More inconsistency from BA FIRST: short trip report
Feb 19, 2019, 12:20 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,282
I had similar experiences on my recent F flights to and from Cape Town, although the crew on the return were more attentive than on the outbound, we were in 1AK and seemed to get forgotten about quite a bit - eg they didn't bother to take my food order, they started with the person in 2A and just worked backwards, so i had to ask someone if they would take it when i went to the loo. I enjoyed the food on the way out, but inbound it was very poor - avoid the lamb if you are flying in Feb - a minute portion of meat surrounded (although surrounded by a lot of fat) which was seriously over-cooked, the cheese was also very poor compared to that served from LHR. I too thought it was a shame that there was no South African wine served.
Lamb dish on BA First
As for the service, it was OK at best - but as have been said so many times, BA First is basically a sort of J-class, however still one step down from quite a number of other J-service out there, e.g. Qatar J and even dare I say DL's or AA's J.
What I find really funny was that it seems like BA is living in some kind of parallel universe when it comes down to thinking that they can be an elegant airline
- most of the glasses, wine and champagne flutes - had the BA First words on them - however the glasses were so not elegant - thick and just not suitable for a First service. Even Aeroflot has much better champagne flutes.
- Not sure why they cannot address guests by name in such a small cabin - and each side only 5-6 guests to serve, is that so difficult?
- at least on my flight - I believe the CSM was doing his round when I was off to the toilet - but basically after seeing him once (twice including during boarding) - never saw a glimpse of him during the whole flight.
- yes in general the catering was not the most interesting catering out there especially for First - including the options, very unflattered with the options.
- is it normal for First not to get a single round of hot towels? None was presented at all (or unless they did it when I was in the toilet - but on even an average airline I would have been asked if I was missed during the service).
My travel companion left a day earlier and although not some one picky at all, had negative comments especially for the crew - I guess this is expected with the mix fleet crew.
I really hope that the improvement promised for the different cabins will bring some true improvement rather than some lipstick on a pig type of improvements.
Cheers!
Feb 19, 2019, 1:52 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 389
hmmm heading to JNB in F next week.. Mrs Y has pre-ordered the lamb and having looked at the photo above I'm wondering if I should advise her to re-think. Is that really the main course? And is it usual for mixed fleet to operate this route?
Feb 19, 2019, 1:53 am
#33
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: London
Posts: 67
When paying cash for tickets; I frequently come across options where the BC tickets were more expensive than the FC tickets.
Feb 19, 2019, 3:30 am
#34
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,804
It's always important to note the direction of travel. Longhaul food is prepared in local kitchens, with a few exceptions, so what you will get from London will be different since there is a completely different supply chain, and cooking process behind it. JNB is currently Mixed Fleet.
Feb 19, 2019, 3:58 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: BA Bronze SPG
Posts: 273
If there's a main course pre-order thread which is ex-UK - is there not one for inbound F and J food where people can post the menus and photos of the food. I'm flying J to HKG and F on the return and would be good to know what to expect on the return.
Feb 19, 2019, 4:01 am
#36
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
Does BA ever send round reminder notes to CSMs for them to be made aware of important service notes? Basic training I know, but Hot towels and treating passengers attentively in F are the basics...
Feb 19, 2019, 4:56 am
#37
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,347
Assuming it's the same menu as CPT, the lamb on the way out (a rack and braised neck with freekah if i remember correctly) was tasty and i enjoyed it. That picture looks like it is of the lamb on the way back and is best avoided.
Feb 19, 2019, 5:01 am
#38
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,347
I always find it hard to tell from such threads whether some posters have exceptional good/bad luck, or whether it is just a question of calibrating one's expectations.
I suppose in many ways Hiddy is right, the product is relatively cheap and therefore you can have average service and still feel you got VFM. Perhaps the resulting reduction in yield is why F cabins are being downscaled or removed from new aircraft?
I suppose in many ways Hiddy is right, the product is relatively cheap and therefore you can have average service and still feel you got VFM. Perhaps the resulting reduction in yield is why F cabins are being downscaled or removed from new aircraft?
Feb 19, 2019, 5:06 am
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,105
The biggest issue for me is that the service is so mixed on board. One side of the plane might get a decent attendant who can't do enough for them, the other, one who really can't be bothered or just doesn't have a clue. This is especially noticeable when you're travelling with someone and they've got their champagne/nuts/wine/food/pyjamas/whatever and you don't and probably makes the experience feel even more sub-standard. I'd love to know from CC if they're supposed to try and co-ordinate service or if that's just too tricky to even think about.
Feb 19, 2019, 5:54 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 510
I wonder if it's the route? I flew LHR-JNB-LHR a few weeks ago in J and the service outbound was shocking. Two hours to be served a drink after T/O and breakfast so late that there wasn't time to eat it. I initially put it down to experience but the service back was fabulous, so much so that I complained about the outbound and am glad I did.
Feb 19, 2019, 6:10 am
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,210
I noticed this on one of our flights in F when we were seated on either side of the cabin. I had finished my main while the wife was still waiting to be served hers. I just put it down to her crew member having other tasks to do in the galley more than being slow. This was years before MF came along so it's nothing new.
Feb 19, 2019, 6:28 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 389
It's always important to note the direction of travel. Longhaul food is prepared in local kitchens, with a few exceptions, so what you will get from London will be different since there is a completely different supply chain, and cooking process behind it. JNB is currently Mixed Fleet.
Feb 19, 2019, 6:44 am
#44
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
On our last F trip, Mr W received his main, politely waited some minutes till I urged him to start before it was cold. He did so, and ate leisurely in the hope we could dine together but he'd cleared the plate before mine arrived.
Did I mention we were buddy dining? It was a complete fail.
So.... does that make me one of the people who expects too much? (Straight question - no snark intended).
Did I mention we were buddy dining? It was a complete fail.
So.... does that make me one of the people who expects too much? (Straight question - no snark intended).
Feb 19, 2019, 7:03 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
I wonder if it's the route? I flew LHR-JNB-LHR a few weeks ago in J and the service outbound was shocking. Two hours to be served a drink after T/O and breakfast so late that there wasn't time to eat it. I initially put it down to experience but the service back was fabulous, so much so that I complained about the outbound and am glad I did.
One can understand such dramatic variations in standards from one airline to another ; but quite why this should happen on different sectors but with the very same airline, and hence the same recruitment & training processes, is mystifying, to say the least.
Inconsistency is not unknown in many other consumer sectors - notably in the retail trade where say, different stores belonging to the same chain can sometimes offer wildly differing standards. It’s one of the key reasons why mystery shoppers are used, but of course to make such exercises worthwhile, management need to be sufficiently motivated and focussed to enforce action and change where necessary.
As in all large businesses, the culture is set from the top.
@ windowontheAside - no, it makes you someone who simply expects first class standards of service in return for a first class ticket.