Jan 19, 2018, 5:19 pm
Last edit by: makin'miles
New Club World Service 2017
Effective July 6, 2018, new bedding products expected to be on all Club World flights, worldwide (including LHR, LGW and LCY services).
New catering and bedding
Routes on which the new catering and bedding are in operation.
Launched October 2017
London Heathrow - New York JFK
Launched February 2018 (all from London Heathrow LHR):
Boston (BOS), Baltimore (BWI), Dubai (DXB), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington (IAD), Hong Kong (HKG)
Launched March 2018 (LHR)
San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), San José (SJC), San Diego (SAN). Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), Seychelles (SEZ from 25 March)
Launched 4 April 2018 (LHR)
Houston (IAH), Miami (MIA), Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), New Orleans (MSY).
Launched 1 May 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched on DEN, ATL, SEA, YVR)
Denver (DEN), Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Nassau-Grand Cayman (NAS-GCM), Seattle (SEA), Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), Nashville (BNA)
Launched 17 May 2018 (LHR) - (Catering previously launched on ORD, YUL, YYZ)
Toronto (YYZ), Montréal (YUL), Chicago (ORD)
Launched 1 July 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched on CPT, JNB, SIN, SIN-SYD)
Cape Town (CPT), Johannesburg (JNB), Singapore (SIN), Singapore-Sydney (SIN-SYD)
Launched 1 August 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH)
Launched 1 September 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Delhi (DEL), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT)
Launched 1 October 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Buenos Aires (EZE), Jeddah (JED), Mexico City (MEX), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Riyadh (RUH), Santiago (SCL), Sao Paulo (GRU), Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Launched 28 October 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Abuja (ABV), Accra (ACC), Bangkok (BKK), Bangalore (BLR), Beijing (PEK), Chennai (MAA), Hyderabad (HYD), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Lagos (LOS), Mumbai (BOM), Nairobi (NBO), Shanghai (PVG)
Launched 2018
London City (LCY) - New York (JFK)
Bedding only routes (as of 31 May 2018)
Bedding now launched on all LHR services
AMM, BEY, CAI, DME, DOH, ICN, IKA, LAD, TLV (IKA and LAD routes subsequently terminated; catering on remaining LHR routes expected to launch in December 2018).
LGW routes: White Company products expected to be on all LGW flights effective 06 July 2018, at which time all Club World routes worldwide will feature the new bedding product (see post 1367). Reports that new bedding loaded on LGW-JFK in late June (see post 1349).
Effective July 6, 2018, new bedding products expected to be on all Club World flights, worldwide (including LHR, LGW and LCY services).
New catering and bedding
Routes on which the new catering and bedding are in operation.
Launched October 2017
London Heathrow - New York JFK
Launched February 2018 (all from London Heathrow LHR):
Boston (BOS), Baltimore (BWI), Dubai (DXB), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington (IAD), Hong Kong (HKG)
Launched March 2018 (LHR)
San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), San José (SJC), San Diego (SAN). Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), Seychelles (SEZ from 25 March)
Launched 4 April 2018 (LHR)
Houston (IAH), Miami (MIA), Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), New Orleans (MSY).
Launched 1 May 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched on DEN, ATL, SEA, YVR)
Denver (DEN), Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Nassau-Grand Cayman (NAS-GCM), Seattle (SEA), Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), Nashville (BNA)
Launched 17 May 2018 (LHR) - (Catering previously launched on ORD, YUL, YYZ)
Toronto (YYZ), Montréal (YUL), Chicago (ORD)
Launched 1 July 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched on CPT, JNB, SIN, SIN-SYD)
Cape Town (CPT), Johannesburg (JNB), Singapore (SIN), Singapore-Sydney (SIN-SYD)
Launched 1 August 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH)
Launched 1 September 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Delhi (DEL), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT)
Launched 1 October 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Buenos Aires (EZE), Jeddah (JED), Mexico City (MEX), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Riyadh (RUH), Santiago (SCL), Sao Paulo (GRU), Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Launched 28 October 2018 (LHR) - (Bedding previously launched)
Abuja (ABV), Accra (ACC), Bangkok (BKK), Bangalore (BLR), Beijing (PEK), Chennai (MAA), Hyderabad (HYD), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Lagos (LOS), Mumbai (BOM), Nairobi (NBO), Shanghai (PVG)
Launched 2018
London City (LCY) - New York (JFK)
Bedding only routes (as of 31 May 2018)
Bedding now launched on all LHR services
AMM, BEY, CAI, DME, DOH, ICN, IKA, LAD, TLV (IKA and LAD routes subsequently terminated; catering on remaining LHR routes expected to launch in December 2018).
LGW routes: White Company products expected to be on all LGW flights effective 06 July 2018, at which time all Club World routes worldwide will feature the new bedding product (see post 1367). Reports that new bedding loaded on LGW-JFK in late June (see post 1349).
New Club World Service 2017 - catering and bedding – experiences and reactions
Oct 4, 2018, 11:34 am
#1546
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 947
Bit of a waste of time really - but it wont be missed as my recent LHR>YVR service was truly terrible and very very slow. And as a mostly window seat taker i wont notice the missing trolley as its pretty hard to see when going backwards with the screen divider up or the aisle person sat in the way.
I like the bigger glass but i dont like the 'lets skimp on the G&T and give you a half measure', i also dont like the service standard of serving a sniff (it was about a fingers worth) of welcome champagne but in a bigger glass either (so it looks even more ridiculously tight of BA).
And is it me or has dessert shrunk to the size of an ant and looks like its served in those dishes which you used to get on an economy tray???
