BA: No more freebie food and drink
Discussion
Economy class passengers on short haul BA flights will no longer have the delights of free food or dink from today. Bring some plastic though (not cash) as the airline will sell you a selection of goodies from M&S as you head towards your destination.
Passengers up the pointy end will still be able to scoff the usual tasty treats without having to pay on board.
Telegraph link
Passengers up the pointy end will still be able to scoff the usual tasty treats without having to pay on board.
Telegraph link
It might be seen as a case of catching up with reality – the nature of air travel has changed beyond all recognition in the last 25 years.
I remember in April 1996 flying from Heathrow to Belfast (my first ever business trip to Norn Iron as it happened). I didn’t get much change out of £300 for a day trip but that’s the way things were in those days - perhaps “the end of the old days” in a manner of speaking. These days, a quarter of a lifetime later, you think you’ve “been done” if you pay half that amount for a day trip to Ireland.
The hostesses (for they were all female back then) did their best to serve us some grub, but the bloody plane was only up in the sky for 55 minutes. All they had time to do after takeoff was chuck as all a sandwich or whatever before it was time to strap themselves in again for landing.
The world of air travel has moved on. Now we’ve even got this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/2762631...
I remember in April 1996 flying from Heathrow to Belfast (my first ever business trip to Norn Iron as it happened). I didn’t get much change out of £300 for a day trip but that’s the way things were in those days - perhaps “the end of the old days” in a manner of speaking. These days, a quarter of a lifetime later, you think you’ve “been done” if you pay half that amount for a day trip to Ireland.
The hostesses (for they were all female back then) did their best to serve us some grub, but the bloody plane was only up in the sky for 55 minutes. All they had time to do after takeoff was chuck as all a sandwich or whatever before it was time to strap themselves in again for landing.
The world of air travel has moved on. Now we’ve even got this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93122458@N08/2762631...
Good - at least we might be able to get some decent food now. Don't fly BA often, but the food on the last couple domestic flights I've been on was a joke. Took a midday flight recently and got the worlds smallest sandwich - a "finger" about 1/3 the size of a normal sandwich, which tasted of nothing. Why bother. That was a club world connecting flight as well - embarrassing really
Having flown BA to France yesterday and then returning today, it was amusing to hear the cabin crew on the way out - as they were dishing out the sarnies and drinks highlighting to all on board that "today you can have a free drink, make the most of it, because tomorrow your coffee will cost you £2.50, because that's the future"!
Somehow I don't think that was quite the corporate line on it all!
Today it did seem to be taking a long time for them to be able to get down the plane as all those who wanted anything went scrabbling in pockets, bags and overhead bins to find a means to pay...
Personally it really makes no odds to me on these short legs - ok, a coffee is nice, but t at the same time I can either get one before I board or pay a couple of quid...
Somehow I don't think that was quite the corporate line on it all!
Today it did seem to be taking a long time for them to be able to get down the plane as all those who wanted anything went scrabbling in pockets, bags and overhead bins to find a means to pay...
Personally it really makes no odds to me on these short legs - ok, a coffee is nice, but t at the same time I can either get one before I board or pay a couple of quid...
Junior Bianno said:
Good - at least we might be able to get some decent food now. Don't fly BA often, but the food on the last couple domestic flights I've been on was a joke. Took a midday flight recently and got the worlds smallest sandwich - a "finger" about 1/3 the size of a normal sandwich, which tasted of nothing. Why bother. That was a club world connecting flight as well - embarrassing really
I flew out to Maranello with BA recently - you're right, the economy class food was laughable. I really don't know why they bothered!I'd prefer to have the option of buying a proper sandwich etc., if that's what I wanted, over the ridiculous snacks they currently serve.
Years ago I used to get the red-eye from Exeter to Jersey with FlyBe on a Dash 8. Used to actually look forward to the bacon baguette you could buy on board.
Ryanair (cheap), Easyjet (convenient), Norwegian (comfy) and alike are so competitive on short-haul, BA and the other flag carriers are finding it ever harder to compete. BA fills about 80-90% of its smaller planes, while Ryanair and Easyjet fill 90-95%. BA needs to cut costs to stay in touch, hence no free food. If Ryanair ever get clearance for stool-seats or standing-seats (more tickets sold per flight), BA will take another hit.
Since both the range and cost will inevitably be worse, I'll buy my M&S food at the service station rather than on the plane. I wonder what sales volume they're expecting and also whether the savings are actually out weighed by the loss in good will. After all the difference want enough to let them reduce ticket prices.
Yipper said:
Ryanair (cheap), Easyjet (convenient), Norwegian (comfy) and alike are so competitive on short-haul, BA and the other flag carriers are finding it ever harder to compete. BA fills about 80-90% of its smaller planes, while Ryanair and Easyjet fill 90-95%. BA needs to cut costs to stay in touch, hence no free food. If Ryanair ever get clearance for stool-seats or standing-seats (more tickets sold per flight), BA will take another hit.
Indeed, I think we may see a point where BA etc can't make short haul feasible even through their own route network and possibly book you onto an LCC to connect to their long haul services. Low cost low haul is here too with the 787, which may erode people like BAs market share further.
Am I the only one that quite likes BA?
Generous luggage allowance as standard, and if in the cheap seats more leg room and a not horrific glass of wine or two, or a couple of g and ts make the whole experience a lot nicer for me. The club traveler food i've had recently has been ok for plane food, and see above for the booze.
Ryanair on the other hand i actively avoid, I always seem to get cattled about and end up waiting / pushing / shouting etc with horrible people.
Generous luggage allowance as standard, and if in the cheap seats more leg room and a not horrific glass of wine or two, or a couple of g and ts make the whole experience a lot nicer for me. The club traveler food i've had recently has been ok for plane food, and see above for the booze.
Ryanair on the other hand i actively avoid, I always seem to get cattled about and end up waiting / pushing / shouting etc with horrible people.
V41LEY said:
Without the hassle of a food and drink service maybe the cabin crew will cheer up a bit. In recent years, In recent years, BA seem to specialise in grumpy old boilers who bunked off the charm school lessons !
Think you've missed the point, the food and drink service will still happen, just, you now need to pay for the produce which will slow everything down and make the crew even more grumpier. Saying that, if you want grumpy cabin crew, try Air Canada.
gibbon said:
Am I the only one that quite likes BA?
Generous luggage allowance as standard, and if in the cheap seats more leg room and a not horrific glass of wine or two, or a couple of g and ts make the whole experience a lot nicer for me. The club traveler food i've had recently has been ok for plane food, and see above for the booze.
Ryanair on the other hand i actively avoid, I always seem to get cattled about and end up waiting / pushing / shouting etc with horrible people.
Years of doing the UK - Sweden route and trying all the various options, including routes and operators now defunct, the BA service LHR to Arlanda I found to be the best, most convenient and often either cheapest or near enough to make little difference. Any price premium paid, if any, more than made up for flight scheduling, baggage allowance, and not being dumped at an airport that was named Stockholm but was actually in the back of beyond with lousy transport links.Generous luggage allowance as standard, and if in the cheap seats more leg room and a not horrific glass of wine or two, or a couple of g and ts make the whole experience a lot nicer for me. The club traveler food i've had recently has been ok for plane food, and see above for the booze.
Ryanair on the other hand i actively avoid, I always seem to get cattled about and end up waiting / pushing / shouting etc with horrible people.
Yes the BA old boilers , both M and F, can be a bit snippy, but so what, they don't prat about sorting out the awful people that usually go with Ryanair et al. Although did get fed up with broken seats at one bit.
Edited by FiF on Thursday 12th January 21:47
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff