BA178 (Daylight JFK-LHR) CW Meal Service
Oct 19, 2018, 6:48 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London N8
Programs: BA (LTG), Miles&More (whatever the lowest level is), Oyster card (zones 1-2)
Posts: 891
I d this flight about once a month - I love the timings. I think the food is completely appropriate - I want something substantial after take off and then something light just before I land. So I think they are right on this one.
Oct 19, 2018, 7:33 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: KSA
Programs: BA LTG, UA Gold, EK Silver, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,242
The point IS that you can eat at the airport and/or in the lounge and therefore don't necessarily want to eat another meal on board so soon. If you pass on (board) breakfast you get almost nothing since you had breakfast in the lounge until you get off or reach your destination.
Oct 19, 2018, 7:44 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,839
we can all speculate why this might be, but I’m not certain its customer preferences at play...
Oct 19, 2018, 7:56 am
#35
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,930
The point IS that you can eat at the airport and/or in the lounge and therefore don't necessarily want to eat another meal on board so soon. If you pass on (board) breakfast you get almost nothing since you had breakfast in the lounge until you get off or reach your destination.
Oct 19, 2018, 7:57 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,657
This is a really difficult flight to cater for. You have around 6 hours from pushback, so in reality the crew probably only has around 5 hours from being released after take-off to having to secure the cabin for landing to prepare two meals whilst also dealing with all the other service requirements of a cabin that's more likely to be awake. There's therefore much less 'dead' time when passengers are sleeping on the evening flights to prepare the meals for the following morning.
It seems, to me, perfectly logical to have breakfast as the first meal - for that morning flight there's going to be many people who arrive at the airport as late as possible and actually don't have time for breakfast in the lounge. At somewhere around 9.30am local time you're unlikely to want a full-blown three course midday or evening meal.
So when the next meal arrives 3 or so hours later, it's around lunchtime in NYC and early teatime in the UK - and therein lies the real problem. Some people will want something light to tide them over until they reach their hotels or home in the early evening. Others will have longer journeys and will want something more substantial. You'd hope BA would be able to concoct a menu that offered both a substantial meal and something lighter, but instead you get a fudge which is Afternoon Tea which probably suits hardly anyone.
I don't know the logistics of offering something different, and maybe serving more than one type of meal in CW is just too difficult for the CC in the time available - perhaps that's something CIHY could comment on.
It seems, to me, perfectly logical to have breakfast as the first meal - for that morning flight there's going to be many people who arrive at the airport as late as possible and actually don't have time for breakfast in the lounge. At somewhere around 9.30am local time you're unlikely to want a full-blown three course midday or evening meal.
So when the next meal arrives 3 or so hours later, it's around lunchtime in NYC and early teatime in the UK - and therein lies the real problem. Some people will want something light to tide them over until they reach their hotels or home in the early evening. Others will have longer journeys and will want something more substantial. You'd hope BA would be able to concoct a menu that offered both a substantial meal and something lighter, but instead you get a fudge which is Afternoon Tea which probably suits hardly anyone.
I don't know the logistics of offering something different, and maybe serving more than one type of meal in CW is just too difficult for the CC in the time available - perhaps that's something CIHY could comment on.
They serve a hot breakfast after boarding, for example an omelette, fruit, pastries and yogurt, but all one one tray.
Then around ninety minutes before landing, a full dinner service with starters, salad, main course, cheese, then pudding.
Easy.
Oct 19, 2018, 9:22 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, HHonours, SPG, AVIS
Posts: 527
I flew with BA on the BA122 Doha-LHR in J, flight departure at 08:30 I think or thereabouts, and I was surprised to be served lunch at 09:30 when I was hoping for a full English. Obviously this was in the days before the flight was regularly cancelled.
I can't see BA moving to dine on demand, which if offered would get around the OPs issues
I can't see BA moving to dine on demand, which if offered would get around the OPs issues
Oct 19, 2018, 9:25 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,107
There is no logistic reason to serve the meals the way we do or cost reasons but it is based on the time of departure time, if people choose to pig themselves in the lounge and eat too much before boarding it is the same as doing the same ex LHR before lunch is served.
It seems to me that some people cannot exercise restraint.
It seems to me that some people cannot exercise restraint.
Oct 19, 2018, 9:31 am
#39
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,238
i never eat breakfast on BA longhauls, mostly because i find it unimpressive as i do with pretty much every airline breakfast. too much dairy and bread across the board.
while i do love the day flight, yes the bfast-only thing is quite annoying because i'd rather have a lunch meal to get on london time, knowing by the time i get home it will be late evening.
but i am exactly the example of "no matter how it is done," it will never be to the liking of everyone!
...so i just stuff as many bags of crisps from the lounge my bag will carry! (kidding)
while i do love the day flight, yes the bfast-only thing is quite annoying because i'd rather have a lunch meal to get on london time, knowing by the time i get home it will be late evening.
but i am exactly the example of "no matter how it is done," it will never be to the liking of everyone!
...so i just stuff as many bags of crisps from the lounge my bag will carry! (kidding)
Oct 19, 2018, 9:54 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
I've always argued that these types of flights should be "Brunch" flights, a meal similar-sized to lunch/dinner which can be served in courses. Years ago, AA did an excellent job of this on international daytime flights in all classes of service. (F/J/Y).
