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
#1651
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: A hop, skip and jump away from MAN.
Programs: BAEC Gold, ex-VS Gold, ex-UA Gold, Premier Inn Platinum-Iridium
Posts: 1,114
Did a trip to BUD last week. Outbound the crew seemed to serve very quickly and did fairly brisk business. Some folk even managed a second order. On the return, much slower initially and then slowly picked up speed, though they were running out of things.
I noted yet another person not happy with the "sippy cup" coffee - where you have to drink it with the lid in place as that filters the grounds out of the coffee.
I suspect so much of the resistance is the fundamental cultural thing of separating Brits from a brew - or at least the charging for it.
One of my friends is a TA and when she books holidays the most common question is whether in-room tea & coffee are provided, and increasingly whether in-flight brews are complimentary.
I noted yet another person not happy with the "sippy cup" coffee - where you have to drink it with the lid in place as that filters the grounds out of the coffee.
I suspect so much of the resistance is the fundamental cultural thing of separating Brits from a brew - or at least the charging for it.
One of my friends is a TA and when she books holidays the most common question is whether in-room tea & coffee are provided, and increasingly whether in-flight brews are complimentary.
#1652
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
I thought the coffee itself was drinkable enough.
#1653
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,739
In what way? I agree it is a bit of an unusual arrangement - for anyone who hasn't seen it you leave the lid on and there is a filter (the brown section) comprised within the lid. You basically drink through the lid/filter.
I thought the coffee itself was drinkable enough.
I thought the coffee itself was drinkable enough.
#1654
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
Travelling on an extremely cheap £65 rtn ticket to Nice last weekend, my friend (Blue) and I (Gold) attempted to pay for our drinks both ways with avios. Outbound was ok on a 767 as it was mid-afternoon and the aircraft had 40 people on it. All completed quite easily. On the return there had been an equipment change due to the 767 going tech and we were all crammed onto a 321. We were at the front of ET in row 14 and it was night time with subdued cabin lighting. When CC started Bob from my row one asked "drink and snacks..no?" and immediately went to the next row. I got the feeling of urgency and they wanted to get down the aircraft asap which is understandable. When I hollered for my G&T and produced the Gold card to pay she was much more accommodating (!) but struggled to read the card in the light. It was then handed to her colleague who loudly read out the name and the number. Twice. Eventually it was processed (and for my friend too with Blue status) but it took a while. I heard the crew complain that the iPad wasn't easy to operate and it took her several attempts to enter my details.
Non of this is meant to sound pompous - just a blow by blow account of what happened!
Non of this is meant to sound pompous - just a blow by blow account of what happened!
#1655
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Iver
Programs: BA GOLD/OWE BA Amex Prem Plus Tesco Airmiles Qantas Bronze IHG SPG Eithad
Posts: 2,902
Travelling on an extremely cheap £65 rtn ticket to Nice last weekend, my friend (Blue) and I (Gold) attempted to pay for our drinks both ways with avios. Outbound was ok on a 767 as it was mid-afternoon and the aircraft had 40 people on it. All completed quite easily. On the return there had been an equipment change due to the 767 going tech and we were all crammed onto a 321. We were at the front of ET in row 14 and it was night time with subdued cabin lighting. When CC started Bob from my row one asked "drink and snacks..no?" and immediately went to the next row. I got the feeling of urgency and they wanted to get down the aircraft asap which is understandable. When I hollered for my G&T and produced the Gold card to pay she was much more accommodating (!) but struggled to read the card in the light. It was then handed to her colleague who loudly read out the name and the number. Twice. Eventually it was processed (and for my friend too with Blue status) but it took a while. I heard the crew complain that the iPad wasn't easy to operate and it took her several attempts to enter my details.
Non of this is meant to sound pompous - just a blow by blow account of what happened!
Non of this is meant to sound pompous - just a blow by blow account of what happened!
#1656
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Manchester, UK.
Programs: BAEC Silver, then a handful of points on everything else.
Posts: 185
On the outbound leg the FA started explaining to me how important it was not to remove the lid. When she realised I'd used one before she started to explain that I'd be surprised at the number of people that either end up with a mouthful of coffee grinds, or coffee all over the floor!
#1658
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 220
I don't think that there will be a significant increase in the number of food & drink items loaded any time soon. It has been stated repeatedly by Alex Cruz that customers should not expect to receive their first choice from the BoB menu.
Eventually we will come to understand this and change our mindset. @:-)
Eventually we will come to understand this and change our mindset. @:-)
#1659
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,222
I don't think that there will be a significant increase in the number of food & drink items loaded any time soon. It has been stated repeatedly by Alex Cruz that customers should not expect to receive their first choice from the BoB menu.
Eventually we will come to understand this and change our mindset. @:-)
Eventually we will come to understand this and change our mindset. @:-)
#1661
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LON, MAD
Programs: KE MC Premium, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, AZ FA+, Melia Gold
Posts: 305
My recent experiences have been improving, but yet again on the 491 from GIB this evening, an announcement in the terminal (after half the pax have boarded) that there is not enough food on board and recommend to buy food in the terminal (where there are basically no good options and they don't accept card).
It is crazy that this is still happening. I'm in CE so it doesn't affect me, but I would be very frustrated if I was in ET given this is basically a 3 hour flight at dinner time. Excellent crew so far though.
It is crazy that this is still happening. I'm in CE so it doesn't affect me, but I would be very frustrated if I was in ET given this is basically a 3 hour flight at dinner time. Excellent crew so far though.
#1662
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
How long do these purchases take to post credit cards?
I have had two transactions show up on my credit card bill for transactions that supposedly occurred on May 9, 2017, but I haven't flown BA short-haul since the end of February. Do Tourvest really take 2-3 months to post these transactions? Or did mine simply get lost en route?
I don't think they're fraudulent, since I see no other Tourvest transactions and I definitely did buy something.
It just makes a mess of doing one's expenses!
I don't think they're fraudulent, since I see no other Tourvest transactions and I definitely did buy something.
It just makes a mess of doing one's expenses!
#1663
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 182
I agree. They must be still dancing to the macarena over at HQ at the savings showing on the spreadsheet since the removal of complimentary food and drinks. I really don't think they care whether or not people in the last ten rows get anything (as happened last week) as the ££££ have been saved. I doubt they care about the crew getting verbally abused either (as seen by 3 passengers in row in front) due to having no beer left.
Last edited by BAflyer2007; May 19, 2017 at 12:26 pm Reason: Spelling
#1664
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
I agree. They must be still dancing to the macarena over at HQ at the savings showing on the spreadsheet since the removal of complimentary food and drinks. I really don't think they care whether or not people in the last ten rows get anything (as happened last week) as the ££££ have been saved. I doubt they care about the crew getting verbally abused either (as seen by 3 passengers in row in front) due to having no beer left.
The fact that BoB operates smoothly on many (and perhaps even on most ?) flights can in no way excuse, or compensate for, the fact that on countless others it clearly does not.
There was a time when BA would have been truly ashamed of making announcements, of the sort being reported here, to passengers just about to board a flight (we haven't loaded enough /any food for you, so get your own at the airport). But of course it's a whole different BA these days.
I can't help recall a recent FT thread in which a poster referred to BA as an airline which "lost its moral compass some time ago". It seemed to sum up so much, and in so few words.
#1665
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 689
On the outbound leg the FA started explaining to me how important it was not to remove the lid. When she realised I'd used one before she started to explain that I'd be surprised at the number of people that either end up with a mouthful of coffee grinds, or coffee all over the floor!