Apr 16, 2017, 1:12 pm
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
Club Europe Catering Guide 2017.
This thread outlines the new arrangements for Club Europe catering, introduced on Sunday 26 March 2017 and due to end on Tuesday 11 September 2018, based on 3 zones. A new Club Europe catering product is due to be launch on Wednesday 12 September 2018, and this is based on 4 bands. The main information piece - in terms of timings and the distance zones for the meals can be found in post 1. The following cross references the photos below against the matrix of options. In addition to the photos, some FTers have written extensively on their experiences so there is more to this thread than the pictures. Also note that there was an increase in food offered on some combinations shortly after the start-up, so the more recent photos may be the best place to start.The previous shorthaul catering guide, now locked but which had the previous 4 band system, is to be found here.
Numbers relate to the post number. Vegetarian means the alternative option provided as standard rather than the pre-ordered versions - which are VLML (Lacto-ovo), AVML (Asia) and VGML (Vegan) . There are differences between the offering in/out of LHR, LGW, LCY+STN. Last update: 833
-------------------------
Note posts before 1-832 are typically the April 2017 menu. 833 and above is from the menu for May 2017.
----
Chef's Chat sheets for:
CE LHR Summer 2017 - Rotation A
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28338151-post954.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28339641-post958.html
-----.
Short Band (UK, France, Ireland, BeNeLux, Germany)
Breakfast: 279, 570 (vegetarian), 629, 674, 821 (Express breakfast for MAN and LBA), 1343 (Vegan), 2285 (Express for LBA and MAN), 2445
Brunch: 180, 289, 469, 563, 685, 716, 2625 (AVML)
Lunch: 207, 545 (diabetic), 644 (first photo), 680 (VLML), 802, 928, 1322 (Kosher), 2284
Afternoon tea: 339, 404 (vegetarian), 480, 600 (VLML), 710 (including low lactose), 800, 882 (gluten free), 1281, 1322 (Kosher), 1673, 2679 (Kosher), 2792
Dinner: 563, 630 (VGML), 669 (Kosher Passover), 771 (VGML LCY) 799, 819 (AVML), 833 (May 2017 menu), 1283, 1287, 1674, 2446, 2616 (Kosher), 2793
Comments on difference between AVML and VLML here.
-----
Medium Band (e.g. Madrid, Nice, Prague, Copenhagen)
Breakfast: 645 (vegetarian), 724 (vegetarian), 1003
Brunch: 199 (VLML), 600 (VLML), 659 (Kosher Passover)
Lunch: 239 (child), 251, 425, 641, 733
Afternoon tea: 332 (also includes vegetarian), 426 (GFML), 813 (Muslim)
Dinner: 456, 551 (also includes VLML), 666, 1004,
1278
-----
Long Band (e.g. Lisbon, Rome, Warsaw, Stockholm).
Breakfast: 195 (vegetarian)
Rest of the day: 306 (LFML), 345, 427, 443, 468, 597, 676, 687, 695, 783 (VLML)
======
NOT MAINTAINED AND OUT OF DATE: The complete Short Haul meal structure for the longer flights as of October 2017 is:
LHR
Meal 1: Chicken / red pepper risotto
Meal 2: Beef cheek
Meal 3: Chicken supreme / gnocchi
Meal 4: Miso glazed cod
Meal 5: Chicken khao soi
Meal 6: Hot smoked salmon linguine
LGW
Meal 1: Thyme roasted chicken
Meal 2: Spicy corn and paneer masala
Meal 3: Thai Penang chicken curry
Meal 4: Roasted red pepper tortellini
Meal 5: Beef and mushroom caserole
Meal 6: Tomato and four cheeses tortellini
Structured into:
Rotation A
LHR outbound
Meal 3
Meal 4
inbound to LHR
Meal 5
Meal 6
Rotation B
LHR outbound
Meal 5
Meal 6
inbound to LHR
Meal 1
Meal 2
Rotation C
LHR outbound
Meal 1
Meal 2
inbound to LHR
Meal 3
Meal 4
===
October 2017 = Rotation C
November 2017 = Rotation A
December 2017 = Rotation B
January 2018 = Rotation C
etc
This thread outlines the new arrangements for Club Europe catering, introduced on Sunday 26 March 2017 and due to end on Tuesday 11 September 2018, based on 3 zones. A new Club Europe catering product is due to be launch on Wednesday 12 September 2018, and this is based on 4 bands. The main information piece - in terms of timings and the distance zones for the meals can be found in post 1. The following cross references the photos below against the matrix of options. In addition to the photos, some FTers have written extensively on their experiences so there is more to this thread than the pictures. Also note that there was an increase in food offered on some combinations shortly after the start-up, so the more recent photos may be the best place to start.The previous shorthaul catering guide, now locked but which had the previous 4 band system, is to be found here.
