BoB - Success, Failure or just head in the clouds?
Sep 1, 2018, 1:42 pm
#61
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 536
BoB pushed me from a frequent BA traveller (Gold based on short haul only) to a very rare BA traveller (blue, 2 flights this year). Switched mainly to EZY and Lufthansa for short haul, Emirates and Virgin for long-haul. The only regret I have is that I didn't switch earlier.
Sep 1, 2018, 1:55 pm
#62
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Spitalfields, London
Programs: BA Gold, KFC 'The Colonel's Club' Palladium tier, Mucci des Visions Célestes du Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Posts: 2,319
BoB pushed me from a frequent BA traveller (Gold based on short haul only) to a very rare BA traveller (blue, 2 flights this year). Switched mainly to EZY and Lufthansa for short haul, Emirates and Virgin for long-haul. The only regret I have is that I didn't switch earlier.
Sep 1, 2018, 3:12 pm
#64
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Sep 1, 2018, 3:32 pm
#65
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 943
To be honest it hasn't bothered me too much when I have flown BA and from GLA/EDI - LON because if I really wanted to have a G and T and the price is right I would go to LCY. One of the masterstrokes from BA was the free 2k avios at Xmas Time. For many leisure passengers this would have been their first experience of BoB and it meant they could do it for free.
A G and T on a Friday was always nice for me but not a necessity.
A G and T on a Friday was always nice for me but not a necessity.
Sep 1, 2018, 4:25 pm
#66
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,376
Having lounge access on short haul it doesnt matter that much to me. I might liberate a can of tonic and use that in conjunction with another purchased onboard with a couple of gins. Never had a need for food but they always have been available to purchase on my flights and a friend raves about the bacon roll and brown sauce on morning flights.
The thing i DO really miss is the honey nut trail mix that they used to serve pre BOB.
Sep 1, 2018, 5:33 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Toronto
Programs: BA Exec Club - Demoted to Bronze and re-promoted to Silver alongside AC Elite 50K (gold) in 2022
Posts: 393
I dislike it with a vengence and it puts me off using BA shorthaul. With a number of friends as crew, it was poorly implemented with an over ambitious menu and unreliable CC machines which crashed constantly. Either they'd run out of food, or too slow to complete the cabin. I can't see how anyone can honestly say BOB is a good expericene (unless you're in the first row of economy)
The carts block the aisle for longer and the whole cabin always appears subdued.
Air Canada has the right balance, which is T&C, juice and water is available for free with pretzels or a buscuit for domestic and US with one, two or three runs depending on the length. Booze and grub is available for purchase but it's not good quality.
I miss my drink on the BA flight, and a snack - it differentiated it for me from LCC carriers. I didn't see prices reduce when BOB was introduced, and personally - I fly a full service airline every time. An allocated seat, bag included, drinks and a snack all make the journey hassle free. I really can't be arsed to mess about with add ons with a LCC carrier - that may be a personal preference. I don't accept the BA argument that BOB improves the quality of the food. It may improve choice (assuming there is any left) but the quality of included food is always in the control of the carrier. (ie spend some of your profits in enhancing the in flight experience that cuts cuts cuts.)
This sort of decision is exactly why BA's 4 star skytrax award remains under review
The carts block the aisle for longer and the whole cabin always appears subdued.
Air Canada has the right balance, which is T&C, juice and water is available for free with pretzels or a buscuit for domestic and US with one, two or three runs depending on the length. Booze and grub is available for purchase but it's not good quality.
I miss my drink on the BA flight, and a snack - it differentiated it for me from LCC carriers. I didn't see prices reduce when BOB was introduced, and personally - I fly a full service airline every time. An allocated seat, bag included, drinks and a snack all make the journey hassle free. I really can't be arsed to mess about with add ons with a LCC carrier - that may be a personal preference. I don't accept the BA argument that BOB improves the quality of the food. It may improve choice (assuming there is any left) but the quality of included food is always in the control of the carrier. (ie spend some of your profits in enhancing the in flight experience that cuts cuts cuts.)
This sort of decision is exactly why BA's 4 star skytrax award remains under review
Sep 1, 2018, 5:37 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Toronto
Programs: BA Exec Club - Demoted to Bronze and re-promoted to Silver alongside AC Elite 50K (gold) in 2022
Posts: 393
Addendum. I do as others do now, and lift snacks from the lounge for the flight. Not ideal, and I feel embaressed doing it, but as an exec member I see it as part of the hard earned perks
I was briefly heartened to see that BA were considering providing Exec members with free T&C but it's not happened and would divide the cabin if the person either side got a coffee, but you had to pay!
And using avois for BOB makes no sense whatsoever to the majority of club members who pay top dollars for the avois only to fritter them on refereshments
I was briefly heartened to see that BA were considering providing Exec members with free T&C but it's not happened and would divide the cabin if the person either side got a coffee, but you had to pay!
