Afternoon tea....without any tea
May 12, 2019, 4:55 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
Advertising it as a Scone with Cream and Jam might be better.
That's how I've seen it advertised on restaurant menus when tea is a separate item. In such cases, there is usually the scone/cream/jam, cake (various), tea, coffee, hot chocolate, wine, sandwiches, etc - and you can assemble what you want from it. Rather like this BA menu, in fact, but accurately described so as not to confuse and disappoint the customer.
That's how I've seen it advertised on restaurant menus when tea is a separate item. In such cases, there is usually the scone/cream/jam, cake (various), tea, coffee, hot chocolate, wine, sandwiches, etc - and you can assemble what you want from it. Rather like this BA menu, in fact, but accurately described so as not to confuse and disappoint the customer.
May 12, 2019, 4:55 pm
#32
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
Other than the product being called ‘afternoon tea’ then no, you’re quite right, there isn’t. We’ll have to agree to disagree as I think ghey’re both misleading and I just think a reasonable person when ordering ‘afternoon tea’ would expect a cup of tea to be included.
I feel they should add a line saying “tea not included”.
As I said upthread, the section title is afternoon tea, the blurb describes the item and then suggests you could pair (not it includes) a ‘standard brew’ or champagne to make your afternoon tea. That really isn’t mentioning ‘tea three times in the text in the way that you imply it does.
As I said yes it could be clearer, I think a bubble that said ‘Get your complete afternoon tea from £7.50’ would help to stop people rushing into assumptions here.
I’m afraid we will have to leave it there as a matter of disagreement of opinion since I’d hate to fall foul of FT of repeating the same point.
May 12, 2019, 4:58 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
This is mislabeled. It's just a scone with jam and cream. To call it afternoon tea would mean tea must come with it. Regardless of what the wording says below, Afternoon Tea is pretty universal in including tea. I'd image a lot of passengers for whom English isn't their first language wouldn't get the subtleties of the text below in the brochure and order expecting tea.
I'm surprised they haven't bundled it up with the tea for £6 (because it's not worth £7.50) and anyone who just wants the scone with jam and cream can have it for a fiver.
If the scone isn't from M&S, where is it from? It looks like something Tesco do for in their super budget range. The long life muffin easyjet offer looks more appealing and comes with tea as part of the meal deal!!
I'm surprised they haven't bundled it up with the tea for £6 (because it's not worth £7.50) and anyone who just wants the scone with jam and cream can have it for a fiver.
If the scone isn't from M&S, where is it from? It looks like something Tesco do for in their super budget range. The long life muffin easyjet offer looks more appealing and comes with tea as part of the meal deal!!
May 12, 2019, 5:17 pm
#34
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
I know there are a lot of people who like to discredit BA for whatever reason, but when claims are exaggerated, it does the individual not justice in credibility.
Last edited by navylad; May 12, 2019 at 5:43 pm
May 13, 2019, 12:34 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 99
SHOCKED and HORRIFIED passengers ANGRY after ordering AFTERNOON TEA and asked to pay EXTRA for TEA
- The passenger ordered Afternoon Tea.
- No tea arrived.
- When they asked where the tea was they were told they'd have to pay extra.
581 comments
"I¿d expect tea too!" - 200 upvotes, 3971 downvotes
"Passenger is an idiot" - 1685 upvotes, 1 downvote
- The passenger ordered Afternoon Tea.
- No tea arrived.
- When they asked where the tea was they were told they'd have to pay extra.
581 comments
"I¿d expect tea too!" - 200 upvotes, 3971 downvotes
"Passenger is an idiot" - 1685 upvotes, 1 downvote
May 13, 2019, 1:10 am
#38
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,612
BA are expecting you to provide your own teabag and cup. They'll then gladly provide the hot water. It would be unfair to give a free cup of tea to those who didn't bring their own, so they unbundle the tea.
May 13, 2019, 1:50 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,382
I flagged this in the main BoB thread - £5 for one scone is almost comedic. Is it an exceptionally large scone?
I'm not sure how this stacks with BA's original "we're not going to rip people off with BoB" press release, when they're now charging £7.50 for a cream tea with only one scone.
I'm not sure how this stacks with BA's original "we're not going to rip people off with BoB" press release, when they're now charging £7.50 for a cream tea with only one scone.
May 13, 2019, 2:28 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Each time I heard it ordered, the passenger requested 'Afternoon Tea'. The crew did not say 'we don't serve such an item', but instead handed the passenger the box with the scone in and relieved them of their fiver. Passenger then waits patiently for their cup of tea....which of course doesn't arrive. Some kick off, some question if the tea has been forgotten. None say 'oh of course...silly me'
I was raised in a household where tea was always the drink of choice but over the years have become more & more of a coffee aficionado.
As such I tend to avoid the BA ‘Afternoon Tea’ and instead order their ‘Morning Coffee Special’. It comes in the form of an all-butter croissant (so, no extra butter needed) from the BoB trolley and is, I would say, a steal at just £5.00. There is no actual coffee included, although CC can gladly provide this at additional cost.
May 13, 2019, 2:45 am
#41
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,350
I guess a lot of passengers fell for this c$$$p. BA is smart though. They have added a BA logo to a jam pot or a beer and many are thinking it is a great thing and they flock to buy it (obviously if still in stock on a busy LCA-LHR flight). An afternoon tea without tea is just outrageous. The way it is described in the brochure is misleading, it is even more on the website. Forget this whole BoB thing, buy you m&s or pret food on the ground with your choice of drinks, eat it in the plane and just hand the garbage to the cabin crew. You'll have more for your money and a bit less for Alex Cruz!
May 13, 2019, 3:26 am
#42
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
All I can add is that 100% of the passengers that I heard ordering it were very surprised to hear that the tea to go with their afternoon tea would be extra.
There is no doubt BA know exactly what they are doing here. And at £5 I think most would expect a cup of tea. It's designed to mislead....
There is no doubt BA know exactly what they are doing here. And at £5 I think most would expect a cup of tea. It's designed to mislead....
As I said upthread, the section title is afternoon tea, the blurb describes the item and then suggests you could pair (not it includes) a ‘standard brew’ or champagne to make your afternoon tea. That really isn’t mentioning ‘tea three times in the text in the way that you imply it does.
Last edited by Andriyko; May 13, 2019 at 3:35 am
May 13, 2019, 3:30 am
#43
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,612
If it's not offering afternoon tea, then why call it "Afternoon Tea" rather than "Scone with Jam"? Bizarre.
May 13, 2019, 3:34 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,105
And there are far too many people who like to defend the indefensible!
The OP (and seemingly his fellow passengers) were justifiably miffed at the at the misleading menu - I use the word misleading as the discussion on this thread is throwing up various interpretations of how the menu is (or should be) perceived.
If the advert for the scone stated CLEARLY that an accompanying beverage would be charged extra, then fair enough.
As a hot beverage is included in 'Afternoon Tea' in other BA cabins - irrespective if it is free or BOB, then the definition should still be the same.
May 13, 2019, 3:34 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,894
If English is your first language, you'd expect tea as part of afternoon tea. You just would.
If English isn't your first language, then you may not know what afternoon tea is but tea is a word you'd recognise and I'm sure you'd expect something which is part of the description to be included.
I'm on the fence as to whether BA has been deliberately misleading or not, but either way just call it what it is, if it isn't something else - which it clearly isn't.