An Enhancement too far? [CE catering band downgrade on certain routes]
#256




Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,094
Wow that ploughmans looks awful, the chicken looks grey, the one half cherry tomato has not seen any sun drying and the quiche wedge looks dry and unappetising. the eclair looks like something I had probably not describe on here - the fruit scone looks at least baked properly which appears to be the only good thing about this tray. Overall the whole tray screams cheap.
#258


Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, Flying Blue
Posts: 927
that ploughman's tray looks disgusting.
Do please write and complain loudly to BA.
Also worth complaining about on the plane - politely please - but say you are unhappy with the offering.
Do please write and complain loudly to BA.
Also worth complaining about on the plane - politely please - but say you are unhappy with the offering.
#259



Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: England
Programs: BAC
Posts: 1,817
Very beige and uninspiring.
At the very least, I hope that you complain about the lack of WiFi; Ive had a couple of awards of 5000 Avios for no WiFi.
#260
Original Poster




Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GfL, LH SEN
Posts: 1,206
Apparently theres a fleet wide issue with WiFi hence all references in onboard announcements are not to be used until further notice.
Free messaging for club members also not working, First Customers need to pay then the SCCM needs to arrange a refund. Just another issue to add to the ever growing list.
#261



Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: England
Programs: BAC
Posts: 1,817
Apparently theres a fleet wide issue with WiFi hence all references in onboard announcements are not to be used until further notice.
Free messaging for club members also not working, First Customers need to pay then the SCCM needs to arrange a refund. Just another issue to add to the ever growing list.
Free messaging for club members also not working, First Customers need to pay then the SCCM needs to arrange a refund. Just another issue to add to the ever growing list.
Ah; thanks for that. Not flown BA since October so didnt know about the onboard announcement. My Avios rewards were because I complained and reminded the person who replied that one of the stated benefits of BAC membership was free WiFi messaging. Have they got out of this now by making the announcements on board?
#262




Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, LH SEN, HH Gold, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 5,610
Apparently there’s a fleet wide issue with WiFi hence all references in onboard announcements are not to be used until further notice.
Free messaging for club members also not working, First Customers need to pay then the SCCM needs to arrange a refund. Just another issue to add to the ever growing list.
Free messaging for club members also not working, First Customers need to pay then the SCCM needs to arrange a refund. Just another issue to add to the ever growing list.
If you told me this crew were doing their first ever flight, I would instantly believe you, that's how amateur it all was.
#265




Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, LH SEN, HH Gold, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 5,610

Wow that ploughmans looks awful, the chicken looks grey, the one half cherry tomato has not seen any sun drying and the quiche wedge looks dry and unappetising. the eclair looks like something I had probably not describe on here - the fruit scone looks at least baked properly which appears to be the only good thing about this tray. Overall the whole tray screams cheap.
I will complain again, but only for the sake of all of you that still wish to continue flying this apology for an airline. I'm done and frankly, next time I'm on EasyJet with an extra seat and a happy meal, even if it costs the same as CE. It's just so not worth it. I must say the BA mainline flights are generally much better than this, but EuroFlyer are history for me.
#266




Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, LH SEN, HH Gold, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 5,610
#267
FlyerTalk Posting Legend and Ambassador: The British Airways Club




Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, HH Diamond
Posts: 48,308
I flew LHR-NCL BA1328 in Club Europe on 14 January .
I had expected to get the usual cooked English breakfast as usual for a morning flight to Newcastle - I am a regular on this route. What BA hadn't told me or anyone else before the flight is that the breakfast on this route (and I understand a few other routes) has now been downgraded since last week so that we no longer get a cooked breakfast. Instead I was offered a small plate of a few slices of fruit, with a small pastry and a small yoghurt. This is in no way equivalent to the cooked breakfast I used to receive on this route and clearly a downgrade to what is offered. I can understand if BA wanted to offer a fruit plate as an additional option for those who would prefer it, but there is no choice given to customers. BA has simply withdrawn the cooked breakfast and it is either the small fruit plate or nothing.
BA talks a lot about wanting to be a premium airline, but changes like this just seem cheap and almost intended to annoy otherwise loyal customers. This is merely cost cutting dressed up with some pretence of offering customers what they asked for despite customers never being explicitly asked whether they want this change.
Also please dont claim serving the hot breakfast has become challenging. I have flown enough to know that well organised crews can easily complete the service within the time allowed. If a small minority of crew are struggling, this should be a prompt for BA to give some additional training, not used as an excuse to cut what is offered.
Added to the other changes last week downgrading some routes from band 3 to 2, removing the starter from band 3 and 4 routes, and removing a hot meal in the afternoon from band 3 it really does highlight that the overall motivation for these changes is cost cutting. There is no sense that BA has an overarching purpose to be a premium airline, or that when deciding this change anyone really asked how does it fit with that purpose and is cutting the hot breakfast something a premium airline would do mostly because it doesnt. BA seems to be obsessed with cutting costs, not how they can improve the service even if it costs more to do it.
I have to say these changes, in particular the removal of hot breakfasts, has really annoyed me and talking to other people I know who fly with BA their view is the same. I am really frustrated and really disappointed that BA have made these changes against their passengers wishes.
I had expected to get the usual cooked English breakfast as usual for a morning flight to Newcastle - I am a regular on this route. What BA hadn't told me or anyone else before the flight is that the breakfast on this route (and I understand a few other routes) has now been downgraded since last week so that we no longer get a cooked breakfast. Instead I was offered a small plate of a few slices of fruit, with a small pastry and a small yoghurt. This is in no way equivalent to the cooked breakfast I used to receive on this route and clearly a downgrade to what is offered. I can understand if BA wanted to offer a fruit plate as an additional option for those who would prefer it, but there is no choice given to customers. BA has simply withdrawn the cooked breakfast and it is either the small fruit plate or nothing.
BA talks a lot about wanting to be a premium airline, but changes like this just seem cheap and almost intended to annoy otherwise loyal customers. This is merely cost cutting dressed up with some pretence of offering customers what they asked for despite customers never being explicitly asked whether they want this change.
Also please dont claim serving the hot breakfast has become challenging. I have flown enough to know that well organised crews can easily complete the service within the time allowed. If a small minority of crew are struggling, this should be a prompt for BA to give some additional training, not used as an excuse to cut what is offered.
Added to the other changes last week downgrading some routes from band 3 to 2, removing the starter from band 3 and 4 routes, and removing a hot meal in the afternoon from band 3 it really does highlight that the overall motivation for these changes is cost cutting. There is no sense that BA has an overarching purpose to be a premium airline, or that when deciding this change anyone really asked how does it fit with that purpose and is cutting the hot breakfast something a premium airline would do mostly because it doesnt. BA seems to be obsessed with cutting costs, not how they can improve the service even if it costs more to do it.
I have to say these changes, in particular the removal of hot breakfasts, has really annoyed me and talking to other people I know who fly with BA their view is the same. I am really frustrated and really disappointed that BA have made these changes against their passengers wishes.
Thank you for speaking to me this morning about your Billund flight and for taking the time to write to us about your experience in Club Europe on BA1328 from London Heathrow to Newcastle on 14 January. Were sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the recent changes to our meal options, on a selection of our shortest Club Europe flights. The company does feel that due to the limited time available on these journeys, serving and enjoying a hot breakfast has become challenging. The decision was taken to ensure a more comfortable experience, and well now offer a continental breakfast on these routes.
However, its important that we acknowledge that you are disappointed by the change to the breakfast offering, particularly as youre a regular customer on this route and had clear expectations based on past experience. We do understand why the withdrawal of the hot breakfast feels like a downgrade, especially when it wasnt communicated in advance and no alternative hot option was available. We recognise that, for many customers, the onboard dining experience is an important part of what distinguishes Club Europe, and its understandably annoying when the service doesnt align with what youve previously received or what you associate with a premium product.