I like the bigger glass but i dont like the 'lets skimp on the G&T and give you a half measure', i also dont like the service standard of serving a sniff (it was about a fingers worth) of welcome champagne but in a bigger glass either (so it looks even more ridiculously tight of BA).
And is it me or has dessert shrunk to the size of an ant and looks like its served in those dishes which you used to get on an economy tray???
Oct 4, 2018, 12:18 pm
#1547
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chelsea
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,227
It certainly appears a rather farcical way to run things. Bit like the relaunch of CE catering only to be re-relaunched within eighteen months. That said, the quality of CE catering is streets ahead of where it was before and, whilst I’ve yet to experience the new CW catering, by most accounts it too is way ahead of the previous offering so I look forward to sampling it next month, albeit hand run from the galley.
NB: does this change mean we’ll get full size/strength gin and tonics? I can’t be doing with any half(-ar**d) measures.
NB: does this change mean we’ll get full size/strength gin and tonics? I can’t be doing with any half(-ar**d) measures.
Oct 4, 2018, 12:33 pm
#1548
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,097
I don't have a full understanding of the work involved in setting up the trolley, but as a passenger I will miss the ability to see both starters and desserts and then choose what I'd like. I find some BA menu descriptions to be overly verbose and "posh" - so I'm not always entirely sure what's on offer: the trolley helped with that a lot.
Oct 4, 2018, 4:08 pm
#1550
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 85
The change to premixing drinks was to reduce clutter in the cabin, and the standard is to use half a minuture as this is a 25cl measure. No cost cutting involved.
Oct 4, 2018, 7:41 pm
#1551
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Will this slow things down, particularly for drinks? I would have thought a drinks trolley would speed up service - no running up and down the aisle multiple times. Just ask what the passsenger wants and serve it straight away.
Oct 5, 2018, 3:09 am
#1552
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,771
On my PHX do flights in Aug/Sep the trolley made no appearance anyway.
Oct 5, 2018, 3:31 am
#1553
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
Indeed on the majority of flights that were lightly loaded in CW that I've taken, the crew just didn't bother with the trolleys. I personally don't mind whether there is a trolley or not tbh, provided that they make clear you may have more than one starter/desert if there are extra. Keeping in style with the "restaurant" service they are trying to roll out.
Oct 5, 2018, 3:36 am
#1554
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Somewhat in the manner of a special holiday that comes to an end all-too-soon, the revamped trolley-based presentation - a core element of what was considered a huge transformation to CW catering standards - didn’t survive very long.
Oh well ...... it was nice whilst it lasted.
It’s now just over one year since the service was launched with great fanfare - and to widespread praise & acclaim - on Sept 1 2017. There was of course no little pride on the part of BA management, as evident from the new menu narrative, which gushed enthusiastically that the food would now be “all brought to you in a new style that we hope will make your flight an unforgettable experience"
There were no less than fifteen months of backroom research & planning even before the new-style catering actually went live. During this time the logistics, the onboard practicalities - and indeed the entire concept - were (presumably ?) researched in great detail by a dedicated project team. After so much meticulous pre-launch advance preparation, one might have been tempted to think ..... ‘what could possibly go wrong ‘?
A disappointing development, it must be said. Hopefully the improvements in actual quality of food will be maintained, although that remains to be seen ; but meanwhile, it would appear that a fair bit of time & money has been wasted.
Oct 5, 2018, 5:40 am
#1555
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Programs: Tufty Club (Gold), BAGA Gymnastics level 4, 440yds swimming certificate
Posts: 2,533
Back to how it was before then, but with one fewer main course to choose from. BA at its best.
And who on earth thinks hand running things is an improvement. some of the larger legacy ladies thumping up and down the cabin more often? No thanks.
And who on earth thinks hand running things is an improvement. some of the larger legacy ladies thumping up and down the cabin more often? No thanks.
Oct 5, 2018, 8:12 am
#1557
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 150
It will definitely be faster without the trolley. No more sitting with your empty tray and a bread roll for over half an hour whilst we assemble the most user unfriendly trollies in the galley.
Oct 5, 2018, 9:54 am
#1558
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
It will most likely be a “four corner” service flow now whereby two crew will start from the front of the cabin and two from the back working to meet.
It will definitely be faster without the trolley. No more sitting with your empty tray and a bread roll for over half an hour whilst we assemble the most user unfriendly trollies in the galley.
So JFK service was a disaster at the start but they ignored it and the feedback from frustrated regulars. They ignored the loss of regular customers to AA and ploughed on for a year. I have nt flown one CW sector for over a year because of it. Clearly it’s not just me as BA only listens to $$$$s.
How can a company take so long to admit it’s got it wrong? It was obvious a few weeks in, but clearly an office bound pen pusher knows more than passengers and crew.
next up new CW: a dumbed down version of Qatar 787-8 seat by all accounts. But no doubt with expensive modifications that reduce the comfort without any intention to take passenger or crew input
Oct 5, 2018, 10:32 am
#1560
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
Well, the way it was put to me is that imagine you are assembling a trolley with several hundred items on it, all with particular locations and layout specifications. Then imagine having to do that in a different kitchen every day of the week - where you can only guess where everything is stored, but can't be entirely certain. Plus the kitchen supplier every so often puts someone else's groceries into random locations. Over the years I've seen BA's crew assemble CW catering probably several hundred times, and yet if I had to volunteer to step in to replace an ailing crew member, I doubt there would be much food served before Newfoundland. It really is a lot more complex than it looks. It's a genuine pity they couldn't get the timings to work, in my view, there is/was something unique about the arrangement of the dessert trolley in particular which you don't get on other airlines but as with everything in aviation, time is of the essence.