Actually that was when the service was taking 4.5hrs plus. And they were not incompetent, just lacking experience. Not the best service for our passengers when over half the flight is taken with just one service. I'm sure they will improve.
It is worth noting that it has been well over 5 years since anyone was recruited directly to long haul on a permanent basis. Junior crew are hardly new. A few temps still around on contrcat No 3, and tranferees have a good 5 years plus in BA. So 'junior' crew on long haul are not new crew. Not really a scenario where the CSD lacks experience in the cabins and therefore needs to allocate positions.
Just a thought, if the service takes 3 hours then that is what it takes, not a problem. But alot of passengers are travelling alone and if not are seated independantly and thus treated as an individual. In that context is it really acceptable for a three course meal to take three hours? An hour a course. In a restaurant or at a dinner party this would be the norm because people would be interacting with each other, chatting etc. Not what happens onboard for alot of our passengers. Anyhow just a thought.