Jan 11, 2017, 7:42 am
Last edit by: KARFA
This thread focuses on experiences and reactions for the implementation of buy on board for shorthaul, mainly led by impressions taken from flying on board British Airways' shorthaul services.
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
If you have an opinion about the concept of Buy on Board, the right thread is:
Buy on board: Implemented on BA short haul - opinions on the concept
Photos of current BoB menu (September 2018) post #125 in information thread
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
If you have an opinion about the concept of Buy on Board, the right thread is:
Buy on board: Implemented on BA short haul - opinions on the concept
Photos of current BoB menu (September 2018) post #125 in information thread
Buy on board: Experiences and reactions from BA's shorthaul economy service
Jan 25, 2017, 2:45 am
#841
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,923
I am confused as to why you think CE would offer a superior F&B offering? It is complimentary and CE has many other benefits such as seats at the front of the aircraft and middle seat tray table. Any issues pertaining to it, such as no meal loaded is not a matter of performance but goodwill Avios (say 2,000) can be issued.
Jan 25, 2017, 2:53 am
#842
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: East Anglia UK
Programs: BA-S UA LH-Sen KLM/AF-Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Absolutely. But some people will simply roll over and accept anything by the sound of it.
Jan 25, 2017, 3:01 am
#843
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,570
I am am struggling to recall a thread where someone who didn't get a meal got a decent pay out, in fact any payout!
Its included in the ticket price but it's complimentary and there is no reason to think it should be any better than what's for sale in the back with the likes of premium alcohol or coffee sans BA super brew. The CE cabin is part of an overall premium environment.
Jan 25, 2017, 3:20 am
#844
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,923
You would certainly expect the quality of the offerings in CE to be, at the very least, a comparable quality to that which is being offered in the economy cabin. Serving lower quality products in CE does not impart confidence in the service standard. This may all be academic (and outside the scope of this topic) as we are promised enhancements to the CE service in the near future.
Jan 25, 2017, 3:55 am
#845
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
If BoB has taught me anything, it’s taught me that I will never ever pay for Club Europe with cash or miles again. Completely out of character, I POUGed myself to CE on a flight back from Madrid yesterday for a not insignificant amount of money as a little treat to myself. I was served Gordon’s (not the Bombay Sapphire offered for payment in ET), those god-awful mini bottles of Tempranillo (that brought back terrible memories of monthly WT flights to Singapore where it is served with abundance), unpalatable coffee (from the big silver pot of gloom), and a small (and barely edible, freezing cold) salad. When I asked to swap the gin and wine for those served on the BoB trolley, I was told “Sorry sir, Alex Cruz won’t let us”. I’m happy to report that when I replied “What a tool”, they nodded their heads enthusiastically!
Setting aside everything else, it now appears that, for status holders on Band 1-3 flights in Euro Traveller, if you are willing to splash out Ł15-Ł20 extra per sector, you will get better food, better spirits, better wine, better coffee, more legroom in the exit row, and the equivalent seat free next to you (~95% of the time with theoretical seating).
Surely even BA can see that this cannot continue like this. Would it really kill the airline to introduce CW-level alcohol to CE, or to give passengers in CE complimentary access to the BoB menu, at the very least? That would be a step in the right direction, but I don’t think even that would entice me back. They’d need to introduce long-haul meal service and free-flowing miniature bottles of LPGS and JW Blue to justify the premiums currently charged for those on point-to-point bookings. I certainly won’t be fooled again.
Setting aside everything else, it now appears that, for status holders on Band 1-3 flights in Euro Traveller, if you are willing to splash out Ł15-Ł20 extra per sector, you will get better food, better spirits, better wine, better coffee, more legroom in the exit row, and the equivalent seat free next to you (~95% of the time with theoretical seating).
Surely even BA can see that this cannot continue like this. Would it really kill the airline to introduce CW-level alcohol to CE, or to give passengers in CE complimentary access to the BoB menu, at the very least? That would be a step in the right direction, but I don’t think even that would entice me back. They’d need to introduce long-haul meal service and free-flowing miniature bottles of LPGS and JW Blue to justify the premiums currently charged for those on point-to-point bookings. I certainly won’t be fooled again.
Paying hard cash for CE is one thing, but I had an experience which - like you - made question the wisdom of even using miles for it.
When BA launched a new route to Mahon last year (seasonal only, from both LHR & LCY) I decided to try it, having regularly used a respectable Monarch service from LTN for many years. Used Avios for a friend & I to fly CE. No major criticism of the 90 min departure delay (stuff happens) but the 'late substitution' aircraft was about as tired & scruffy as any I've seen on BA s/h. About 4 rows allocated to CE, but only eight pax in all. Very pleasant crew. 'Meal' service consisted of the dreaded 'traditional afternoon tea'. All-in-all, satisfactory but pretty underwhelming.
