BA1321 [NCL-LHR] - CE Breakfast
Jan 23, 2023, 2:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: London (LHR)
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 13
BA1321 [NCL-LHR] - CE Breakfast
Evening,
I flew down to Heathrow this morning on the first flight of the day from Newcastle on a rather full A321. There were 24 of us in Club Europe - a full six rows. Unfortunately, we weren’t served the usual breakfast on the short hop down. I assume this is because it would’ve been impractical to try and serve all of us within the short amount of time on the flight, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this before? Drinks orders were taken and we were all given a pack of gram flour and parsley flavoured nuts. Bit of an odd snack for breakfast, seen as though economy looked to have been given a nutri-grain bar…
Of course none of this is the end of the world, I’m just intrigued to know whether this happens very often. Fortunately I had some food in the lounge beforehand, so I wasn’t wasting away by the time I stepped off the plane (two hours after landing - eek!).
RLP
I flew down to Heathrow this morning on the first flight of the day from Newcastle on a rather full A321. There were 24 of us in Club Europe - a full six rows. Unfortunately, we weren’t served the usual breakfast on the short hop down. I assume this is because it would’ve been impractical to try and serve all of us within the short amount of time on the flight, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this before? Drinks orders were taken and we were all given a pack of gram flour and parsley flavoured nuts. Bit of an odd snack for breakfast, seen as though economy looked to have been given a nutri-grain bar…
Of course none of this is the end of the world, I’m just intrigued to know whether this happens very often. Fortunately I had some food in the lounge beforehand, so I wasn’t wasting away by the time I stepped off the plane (two hours after landing - eek!).
RLP
Jan 23, 2023, 2:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,451
6 rows isn't much for an A321 (pretty sure they can go back to 14) although I appreciate it is a short flight.
Have seen them manage it with far more from EDI.
Did you manage to ask for an explanation?
Also welcome to Flyertalk please stick around!
Have seen them manage it with far more from EDI.
Did you manage to ask for an explanation?
Also welcome to Flyertalk please stick around!
Jan 23, 2023, 2:41 pm
#3
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,941
Welcome to FT.
No certainly not usual. I did read a report on here that some flights were not catered due to the disruption yesterday (I think it was BHD) so certainly the same may apply. Didn’t the cabin crew say anything? You would normally get a cooked breakfast on that route. I am surprised there were no regulars onboard that asked even if the crew didn’t say anything. Definitely worth submitting a complaint about on BA.com.
No certainly not usual. I did read a report on here that some flights were not catered due to the disruption yesterday (I think it was BHD) so certainly the same may apply. Didn’t the cabin crew say anything? You would normally get a cooked breakfast on that route. I am surprised there were no regulars onboard that asked even if the crew didn’t say anything. Definitely worth submitting a complaint about on BA.com.
Jan 23, 2023, 2:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 284
I'd echo the above; this seems off.
I've seen a 12 row CE cabin to MAN served with meals and two rounds of drinks in what is pretty much 25-30 minutes in the air. Not hot meals, I concede, but just in terms of number, it's impressive. So this seems perhaps more a case of it wasn't loaded or someone didn't fancy it - though given the disruption yesterday I'd expect loading would be the issue. But if the former is what happened, an explanation would have been expected.
I've seen a 12 row CE cabin to MAN served with meals and two rounds of drinks in what is pretty much 25-30 minutes in the air. Not hot meals, I concede, but just in terms of number, it's impressive. So this seems perhaps more a case of it wasn't loaded or someone didn't fancy it - though given the disruption yesterday I'd expect loading would be the issue. But if the former is what happened, an explanation would have been expected.
Jan 23, 2023, 3:05 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,983
6 rows for a 50 minute sector is well within range of BA- something has gone wrong. I would have expected at least an explanation. And a Nutrigrain bar would have made more sense than nuts.
Jan 24, 2023, 6:16 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: BAEC Silver, HH Gold and IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 15
Evening,
I flew down to Heathrow this morning on the first flight of the day from Newcastle on a rather full A321. There were 24 of us in Club Europe - a full six rows. Unfortunately, we weren’t served the usual breakfast on the short hop down. I assume this is because it would’ve been impractical to try and serve all of us within the short amount of time on the flight, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this before? Drinks orders were taken and we were all given a pack of gram flour and parsley flavoured nuts. Bit of an odd snack for breakfast, seen as though economy looked to have been given a nutri-grain bar…
Of course none of this is the end of the world, I’m just intrigued to know whether this happens very often. Fortunately I had some food in the lounge beforehand, so I wasn’t wasting away by the time I stepped off the plane (two hours after landing - eek!).
