Free drinks trial for BAEC Silver and Golds on selected short haul routes
Apr 3, 2018, 1:56 pm
#61
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
Nope: the flocking back in gratitude is something you have made up, to post here, and then get offended at. Flyer Talk never fails to amaze me.
Apr 3, 2018, 2:26 pm
#62
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 614
Just to clarify, this runs out tomorrow, on selected LHR-GVA flights that have less than a certain number of card holders in traveller. All BAEC Prem, GGL, Gold, and Silver card holders and one travelling companion will be offered a complimentary drink from the M&S range (excluding champagne).
Sounds good so far. Bear in mind no extra stock is being loaded on, so we have been running out of items irritating both those being offered a free item, and those wanting to pay. The process to record the complimentary items on the ipad is a faff, slowing the service down, meaning that there have been numerous reports of the BOB trolley not reaching the back of the cabin before the seatbelt signs being switched on. And as for time for duty free sales....... The rumours are that this is a trial to be rolled out network wide. Hopefully some soy chai latte sipping manager will listen to the feedback and streamline the whole service. We're still fighting with ipads that lose connection to the payment terminals and printers several times during the flight necessitating a hard reset. All we need is the tools to do the job we're asked to do.
Sounds good so far. Bear in mind no extra stock is being loaded on, so we have been running out of items irritating both those being offered a free item, and those wanting to pay. The process to record the complimentary items on the ipad is a faff, slowing the service down, meaning that there have been numerous reports of the BOB trolley not reaching the back of the cabin before the seatbelt signs being switched on. And as for time for duty free sales....... The rumours are that this is a trial to be rolled out network wide. Hopefully some soy chai latte sipping manager will listen to the feedback and streamline the whole service. We're still fighting with ipads that lose connection to the payment terminals and printers several times during the flight necessitating a hard reset. All we need is the tools to do the job we're asked to do.
Apr 3, 2018, 2:59 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,985
Apr 3, 2018, 4:01 pm
#65
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 689
They still haven't fixed problems experienced since day 1? Frankly that is rubbish.
Apr 3, 2018, 11:32 pm
#66
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
bwaflyer (#62) paints a revealing picture as to what is actually happening at the coalface (insufficient stocks loaded .... primitive methods for recording complimentary drinks ... continued payment processing issues ...... time constraints) ; all from the perspective of crew whose prime interest is in getting the job done effciently & professionally, whilst providing a good service to their customers.
In stark contrast, Sr. Cruz has (on more than one occasion, I’m fairly sure) declared BoB to be a great success ; all from the perspective of a CEO whose prime interest is to count his savings, and of course the extra money coming in from ET pax.
It’s a little depressing that 15 months from launch, these issues have still not been addressed.
In stark contrast, Sr. Cruz has (on more than one occasion, I’m fairly sure) declared BoB to be a great success ; all from the perspective of a CEO whose prime interest is to count his savings, and of course the extra money coming in from ET pax.
It’s a little depressing that 15 months from launch, these issues have still not been addressed.
Last edited by subject2load; Apr 3, 2018 at 11:39 pm
Apr 4, 2018, 2:02 am
#67
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
Apr 4, 2018, 3:17 am
#68
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Apr 4, 2018, 1:44 pm
#69
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Starbucks Gold,
Posts: 624
Just to clarify, this runs out tomorrow, on selected LHR-GVA flights that have less than a certain number of card holders in traveller. All BAEC Prem, GGL, Gold, and Silver card holders and one travelling companion will be offered a complimentary drink from the M&S range (excluding champagne).
Apr 4, 2018, 6:10 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2013
Location: YYZ/YTZ/YUL
Programs: BA Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 1,558
Elites know it’s coming, so a “Mr. Lorath, what can I get you” in AA speak means this is for free.
As oppose to an occasional CSM gold greeting along the lines of .... anything I can do to make your flight more comfortable....(is he offering me a kir royale from CW or not?)
Apr 4, 2018, 7:07 pm
#71
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
On Australia’s Jetstar*- which I sometimes use for a particular route not covered by Qantas - certain fare types (Maxi and/or Flex, think they’re called ....) include an “in-flight voucher” to be applied against the cost of food & drink from the trolley. You can also pay separately for such vouchers, at time of booking, if you’ve selected the very cheapest fare type.
