Time to pack your tuck box for BA flights
Discussion
I have always wondered why it is necessary for airlines to provide a meal on short haul flights anyway?
I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
Mandat said:
I have always wondered why it is necessary for airlines to provide a meal on short haul flights anyway?
I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
In flight meals are a massive time saving for business customers.I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
Puggit said:
Mandat said:
I have always wondered why it is necessary for airlines to provide a meal on short haul flights anyway?
I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
In flight meals are a massive time saving for business customers.I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
The last short haul flight I had that was anything more than a sandwich was on BA when I got bumped up into business because they'd put two of us in the same seat.* The hot breakfast was particularly rancid and I might have preferred the cheese sarnie that was offered at the back of the bus.
SAS have not provided any free catering on short haul for a long long while, everything has to be paid for. They still have, presumably, to load food/drink in case people want to buy it. They still appear to have to have the same number of cabin crew, I presume it is a safety / evacuation issue. So I'm not sure what the real saving to the airline is. Very few people appear to buy any food though a reasonable few do have drinks admittedly.
On the other hand, the big downside to me is that if no food / drink is served on board that will result in what happens on US domestics where passengers board with vats of carbonated chemicals and all sorts of messy and smelly foods bought from the airport food courts. That's a big downside to me. Or do the cheapo airlines, which we are barred from using btw, actually stop you taking your own food on board, same as cafes don't allow you to buy a cuppa and eat your own food on their premises and quite rightly so.
- * After two of us discovered we were genuinely assigned the same seat the crew went off to fix it. They issued me a new boarding card upgrading me and moving me to another seat that was also officially occupied, then another go, that seat was occupied too and eventually they more or less said "stuff it we think everybody is on board is it OK if you sit there"> pointing at a random empty window seat up at the front. How in holy hell they knew who was and who wasn't on the flight and how they can put two people in same seat I have not a damn clue. Must be questionable re security.
Puggit said:
Mandat said:
I have always wondered why it is necessary for airlines to provide a meal on short haul flights anyway?
I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
In flight meals are a massive time saving for business customers.I imagine that this was traditionally a perk of going on a flight when flying was still seen as exclusive but nowadays with the budget airlines and lots of short flights, in-flight meals do seem as an outdated concept.
Mattt said:
Do you have to pay for booze on BA now?
I flew long-haul with AA a couple of years back, and it was $5 for a small can of beer - vowed never to use them again. I don't want to get smashed, but a drink when I get on, and a wine with the meal does fine (and helps me sleep!).
No, still free, but more restricted choice, no JD in cattle class nowI flew long-haul with AA a couple of years back, and it was $5 for a small can of beer - vowed never to use them again. I don't want to get smashed, but a drink when I get on, and a wine with the meal does fine (and helps me sleep!).
uuf361 said:
Doesn't bother me at all - most airline food is not exactly stunning - on most long haul i'll only eat a roll and the desert so it is no loss to me at all......
Who have you been flying with? In recent memory only Malaysian Airlines has provided truly inedible food - Eva and Singapore were both pretty good, and both Emirates and Thai Airways were excellent.I also find it varies by departure airport - bizarrely enough, meals out of Heathrow are usually better than meals out of Dubai or the Asian capitals...
(Famous last words, of course...)
No loss really. The half and half sandwich on most european routes (Paris, Stuttgart, Bertin, Prague etc) arn't worthy of investigation, far better to get a roll at the airport which you will have time for as BA insist on you being presented to security 40 minuted before push back time.
The quality of food is in inverse proportion to the altitude at which it is served.
The quality of food is in inverse proportion to the altitude at which it is served.
Starfighter said:
No loss really. The half and half sandwich on most european routes (Paris, Stuttgart, Bertin, Prague etc) arn't worthy of investigation, far better to get a roll at the airport which you will have time for as BA insist on you being presented to security 40 minuted before push back time.
Yes but that means spending money at Gatwick or Heathrow which are run by BAA. They are a terrible company, arrogant and not interested whatsoever in those that pay their salaries/wages - the flying public. Since Termainal 5 opened I have tried as much as possible to avoid Heathrow. When I do have to use it, I make sure I don't spend a single penny at any of the retail outlets there since this is where BAA rip everyone off. I've managed to spend nothing at Heathrow or Gatwick now for nearly 18 months and I fly at least every 2-3 weeks.I had to wait 40 mins at Gatwick on Monday to get through security. The Fastrack lane was closed. When I enquired why this was, the BAA goons in suits told me that when it's busy they always close the Fastrack lane. I said when it's so busy that's when the lane should be open otherwise when it's not busy it isn't required anyway. Their reply was 'theoretically you're correct'
Why are BAA even allowed to keep hold of Heathrow since they employ people with IQs of -1 and are the most abusive and arrogant company I have ever come across.
Edited by Silver993tt on Thursday 30th July 19:17
havoc said:
uuf361 said:
Doesn't bother me at all - most airline food is not exactly stunning - on most long haul i'll only eat a roll and the desert so it is no loss to me at all......
Who have you been flying with? In recent memory only Malaysian Airlines has provided truly inedible food - Eva and Singapore were both pretty good, and both Emirates and Thai Airways were excellent.I also find it varies by departure airport - bizarrely enough, meals out of Heathrow are usually better than meals out of Dubai or the Asian capitals...
(Famous last words, of course...)
As a rule I don't fly BA - but have had to recently on routes that Star Alliance don't service. The BA sandwiches are highly inferior to bmi's offerings.
Some may argue that you have to pay on bmi - but in reality most passengers have the minimum blue plus status needed for a free meal deal.
Between lounge access and on board sarnies, I don't feel the need to eat for cash.
Some may argue that you have to pay on bmi - but in reality most passengers have the minimum blue plus status needed for a free meal deal.
Between lounge access and on board sarnies, I don't feel the need to eat for cash.
uuf361 said:
havoc said:
uuf361 said:
Doesn't bother me at all - most airline food is not exactly stunning - on most long haul i'll only eat a roll and the desert so it is no loss to me at all......
Who have you been flying with? In recent memory only Malaysian Airlines has provided truly inedible food - Eva and Singapore were both pretty good, and both Emirates and Thai Airways were excellent.I also find it varies by departure airport - bizarrely enough, meals out of Heathrow are usually better than meals out of Dubai or the Asian capitals...
(Famous last words, of course...)
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