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
May 7, 2017, 3:06 am
#886
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,351
i get the impression that the majority of CE flights are for work purposes and not leisure. Given that situation, BA will try and get away with the absolute minimum as they've got a captive audience.
I wonder what would happen if businesses on mass changed policies to fly Y/HBO in Europe, whilst giving employees a no questions asked flight food and drink allowance...
I wonder what would happen if businesses on mass changed policies to fly Y/HBO in Europe, whilst giving employees a no questions asked flight food and drink allowance...
CE is valuable to BA as part of the connecting premium passenger (both business and leisure) offering, to encourage passengers on the continent to connect through LHR onto longhaul services.
CE point to point traffic is largely leisure.
May 7, 2017, 3:13 am
#887
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Posts: 30,541
Then, there are a few exceptions on certain routes which also have a relatively strong O/D CE traffic such as NCE, GVA, BRU, FRA, ZRH in addition to strong connecting traffic in all those cases. All the above are mix of business and leisure or in some cases (BRU, FRA, ZRH) mostly business.
Finally, there are a few routes which seem to be mostly O/D CE and mostly leisure (RAK, DBV, some Greek islands).
My sense is that the pure O/D routes tend to have little business class competition so there, BA is mostly trying to encourage upselling. By contrast, where there is a strong connecting traffic (be it only connecting or mixed) BA might face bigger overall external competition IMHO and that becomes a very different game.
May 7, 2017, 3:53 am
#888
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Mucci de la Cuisine Aérienne du Réseau Courte Durée de British Airways
Posts: 4,704
On the contrary, most companies these days have a Y travel policy for shorthaul flights; 6 hours is a common cutoff point.
CE is valuable to BA as part of the connecting premium passenger (both business and leisure) offering, to encourage passengers on the continent to connect through LHR onto longhaul services.
CE point to point traffic is largely leisure.
CE is valuable to BA as part of the connecting premium passenger (both business and leisure) offering, to encourage passengers on the continent to connect through LHR onto longhaul services.
CE point to point traffic is largely leisure.
Most business routes, like commercial or financial capitals, are full of point to point business people and very little leisure or people on connecting sectors.
May 7, 2017, 4:54 am
#889
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
?.I'm very inexperienced in the hows and whys of choosing CE, but i get the impression that the majority of CE flights are for work purposes and not leisure. Given that situation, BA will try and get away with the absolute minimum as they've got a captive audience...
The shine started to fall from CE with the cut in legroom. But now with the food and drink changes on the short and mid flights, I'm now starting to consider ET instead...
May 7, 2017, 5:19 am
#890
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: glasgow
Programs: ba lifetime gold, MAS gold, hhonors gold
Posts: 723
definately better on domestic and band 4
just did glasgow to Santorini via heathrow in CE. It was an excellent experience. The food was good and the alcohol flowed appropriately. Even on the short hop to and from glasgow the front cabin was peaceful and row 1 was fine for legroom with no problem stowing stuff in the overhead locker. Don't know about value for money but that is a very subjective issue.
May 8, 2017, 12:32 am
#891
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 576
May 8, 2017, 6:29 am
#892
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
BA1391, lunchtime MAN-LHR, 6 rows CE and 2 cabin crews. Salad was small, sandwich very dry and bland, basically inedible. OH had VLML, small as well. Cabin crew was very busy throughout, a third cabin crew member helped clear the trays at '10 minutes to landing'.
windows screenshot
windows screenshot
May 8, 2017, 6:36 am
#893
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
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How did you find the duck? I'm regular on this sector and find the catering just about right for the short hop. I would of course be very unhappy to get that meal on an old band 2/3 sector though.
May 8, 2017, 6:40 am
#894
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
The MAN sectors are always busy for the crew. The sandwich does look dry, what was in it?
How did you find the duck? I'm regular on this sector and find the catering just about right for the short hop. I would of course be very unhappy to get that meal on an old band 2/3 sector though.
How did you find the duck? I'm regular on this sector and find the catering just about right for the short hop. I would of course be very unhappy to get that meal on an old band 2/3 sector though.
That was duck? OMG. It tasted like smoked ham...
May 8, 2017, 6:45 am
#896
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
I don't know #florens - I've not had the lunch yet. From your photograph it could be either! I hope it was tasty though.
May 8, 2017, 6:47 am
#897
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
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Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
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Mmm? I'd opt for the ploughmans - although again that is not substantial either, perfect for MAN not so much for ZRH. The blue cheese is rather nice.
May 8, 2017, 6:52 am
#898
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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May 8, 2017, 9:25 am
#899
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
So on the 716 service down to ZRH I overheard one other CE pax complaining about the current afternoon tea offering. The cabin crew in charge told me that scones might come back, since there have been quite a lot of complaints about the offering. Of course this information should be treated as a rumor.
She also told me that any complaints should be directed to the BAEC, that this would be most effective. Any feedback given to the cabin crew will not really be listened to unfortunately. The cabin crew do completely agree with all these complaints.
This is the afternoon tea and its vegetarian counterpart. Hardly a meal, really.
how to take screenshots
She also told me that any complaints should be directed to the BAEC, that this would be most effective. Any feedback given to the cabin crew will not really be listened to unfortunately. The cabin crew do completely agree with all these complaints.
This is the afternoon tea and its vegetarian counterpart. Hardly a meal, really.
how to take screenshots
May 8, 2017, 9:40 am
#900
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I recognize this plate: the duck was the starter on my flight from HEL yesterday.
It tasted okay to me, a bit tough perhaps, but worse things happen at sea [and at least I wasn't on an 850 EUR walk up Y fare like some of the do participants ...
].
It tasted okay to me, a bit tough perhaps, but worse things happen at sea [and at least I wasn't on an 850 EUR walk up Y fare like some of the do participants ...
].