Numbers relate to the post number. Vegetarian means the alternative option provided as standard rather than the pre-ordered versions - which are VLML (Lacto-ovo), AVML (Asia) and VGML (Vegan) . There are differences between the offering in/out of LHR, LGW, LCY+STN. Last update: 833
-------------------------
Note posts before 1-832 are typically the April 2017 menu. 833 and above is from the menu for May 2017.
----
Chef's Chat sheets for:
CE LHR Summer 2017 - Rotation A
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28338151-post954.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28339641-post958.html
-----.
Short Band (UK, France, Ireland, BeNeLux, Germany)
Breakfast: 279, 570 (vegetarian), 629, 674, 821 (Express breakfast for MAN and LBA), 1343 (Vegan), 2285 (Express for LBA and MAN), 2445
Brunch: 180, 289, 469, 563, 685, 716, 2625 (AVML)
Lunch: 207, 545 (diabetic), 644 (first photo), 680 (VLML), 802, 928, 1322 (Kosher), 2284
Afternoon tea: 339, 404 (vegetarian), 480, 600 (VLML), 710 (including low lactose), 800, 882 (gluten free), 1281, 1322 (Kosher), 1673, 2679 (Kosher), 2792
Dinner: 563, 630 (VGML), 669 (Kosher Passover), 771 (VGML LCY) 799, 819 (AVML), 833 (May 2017 menu), 1283, 1287, 1674, 2446, 2616 (Kosher), 2793
Comments on difference between AVML and VLML here.
-----
Medium Band (e.g. Madrid, Nice, Prague, Copenhagen)
Breakfast: 645 (vegetarian), 724 (vegetarian), 1003
Brunch: 199 (VLML), 600 (VLML), 659 (Kosher Passover)
Lunch: 239 (child), 251, 425, 641, 733
Afternoon tea: 332 (also includes vegetarian), 426 (GFML), 813 (Muslim)
Dinner: 456, 551 (also includes VLML), 666, 1004,
1278
-----
Long Band (e.g. Lisbon, Rome, Warsaw, Stockholm).
Breakfast: 195 (vegetarian)
Rest of the day: 306 (LFML), 345, 427, 443, 468, 597, 676, 687, 695, 783 (VLML)
======
NOT MAINTAINED AND OUT OF DATE: The complete Short Haul meal structure for the longer flights as of October 2017 is:
LHR
Meal 1: Chicken / red pepper risotto
Meal 2: Beef cheek
Meal 3: Chicken supreme / gnocchi
Meal 4: Miso glazed cod
Meal 5: Chicken khao soi
Meal 6: Hot smoked salmon linguine
LGW
Meal 1: Thyme roasted chicken
Meal 2: Spicy corn and paneer masala
Meal 3: Thai Penang chicken curry
Meal 4: Roasted red pepper tortellini
Meal 5: Beef and mushroom caserole
Meal 6: Tomato and four cheeses tortellini
Structured into:
Rotation A
LHR outbound
Meal 3
Meal 4
inbound to LHR
Meal 5
Meal 6
Rotation B
LHR outbound
Meal 5
Meal 6
inbound to LHR
Meal 1
Meal 2
Rotation C
LHR outbound
Meal 1
Meal 2
inbound to LHR
Meal 3
Meal 4
===
October 2017 = Rotation C
November 2017 = Rotation A
December 2017 = Rotation B
January 2018 = Rotation C
etc
Club Europe catering guide
Apr 9, 2017, 3:02 pm
#646
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: 30,541
I'm totally confused now: salad indeedseems to have grown in size (but seems back to previous band 1 quality) and toastie is whole, but conversely, newly promises cheese and crackers with the salad as well as side salad with the toastie both seem to have disappeared and the dessert has now been downgraded to a yoghurt style pot rather than the previous do&co homemade pots.
