Catering levels in BA First Class
Sep 17, 2018, 9:26 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Surrey
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, Eurostar CB, IHG Spire, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 435
Same. Did they really not foresee the Wagyu beef option being more popular than the others? Every neighbouring seat to me got offered the CW beef instead. I consoled myself by thinking that it was probably a terrible cut that was then overcooked :P
Last edited by s1362083; Sep 17, 2018 at 9:27 am Reason: grammar
Sep 17, 2018, 9:29 am
#17
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I've never yet not had my first choice of main in F, except when I asked to be given "any of the (two or three options from the menu) left after everyone's chosen" when I am in an indecisive (or potentially generous) mood.
Sep 17, 2018, 9:31 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
I would pre-order if you fly ex-LHR... I have (unfortunately) had a few First flights when the first choice of meal wasn't offered... once from Tokyo, there were only 2 beefs offered for a cabin of 8... I am not saying it is the norm, but around 50-75% of flights I do not get my first choice in First...
Sep 17, 2018, 9:58 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Programs: AVIS presidents club, BA GGL, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 277
Still amazes me that they don’t fully cater for everything in F. Word of advice though. Make sure that if you do want a second meal later in the Flight (rather than afternoon tea for instance) ask the crew to set it aside for you otherwise the rest of the meals, incorrectly in my opinion, get eaten by the cabin crew 🙄 You’ve paid for the ticket, therefore the meals are for you.
Sep 17, 2018, 10:07 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,642
The context is that this is usually on midnight departures from the Far East, on which I know that I'm likely to wake up at something like 3 am London time, feeling like I fancy some lunch.
I don't fly First as often as many here, but I've never yet not had my first choices whether eating at the beginning of the flight or in the middle. Does my request put a spanner in the works? Would it be better if I'm more specific about what I think I'll want later?
Sep 17, 2018, 10:12 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 69
Sorry if this is obvious, but BA do advertise that they have a dedicated first class help line - https://www.britishairways.com/trave...d=youfirstform. Might be worth asking them.
Sep 17, 2018, 10:22 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,103
If you would particularly like something later in the flight or you cannot/willnot eat much of the menu then ask for something to be kept for you.
For example, if 2/3 of the menu has cheese on it and you loathe cheese (like me) you may be out of luck later. If you are an omnivorous trencherman, less planning is needed.
I would expect some food left part way through a flight, if you genuinely don't mind what it is.
For example, if 2/3 of the menu has cheese on it and you loathe cheese (like me) you may be out of luck later. If you are an omnivorous trencherman, less planning is needed.
I would expect some food left part way through a flight, if you genuinely don't mind what it is.
Sep 17, 2018, 10:24 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: BA Gold Lifetime, AA 2M, Delta 2M, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Club, EK Platinum
Posts: 948
I regularly switch the order of meal items. On flights departing post 8 PM, I often have my "dinner" for breakfast. On my last flight, I had them save a Cajun Burger from the mains vice having the afternoon tea. In general, I am usually one of the first passengers queried on meal choices and rarely not having what I request.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:13 am
#24
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,906
Same for me (and The Lady Tobias), I’ve never been refused my first choice. To not be offered your first choice 50%-75% of the time is exceptionally bad luck, for any passenger let alone a Good or GGL.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:14 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: BA Silver - hard drop from GGL :( SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, AC E50k
Posts: 567
That was exactly my thought. And on two of the flights, they did not do meal choice in order of status (I was the only GGL on two of the flights as well). CSD/M very apologetic, and even showed me the meal loads. Got some Avios to make up for it, but still annoying. On one of the flights (Tokyo) my wife and daughter was in the cabin as well, both Golds, so 3/8 of cabin,, but they did the other aisle first so we lost out on the Wagyo beef. Oh well, not going to change my life, but annoying nevertheless
Sep 17, 2018, 11:27 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,779
Wonderful phrasing 
Subjectively it seems people experience lack of available first choice more on BA than they do elsewhere.
Presumably the crew get their pick of what is available from F, J & Y meals after service, so I would hope adding more choice wouldn't increase wastage, it would just increase the number of crew getting an F meal.
Subjectively it seems people experience lack of available first choice more on BA than they do elsewhere.
Presumably the crew get their pick of what is available from F, J & Y meals after service, so I would hope adding more choice wouldn't increase wastage, it would just increase the number of crew getting an F meal.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:40 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,898
It's neither cost effective nor logistically practical from a stowage point of view to provision 100% of every meal choice. There are very few airlines that would.
Thus the following inclusion on various menus:
"We kindly ask for your understanding, if your chosen menu is no longer available on today's flight"
"Please note that some of the chefs mentioned above may have moved on to other ventures. Please accept our apologies should your first choice not be available"
"We apologize should your preferred choice not be available. We cannot guarantee any food items to be allergen free"
You can always make your preference known before meal orders are actually carried out, while considering that Status is generally honoured.
Thus the following inclusion on various menus:
"We kindly ask for your understanding, if your chosen menu is no longer available on today's flight"
"Please note that some of the chefs mentioned above may have moved on to other ventures. Please accept our apologies should your first choice not be available"
"We apologize should your preferred choice not be available. We cannot guarantee any food items to be allergen free"
You can always make your preference known before meal orders are actually carried out, while considering that Status is generally honoured.
Sep 17, 2018, 11:41 am
#28
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
That was exactly my thought. And on two of the flights, they did not do meal choice in order of status (I was the only GGL on two of the flights as well). CSD/M very apologetic, and even showed me the meal loads. Got some Avios to make up for it, but still annoying. On one of the flights (Tokyo) my wife and daughter was in the cabin as well, both Golds, so 3/8 of cabin,, but they did the other aisle first so we lost out on the Wagyo beef. Oh well, not going to change my life, but annoying nevertheless
Sep 17, 2018, 11:44 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,815
good to know/think about. i guess the main point of my gripe is i cannot have whatever i want whenever i want.
on a 16hr flight for example, i may have pasta first and ten hours later i may want the steak that was on offer for the initial meal (QF) or want caviar and noodles now, but want caviar again 12hrs later (CX).
in my experience, BA does not have such flexibility, and the initial question is enlightening to the 130% factor which makes me suspect its much higher on the other two examples above.
on a 16hr flight for example, i may have pasta first and ten hours later i may want the steak that was on offer for the initial meal (QF) or want caviar and noodles now, but want caviar again 12hrs later (CX).
in my experience, BA does not have such flexibility, and the initial question is enlightening to the 130% factor which makes me suspect its much higher on the other two examples above.
