First Class - not what I expected
Dec 16, 2018, 2:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 114
First Class - not what I expected
So this was only my second experience flying First. Previous flight LGW to BGI was brilliant absolutely no complaints.
Last weekend flying First from BGI to LGW was not exactly what I had expected . Not only was the FA in such a hurry to deliver the food she omitted my appetiser completely. I only realised this when I looked across at my husband’s meal. My choice of soup then arrived minus the bread roll but no big deal. During the main course the FA came along and apologised for not providing the roll but didn’t offer to get one. Probably shouldn’t have had it anyway after spending three weeks in the Caribbean. Didn’t have dessert as I chose to sleep.
So my complaint being the way breakfast was served (see photos below). I didn’t want a full breakfast just a cup of tea but same FA was thoughtful and produced two croissants. This is where she dumped it - on the side table. Returning later she apologised saying she should have opened up the table. Am I right in thinking service should have been better or was I expecting too much ?
Appreciate your thoughts.
Dec 16, 2018, 2:15 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
So this was only my second experience flying First. Previous flight LGW to BGI was brilliant absolutely no complaints.
Last weekend flying First from BGI to LGW was not exactly what I had expected . Not only was the FA in such a hurry to deliver the food she omitted my appetiser completely. I only realised this when I looked across at my husband’s meal. My choice of soup then arrived minus the bread roll but no big deal. During the main course the FA came along and apologised for not providing the roll but didn’t offer to get one. Probably shouldn’t have had it anyway after spending three weeks in the Caribbean. Didn’t have dessert as I chose to sleep.
So my complaint being the way breakfast was served (see photos below). I didn’t want a full breakfast just a cup of tea but same FA was thoughtful and produced two croissants. This is where she dumped it - on the side table. Returning later she apologised saying she should have opened up the table. Am I right in thinking service should have been better or was I expecting too much ?
Appreciate your thoughts.
I suspect you (like me in CW I suspect) just got unlucky in this case, with poor/ inexperienced crew. The croissant thing is obviously the best of first world problems, the missing starter slightly less so
Dec 16, 2018, 2:53 pm
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,240
Were you out of your seat at the time breakfast was served? If so, I would consider it entirely reasonable for it to be left on the side as you'd have to sit back down again. If you were in your seat then it's normal for cabin crew to ask you whether you want to use your table or not. Either way, I'm not sure this is worth complaining about?
Dec 16, 2018, 3:09 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,348
What's weird is that you had this FA who felt compelled to apologize repeatedly for it without ever actually addressing the problem .
Last edited by NWIFlyer; Dec 16, 2018 at 3:24 pm Reason: Remove personal insults to comply with rule 12
Dec 16, 2018, 3:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,748
If you want to be annoyed and even a little humiliated at the way BA serves breakfast, my experience in Y takes the cake.
Lying across an empty row of seats sleeping at the tail end of a JFK-LHR. Wake up to find my ‘breakfast’ has been unceremoniously dumped on ....me. I felt like some homeless person receiving the generosity of those more fortunate.
Lying across an empty row of seats sleeping at the tail end of a JFK-LHR. Wake up to find my ‘breakfast’ has been unceremoniously dumped on ....me. I felt like some homeless person receiving the generosity of those more fortunate.
Dec 16, 2018, 3:32 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,198
Were you out of your seat at the time breakfast was served? If so, I would consider it entirely reasonable for it to be left on the side as you'd have to sit back down again. If you were in your seat then it's normal for cabin crew to ask you whether you want to use your table or not. Either way, I'm not sure this is worth complaining about?
Dec 16, 2018, 3:55 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 574
Attention to detail is important although it's understandable some people feel awkward relating concerns. Discreetly letting the CC know at the time is the best option. At least a complaint can be recorded if further correspondence is necessary. It's a good start.
Dec 16, 2018, 3:58 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,394
This, after all, is First Class and yet we do so often read reports of (or witness personally) significant disparity between promise and delivery.
BA themselves talk specifically about “onboard elegance” .....”the full restaurant experience”....... and “impeccable service and attention to detail”.
What the OP actually received seems some way from this.
Dec 16, 2018, 4:01 pm
#11
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Having said that, I have actually had breakfast that way - they sometimes ask you if you prefer that if they see you doing things, although not had the napkin and cutlery placed on top of my things (they might end up slipping off onto the floor).
