Afternoon tea....without any tea
#166
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK/France
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, EY Plat, etc
Posts: 351
You really have to wonder whether BA uses a chatbot if you look at the official comment to the article in the Sun
"Whether it's a traditional cup of tea, our new espresso martini or a bottle of champagne, we offer a wide range of beverages to allow customers to choose which option they pair our popular afternoon tea with. "
Who thinks that a dry scone with jam goes with an Espresso Martini ?!? At least it clears it up that Afternoon Tea is actually the scone. Despite being a very loyal customer I think they have got this one wrong and need to put their hand up to it rather than keep digging.
"Whether it's a traditional cup of tea, our new espresso martini or a bottle of champagne, we offer a wide range of beverages to allow customers to choose which option they pair our popular afternoon tea with. "
Who thinks that a dry scone with jam goes with an Espresso Martini ?!? At least it clears it up that Afternoon Tea is actually the scone. Despite being a very loyal customer I think they have got this one wrong and need to put their hand up to it rather than keep digging.
Last edited by Robespierre; May 14, 2019 at 10:52 am
#167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
https://twitter.com/joncampling/stat...178495490?s=21
The story is picking up on twitter while another passenger is upset to have had to pay tea with his afternoon tea.
The story is picking up on twitter while another passenger is upset to have had to pay tea with his afternoon tea.
#168
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
And the till receipt is quite telling, in that it puts beyond dispute the fact that the name of the product consisting of a scone, cream and jam is sold by BA is "afternoon tea", not "scone". So, yes, I think that it is now clearly established beyond any doubt that BA sells a product that it calls "afternoon tea" which consists of a scone, jam and clotted cream but which does not include tea.
#169
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,207
And the till receipt is quite telling, in that it puts beyond dispute the fact that the name of the product consisting of a scone, cream and jam is sold by BA is "afternoon tea", not "scone". So, yes, I think that it is now clearly established beyond any doubt that BA sells a product that it calls "afternoon tea" which consists of a scone, jam and clotted cream but which does not include tea.
#170
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,663
So much for the argument that they don’t actually sell a product called afternoon tea, eh? I’m not British and don’t fly BA, so I don’t have a dog in this fight, but it’s a bit disingenuous to claim it’s clear that “Afternoon Tea” is the header when there’s only one item under it on that page (the scone), as the drinks are actually on the next page.
Put it this way - did the passengers who felt misled order a scone and then act surprised when it didn’t come with tea, or did they ask for the “afternoon tea”? And if it’s the latter, did the crew explain that’s the category heading and the items are actually sold a la carte, or did they just bring the scone and then explain the tea is extra? If it’s the latter (which I strongly suspect), then yeah, it’s misleading. When you have to resort to legal-argument levels of technicality to justify wording on a menu, you’ve lost the concept of customer service. This is getting to be like the thread about the no-show fee at the St. Regis Aspen.
Put it this way - did the passengers who felt misled order a scone and then act surprised when it didn’t come with tea, or did they ask for the “afternoon tea”? And if it’s the latter, did the crew explain that’s the category heading and the items are actually sold a la carte, or did they just bring the scone and then explain the tea is extra? If it’s the latter (which I strongly suspect), then yeah, it’s misleading. When you have to resort to legal-argument levels of technicality to justify wording on a menu, you’ve lost the concept of customer service. This is getting to be like the thread about the no-show fee at the St. Regis Aspen.
#171
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,663
If you click the link to Twitter and then click the image, it shows the full line as “BH017 - EARL GREY”; it’s just cropped in the preview above.
#172
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
So much for the argument that they don’t actually sell a product called afternoon tea, eh? I’m not British and don’t fly BA, so I don’t have a dog in this fight, but it’s a bit disingenuous to claim it’s clear that “Afternoon Tea” is the header when there’s only one item under it on that page (the scone), as the drinks are actually on the next page.
Put it this way - did the passengers who felt misled order a scone and then act surprised when it didn’t come with tea, or did they ask for the “afternoon tea”? And if it’s the latter, did the crew explain that’s the category heading and the items are actually sold a la carte, or did they just bring the scone and then explain the tea is extra? If it’s the latter (which I strongly suspect), then yeah, it’s misleading. When you have to resort to legal-argument levels of technicality to justify wording on a menu, you’ve lost the concept of customer service. This is getting to be like the thread about the no-show fee at the St. Regis Aspen.
Put it this way - did the passengers who felt misled order a scone and then act surprised when it didn’t come with tea, or did they ask for the “afternoon tea”? And if it’s the latter, did the crew explain that’s the category heading and the items are actually sold a la carte, or did they just bring the scone and then explain the tea is extra? If it’s the latter (which I strongly suspect), then yeah, it’s misleading. When you have to resort to legal-argument levels of technicality to justify wording on a menu, you’ve lost the concept of customer service. This is getting to be like the thread about the no-show fee at the St. Regis Aspen.
Currently a grand total of one retweet.
#173
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,164
I did laugh at the fake Senor Alex Cruz's reply regarding the afternoon tea:
"In Spain an afternoon tea is an afternoon nap - you're lucky I included the scone!"
"In Spain an afternoon tea is an afternoon nap - you're lucky I included the scone!"
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,144
#175
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Regarded as total and utter snob amongst the BAEC community.
Posts: 971
What BA is offering here is more 'Cream Tea' this is generally scones, clotted cream, jam and should be served with a pot of tea.
Proper Traditional Afternooon Tea should consist of at least 4 assorted finger sandwiches, 2 scones with cream and preserves, 3 or 4 assorted cakes and be served with a pot of tea in either with the choice of Earl Grey, Lapsang or Darjeeling. This is how it is normally done in most top end London 5 star hotels and cost around Ł60 per person plus service charge.
Proper Traditional Afternooon Tea should consist of at least 4 assorted finger sandwiches, 2 scones with cream and preserves, 3 or 4 assorted cakes and be served with a pot of tea in either with the choice of Earl Grey, Lapsang or Darjeeling. This is how it is normally done in most top end London 5 star hotels and cost around Ł60 per person plus service charge.
#177
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,428
Also not British, nor a BA FF, but I've got to say I find it odd that the flag carrier for a nation in whose culture offering a cuppa is a fundamental feature of hospitality and comfort, and where the drink itself is so thoroughly embedded in the national identity, is selling tea as an extra on a menu item called "Afternoon Tea."
A truly odd way to make a few extra quid.
A truly odd way to make a few extra quid.
#178
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,511
And the till receipt is quite telling, in that it puts beyond dispute the fact that the name of the product consisting of a scone, cream and jam is sold by BA is "afternoon tea", not "scone". So, yes, I think that it is now clearly established beyond any doubt that BA sells a product that it calls "afternoon tea" which consists of a scone, jam and clotted cream but which does not include tea.
Last edited by orbitmic; May 14, 2019 at 12:29 pm
#179
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,663
Sorry, from your previous comment it sounded as though you weren't able to see the entire image with "Earl Grey" on it, since you mentioned no reference to tea on the receipt, and I'm pretty sure BA isn't selling you a noble title for Ł2.50.
#180
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Somewhere in the Air
Programs: BA GGL, *A Silver, OW Emerald, HH Diamond, Karahi Express
Posts: 554
Let’s hope they put McDonalds Cheeseburgers on the next refresh of the menu. I love a cheeseburger with my cuppa of Darjeeling.