Oct 19, 2018, 10:04 am
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
There are threads on this but not recently. We flew the 178 in May and unfortunately are booked to fly the same flight in November
Has anyone more recent experience since May? Are BA still offering only breakfast, no main meal? Flight departs at 0805 so pax will have been at JFK for a couple of hours and passed the time I assume, as we did, with breakfast in the lounge. An hour or two after take-off, a meal appears. Breakfast. Then nothing till shortly before arrival when a ridiculous offering called "afternoon tea" appears, three miniature sandwiches and three equally miniature dolls house size cakes.
By the time you're through immigration and baggage claim if you've checked luggage, it's 8.00 or even 9.00, you've missed lunch by NYC time, and lunch and evening meal by UK time. In contrast, last month we flew Aegean Air, shorter flight, smaller airline but nevertheless we had a quite reasonable four-course meal on each flight.
Has BA178 CW changed? Please tell me it has!
Has anyone more recent experience since May? Are BA still offering only breakfast, no main meal? Flight departs at 0805 so pax will have been at JFK for a couple of hours and passed the time I assume, as we did, with breakfast in the lounge. An hour or two after take-off, a meal appears. Breakfast. Then nothing till shortly before arrival when a ridiculous offering called "afternoon tea" appears, three miniature sandwiches and three equally miniature dolls house size cakes.
By the time you're through immigration and baggage claim if you've checked luggage, it's 8.00 or even 9.00, you've missed lunch by NYC time, and lunch and evening meal by UK time. In contrast, last month we flew Aegean Air, shorter flight, smaller airline but nevertheless we had a quite reasonable four-course meal on each flight.
Has BA178 CW changed? Please tell me it has!
The flight departs at 7:55 AM. That is breakfast time in most of the world.
If service begins as late as 8:55 AM, that is still breakfast time in most of the world.
If one is at JFK by 6:30 AM and left home / hotel at 5:30 AM to make it to the airport, it is unlikely that one has eaten much and it is equally unlikely that one will arise even earlier to spend time in a lounge.
This seems a rational meal service for a flight at this time. One may fly later in the day or at night as well.
Oct 19, 2018, 10:12 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,112
The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent British Airways’ positions, strategies or opinions
(even though you are right, I'm sure there's plenty of food and I can't believe most people here have never had an all-day breakfast at midday and survived just fine)
Oct 19, 2018, 10:29 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 42
Thank you CIHY for telling me that I am pathetic, pig myself and cannot exercise restraint. FYI I had a modest offering from memory of fruit and yogurt in the lounge. Like many others, I dislike breakfast on board and for me, it's too early in the flight.
My choice would have been coffee and maybe if anyone requires it something tiny (the mini sandwiches from afternoon tea?) but otherwise nothing till a main meal a couple of hours before landing.
We were trialling BA after many, many flights with VS; back to VS for us I think.
My choice would have been coffee and maybe if anyone requires it something tiny (the mini sandwiches from afternoon tea?) but otherwise nothing till a main meal a couple of hours before landing.
We were trialling BA after many, many flights with VS; back to VS for us I think.
Oct 19, 2018, 10:31 am
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
This is a really difficult flight to cater for. You have around 6 hours from pushback, so in reality the crew probably only has around 5 hours from being released after take-off to having to secure the cabin for landing to prepare two meals whilst also dealing with all the other service requirements of a cabin that's more likely to be awake. There's therefore much less 'dead' time when passengers are sleeping on the evening flights to prepare the meals for the following morning.
It seems, to me, perfectly logical to have breakfast as the first meal - for that morning flight there's going to be many people who arrive at the airport as late as possible and actually don't have time for breakfast in the lounge. At somewhere around 9.30am local time you're unlikely to want a full-blown three course midday or evening meal.
So when the next meal arrives 3 or so hours later, it's around lunchtime in NYC and early teatime in the UK - and therein lies the real problem. Some people will want something light to tide them over until they reach their hotels or home in the early evening. Others will have longer journeys and will want something more substantial. You'd hope BA would be able to concoct a menu that offered both a substantial meal and something lighter, but instead you get a fudge which is Afternoon Tea which probably suits hardly anyone.
I don't know the logistics of offering something different, and maybe serving more than one type of meal in CW is just too difficult for the CC in the time available - perhaps that's something CIHY could comment on.
It seems, to me, perfectly logical to have breakfast as the first meal - for that morning flight there's going to be many people who arrive at the airport as late as possible and actually don't have time for breakfast in the lounge. At somewhere around 9.30am local time you're unlikely to want a full-blown three course midday or evening meal.
So when the next meal arrives 3 or so hours later, it's around lunchtime in NYC and early teatime in the UK - and therein lies the real problem. Some people will want something light to tide them over until they reach their hotels or home in the early evening. Others will have longer journeys and will want something more substantial. You'd hope BA would be able to concoct a menu that offered both a substantial meal and something lighter, but instead you get a fudge which is Afternoon Tea which probably suits hardly anyone.
I don't know the logistics of offering something different, and maybe serving more than one type of meal in CW is just too difficult for the CC in the time available - perhaps that's something CIHY could comment on.
Virgin manage just fine on their competing flight. As do AA on the slightly later AA142.
the catering is a BA problem not a systemic one. Nothing new there then!