Youre right that, in recent weeks, weve made some changes to the onboard service on certain short‑haul routes, including adjustments to meal formats and catering bands. These decisions are taken after careful consideration of customer feedback, operational constraints and consistency across the network, but we accept that the outcome on this occasion didnt meet your expectationsor those of other loyal customers who value the traditional cooked breakfast on early‑morning flights.
We also acknowledge your point regarding communication. When changes affect the service customers have come to expect, its important that we do better at explaining whats changing and why, particularly for frequent travellers such as yourself. Your comments about choice, perceived value and how these changes align with our broader aspirations as a premium airline are especially appreciated and will be shared with the teams responsible for onboard product and service design.
A hot breakfast will continue to be available on the vast majority of our short-haul flights, and we are also introducing a new Ploughmans Afternoon Tea concept on some of our longer short-haul flights, which combines the best of a classic Ploughmans and Afternoon Tea.
Im genuinely sorry that this experience left you feeling disappointed and annoyed. While I appreciate that this doesnt undo the frustration of your journey, please know that feedback like yours does influence future decisions.
We value your loyalty and are grateful that youve taken the time to articulate your concerns so clearly. Once again, please accept our apologies for your experience on this trip. We hope to welcome you back on board soon.
However, its important that we acknowledge that you are disappointed by the change to the breakfast offering, particularly as youre a regular customer on this route and had clear expectations based on past experience. We do understand why the withdrawal of the hot breakfast feels like a downgrade, especially when it wasnt communicated in advance and no alternative hot option was available. We recognise that, for many customers, the onboard dining experience is an important part of what distinguishes Club Europe, and its understandably annoying when the service doesnt align with what youve previously received or what you associate with a premium product.
Youre right that, in recent weeks, weve made some changes to the onboard service on certain short‑haul routes, including adjustments to meal formats and catering bands. These decisions are taken after careful consideration of customer feedback, operational constraints and consistency across the network, but we accept that the outcome on this occasion didnt meet your expectationsor those of other loyal customers who value the traditional cooked breakfast on early‑morning flights.
We also acknowledge your point regarding communication. When changes affect the service customers have come to expect, its important that we do better at explaining whats changing and why, particularly for frequent travellers such as yourself. Your comments about choice, perceived value and how these changes align with our broader aspirations as a premium airline are especially appreciated and will be shared with the teams responsible for onboard product and service design.
A hot breakfast will continue to be available on the vast majority of our short-haul flights, and we are also introducing a new Ploughmans Afternoon Tea concept on some of our longer short-haul flights, which combines the best of a classic Ploughmans and Afternoon Tea.
Im genuinely sorry that this experience left you feeling disappointed and annoyed. While I appreciate that this doesnt undo the frustration of your journey, please know that feedback like yours does influence future decisions.
We value your loyalty and are grateful that youve taken the time to articulate your concerns so clearly. Once again, please accept our apologies for your experience on this trip. We hope to welcome you back on board soon.
#268


Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,833
Makes me think that I've been very lucky to squeeze so many compo Avios out of them... maybe I could offer my services to those of you that are just getting the fob off...
#269




Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, LH SEN, HH Gold, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 5,610
My goodness KARFA I thought you had a special connection to BA 
Seriously though, credit to the effort BA went to and sheer volume of prose generated for the simple message of sod off. All I can say is to recommend you do as I have, and do exactly what BA suggests. They really do not deserve your good nature.

Seriously though, credit to the effort BA went to and sheer volume of prose generated for the simple message of sod off. All I can say is to recommend you do as I have, and do exactly what BA suggests. They really do not deserve your good nature.
#270
FlyerTalk Posting Legend and Ambassador: The British Airways Club




Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, HH Diamond
Posts: 48,308
My goodness KARFA I thought you had a special connection to BA 
Seriously though, credit to the effort BA went to and sheer volume of prose generated for the simple message of sod off. All I can say is to recommend you do as I have, and do exactly what BA suggests. They really do not deserve your good nature.

Seriously though, credit to the effort BA went to and sheer volume of prose generated for the simple message of sod off. All I can say is to recommend you do as I have, and do exactly what BA suggests. They really do not deserve your good nature.





