Two BOB trolleys - the new norm?
Dec 3, 2018, 5:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 516
Two BOB trolleys - the new norm?
Hi all,
I flew to ARN return this weekend for the first time - out on Friday morning and back Sunday night, both on pretty busy A320 flights. I was in ET row 12 (where else!) in both directions. My main observation was that both flights had 5 members of staff, 2 in CE (to about row 7 on both flights) and three for ET, where for the first time (for me) they were using two trolleys for the BOB run. One started at the CE curtain with one member of staff and the other started at Row 13 with two members of staff, this obviously meant the procedure was sped up quite significantly.
Is this the new norm? Or is this just standard on this clearly popular and business heavy route where there seemed to be high uptake from the trolley in both directions?
Ps. Since when was full fat tonic water removed the from the BOB drinks menu? The new choices of "Refreshingly light" or "Refreshingly light Mediterranean" are both pretty underwhelming in my opinion!
I flew to ARN return this weekend for the first time - out on Friday morning and back Sunday night, both on pretty busy A320 flights. I was in ET row 12 (where else!) in both directions. My main observation was that both flights had 5 members of staff, 2 in CE (to about row 7 on both flights) and three for ET, where for the first time (for me) they were using two trolleys for the BOB run. One started at the CE curtain with one member of staff and the other started at Row 13 with two members of staff, this obviously meant the procedure was sped up quite significantly.
Is this the new norm? Or is this just standard on this clearly popular and business heavy route where there seemed to be high uptake from the trolley in both directions?
Ps. Since when was full fat tonic water removed the from the BOB drinks menu? The new choices of "Refreshingly light" or "Refreshingly light Mediterranean" are both pretty underwhelming in my opinion!
Dec 3, 2018, 5:23 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 417
I can’t comment on the trolley count, but I agree with you about the diet tonic being an abomination. I believe its removal is as a result of the sugar tax (that’s pushing-up the price from wholesale through to retail). I’ve noticed places like M&S stores at motorway services have only sucralose-based drinks these days (and whatever the purported flavour, they taste equally foul to me).
Dec 3, 2018, 5:40 am
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I don't think this is new, on routes with a higher BoB uptake (such as ARN) and A321s there are 2 trolleys. There is reference to it in the main BoB thread from the early days after implementation. I've certainly seen 2 trolleys on several services. I guess with the neo A321s and perhaps neo A320 we will see it more often too.
Dec 3, 2018, 6:20 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,835
I can’t comment on the trolley count, but I agree with you about the diet tonic being an abomination. I believe its removal is as a result of the sugar tax (that’s pushing-up the price from wholesale through to retail). I’ve noticed places like M&S stores at motorway services have only sucralose-based drinks these days (and whatever the purported flavour, they taste equally foul to me).
Dec 3, 2018, 6:25 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,731
Without wanting to drag the whole thread off topic isn’t one of the key selling points of Fever Tree Light that it doesn’t have sucralose (unlike other brands), rather it has natural based fructose and doesn’t taste as sweet (as well as whatever other benefits re the body’s ability to break down and process)?
I do think there should be a choice however.
OP, did it take long for the single-manned trolley to get to row 12? Asking from pure self-interest. 🙂
Dec 3, 2018, 6:26 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
If there’s enough crew for 2 trolleys then we will use them. You need 3 in ET to make this work. The current standard is one starts at the front on their own on the first trolley, and two crew start from the back with the second and work to meet.
If only two crew are in ET, though, then only one trolley is used. On a 321 there is always enough crew for two trolleys under normal circumstances.
If only two crew are in ET, though, then only one trolley is used. On a 321 there is always enough crew for two trolleys under normal circumstances.
Dec 3, 2018, 6:54 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2009
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I just wish we could have Coke Zero on the BOB trolley.
Dec 3, 2018, 7:09 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
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From the early days of the BoB thread, I thought it was impossible to operate a BoB trolley single-handed. Isn't some of the stuff only available from one side or the other? Or can it all be accessed from either side of the trolley?
Dec 3, 2018, 7:12 am
#9
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In most of my IST-LHR flights during the last months, the situation was same. Even in an A320, 5 cabin crew members in total, 2 serving CE and the other 3 serving ET. And, the situation of the presence of two BoB trolleys on a single aircraft is not something new. In routes within Europe, they have reduced the High Life Onboard shopping trolley to one trolley and replaced it with another M&S BoB trolley since August ( the first time I experienced this situation ).
Dec 3, 2018, 7:22 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
That’s correct, some items will only be accessible by pulling out the drawer in front of it. Also, one of the crew members on the second trolley can run between and access the other side if needed.
Dec 3, 2018, 7:47 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 516
I guess this is why the crew on both my flights only choose to be about 5 rows apart as there was quite a lot of tooing and throwing between the trolleys for the middle member of staff. Especially on the morning flight where lots of boiling water was required for tea and coffee making!
Dec 3, 2018, 8:31 am
#13
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,378
I can’t comment on the trolley count, but I agree with you about the diet tonic being an abomination. I believe its removal is as a result of the sugar tax (that’s pushing-up the price from wholesale through to retail). I’ve noticed places like M&S stores at motorway services have only sucralose-based drinks these days (and whatever the purported flavour, they taste equally foul to me).
Dec 3, 2018, 8:47 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 614
The trolleys are now packed with all items available both side (it's only taken nearly 2 years). On the neo and densified CEO aircraft, there is now no High Life shopping at all, and M&S trolley is stored in the front galley, so there may be a delay in starting the Club service while they wait for the BOB trolley to be set up.
Dec 3, 2018, 8:47 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2006
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