RLP
I flew down to Heathrow this morning on the first flight of the day from Newcastle on a rather full A321. There were 24 of us in Club Europe - a full six rows. Unfortunately, we weren’t served the usual breakfast on the short hop down. I assume this is because it would’ve been impractical to try and serve all of us within the short amount of time on the flight, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this before? Drinks orders were taken and we were all given a pack of gram flour and parsley flavoured nuts. Bit of an odd snack for breakfast, seen as though economy looked to have been given a nutri-grain bar…
Of course none of this is the end of the world, I’m just intrigued to know whether this happens very often. Fortunately I had some food in the lounge beforehand, so I wasn’t wasting away by the time I stepped off the plane (two hours after landing - eek!).
RLP
Jan 24, 2023, 6:46 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 460
I have marvelled at accounts of full breakfasts on very short flights when on longer flights the crew wouldn’t even have got out of the galley in that time.
Nevertheless it is advertised and it is what crews routinely achieve. I suspect it wasn’t loaded but they should have said so. You are no doubt due some Avios for a reduced service. Let us know what the response is.
Nevertheless it is advertised and it is what crews routinely achieve. I suspect it wasn’t loaded but they should have said so. You are no doubt due some Avios for a reduced service. Let us know what the response is.
Jan 24, 2023, 6:49 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
Is the flight catered in London the night before? Wondering if due to delays etc there was some issue catering the aircraft for the return the next morning.
Was there no information/excuses from the crew regarding the lack of catering?
Given a recent thread where a steerage passenger was given 15,000 avios for no pretzel snack being available, by comparison, no CE breakfast must be worth enough avios for a round the world trip!
Was there no information/excuses from the crew regarding the lack of catering?
Given a recent thread where a steerage passenger was given 15,000 avios for no pretzel snack being available, by comparison, no CE breakfast must be worth enough avios for a round the world trip!
Jan 24, 2023, 9:08 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 372
The current Club catering on domestic services is a waste of time. A well stocked bar and a good quality snack is achievable but I never see the point of offering a tray, drinks and tea and coffee on such quick hops. I don’t really buy the argument that passengers on business may otherwise starve, either, as most make a point of going to the lounge.
On a Manchester run the crew really struggled to serve half the full Club cabin before we were well into our descent. They offered sincere apologies as they were taking trays away from passengers who were trying to eat as quickly as they could.
There is more time to offer a tray on flights to Scotland but overall I can’t see the point of the current service on domestic services apart from the drinks trolley.
On a Manchester run the crew really struggled to serve half the full Club cabin before we were well into our descent. They offered sincere apologies as they were taking trays away from passengers who were trying to eat as quickly as they could.
There is more time to offer a tray on flights to Scotland but overall I can’t see the point of the current service on domestic services apart from the drinks trolley.
Jan 24, 2023, 9:18 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
As I well remember, this was in fact the result of competitive pressure brought about by the new Scottish services operated by British Midland, who began stealing customers from BA, by offering a stronger product proposition.
For some time BA’s line had (in essence) been that we’d love to serve you a full breakfast but there just isn’t enough time on such short sectors - until, that is BM decided to do exactly that.
A little bit of history here (including the Battle of the Breakfasts, as the Press dubbed it back in the day.
)https://londonairtravel.com/2022/04/...18-april-2022/
Jan 24, 2023, 10:14 am
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,208
As I well remember, this was in fact the result of competitive pressure brought about by the new Scottish services operated by British Midland, who began stealing customers from BA, by offering a stronger product proposition.
For some time BA’s line had (in essence) been that we’d love to serve you a full breakfast but there just isn’t enough time on such short sectors - until, that is BM decided to do exactly that.
A little bit of history here (including the Battle of the Breakfasts, as the Press dubbed it back in the day. )
https://londonairtravel.com/2022/04/...18-april-2022/
For some time BA’s line had (in essence) been that we’d love to serve you a full breakfast but there just isn’t enough time on such short sectors - until, that is BM decided to do exactly that.
A little bit of history here (including the Battle of the Breakfasts, as the Press dubbed it back in the day.
)https://londonairtravel.com/2022/04/...18-april-2022/
Jan 24, 2023, 10:29 am
#15
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,941
The current Club catering on domestic services is a waste of time. A well stocked bar and a good quality snack is achievable but I never see the point of offering a tray, drinks and tea and coffee on such quick hops. I don’t really buy the argument that passengers on business may otherwise starve, either, as most make a point of going to the lounge.
On a Manchester run the crew really struggled to serve half the full Club cabin before we were well into our descent. They offered sincere apologies as they were taking trays away from passengers who were trying to eat as quickly as they could.
There is more time to offer a tray on flights to Scotland but overall I can’t see the point of the current service on domestic services apart from the drinks trolley.
On a Manchester run the crew really struggled to serve half the full Club cabin before we were well into our descent. They offered sincere apologies as they were taking trays away from passengers who were trying to eat as quickly as they could.
There is more time to offer a tray on flights to Scotland but overall I can’t see the point of the current service on domestic services apart from the drinks trolley.
Last edited by KARFA; Jan 24, 2023 at 10:44 am