IB's catering & service during COVID-19
#241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,918
Apparently new service began as of 18 March (crew mentioned it was the first day).
- Pre departure beverages: yes
- Drinks before meal: yes, + almonds/cheese/olives
- Meal service: as pre-covid, including a menu (redesigned)
- After meal drinks: yes
- Snacks between meal: yes (chocolate bars / crisps etc)
- Second meal: choice of cold cuts or pasta
- Pre departure beverages: yes
- Drinks before meal: yes, + almonds/cheese/olives
- Meal service: as pre-covid, including a menu (redesigned)
- After meal drinks: yes
- Snacks between meal: yes (chocolate bars / crisps etc)
- Second meal: choice of cold cuts or pasta
- Pre departure beverages: yes
- Drinks before meal: no, + noo almonds/cheese/olives
- Meal service: three choices no menu with meal served covered
- After meal drinks: yes
- Snacks between meal: yes (chocolate bars / crisps etc)
- Second meal: no choice just pasta
#242
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,083
Can anyone tell me since the new changes if anything is served on the IB Express in Business at 18.40 MAD-LGW? Thank you in advance
#246
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 288
TFN - MAD (Iberia Express), 2nd morning flight, the omelette was a disaster
Did like the yoghurt and fruits though, could have easily eaten another one of those.
MAD - AGP on mainline
Flight attendant came round with this small bowl of tapas and afterwards with an AA style snack basket.
The whole thing looked a bit random to me as she went back and forth seemingly finding different things to offer each time (like "hm, what else could we offer them").
Is there any rule on what is served on these short flights?
Got a proper salad snack on MAD - BCN recently which was better in my opinion.
Did like the yoghurt and fruits though, could have easily eaten another one of those.
MAD - AGP on mainline
Flight attendant came round with this small bowl of tapas and afterwards with an AA style snack basket.
The whole thing looked a bit random to me as she went back and forth seemingly finding different things to offer each time (like "hm, what else could we offer them").
Is there any rule on what is served on these short flights?
Got a proper salad snack on MAD - BCN recently which was better in my opinion.
#247
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 1,111
This. I had the same experience when you see them in the galley they are constantly opening and closing the compartments looking for stuff. Hopefully they would find the safety equipment a bit quicker in an emergency.
#248
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 288
AGP - MAD afternoon flight on Air Nostrum
Had never flown with them before so was a bit surprised they don't leave neighboring seat empty #FinnairFeeling
MAD - TFN, Iberia Express on late evening flight
Tasty beef dish with sweet potato mash, friendly crew who accommodated a full J (5 or 6 rows) with smiles and plenty of drink refills
Had never flown with them before so was a bit surprised they don't leave neighboring seat empty #FinnairFeeling
MAD - TFN, Iberia Express on late evening flight
Tasty beef dish with sweet potato mash, friendly crew who accommodated a full J (5 or 6 rows) with smiles and plenty of drink refills
#249
Join Date: May 2003
Location: TLL
Programs: OZ Diamond, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 4,404
I had two really good business meals with Iberia - I would say easily my best intra-European business class meals in a long time.
April 15 - IB 3123 VIE-MAD
Really tasty pasta with a mushroom filling and asparagus and mushrooms. The artichoke heart appetizer was very good. I am not a fan of meringue and I even liked the desert. Other dish was fish, which my partner had and said was also delicious.
April 18 - IB 3124 MAD-VIE
Eggplant with seafood stuffing - yum! It was really good. The starter was a potato salad with a slice of roast beef. The desert was ladyfingers with a custard topping. The other option was a pasta.
Again - really nice meals in C and it was fantastic to actually have a choice! Flying LH/OS a lot, I can't remember when was the last time I got a choice in intra-European C.
April 15 - IB 3123 VIE-MAD
Really tasty pasta with a mushroom filling and asparagus and mushrooms. The artichoke heart appetizer was very good. I am not a fan of meringue and I even liked the desert. Other dish was fish, which my partner had and said was also delicious.
April 18 - IB 3124 MAD-VIE
Eggplant with seafood stuffing - yum! It was really good. The starter was a potato salad with a slice of roast beef. The desert was ladyfingers with a custard topping. The other option was a pasta.
