during a change in catering contractor. GB also used to serve Piper Heidsieck red label poured from full bottles.
At each change point the current wine was viewed as vile battery acid and its replacement as great. Which means that Monopole was both slated and praised at different times.
In reality some critics clearly haven't actually tasted the product and others just go with whatever is fashionable on here.
BA on the other hand seem to pick middle of the road Champagne from reasonably sized houses. They don't pay a premium for name but nor do they serve the fizzy water which passes for many supermarkets £10 Champagnes.
I personally don't find the Castlenau too bad, but preferred the Pommery. I would put those two and the Monopole ahead of any cava or prosecco simply because I enjoy the méthode champenoise (with or without malactic fermentation) to other methods of sparkling wine making.
That of course means I like my local English sparkling wines. Maybe one day BA should serve one of those.
BA are currently serving Castlenau in CE. Previously it was Monopole then Pommery then back to Monopole. There was a very brief period of German sparkling wine during a change in catering contractor. GB also used to serve Piper Heidsieck red label poured from full bottles.
At each change point the current wine was viewed as vile battery acid and its replacement as great. Which means that Monopole was both slated and praised at different times.
In reality some critics clearly haven't actually tasted the product and others just go with whatever is fashionable on here.
BA on the other hand seem to pick middle of the road Champagne from reasonably sized houses. They don't pay a premium for name but nor do they serve the fizzy water which passes for many supermarkets £10 Champagnes.
I personally don't find the Castlenau too bad, but preferred the Pommery. I would put those two and the Monopole ahead of any cava or prosecco simply because I enjoy the méthode champenoise (with or without malactic fermentation) to other methods of sparkling wine making.
That of course means I like my local English sparkling wines. Maybe one day BA should serve one of those.
I hope this is nothing but a silly rumour as I enjoy a bottle or two of champagne on the flight when I have paid a premium to fly CE.
Dec 13, 2016, 2:16 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
Friend of mine who works at BA told me about an upcoming enhancement to the service concept in Club Europe. Starting next year the cabin crew will be instructed to only serve a maximum of one miniature bottle of Champagne per passenger in Club Europe.
Obviously this is a cost cutting measurement, which primarily grounds itself in the fact that management aren't too happy with some cabin crew members being a bit liberal on the Champagne consumption onboard. Additionally there is a crackdown on crew members giving out bottles for passengers to bring off the flight.
Personally I'm in favor of this move, as clearly it's not intended to drink 8 miniature bottles of Champagne on a 2 hour flight. While I find one bottle to be enough, I would be pretty sad to see the Champagne go away completely.
It's only a rumor at this point, and while it hasn't been decided whether it'll be implemented or not, the fact that it has been considered is indeed a tell tale sign that we should expect changes to the CE service concept in the near future.
Obviously this is a cost cutting measurement, which primarily grounds itself in the fact that management aren't too happy with some cabin crew members being a bit liberal on the Champagne consumption onboard. Additionally there is a crackdown on crew members giving out bottles for passengers to bring off the flight.
Personally I'm in favor of this move, as clearly it's not intended to drink 8 miniature bottles of Champagne on a 2 hour flight. While I find one bottle to be enough, I would be pretty sad to see the Champagne go away completely.
It's only a rumor at this point, and while it hasn't been decided whether it'll be implemented or not, the fact that it has been considered is indeed a tell tale sign that we should expect changes to the CE service concept in the near future.
Dec 13, 2016, 3:05 pm
#57
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Dec 13, 2016, 3:25 pm
#58
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In light of global warming (facilitating domestic production of champagne-style sparkling wines) and Brexit (tariffs on imported champagne, and departure of significant numbers of non-British nationals), the UK may be able to strive for sparkling wine self-sufficiency!
Dec 13, 2016, 3:31 pm
#59
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Purely tongue in cheek, of course; I rarely have more than one drink on a SH flight, but on the 1-2 occasions per annum I do, I don't want any sorts of limits imposed so long as the total consumption is responsible.
Last edited by chalf; Dec 13, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Dec 13, 2016, 3:42 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 56
I have about 8 mini bottles of champagne from a flight my wife & I took about 4 years ago to Nice in CE.
We mentioned that to the air stewardess it was our anniversary - the next minute she started to give us bottles of champagne - didn't have the heart to tell her I cann't stand the stuff!!
Still seating in the cupboard 4 years later!
Mark
We mentioned that to the air stewardess it was our anniversary - the next minute she started to give us bottles of champagne - didn't have the heart to tell her I cann't stand the stuff!!
Still seating in the cupboard 4 years later!
Mark