The Achilles' Heel of the New CW: Beverages
May 28, 2019, 3:44 am
#107
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Windsor
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 909
Isn't that more to do with the better crew to pax ratio on the UD than the service routine, trolleys, etc?
May 28, 2019, 5:09 am
#108
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,394
And the key point here is that UD on 747’s represent a very small percentage (way below 10% ..... ? .... I haven’t done the maths) of total available CW seat capacity across the fleet. Plus, the aircraft itself won’t be around too much longer, sadly. Much depends on how things work out service-wise as the 350’s and refurbed other frame types are rolled out. At least we can look forward to a greatly-improved seat in terms of useful storage space, privacy, and of course all-aisle access.
May 28, 2019, 5:14 am
#109
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: KrisFlyer, BA Executive Club
Posts: 128
Was on UD last week and CC barely checked on me. Pretty poor, especially compared to the AA service on the return trip, where glass was never empty. Ended up going downstairs to the galley to get a drink
May 28, 2019, 5:21 am
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,058
May 28, 2019, 5:53 am
#112
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL, WoH Lifetime Globalist, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 711
May 28, 2019, 9:00 am
#113
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
I simply never seem to run into these problems. Maybe I'm just lucky with crews etc.....But maybe it just never registers in my memory because I wouldn't be that worried about getting up and asking for a refill / tray clearance etc if I needed to.
I can remember one instance of lights going out on a non sleeper service ex JFK leg where I hadn't had my food yet but it was a genuine one off total cock-up between 2 CC, they were very apologetic, and within a few minutes my meanl choice was whizzed over to me, and top-ups were regularly forthcoming after that.
But in terms of what I 'expect' from the ticket, I'd say polite and above all efficient F&B service in J, and a permium experience in F
So if they rolled back the over complicated new CW food service I'd be fine with it if it meant that the delivery and removal of food and the top-up of drinks were simpler for CC to deliver on current ratios.
But that's just me - I'm not super picky on quality of F&B tbh - it's a meal on a plane at the end of the day. BA J food is generally fine but not incredible.
I can remember one instance of lights going out on a non sleeper service ex JFK leg where I hadn't had my food yet but it was a genuine one off total cock-up between 2 CC, they were very apologetic, and within a few minutes my meanl choice was whizzed over to me, and top-ups were regularly forthcoming after that.
But in terms of what I 'expect' from the ticket, I'd say polite and above all efficient F&B service in J, and a permium experience in F
So if they rolled back the over complicated new CW food service I'd be fine with it if it meant that the delivery and removal of food and the top-up of drinks were simpler for CC to deliver on current ratios.
But that's just me - I'm not super picky on quality of F&B tbh - it's a meal on a plane at the end of the day. BA J food is generally fine but not incredible.
May 28, 2019, 11:47 am
#114
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: KrisFlyer, BA Executive Club
Posts: 128
LHR-JFK. The return via AA was infinitely better, although to be balanced I had one of the rocking Zodiac chairs. I pointed it out to CC to see if I could swap seats, who said he would check if any other seats were free (there weren’t) and he wasn’t aware of any seating issues!
Oh and the tv screen release was broken, so the cabin crew had to jam it open with cutlery or some other metal implement.
Oh and the tv screen release was broken, so the cabin crew had to jam it open with cutlery or some other metal implement.
May 28, 2019, 4:30 pm
#116
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,455
I have noticed a deterioration on the UD in the last year, I have sat and waited for meal/drink whilst other pax have had their full meal, of course I have used the call button but the FA came and cancelled it and walked off I assume they thought I had pressed it by accident . The service from the galley isnt working, it seems to be ok on AA and Qatar but BA hasnt got it right at all.
May 28, 2019, 4:38 pm
#117
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 85
Happy to be corrected but isn't the only way to cancel the call bells using the remote in the seat? Odd that they could do this without a drink request.
May 29, 2019, 6:04 am
#118
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Programs: BA, EK, Hilton H, Starwood, A-Club
Posts: 75
Doesn't anyone from BA who make these decisions every read these posts? It seems to be a recurring theme in the "front" of the plane that there are issues, but they never seem to be fixed! Maybe its like trying to turn a supertanker, in that it takes time. But people, if they are spending their own money, and have a choice of carrier, will look elsewhere for their future travel plans.
May 29, 2019, 6:20 am
#119
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheltenham
Programs: KLM Plat for Life , BA Gold, HH Silver, (Other half Diamond), IHG Gold
Posts: 2,395
On 5 of my last 6 flights , once I have been given my meal I have had no further attention or top ups from the CC and have had to take my tray back to the galley when done.
My other half and I have now developed a system of holding each others trays while extracting ourselves from the seat.
It seems to be a simple lack of crew.
My other half and I have now developed a system of holding each others trays while extracting ourselves from the seat.
It seems to be a simple lack of crew.
May 29, 2019, 7:21 am
#120
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,046
On 5 of my last 6 flights , once I have been given my meal I have had no further attention or top ups from the CC and have had to take my tray back to the galley when done.
My other half and I have now developed a system of holding each others trays while extracting ourselves from the seat.
It seems to be a simple lack of crew.
My other half and I have now developed a system of holding each others trays while extracting ourselves from the seat.
It seems to be a simple lack of crew.
I noticed even from last summer even the nice wine glasses seem to have gone
I think a trick in future is to order a glass of wine with your welcome drink and another when ordering your starter and your water !
BRING BACK THE TROLLIES!
