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
Jul 17, 2017, 11:45 am
#1246
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: glasgow, scotland
Programs: BA Executive Club Gold
Posts: 224
Recently, it was 'enhanced' to a salad with cheese and crackers and a dessert pot, or the panini option with a small side salad served on the bread plate and the dessert pot. But from recent pics it looks like either option now comes with just a dessert, but served on the bread plate (as with the afternoon tea service).
Jul 18, 2017, 8:09 am
#1247
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 712
With the Paris Orly flights shifting to London City, does this mean a full 3-course hot meal will be served on this flight as on other LCY Club Europe flights?
What do the shortest LCY routes get at breakfast and dinner times?
What do the shortest LCY routes get at breakfast and dinner times?
Jul 21, 2017, 12:26 pm
#1248
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,034
Evening dinner flight back to LGW from the Med, 14 in CE, main course choices :
"Thyme roasted chicken"
Or
"Spicy corn & paneer masala"
8 portions of chicken were loaded, which (entirely predictably, IMHO) ran out at the 8th passenger, leaving just the masala for the other 6.
Cue lots of disgruntlement and bad-mouthing of BA at the back of the cabin, all for want of a few extra portions or someone with the sense to get the ratio right.
"Sometimes, it works out OK" says the senior crew member.
Happy days.
"Thyme roasted chicken"
Or
"Spicy corn & paneer masala"
8 portions of chicken were loaded, which (entirely predictably, IMHO) ran out at the 8th passenger, leaving just the masala for the other 6.
Cue lots of disgruntlement and bad-mouthing of BA at the back of the cabin, all for want of a few extra portions or someone with the sense to get the ratio right.
"Sometimes, it works out OK" says the senior crew member.
Happy days.
Jul 23, 2017, 11:54 am
#1249
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
So just to clarify please, even leaving at 10.30 to AGP in CE we will get the full 3 course meal?
Seems early to be served what would be a lunch style food, hope it's not spicy!
Thanks
Seems early to be served what would be a lunch style food, hope it's not spicy!
Thanks
Jul 23, 2017, 2:13 pm
#1250
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,850
It's a Long flight in CE terms, there are only 2 meal services, and when breakfast ends at 09:30, the meal service turns into lunch/dinner. It will be well past 11 hrs by the time your meal is served, and you can see the 3 meal Rotation menus upthread, so you can work out now what you will be getting.
Jul 24, 2017, 3:02 am
#1251
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Thanks corporate-wage-slave I'll try and find the menus you mention, it's not for a few weeks though.
Jul 25, 2017, 6:34 pm
#1252
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Not much mention of kids meals. Over the next month I have 4 flights on LHR/DUB in CE travelling with a child. Having looked on here she has requested a kids meal for each of these flights that cover breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. I recall last time we flew this route that the kids meals were quite substantial and included a fruit shoot and M&Ms. Not the healthiest but good for keeping a kids quiet. Let's see how we stack up this time.
BA830 LHR/DUB 1405 Dep Afternoon Tea
Three finger sandwiches. Chicken and cheese on white. Slice of cake - same as standard so not really child friendly although I enjoyed the extra slice. Not much to the meal overall. No separate kids drink, and certainly no M&Ms.
BA833 DUB/LHR 0855 Dep Breakfast
Same as adult meal. Full English or veggie omelette. Yogurt was same as adult but was labelled as special - child's.
BA830 LHR/DUB 1405 Dep Afternoon Tea
Three finger sandwiches. Chicken and cheese on white. Slice of cake - same as standard so not really child friendly although I enjoyed the extra slice. Not much to the meal overall. No separate kids drink, and certainly no M&Ms.
BA833 DUB/LHR 0855 Dep Breakfast
Same as adult meal. Full English or veggie omelette. Yogurt was same as adult but was labelled as special - child's.
Last edited by madfish; Jul 26, 2017 at 4:51 am
Jul 31, 2017, 2:06 am
#1253
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: BAEC; Miles & More; TAP Victoria; Flying Blue
Posts: 3
Goodbye BA.....
PMI-LHR this month in CE.
First off, the crew were absolutely charming and marvellous but spent a lot of time apologising. 54 pax in Club and two of them finished the service with 30 mins to spare. The tipping point for an extra crew member is 35 pax in Club, but I guess due to the Mixed Fleet strike they were on minimum legal crew requirement (which is 4 for the A321!), and it was full.
The drinks round took an hour to get to us, they had run out of hot towels, nuts, ice, lemons, glasses and tonic water (I know this happens, and the four of us cleared out the Palma lounge tonics which the crew found highly amusing, suggesting we might have done this before!). The gin and tonics consisted of warm gin in a plastic beaker. Then the food arrived and was equally disappointing, the very small chicken/chicken salad and small slice of cake (not even a cheese plate – which I am led to believe should have been there).
These are the standards of a Third world country for nearly £400 a ticket.
If this was a restaurant I would refuse to pay; if it was another service industry I would demand my money back. The management should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves, cost-cutting is very evident and has gone too far.
I have burped off a long complaint to BA but only expect to receive a couple of thousand Avios. Have booked my October return with Swiss for £80 a head less with a short connection.
Goodbye BA..........
