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
Aug 11, 2017, 3:53 am
#1306
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,225
Just be careful what you write as that could be interpreted as you wishing for no meal on afternoon flights! I presume you'd rather it was lunch followed by dinner, or just a ubiquitous 'light meal'.
Aug 11, 2017, 5:28 am
#1307
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chelsea
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,226
I've personally given up expecting anything reasonable on the medium routes and just refuse the food. I only perservere with Club because I get a guaranteed free seat next to me and the free booze.
Aug 11, 2017, 5:49 am
#1308
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: A3*G,BA Silver
Posts: 2,010
LGW-BCN yesterday. Dinner options were either a 'chicken salad' or a HAM AND CHEESE TOAST? sorry for the rant...but seriously? ham and cheese toast? When i first saw it i thought its for 2 kids that were seating behind me but then i realise its one of the options! i had the chicken salad. The quantity was more like a starter on A3 flights.
Aug 11, 2017, 5:53 am
#1309
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: 63,698
My personal suggested 'tweaking' would still be that medium band should get, say, only the main dish from the long menu plus a small fruit cup or dessert pot as all day. That way, domestic and short would get the hot sandwich/salad option, medium would get hot dish and dessert pot, long would get the full meal with starter, choice of main, cheese, and dessert. I think that would be a more balanced progression between bands.
I fully agree with this. The meals on the medium band (Barcelona, Madrid etc) have seen a significant downgrade with the new catering - perhaps if as stated above the decision maker responsible at BA reads Flyertalk, they could take note of the many comments on this specific point.
Aug 11, 2017, 6:07 am
#1310
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 844
LGW-BCN yesterday. Dinner options were either a 'chicken salad' or a HAM AND CHEESE TOAST? sorry for the rant...but seriously? ham and cheese toast? When i first saw it i thought its for 2 kids that were seating behind me but then i realise its one of the options! i had the chicken salad. The quantity was more like a starter on A3 flights.
I would also agree with this, in addition to being a single tray, single service meal, I would also compromise away the pre drink service if timekeeping on the shorter mediums was considered a blocker here. The advantage to BA would be to reduce the complexity of the medium service to just "breakfast" and "rest of the day". If BA were to do this, a lot of the criticism of the CE changes would go away.
Aug 11, 2017, 6:26 am
#1311
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 30 miles from London
Programs: BAEC Gold, MUCCI, Elite Fan of MO, ALL Accor Live Gold
Posts: 1,480
0950 departure to PRG do they still serve breakfast in CE at this time? I hope not!
Aug 11, 2017, 6:27 am
#1312
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: 63,698
Aug 11, 2017, 6:45 am
#1313
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,225
I would also agree with this, in addition to being a single tray, single service meal, I would also compromise away the pre drink service if timekeeping on the shorter mediums was considered a blocker here. The advantage to BA would be to reduce the complexity of the medium service to just "breakfast" and "rest of the day". If BA were to do this, a lot of the criticism of the CE changes would go away.
This is pure cost cutting.
Aug 11, 2017, 7:26 am
#1314
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 30 miles from London
Programs: BAEC Gold, MUCCI, Elite Fan of MO, ALL Accor Live Gold
Posts: 1,480
Aug 11, 2017, 9:44 am
#1315
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: 30,494
I would also agree with this, in addition to being a single tray, single service meal, I would also compromise away the pre drink service if timekeeping on the shorter mediums was considered a blocker here. The advantage to BA would be to reduce the complexity of the medium service to just "breakfast" and "rest of the day". If BA were to do this, a lot of the criticism of the CE changes would go away.
Aug 11, 2017, 4:51 pm
#1316
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,980
I've done quite a few CE sectors recently and am getting fed up with this silly chicken on chicken with more chicken salad. I'm sure it's not actually been around that long, but because I've had it so often it seems like it's the only CE meal around. Maybe they could diversify a bit- maybe add a chicken wing and a piece of fried chicken. You could even have a China theme and a chicken's foot.
Any idea when the next rotation of meals is? Maybe they can do a beef with beef mince and more beef salad. Will make a nice change.
Next time I might have to go with the microwave pizza instead #premiummyarse
Any idea when the next rotation of meals is? Maybe they can do a beef with beef mince and more beef salad. Will make a nice change.
Next time I might have to go with the microwave pizza instead #premiummyarse
Aug 11, 2017, 5:37 pm
#1317
formerly southsidesilver
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego,CA
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 996
I think if they actually unpacked the sandwiches and put them on the plate for you, that would go a long way in making it look a bit better.
Aug 12, 2017, 7:29 am
#1318
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 796
I can't remember whether the Victoria Sponge also had this plastic cover, but in any case, nothing on the tray was wrapped in plastic.
Aug 12, 2017, 8:03 am
#1319
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,367
So I'm on the 2000 MAN LHR on Friday is the special meal in CE still tomato and mozzarella and what am I likely to get otherwise,.. it's so confusing reading this thread,
Aug 12, 2017, 8:08 am
#1320
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: 63,698
On my CE flight, the sandwiches were not wrapped in plastic. The plates had the plastic cover on it, which the crew removed before serving the tray.
I can't remember whether the Victoria Sponge also had this plastic cover, but in any case, nothing on the tray was wrapped in plastic.
I can't remember whether the Victoria Sponge also had this plastic cover, but in any case, nothing on the tray was wrapped in plastic.