IIRC the voucher entitlement is mentioned within the BP, but I soon discovered that you don’t actually need to present it onboard, simply because the FA’s are very adept at identifying eligible pax from seat numbers ; and then pro-actively offering a choice of F&B items. Works well, and means you don’t have to fiddle around for cash/cards.
(*am talking about their domestic network ... never used them for international, so no idea what happens there)
IIRC the voucher entitlement is mentioned within the BP, but I soon discovered that you don’t actually need to present it onboard, simply because the FA’s are very adept at identifying eligible pax from seat numbers ; and then pro-actively offering a choice of F&B items. Works well, and means you don’t have to fiddle around for cash/cards.
(*am talking about their domestic network ... never used them for international, so no idea what happens there)
Apr 4, 2018, 10:39 pm
#72
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: 30,541
On Australia’s Jetstar*- which I sometimes use for a particular route not covered by Qantas - certain fare types (Maxi and/or Flex, think they’re called ....) include an “in-flight voucher” to be applied against the cost of food & drink from the trolley. You can also pay separately for such vouchers, at time of booking, if you’ve selected the very cheapest fare type.
IIRC the voucher entitlement is mentioned within the BP, but I soon discovered that you don’t actually need to present it onboard, simply because the FA’s are very adept at identifying eligible pax from seat numbers ; and then pro-actively offering a choice of F&B items. Works well, and means you don’t have to fiddle around for cash/cards.
(*am talking about their domestic network ... never used them for international, so no idea what happens there)
IIRC the voucher entitlement is mentioned within the BP, but I soon discovered that you don’t actually need to present it onboard, simply because the FA’s are very adept at identifying eligible pax from seat numbers ; and then pro-actively offering a choice of F&B items. Works well, and means you don’t have to fiddle around for cash/cards.
(*am talking about their domestic network ... never used them for international, so no idea what happens there)
Quite frankly, the argument of technical difficulties/implementation is a complete non-starter, if there is will there is a way, and I hope that BA will confirm that there is a will.
Apr 5, 2018, 3:43 am
#73
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheltenham
Programs: KLM Plat for Life , BA Gold, HH Silver, (Other half Diamond), IHG Gold
Posts: 2,398
A little interesting comparison last week:
Flew Finnair LHR HEL return Economy HBO fare:
As a OWE allowed one check in bag.
Pre seat selection as per BA
Pro actively offered newspapers from business class on both sectors.
Personal greeting on both flights.
All Economy passengers get tea / coffee/ water/ bilberry juice. Emeralds proactively offered any other beverage from BOB menu including bottles of champagne normally charged at 15 euros as complimentary; appears on their ipads.
Even offered a second one on return flight.
Delightful crew.
Flew Finnair LHR HEL return Economy HBO fare:
As a OWE allowed one check in bag.
Pre seat selection as per BA
Pro actively offered newspapers from business class on both sectors.
Personal greeting on both flights.
All Economy passengers get tea / coffee/ water/ bilberry juice. Emeralds proactively offered any other beverage from BOB menu including bottles of champagne normally charged at 15 euros as complimentary; appears on their ipads.
Even offered a second one on return flight.
Delightful crew.
Apr 5, 2018, 8:10 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: CBG
Programs: BAEC Silver; M&M FT
Posts: 233
I've been offered a complementary drink on today's BA949, although it was presented as part of a 'Easter promotion' - did not go terribly well with the passenger next to me, who apparently was not included in the promotion and had just paid for her (identical) tea... a very nice gesture nonetheless, and it made me somewhat nostalgic about the good ol'times (read: free double G&Ts) ...
Apr 5, 2018, 8:48 am
#75
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold/ All the AMEX Plat things
Posts: 195
Last few flights to Helsinki/LHR on BA I have been offered any free drink and given a bottle of water on the BA0799. One time I asked for a bottle of water and when asked to pay the £1.80 reacted baffled and was given it after I explained that drinks had been complimentary on previous flights.