it seems to me that BA is experimenting, but experimenting as a zero sum game from the 1 April short/medium version. It takes something away on the tray to boost another part of it, and that's just not good enough at least for medium routes.
it seems to me that BA is experimenting, but experimenting as a zero sum game from the 1 April short/medium version. It takes something away on the tray to boost another part of it, and that's just not good enough at least for medium routes.
Apr 9, 2017, 3:09 pm
#647
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
Apr 9, 2017, 3:58 pm
#648
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA 1MM lifetime gold, Starwood gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 719
Thanks ABJ92, the food in your pics looks quite appetising and it's encouraging to see that the salad is now becoming more substantial, even for the short routes. Let's hope the new catering continues to evolve in this vein
Apr 9, 2017, 6:51 pm
#649
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,700
What confuses me is the bread roll as a side to the sandwich ? More bread with that bread, sir ?
Has someone mentioned this on the PR events of last weekend ?
Has someone mentioned this on the PR events of last weekend ?
Apr 10, 2017, 2:08 am
#650
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bloomsbury
Programs: BA Silver, AF Ivory
Posts: 2,203
My first experience of the new club europe afternoon tea a few days ago.
Pathetic.
Pathetic.
Apr 10, 2017, 8:18 am
#651
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
That would be my guess, as LHR last night was same old same old. Or maybe same new same new. I don't see how a handful of wheat/farro makes for meaningful substantial increase, FWIW, but each to their own. To me this whole thing is one sick joke. Good luck to them, my next flights have been booked in Y, between this change and some rather pathetic other service fails in the last six weeks of heavy travel, just not worth it any more.
Last edited by MarkedMan; Apr 12, 2017 at 2:09 am
Apr 10, 2017, 8:24 am
#652
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,928
Apr 10, 2017, 8:44 am
#653
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bloomsbury
Programs: BA Silver, AF Ivory
Posts: 2,203
LHR ZRH.
Rest assured I sent full feedback directly to BA when they sent me a survey two days later.
Two tiny stale finger sandwiches, a bizarre cheese slice on rye bread and a micro cake that tasted of cardboard in my opinion is not "afternoon tea" in a business class cabin.
Swiss for this route next time if I want a business class product, as I told BA in the survey.
Rest assured I sent full feedback directly to BA when they sent me a survey two days later.
Two tiny stale finger sandwiches, a bizarre cheese slice on rye bread and a micro cake that tasted of cardboard in my opinion is not "afternoon tea" in a business class cabin.
Swiss for this route next time if I want a business class product, as I told BA in the survey.
Apr 10, 2017, 9:02 am
#654
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,929
My return from LHR to KRK was again great
Beetroot carpaccio
choice of beef cheek with seasonal veg or some chicken with risotto dish (I had the beef)
banana and milk chocolate tower
Biscuits and cheese
it was all really tasty!
Beetroot carpaccio
choice of beef cheek with seasonal veg or some chicken with risotto dish (I had the beef)
banana and milk chocolate tower
Biscuits and cheese
it was all really tasty!
