Club Europe: no main menu choices
Jul 21, 2019, 12:26 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,428
Insufficient provisioning of premium cabins was apparently one of the infamous "enhancements" circa 2014/2015. Sorry to see they've not managed to improve in 5 years. It appears they're not really interested.
After three similar incidents in a row on TATL, I quit flying BA. By the way, on the final flight they not only ran out of food, they even ran out of sparkling water. At that point, I judged the airline as irredeemable.
After three similar incidents in a row on TATL, I quit flying BA. By the way, on the final flight they not only ran out of food, they even ran out of sparkling water. At that point, I judged the airline as irredeemable.
Jul 21, 2019, 12:43 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL, WoH Lifetime Globalist, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 711
Long haul is completely different: orders are also taken from the front to the back each cabin (in J and F only) but allocated by status if not everyone can have their first choice. Thus, in CW, a GGL can sit at the very back of the cabin (arguably some of the best window seats in J) yet still have their first choice.
Doc Copper
Jul 21, 2019, 12:53 pm
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Somewhere in the Air
Programs: BA GGL, *A Silver, OW Emerald, HH Diamond, Karahi Express
Posts: 554
Jul 21, 2019, 1:22 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,392
I still think BA shouldn't hand out menus to you to "choose" from only to find the 3 choices are unavailable. ie. if they know meals are short, shouldn't they take a proactive approach and figure a plan before handing out menus? Was amazed even the pasta dish was unavailable. They must have had only 8 meals stocked!
I agree with the special meals. Seemed strange that the only one left was 'low fat' (a dry fish dish which they had to warm up).
Jul 21, 2019, 5:22 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
No. Booked about 2 weeks before flying. But I did notice CE was fully booked after boarding, so I'm assuming the last two rows were last-minute upgrades.
I still think BA shouldn't hand out menus to you to "choose" from only to find the 3 choices are unavailable. ie. if they know meals are short, shouldn't they take a proactive approach and figure a plan before handing out menus? Was amazed even the pasta dish was unavailable. They must have had only 8 meals stocked!
I agree with the special meals. Seemed strange that the only one left was 'low fat' (a dry fish dish which they had to warm up).
I still think BA shouldn't hand out menus to you to "choose" from only to find the 3 choices are unavailable. ie. if they know meals are short, shouldn't they take a proactive approach and figure a plan before handing out menus? Was amazed even the pasta dish was unavailable. They must have had only 8 meals stocked!
I agree with the special meals. Seemed strange that the only one left was 'low fat' (a dry fish dish which they had to warm up).
Jul 21, 2019, 5:36 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,589
Jul 21, 2019, 6:50 pm
#22
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,922
Insufficient provisioning of premium cabins was apparently one of the infamous "enhancements" circa 2014/2015. Sorry to see they've not managed to improve in 5 years. It appears they're not really interested.
After three similar incidents in a row on TATL, I quit flying BA. By the way, on the final flight they not only ran out of food, they even ran out of sparkling water. At that point, I judged the airline as irredeemable.
After three similar incidents in a row on TATL, I quit flying BA. By the way, on the final flight they not only ran out of food, they even ran out of sparkling water. At that point, I judged the airline as irredeemable.
Jul 21, 2019, 8:12 pm
#23
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: 30,510
I must say I’m very surprised as well though for the sake of comprehensiveness, my understanding if I recall correctly is that some flights such as sleeper services are actually catered well below 100%. Whilst this usually makes sense, cultural variations and lounge quality mean that I have (exceptionally) witnessed cases where passengers were embarrassingly told there was no main course left. I do think that it is unacceptable when it happens but think one would have to be extraordinarily unlucky to be the victim of it three consecutive times.
Jul 21, 2019, 8:40 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Doesn't work from some of the outports that have basic catering.
Jul 21, 2019, 9:06 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 340
I must say I’m very surprised as well though for the sake of comprehensiveness, my understanding if I recall correctly is that some flights such as sleeper services are actually catered well below 100%. Whilst this usually makes sense, cultural variations and lounge quality mean that I have (exceptionally) witnessed cases where passengers were embarrassingly told there was no main course left. I do think that it is unacceptable when it happens but think one would have to be extraordinarily unlucky to be the victim of it three consecutive times
On sleeper service out of ORD, I’ve had that happen once (cabin crew offered dessert and first choice for breakfast) and seen it happen to others a couple times.
Lounge food at ORD is quite poor, so seems to result in hungry and unhappy passengers on some flights. You would think their catering algorithm would improve over time, but must not be a priority.
Last edited by Prospero; Jul 22, 2019 at 4:58 pm Reason: Repair quotation
Jul 21, 2019, 11:23 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,428
747 Upper Deck service SFO-LHR-SFO.
Jul 21, 2019, 11:29 pm
#27
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: 30,510
Sadly, this has actually happened to me several times, particularly on inbound flights. Others have reported flights running out of Champagne and some wines being out is not unusual either. Normally, however, meals should be more predictable because there is no risk of starting to use the return stock on the outbound.
Jul 22, 2019, 1:34 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: BHD
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver
Posts: 575
I think Qantas does this domestically in their business cabin as I noted on my last trip the crew were telling everyone what was available. They skipped us as we were travelling on BA redemption tickets or because all the rest of the cabin had status (only 12 seats so very possible) I overheard the options being told to the other pax and when they got to us and there were 4 options. By the time they came back to us, they only had 2 options left. In this case it wasn't too dramatic as the BNE lounge was very good,
Last edited by Prospero; Jul 22, 2019 at 4:59 pm Reason: Repair quotation
Jul 22, 2019, 2:05 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de Actes Bénéfiques pour les Autres, BAEC Gold.
Posts: 1,485
On a recent trip in CE, the chap next to me had pre-ordered a Gluten Free special meal which was served first before the trolley with the general meals came down.
What did surprise me though was when the trolley came along, he asked for a couple of the warm bread rolls which he heartedly ate!
He later told me he always ordered a ‘special meal’ of some description as he was invariably served first, so had time to eat his meal without being hurried. Also if he was sat further back, he at least got what he had ordered and not just what was available.
He was apparently trying out a Kosher special meal on his return flight!
What did surprise me though was when the trolley came along, he asked for a couple of the warm bread rolls which he heartedly ate!
He later told me he always ordered a ‘special meal’ of some description as he was invariably served first, so had time to eat his meal without being hurried. Also if he was sat further back, he at least got what he had ordered and not just what was available.
He was apparently trying out a Kosher special meal on his return flight!
Jul 22, 2019, 3:19 am
#30
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Exec
Posts: 647
On a recent trip in CE, the chap next to me had pre-ordered a Gluten Free special meal which was served first before the trolley with the general meals came down.
What did surprise me though was when the trolley came along, he asked for a couple of the warm bread rolls which he heartedly ate!
He later told me he always ordered a ‘special meal’ of some description as he was invariably served first, so had time to eat his meal without being hurried. Also if he was sat further back, he at least got what he had ordered and not just what was available.
He was apparently trying out a Kosher special meal on his return flight!
What did surprise me though was when the trolley came along, he asked for a couple of the warm bread rolls which he heartedly ate!
He later told me he always ordered a ‘special meal’ of some description as he was invariably served first, so had time to eat his meal without being hurried. Also if he was sat further back, he at least got what he had ordered and not just what was available.
He was apparently trying out a Kosher special meal on his return flight!