And using avois for BOB makes no sense whatsoever to the majority of club members who pay top dollars for the avois only to fritter them on refereshments
Sep 1, 2018, 6:02 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,433
Like all of BA’s changes or failure to invest in the last 5 or so years, it has just made me less likely to pick them. Once when planning I would look at BA prices and if OK book. Now I Skyscanner/Google Flights/ITA and pick from there. Might be BA, but more likely to be EasyJet (cleaner planes, better on time performance IME, nicer crews, more consistent BOB) or any other carrier apart from FR.
So a failure for them for me a customer as I have become more rational and less loyal, despite the merits or not of LTG.
So a failure for them for me a customer as I have become more rational and less loyal, despite the merits or not of LTG.
Sep 1, 2018, 7:10 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,379
I dislike it with a vengence and it puts me off using BA shorthaul. With a number of friends as crew, it was poorly implemented with an over ambitious menu and unreliable CC machines which crashed constantly. Either they'd run out of food, or too slow to complete the cabin. I can't see how anyone can honestly say BOB is a good expericene (unless you're in the first row of economy)
The carts block the aisle for longer and the whole cabin always appears subdued.
Air Canada has the right balance, which is T&C, juice and water is available for free with pretzels or a buscuit for domestic and US with one, two or three runs depending on the length. Booze and grub is available for purchase but it's not good quality.
I miss my drink on the BA flight, and a snack - it differentiated it for me from LCC carriers. I didn't see prices reduce when BOB was introduced, and personally - I fly a full service airline every time. An allocated seat, bag included, drinks and a snack all make the journey hassle free. I really can't be arsed to mess about with add ons with a LCC carrier - that may be a personal preference. I don't accept the BA argument that BOB improves the quality of the food. It may improve choice (assuming there is any left) but the quality of included food is always in the control of the carrier. (ie spend some of your profits in enhancing the in flight experience that cuts cuts cuts.)
This sort of decision is exactly why BA's 4 star skytrax award remains under review
The carts block the aisle for longer and the whole cabin always appears subdued.
Air Canada has the right balance, which is T&C, juice and water is available for free with pretzels or a buscuit for domestic and US with one, two or three runs depending on the length. Booze and grub is available for purchase but it's not good quality.
I miss my drink on the BA flight, and a snack - it differentiated it for me from LCC carriers. I didn't see prices reduce when BOB was introduced, and personally - I fly a full service airline every time. An allocated seat, bag included, drinks and a snack all make the journey hassle free. I really can't be arsed to mess about with add ons with a LCC carrier - that may be a personal preference. I don't accept the BA argument that BOB improves the quality of the food. It may improve choice (assuming there is any left) but the quality of included food is always in the control of the carrier. (ie spend some of your profits in enhancing the in flight experience that cuts cuts cuts.)
This sort of decision is exactly why BA's 4 star skytrax award remains under review
I think people on here are slowly accepting the inevitable, but you are ENORMOUSLY outnumbered by the people who would rather have a £5 cheaper flight than get a free drink on board. While you haven't noticed prices falling, I have. I've shifted from almost exclusively LCC within Europe to using BA roughly half the time (which basically is a LCC now I know). Bad news for you, but it seems I'm exactly the kind of customer BA is trying to attract!
As for Skytrax ratings, you lose all credibility if you think they mean anything!
Sep 1, 2018, 7:27 pm
#71
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
£5 sounds like the CE cost. I doubt economy was more than £2.
Sep 1, 2018, 7:42 pm
#72
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I know you guys felt I exaggerated saying how miserable flying BA is after BOB, but almost all of my BA flights are to Greece which are 4 hours or so. I like to eat on a 4 hour flight!
Its a disgrace. A stingy sandwich does not fill me up. I want a hot meal and LH/LX provide me one on a flight that long!
Its not even the money as I just add 40 GBP to the cost of a BA return to balance it out vs. LH Group.
Its a disgrace. A stingy sandwich does not fill me up. I want a hot meal and LH/LX provide me one on a flight that long!
Its not even the money as I just add 40 GBP to the cost of a BA return to balance it out vs. LH Group.
You don't get a hot meal in Y on LH/LX to LHR anyway (not even in J for that matter, from memory, at least not on a lot of flights?), and I don't think you get a hot meal in Y to ATH on LH or LX either?
If you are talking about J, you certainly get a 4-course meal including the hot main on BA. So why not book that instead? You also could get something semi-hot on BoB from what I understood?
Sep 1, 2018, 10:30 pm
#74
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
I see no problem with doing that and I expect that doing so will become increasingly popular amongst leisure traveller although since my sandwich triggered the alarm at security I no longer buy Tesco's tuna chunks.
On the broader point, in not so many years the concept of free meals on short haul flights will become 1 of those things that your parents include in their "things were better back them" tales.
On the broader point, in not so many years the concept of free meals on short haul flights will become 1 of those things that your parents include in their "things were better back them" tales.
Sep 1, 2018, 10:55 pm
#75
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: 30,520
Bear in mind many people merely order a glass of juice or water or a coffee, and almost everyone will limit themselves to that sort of thing on morning flights.