Last edited by scottishpoet; Apr 10, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Apr 11, 2017, 4:42 am
#655
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,174
As Tobias says, this is the BA Forum Darling - it goes without saying that you want a G&T when everyone else is sipping those revolting health concoctions or on other cAAriers that unspeakably disgusting Dr Pepper. Ugh! Here, people have graduated to solid food, so you want something adult to set you up. I'd join you as HI can be a bit prim.
Apr 11, 2017, 5:06 am
#656
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: 30,541
Medium brunch yesterday - regular meals saw the return of a tiny fruit plate (one slice orange, half slice melon, half slice pineapple, one slice kiwi) but the cured meat plate looked even smaller than at the start of the new concept in early April. Alternative was the panino, served full this time, but the pulled something industrial cheese and vinegary jalapenos looking as disgusting as ever so I wouldn't personally touch it with a barge pole.
Still in the spirit of avoiding those though, pre-ordered the kosher meal, which was indeed a Passover special. The tray was half frozen (sabotage to avoid people ordering special meals?
) and less good than the previous short lunch, but way better than the regular brunch: a slice of fillet of hot smoked salmon and a generous serving of thin sliced cured salmon accompanied by cream cheese. The side fruit plate was about 3 times the size of the regular one: an uninteresting bottom of pineapple in syrup, but about 12 segments of fresh orange, white grapefruit, and pink grapefruit and a grape. There was a slice of Passover cake, a funny single round serving of cheddar that seemed like the answer to babybel, a Hermiolis yoghurt and strawberry smoothie which was so iced it was like frozen yoghurt, an orange juice, tea, coffee, margarine, and hilariously enough... El Al salt and pepper!
This was a bit reminiscent of cold meals in the 1980s, unrefined but comparatively generous (at least twice more than the regular brunch) and a better choice than both the cured meat and panino options by a margin.
Still in the spirit of avoiding those though, pre-ordered the kosher meal, which was indeed a Passover special. The tray was half frozen (sabotage to avoid people ordering special meals?
) and less good than the previous short lunch, but way better than the regular brunch: a slice of fillet of hot smoked salmon and a generous serving of thin sliced cured salmon accompanied by cream cheese. The side fruit plate was about 3 times the size of the regular one: an uninteresting bottom of pineapple in syrup, but about 12 segments of fresh orange, white grapefruit, and pink grapefruit and a grape. There was a slice of Passover cake, a funny single round serving of cheddar that seemed like the answer to babybel, a Hermiolis yoghurt and strawberry smoothie which was so iced it was like frozen yoghurt, an orange juice, tea, coffee, margarine, and hilariously enough... El Al salt and pepper!This was a bit reminiscent of cold meals in the 1980s, unrefined but comparatively generous (at least twice more than the regular brunch) and a better choice than both the cured meat and panino options by a margin.
Apr 11, 2017, 7:34 am
#658
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Programs: AVIS presidents club, BA GGL, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 278
Just landed from first GLA-LHR lunch service today. Choices were coronation chicken salad and hot panini with mozzarella, basil and tomato. Nine passengers in CE and only three hot paninis loaded. Was very lucky to get one, as I was in second row. Rest of CE had to make do with salad option. Panini was nice and I'd definitely opt for that again. Tray came with smallest side salad I've ever seen, something like a potato salad with small bits of watercress and a dessert pot. Overall quite filling, but probably not so if I'd had to opt for the salad.
Cant quite get the rational of only having two choices and only loading a ratio of 1/3 of those two choices for nine passengers.
P.S. What's the best way to feedback to BA about the numbers loaded?
Cant quite get the rational of only having two choices and only loading a ratio of 1/3 of those two choices for nine passengers.
P.S. What's the best way to feedback to BA about the numbers loaded?
Apr 11, 2017, 7:51 am
#659
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: 30,541
Here you go (I had started eating some of the grapefruit!!) The thing with the baby duck is the cheddar portion and I forgot to mention the dill pickle.
Apr 12, 2017, 2:12 am
#660
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
In some ways this is an improvement, as the packaging on some of the old CE Kosher meals made it a very over-the-top experience! 