CE Catering
Nov 8, 2017, 7:59 am
#31
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Scots girl in London
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 257
terrible customer service.
Nov 8, 2017, 8:02 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: EDI, and often LHR, DOH and PVG, OPO or AMS - or just about anywhere else...
Programs: BA Silver (soft-drop now I moved all longhauls away), KLM Gold, Emirates Gold, and others
Posts: 83
Thanks for this - I'll give them a call and do the same. I'm not so fussed about compensation as such, but I'd like BA to stop this for others... It's just really ignorant behaviour for an airline. They shouldn't sell what they already know they can't provide.
Nov 8, 2017, 8:02 am
#33
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
I can't understand the BA mentality that decides the marginal extra cost of providing an M&S choice isn't worthwhile to help build customer satisfaction. I've AUPed on inbound legs quite often (although not sure if they have time to adjust catering even on ex-LON), very occasionally been told there may be no catering on board for me, but about 80% of the time there has been food anyway so if the M&S option was offered to cover missing meals it would only come into play occasionally IME.
Only downside I can see is that other J pax may see one of their number eating M&S and then grumble that they would prefer that option as well. Two possible solutions to that would be:
Only downside I can see is that other J pax may see one of their number eating M&S and then grumble that they would prefer that option as well. Two possible solutions to that would be:
- CSM to offer highest status pax in CE an M&S choice to free up a standard meal, so most valued pax at least are happier;
- BA to give up on the largely enjoyable but ultimately repetitive CE meals to offer complimentary M&S instead.
Nov 8, 2017, 8:03 am
#34
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
The product they paid is not a meal or not just a meal. But, again, let other people decide for themselves what they want to pay for. Not many would say that not getting a meal is not getting the product they paid for. Someone who finds a meal important may choose to fly in economy or travel on a different flight, while someone who does not care a bit about a meal may choose to fly on that particular flight with no meal. Everyone's happy.
Nov 8, 2017, 8:05 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,258
Completely agree. Surely once a month / quarter BA receives it's kick back from the sales. Why not just reduce this amount by any freebies given away. Doesn't seem too far fetched. Customer who receives freebie signs off on point of sale machine. Done
Nov 8, 2017, 8:16 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold and Virgin Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 42
Their catering is poor
To be fair not getting a meal on a BA flight is no great loss. The whole catering dept needs sacked. Its the same rubbish week in week out. One of the current offerings is chicken with coronation dressing and chicken without it. Seriously it's good protein but is that the best they can come up with!
Not strictly for this thread but the lounge catering is a shocker. It's been the same menu for who knows how many years!! When you are there every week its mundane and tasteless.
Not strictly for this thread but the lounge catering is a shocker. It's been the same menu for who knows how many years!! When you are there every week its mundane and tasteless.
Nov 8, 2017, 8:23 am
#37
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
It wasn't due to a late booking - there was no catering for any business class passengers. Having said that, LH short haul catering for that length of flight is not suitable for those who are hungry so I don't think I missed much.
Even though the catering is not the reason why I book CE (guaranteed empty middle seat is the reason), I do think BA should over cater a bit to account for late booking passengers.
Nov 8, 2017, 10:46 am
#39
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
On a contrary data point, I booked a GLA-LHR sector a few months ago just over 3 hours prior to departure. Full catering was loaded for me (both options), despite being the only CE passenger on it - crew advised that it was brought to the plane just prior to departure from LHR. The reports of no catering being loaded were certainly around then so was pleasantly surprised...
Last edited by Beaulieu; Nov 8, 2017 at 10:54 am
Nov 8, 2017, 10:51 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
So have I, although it was LHR-MUC and it was at a meal time. No automatic compensation and I couldn't be bothered asking for any so I put it down to experience, like "rubbish happens", as LH was pretty good to me overall.
It wasn't due to a late booking - there was no catering for any business class passengers. Having said that, LH short haul catering for that length of flight is not suitable for those who are hungry so I don't think I missed much.
Even though the catering is not the reason why I book CE (guaranteed empty middle seat is the reason), I do think BA should over cater a bit to account for late booking passengers.
It wasn't due to a late booking - there was no catering for any business class passengers. Having said that, LH short haul catering for that length of flight is not suitable for those who are hungry so I don't think I missed much.
Even though the catering is not the reason why I book CE (guaranteed empty middle seat is the reason), I do think BA should over cater a bit to account for late booking passengers.
What BA is doing is not normal or ok.
Nov 8, 2017, 11:18 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: HKG
Programs: BA GGL & CCR
Posts: 600
This happened to me on Air France last month... They always have contingency non-perishable business meals on hand, nothing I really like to be honest but something... foie gras, salmon terrine, some premium crackers, snack pack of dried fruit and nuts, chocolate/ Carmel tarts. Shows it can be done. Also offered €50 flight voucher or €25 for in flight duty free.
Seems I get treated better as a non-member on AF than as a gold, turning GGL/CCR holder this week on BA.
Seems I get treated better as a non-member on AF than as a gold, turning GGL/CCR holder this week on BA.
Nov 8, 2017, 11:22 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
This happened to me on Air France last month... They always have contingency non-perishable business meals on hand, nothing I really like to be honest but something... foie gras, salmon terrine, some premium crackers, snack pack of dried fruit and nuts, chocolate/ Carmel tarts. Shows it can be done. Also offered €50 flight voucher or €25 for in flight duty free.
Seems I get treated better as a non-member on AF than as a gold, turning GGL/CCR holder this week on BA.
Seems I get treated better as a non-member on AF than as a gold, turning GGL/CCR holder this week on BA.
Nov 8, 2017, 11:27 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: HKG
Programs: BA GGL & CCR
Posts: 600