Smirnoff

How peculiar. English people on the BA Board. Something strange going on.

The goat? Of course she is always right. That's why we cuddle up every night in bed.

washingtonian

I am very disappointed (but no mental anguish). I am a loyal BA customer and have flown this route frequently. Before the sleeper service, you had a choice: either dinner, or a snack + early bed. Now that choice has been taken away for the people who want to eat and stay awake for a while, and the people who want to go straight to bed are no better off.

Smirnoff

Me thinks this is the same bloke that couldn't get Ting Tong into the Spa.

AJLondon

LOL

Fraser

Ironically he was from the other Washington.....Washington State.

Jenbel

Smirnoff! That's naughty...

washingtonian, when the sleeper service was first introduced, there was actually quite a lot of tooth-gnashing on here, quite a lot of it along the lines you are saying. However, for most people using it in practice it does work rather well, and the feelings on here (generally of course) have gone from "oh my god the world is ending" to "actually, its quite a good idea really". Those who just want to sleep can get a meal now and sleep (whereas before it was one or the other), those who don't want to sleep can stay awake if they need to. Where the problem lies is with the small number of people who for one reason or another don't have the opportunity to eat at the lounge - and the vast majority of those understand the concept, so probably know they will either be snacking, or to pick something up at the airport.

I don't know if you lurked on here before the flight, but I presume not, otherwise you would have known what the sleeper service entails, and been prepared for it. Unfortunately, despite BA's best efforts to inform you, you weren't. It's a shame, but as a passenger, you should take some responsibility for looking at information provided when booking the flight... I can understand your frustration, but you've got to admit, it is a little bit self inflicted.

And don't mind the board too much - part of our problem is we have a short attention span, and tend not to take anything too seriously (well, bizarrely, except for fish puns, and having parties )... welcome to FT. I do hope you will be able to use the information you can gain on here to ensure you don't have such a disappointing flight in the future...

More Champagne Sir?

washingtonian, its quite simple - if you don't like the BA Sleeper Service, go fly on United.

ian001

I would also question whether the Sleeper Service saves BA money. When you consider the capital investment in setting up dining facilities at the US airports, additional staff and catering costs at the US airports, no reduction in crew numbers on the flight, I don't see any savings for BA.

Passengers tend to vastly over-estimate how much the meal itself, even in J and F, costs the airline. Savings only really come when you sweep away the whole catering supply chain in its entirety.

Imperial Special

This happened to a friend of mine in CW ex ORD when expecting to eat onboard. Clear labelling of these flights is very important - in the e-ticket notice and not by way of link.

I also think it should be possible to have an Express Meal option onboard a sleeper service flight, where 3 courses could be served on a single tray. That would facilitate those who are running late (often full fare payers) and those who, for whatever reason, are unaware of Sleeper Service.

Personally, I don't like the sleep zone a la VS. If I can't sleep I'd like to be able to read or watch a movie unencumbered by restrictions.

WHBM

I'm with the OP on this one. If you are on the earlier flight, your business meeting runs on and you get someone to push your res back from the earlier to the later flight, what are the chances they will even interpret a remark about "sleeper service" as "no meals", especially for a premium passenger ?

AJLondon

Do you really interpret getting:
- baguette with a hot filling &
- warm cookies &
- hot & cold drinks of choice

as "no meals"? (And this does not include any of the Raid-the-larder options.) I often have dinner that is less elaborate than that. And I certainly would be hesitant in labelling this as "forced starvation"!!

PUCCI GALORE

Sorry - my instinct as well. I was about to say any sympathy that I had went when out with the rude jibe. However, without going much further all I will say is that the style and content has a very familair ring about it. April 1st is a little way off - so I am sure that any Loyal British Airways flyer is entitled to a little fun now and again. I confess myself to be perplexed how any Frequent Flyer can manage to upgrade with miles and not notice the fact that it is a sleeper service. Still it takes all sorst I suppose.

Speaking of which we had someone on Board the other day en route to Delhi (as it happens) who requested an upgrade (no it was not a demand more of a full powered wheedle) on the basis that he was the original inspiration for the Cat in the Hat. So earnest was he, and so amused was I that I felt sorry saying that I suspected that I was the prototype for Mrs Tiggywinkle (as read to me by [i]my[i] Nanny - or was it the Governess by this stage O Memory the tricks that it can pull) as I am both prickly and seem to be surrounded by ironing.

AJLondon

Well said, Ms GALORE. ^

loobtastic

When the sleeper service first started, there were indeed many passengers that really didn't know what it entailed and landed at LHR a few pounds lighter. At the time I fed back (no pun intended) to the Co that maybe a few meals should be loaded for people who hadn't had chance to grab food in the lounge. This may be addressed when NNNNNNNN Club is revealed. (....said Loob mysteriously!!)

However, as far as the case of the OP goes. The crew did indeed feed him albeit "with much rolling of eyes" ( I probably would've thrown in a "tut" for effect, but, that's just me. Ever the drama queen)

Smirnoff

There's no pleasing some people.

Some wacko BA passengers complain of forced starvation, while some equally (or most likely, less) wacko Guantanamo inmates complain of forced feeding.

I know. Transfer the "combattants" to the Upper Deck, and send the miserable complainers off on a one-way ticket to Cuba. Then everyone will be happy.