Fast forward, and I'm now looking at dates in the first week of June. LHR departure time with BA would suit me better than ZB's from LTN ; but a return with ZB will be better timing-wise. But here's the thing : why would I pay Ł444 for a two hour sector in CE versus Ł72 in ET ....?? The food in CE will be inferior to what I can buy in ET ; an exit row seat will offer more legroom. And I can do a lot at the destination with the Ł372 saving.
I'll be intrigued to see just what sort of promised 'improvements' to CE could conceivably make fare differences amounting at times to as much as several hundred pounds, between ET versus CE, a worthwhile proposition.
Jan 25, 2017, 4:11 am
#846
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
Jan 25, 2017, 4:35 am
#847
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Mother Earth, truely!
Programs: IHG Spire, SPG Platinum, Hhonors Diamond, TK Gold, QR Platinum, WY Sinbad Gold, SV Alfursan Gold
Posts: 194
Writing this from my economy seat before take off IST -LHR and one question haunts me: Why didn't I fly TK instead?? Reasons: 1- free (excellent) food. 2- private screen entertainment. 3-excellent lounge (I'm star gold) 4- Cheaper! 5- newer plane.
I'm a one-world emerald, and I've been treated better with other BOB products, such as AA ORD-MIA. They recognized my status and handed me a nice snack pack & coffee. Never again BA unless they flip back, which I believe they will eventually.
I'm a one-world emerald, and I've been treated better with other BOB products, such as AA ORD-MIA. They recognized my status and handed me a nice snack pack & coffee. Never again BA unless they flip back, which I believe they will eventually.
Jan 25, 2017, 4:42 am
#848
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
So what tempted you to experience the 'enhanced experience' at BA?
Jan 25, 2017, 4:43 am
#849
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Just a lowly Blue ;(
Posts: 1,780
I think someone on here should start a thread or wiki to observe flight loads for routes that they travel a lot and see if they change much with the new offering as that will be the only thing that makes BA change it's mind.
Jan 25, 2017, 4:50 am
#850
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Mother Earth, truely!
Programs: IHG Spire, SPG Platinum, Hhonors Diamond, TK Gold, QR Platinum, WY Sinbad Gold, SV Alfursan Gold
Posts: 194
I wanted to connect to LBA which is nearer to my home. A direct TK flight to MAN would have been an excellent alternative. And I never knew this nonsense existed in the first place until I had a chat with the cabin crew. Disappointment is an understatement with this flight.
Jan 25, 2017, 4:53 am
#851
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Mother Earth, truely!
Programs: IHG Spire, SPG Platinum, Hhonors Diamond, TK Gold, QR Platinum, WY Sinbad Gold, SV Alfursan Gold
Posts: 194
The good thing is that I have 2 rows in the back for a nice quiet sleep
Jan 25, 2017, 5:16 am
#852
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
My sister-in-law flew BA LGW-TFS-LGW last week in Y shortly after the BOB started. She was amazed how good the Cabin Crew were and she felt sorry for them because she was in the 6th row of economy and they had sold out of all food before they even reached her. She was pleased how well the crew handled the situation they were calm and apologetic to the many disgruntled passengers they even handed out complaint forms to the passengers. She said many passengers were being aggressive to the crew and she witnessed nearly every emotion from the upset passengers. The crew said that they didn't have any catering for the return flight. But B.A. got what they wanted more revenue as her husband upgraded her return leg to C.E. so she could get something to eat. She is not a frequent flyer maybe 4 times a year but feels it's a shame how BA have gone to pot... and she feels the magic of flying BA has now gone. I just hope the senior management have Kevlar shoes with all the shooting in the foot they have inflicted.
John
John
Jan 25, 2017, 5:18 am
#853
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,233
Jan 25, 2017, 5:58 am
#854
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
My sister-in-law flew BA LGW-TFS-LGW last week in Y shortly after the BOB started.
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The crew said that they didn't have any catering for the return flight. But B.A. got what they wanted more revenue as her husband upgraded her return leg to C.E. so she could get something to eat. She is not a frequent flyer maybe 4 times a year but feels it's a shame how BA have gone to pot... and she feels the magic of flying BA has now gone.....................
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.........................
The crew said that they didn't have any catering for the return flight. But B.A. got what they wanted more revenue as her husband upgraded her return leg to C.E. so she could get something to eat. She is not a frequent flyer maybe 4 times a year but feels it's a shame how BA have gone to pot... and she feels the magic of flying BA has now gone.....................
That sounds like a very expensive way to 'buy' some food
So your sister-in-law would have happily survived the outward sector on a BoB sandwich & crisps etc - IF the crew had actually got to her before the food ran out (as early as row 6).
And yet she is not minded to simply buy a sandwich/bocadillo of choice - and/or whatever else appeals - at the airport in TFS to take onboard for her return flight .... ??
Jan 25, 2017, 6:00 am
#855
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
tbh I would have had a good meal before going to the airport, or even at the airport, rather than pay Ł105 or so for an upgrade back from the Canaries.