Again - really nice meals in C and it was fantastic to actually have a choice! Flying LH/OS a lot, I can't remember when was the last time I got a choice in intra-European C.
#250
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: AMS / LOP
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb., Marriott Gold, FB Plat, BAEC Silver
Posts: 478
Yesterday MAD-ORD.
Nice start with a half glass of Cava before take off.
Cava before takeoff
After take off, a drink with nuts, olives or cheese. Oh, and a lukewarm towel before the drink.
Then, a starter with a choice of wines. So far, pretty nice service. Choose a white wine.
Then, it was time for the main meal. As I choose the veal, I would love to switch to a red wine. But that was not offered. Also no chance to ask, as the crew disappeared quickly.
Still, the main course tastes well.
The cheeses for desert where nice. Liked the wine as well.
So, not bad at all! Everything was served in a top high pace in my opinion, it is a daytime flight after all, but still no reason to complain.
After the crew cleared the table a long sista for the crew started. For the next 7.5 hours there was no service. Not a single time the crew came to check if everyone needed something. There was no snack setup in the galley.
After a few hours I decided to ask for some red wine. It took some time before I get the attention of the crew, but after that they bring me a generous pour of red wine.
Then one hour before landing the pre arrival snack came and tasted good.
All in all, pretty good food. But the service was not really good. Friendly enough crew, but the crew clearly finished the service as quickly as possible and take their well deserved rest after that.
Nice start with a half glass of Cava before take off.
Cava before takeoff
After take off, a drink with nuts, olives or cheese. Oh, and a lukewarm towel before the drink.
Then, a starter with a choice of wines. So far, pretty nice service. Choose a white wine.
Then, it was time for the main meal. As I choose the veal, I would love to switch to a red wine. But that was not offered. Also no chance to ask, as the crew disappeared quickly.
Still, the main course tastes well.
The cheeses for desert where nice. Liked the wine as well.
So, not bad at all! Everything was served in a top high pace in my opinion, it is a daytime flight after all, but still no reason to complain.
After the crew cleared the table a long sista for the crew started. For the next 7.5 hours there was no service. Not a single time the crew came to check if everyone needed something. There was no snack setup in the galley.
After a few hours I decided to ask for some red wine. It took some time before I get the attention of the crew, but after that they bring me a generous pour of red wine.
Then one hour before landing the pre arrival snack came and tasted good.
All in all, pretty good food. But the service was not really good. Friendly enough crew, but the crew clearly finished the service as quickly as possible and take their well deserved rest after that.
#251
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 288
TFN - MAD (Iberia Express), 2nd morning flight, with another meh omelette as only option.
The granola, yoghurt thing was very good though.
MAD - SCQ, afternoon flight
Potato salad with a hint of tuna which was ok as a snack for the duration of the flight but nothing to write home about.
The granola, yoghurt thing was very good though.
MAD - SCQ, afternoon flight
Potato salad with a hint of tuna which was ok as a snack for the duration of the flight but nothing to write home about.
#252
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 288
SCQ - MAD (Iberia Express), morning flight
MAD - LHR, mainline afternoon flight
Forgot the name of that dish but was really not my taste. Alternative was some dry pasta if I remember correctly.
Sat in 2F and by the time I got asked for drinks the mere 3 Cava bottles were already gone and the usual "we don't have anymore!".
I really don't get it how IB constantly fails to load enough Cava, especially when departing from homebase.
It is either a "proper" offer in C then please cater accordingly or take it away completely if it is treated as a "secret / only when asked but probably not there" thing anyway...
MAD - LHR, mainline afternoon flight
Forgot the name of that dish but was really not my taste. Alternative was some dry pasta if I remember correctly.
Sat in 2F and by the time I got asked for drinks the mere 3 Cava bottles were already gone and the usual "we don't have anymore!".
I really don't get it how IB constantly fails to load enough Cava, especially when departing from homebase.
It is either a "proper" offer in C then please cater accordingly or take it away completely if it is treated as a "secret / only when asked but probably not there" thing anyway...