First off, the crew were absolutely charming and marvellous but spent a lot of time apologising. 54 pax in Club and two of them finished the service with 30 mins to spare. The tipping point for an extra crew member is 35 pax in Club, but I guess due to the Mixed Fleet strike they were on minimum legal crew requirement (which is 4 for the A321!), and it was full.
The drinks round took an hour to get to us, they had run out of hot towels, nuts, ice, lemons, glasses and tonic water (I know this happens, and the four of us cleared out the Palma lounge tonics which the crew found highly amusing, suggesting we might have done this before!). The gin and tonics consisted of warm gin in a plastic beaker. Then the food arrived and was equally disappointing, the very small chicken/chicken salad and small slice of cake (not even a cheese plate – which I am led to believe should have been there).
These are the standards of a Third world country for nearly £400 a ticket.
If this was a restaurant I would refuse to pay; if it was another service industry I would demand my money back. The management should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves, cost-cutting is very evident and has gone too far.
I have burped off a long complaint to BA but only expect to receive a couple of thousand Avios. Have booked my October return with Swiss for £80 a head less with a short connection.
Goodbye BA..........
Jul 31, 2017, 4:05 am
#1254
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,850
That certainly is a disappointing flight, there should have been 5 or even 6 crew members on an A321 on this. PMI also suffers from being one of the longest "medium" flights, IBZ next door is "long", though I'm not sure the crew would have managed hot meals with limited crew.
If you feel strongly about this, then I would suggest you pursue BA for a refund on a proportion of your fare which they failed to deliver on. You can let BA decide what it should be, as you seem to have done, but there's nothing to stop you deciding what is appropriate and then using the several channels open to you to pursue the matter.
Nevertheless welcome to Flyertalk and the BA forum Ned Bartrolley, I note that you won't be travelling BA again, but nevertheless I hope you will continue to watch this forum, it is interesting even for non travellers.
If you feel strongly about this, then I would suggest you pursue BA for a refund on a proportion of your fare which they failed to deliver on. You can let BA decide what it should be, as you seem to have done, but there's nothing to stop you deciding what is appropriate and then using the several channels open to you to pursue the matter.
Nevertheless welcome to Flyertalk and the BA forum Ned Bartrolley, I note that you won't be travelling BA again, but nevertheless I hope you will continue to watch this forum, it is interesting even for non travellers.
Jul 31, 2017, 4:58 am
#1255
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA Exec Club Bronze, Hilton Diamond, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 1,257
First experience of the new CE food service on the 872 to Krakow last Wednesday. Full cabin on 16 in CE. Really tasty chicken with pepper risotto main course, well worth the extra Avios over ET on this "long" band flight.
The cabin manager (not sure I can name him) was an absolute credit to BA, extremely personable and natural around customers. One of the best BA crew members I've dealt with and I'll be submitting a well done. Our glasses were never empty!
He was working solo in CE until the last ~35 mins of a 2 hour flight when another crew member appeared from ET to assist. I assume that this would be strike-related as I'm sure that there should have been 2 crew in CE? I believe that there were 4 cabin crew in total on this A320.
Our main meals were slow to arrive, with teas/coffees still being handed out well in to the descent to KRK. It didn't feel chaotic, and given this was a largely leisure crowd at a sociable time of day I didn't feel that it detracted significantly from enjoying the flight.
CE seat is still 'meh' but that's European short haul business class...
The cabin manager (not sure I can name him) was an absolute credit to BA, extremely personable and natural around customers. One of the best BA crew members I've dealt with and I'll be submitting a well done. Our glasses were never empty!
He was working solo in CE until the last ~35 mins of a 2 hour flight when another crew member appeared from ET to assist. I assume that this would be strike-related as I'm sure that there should have been 2 crew in CE? I believe that there were 4 cabin crew in total on this A320.
Our main meals were slow to arrive, with teas/coffees still being handed out well in to the descent to KRK. It didn't feel chaotic, and given this was a largely leisure crowd at a sociable time of day I didn't feel that it detracted significantly from enjoying the flight.
CE seat is still 'meh' but that's European short haul business class...
Jul 31, 2017, 5:50 am
#1256
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 663
I'd be amazed if you even got a few thousand Avios - I expect you will simply get a cut and paste email acknowledging that you were "disappointed", that this wasn't the "service you were expecting" and promising to pass your feedback "on" [to the bin].
Jul 31, 2017, 7:50 am
#1257
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 116
Would be good to know if you do actually get anything. I have complained and was told as they still offered food there was nothing they would give me for this.
Jul 31, 2017, 2:04 pm
#1258
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Living the Essex dream
Programs: BA bronze
Posts: 1,471
BA 434 LHR- AMS avoid the pulled beef and cheese panini like the plague!
Totally inedible.
On the way back on the BA 439 had the ploughman's option which was so much better.
Totally inedible.
On the way back on the BA 439 had the ploughman's option which was so much better.
Jul 31, 2017, 3:30 pm
#1259
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,916
Any experiences of the Asian Veg or similar special meals on the medium bands? Trying to dodge the 'salad or stodge'. Got a lovely curry on AY recently - much better than the awful giant meatball on the outbound.
Jul 31, 2017, 11:52 pm
#1260
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: 30,546
There were reports towards the beginning showing all options (including Asian vegetarian and kids!) except kosher were one of two spml such as vegetarian sushi