With the missing appetiser and the bread, I'd simply have asked for them. They do forget things from time to time - I had everything from the cutlery, soup, appetiser, puddings and all sorts missing on various different airlines (oh, even the main course once I think!) and if I got annoyed about them too much, I'd have shortened my life. I do complain later on it is it a silly pattern (e.g. I had my request for water forgotten multiple times on a JL flight - as in a reminder still got forgotten, along with other service issues and I did complain then, because prompt response at the time did not resolve anything) but generally, it's best to address it there and then.
Thing shouldn't be forgotten, but it happens! I tell myself I forget things all the time...
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Dec 16, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Dec 16, 2018, 4:03 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
These are minor flaws, none of which are worthy of a complaint. They were best addressed on the spot:
1. Starter - When you order something and it does not arrive, either flag the FA down as she passes by, hit the call button, or forget it as you choose.
2. Bread roll - Same thing. When she apologized, the proper response was, "thank you for the apology, but I'll be fine having it now if you don't mind."
I am note certain I understand the croissant placement issue as it really is too minor to warrant anything as one ought to be fully capable of moving it oneself or, if not, ringing for the FA and asking her to move it.
1. Starter - When you order something and it does not arrive, either flag the FA down as she passes by, hit the call button, or forget it as you choose.
2. Bread roll - Same thing. When she apologized, the proper response was, "thank you for the apology, but I'll be fine having it now if you don't mind."
I am note certain I understand the croissant placement issue as it really is too minor to warrant anything as one ought to be fully capable of moving it oneself or, if not, ringing for the FA and asking her to move it.
Dec 16, 2018, 4:09 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: BAEC Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Spire, Caesars Diamond
Posts: 83
These are minor flaws, none of which are worthy of a complaint. They were best addressed on the spot:
1. Starter - When you order something and it does not arrive, either flag the FA down as she passes by, hit the call button, or forget it as you choose.
2. Bread roll - Same thing. When she apologized, the proper response was, "thank you for the apology, but I'll be fine having it now if you don't mind."
I am note certain I understand the croissant placement issue as it really is too minor to warrant anything as one ought to be fully capable of moving it oneself or, if not, ringing for the FA and asking her to move it.
1. Starter - When you order something and it does not arrive, either flag the FA down as she passes by, hit the call button, or forget it as you choose.
2. Bread roll - Same thing. When she apologized, the proper response was, "thank you for the apology, but I'll be fine having it now if you don't mind."
I am note certain I understand the croissant placement issue as it really is too minor to warrant anything as one ought to be fully capable of moving it oneself or, if not, ringing for the FA and asking her to move it.
Dec 16, 2018, 4:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 38
Edit: This is not to be taken as an attack on the OP. I'm simply just playing devil's advocate and giving the other side of the coin POV
Last edited by Talking Penguin; Dec 16, 2018 at 4:23 pm Reason: Added note
Dec 16, 2018, 4:34 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 574
For the breakfast issue, I'd probably have simply asked the cabin crew member if they would give me a hand putting the table out at the time or as soon as I noticed it. They'd have probably got the message.
Having said that, I have actually had breakfast that way - they sometimes ask you if you prefer that if they see you doing things, although not had the napkin and cutlery placed on top of my things (they might end up slipping off onto the floor).
With the missing appetiser and the bread, I'd simply have asked for them. They do forget things from time to time - I had everything from the cutlery, soup, appetiser, puddings and all sorts missing on various different airlines (oh, even the main course once I think!) and if I got annoyed about them too much, I'd have shortened my life. I do complain later on it is it a silly pattern (e.g. I had my request for water forgotten multiple times on a JL flight - as in a reminder still got forgotten, along with other service issues and I did complain then, because prompt response at the time did not resolve anything) but generally, it's best to address it there and then.
Having said that, I have actually had breakfast that way - they sometimes ask you if you prefer that if they see you doing things, although not had the napkin and cutlery placed on top of my things (they might end up slipping off onto the floor).
With the missing appetiser and the bread, I'd simply have asked for them. They do forget things from time to time - I had everything from the cutlery, soup, appetiser, puddings and all sorts missing on various different airlines (oh, even the main course once I think!) and if I got annoyed about them too much, I'd have shortened my life. I do complain later on it is it a silly pattern (e.g. I had my request for water forgotten multiple times on a JL flight - as in a reminder still got forgotten, along with other service issues and I did complain then, because prompt response at the time did not resolve anything) but generally, it's best to address it there and then.
