Betteronacamel

This is beyond bonkers IMHO. Before COVID BA did indeed enable you to pre-order your mains in F and CW. I seem to remember it was ex London only (not sure about LGW) and maybe one or 2 US stations (JFK perhaps). There was some debate as to whether this should be necessary in F as surely BA would cater enough to keep everyone happy - yeah right....I think a lot of airlines offered this too, and if you think about it, it makes absolute sense in that it keeps passengers happy AND potentially saves the airline money and enables it to claim green credentials for saving waste and reducing weight/fuel.

The downsides were that if passengers changed their minds on the day there might not be another option available; if you pre-ordered it might put you down the list for an upgrade (possible urban myth); onus on the airline to have their ducks in row (not always a given on BA).

Let's face it, BA probably suffered deepest and longest with the effects of the pandemic and certainly took and ages to get 'back to normal'. But for an airline like BA that loves to cut costs above all, how can they justify missing out on this sort of opportunity - especially as it's a cost saving that can be sold as being a) green and b) 'we've listened to your feed-back...etc...etc'

I'll reiterate that I personally don't think it should be necessary in F but because it's BA....

With only 3 choices of main in CW I do think it's vital to get this back asap

Or maybe...BA spend so little on their catering that it's not worth making this change

In any case I do think it reflects badly on them that they can't reinstate something that would appear to be to everyone's advantage.

Lucanesque

Does anyone have any recent experience of the food on 178? Particularly the second meal? I've seen the post at #423 but it's missing the second menu page and I'm wondering if it's basically sandwich / pasta, or something else.

I'm flying on 2 June, so too early for menus, and I'm trying to decide whether I'll have to order a special meal or, my preference, if I'll find enough that I can eat on the day (subject to usual caveats about what's available / loaded / etc etc)

rhegedus

ATL-LHR 12th May 2024

Earthman

Not often you hear this but I must be spoiled by American Airlines to be expecting pre ordering on BA long haul
I havent flown BA longhaul in a long time
Usually taking AA ex Dub for pre clearance for example
But Ive a burst of BA long hauls this summer,two of them in F
On all of them,I've plonked myself into row 1 which could mean not too many other golds or higher on the flights ,or they are in the middle seats maybe,hard to know

daimler3996

A bit late with this one, but BA283 LHR - LAX on 2nd May.

My 'first First', and the experience was terrific from start to finish. Personal, friendly service, from a brilliant member of cabin crew - I only had to think about wanting something and she would appear, but was never intrusive or overbearing. Food and drink seemed outstanding to me as a first class newbie.

Photos and menu below:








Canap�s were lovely, with a glass of the Lanson Noble - definitely a rich, quite intense champagne. Tasted great, but you wouldn't want too much!

Courgette blossom - delicious and very fresh-tasting

Chicken breast and vegetables - with some lovely zucchini fritti

Chocolate, hazelnut, and raspberry cake - looks very bright and a bit artificial, but tasted great

I was too full for the light meal, so asked if I could just have the cherry custard tart from the main menu - again excellent, tasting almost home-made!

NoY

Just to finish up on this experience - BA have awarded me 33,000 Avios compenation which I have accepted. Case closed. I can only hope for a better experience on my next F flight in September.

seanp7

Not late at all! Great photos - and glad you got New F. The last 4 JFK-LHR-JFK flights I've had have been "old" F (but very good!)...

richard9

Daimler - your food looks stunning - that really would make my own BA First experience in August amazing.
Good fotos too.
Cheers

daimler3996

Thanks both - it really was a fabulous flight, and a considerable step up from Club World.

As regards new v old First, I was quite philosophical - I definitely appreciated the larger TV and more space (possibly?), but was flying with my other half so would have enjoyed trying out buddy dining before it's phased out!

infrequentflytalker

PVG�LHR, 13/5/24.

Lanson Noble served lukewarm and without a stopper, and as you can see, water left without being topped up. After a round of roobois tea for me and my partner we were told we�d drunk the plane dry! Perhaps I expect too much from First�


Starter, hot smoked salmon � quite nice with the truffled artichoke cream but the salmon was tasteless.

Main, cajun spiced halibut � no spices detected, and the side was just sloppy overcooked watery vegetables. Tasted like grandma�s cooking.

Cheese plate � hazelnuts seemed out of action but I didn�t mind, this was nice!

nldogbert

Welcome drink and nuts

Canapes - switched to the Lanson Rose as I just did not like the Grand Dame

Lobster - as usual good but felt my last time was slightly better

Seafood stew - could not decide between this and the Welsh Lamb so asked the FA to surprise me. Glad she selected this. Flavourful and not too heavy.

Good portion of seafood

Raspberry and chocolate tart

Afternoon tea - too bad the scone was not heated up

Good portion

This was als my first time where I felt service was on the better side. Although still
- no name used only once during initial taking of the menu
- no hot towels offered
- no bottle water offered unless requested

IFM was friendly and did do the rounds of greetings to all GGL and GCH. Majority of them was in business with only 1 in WTP - saw this via the iPad which was left at the service area while waiting for the toilet.

Cheers!

chriswiles

Really? I don't think I've ever been in F without a bottle of water and the hot towel should be served on every long haul flight.

Mind you, last time I was in F (to JFK) I received my nuts in the bag. Much prefer them served in crockery.

VSLover

glad someone ordered the seafood stew as ive been wanting to see what that looks like.

a shame the lobster looks a bit sad this time around! i would have asked about the towels though as i like to wipe my hands down after sitting down.

pH

I am curious if anyone knows the details of champagne catering for First. For example, how many bottles of the "good" bubbly (LPGS, Grande Dame, Lanson Noble) are stocked for the cabin? Does it modulate dependent on pax numbers?

Once the "good" stuff is depleted, do they switch to a backup option?

It has been a few years since I flew F with BA, but am looking forward to a trip next month. As always, I am grateful for your collective wisdom - thank you.

Lucanesque

BA213 LHR-BOS Saturday 18 May 2024
Menu same as LHR-LAX in post 455 - lunch with a light meal before landing.

I�m gluten free, but didn�t order a GFML as generally they are a disappointment in F. So I skipped the canap�s as two of them were in pastry, and had the cheese with my own GF biscuits.


The new (I think) warmed nuts are a good savoury mix, because I wasn�t having the canap�s I polished off that dish and the crew brought me a bowl they use for side dish vegetables with loads of nuts in.


Started with the lobster. Not quite as juicy as it might have been down on the ground, but good with the asparagus and cocktail sauce.


Red pepper soup with shredded courgette. As usual for an F soup IME, this really delivered on flavour.


Chicken was dry and disappointing, but the pepper sauce was just the right type of saucy. I didn�t eat what looked like samphire tempura (because, gluten).


Vanilla ice cream with raspberries and chocolate.


As the light meal was a choice of two sandwiches I had a cheese plate from the first meal service, minus the biscuits (although had my own GF cheese oatcakes)