Pax Going Hungry on BA (Merged)
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Simply another very good reason to avoid BA, especially for long-haul flights, as those who purchase a business/first class ticket NOW certainly have no expectation of much service...that other airlines seem willing to offer, sometimes at very competing prices.
Sole-source catering might have been seen as a good idea to the beancounters at the time....wonder what they think now?
Certainly the passengers (now ex-passengers) will not be amused.
Sole-source catering might have been seen as a good idea to the beancounters at the time....wonder what they think now?
Certainly the passengers (now ex-passengers) will not be amused.
ex-Tanker
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Slow reaction of BA and others there - (I presume they won't be the only affected carrier).
They should have announced "Wellness" flights for a couple of days - but maybe they couldn't bring themselves to use the obnoxious non-English word!
They should have announced "Wellness" flights for a couple of days - but maybe they couldn't bring themselves to use the obnoxious non-English word!
Tabs please !
Sparkle,
Not everyone has enough time to go to Yo Sushi
Whenever I was travelling on business, the all-day deli was sometimes the only meal of the day.
Mind you, if I managed to grab a coffee and piece of toast in the hotel for breakfast, the ADD was the second best meal of the day
I am however glad that I don't have to eat crew meals every day as you do on a 40 minute turnaround while having to manage the logistics when it all goes pear shaped
Not everyone has enough time to go to Yo Sushi
Whenever I was travelling on business, the all-day deli was sometimes the only meal of the day. Mind you, if I managed to grab a coffee and piece of toast in the hotel for breakfast, the ADD was the second best meal of the day
I am however glad that I don't have to eat crew meals every day as you do on a 40 minute turnaround while having to manage the logistics when it all goes pear shaped
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What Gate Gourmet supply to BA (or anyother airline at that) is not really food as I understand the definition. You will probably live a little longer if you do not shovel that s
t down your neck anyway.
t down your neck anyway.
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For what it is worth....
As a Gold Card member with BA, I would like to say that without exception the standard of service & catering I have experienced with our flag carrier is in fact well above average. I know this is a combination of the caterers and the cabin crew, but have no hesitation in stating for the benefit of 411a that this "event" will have no bearing on my decision to use BA.
I for one understand and appreciate that BA and most other carriers cannot be held accountable for the actions of its suppliers, so while I may be dissappointed and possible expect some form of redress, I would not jump ship to any other carrier because of it.
As a Gold Card member with BA, I would like to say that without exception the standard of service & catering I have experienced with our flag carrier is in fact well above average. I know this is a combination of the caterers and the cabin crew, but have no hesitation in stating for the benefit of 411a that this "event" will have no bearing on my decision to use BA.
I for one understand and appreciate that BA and most other carriers cannot be held accountable for the actions of its suppliers, so while I may be dissappointed and possible expect some form of redress, I would not jump ship to any other carrier because of it.
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d192049d, well done, why does everyone spend their time denegrating what in my opinion is a pretty good airline with pretty good service? Certainly better than most.
If what they say is true, that they had little notice of this industrial action, in spite of contingency plans it probably takes a bit of time to put these in motion. Lets face it, other catering facilities at LHR don't have x number of meals available just in case. The basic ingredients have to be purchased in order to prepare the food and presumably the staff numbers required are probably not enough either, the logistics must be difficult to say the least.
Has anyone sat down and worked out how many meals are needed to be prepared for BA alone?
aa
If what they say is true, that they had little notice of this industrial action, in spite of contingency plans it probably takes a bit of time to put these in motion. Lets face it, other catering facilities at LHR don't have x number of meals available just in case. The basic ingredients have to be purchased in order to prepare the food and presumably the staff numbers required are probably not enough either, the logistics must be difficult to say the least.
Has anyone sat down and worked out how many meals are needed to be prepared for BA alone?
aa
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A typical response from someone in the UK, aaaaa, and sadly the same type of 'service' can be expected from many UK companies.
On a recent flight in the middle east, where the catering requested was for 132 pax, and 362 showed up for the flight (another airline AOG), additional catering was requested, and delivered within twenty minutes.
As usual, the 'British' have a problem with their staff, and being able to operate without out a hitch, seems beyond the abilities of many companies.
Of course, you get what you pay for, and in the case of the catering company that BA uses, it ain't much.
Why should we be surprised?
BA, down the tube, on many occasions.
On a recent flight in the middle east, where the catering requested was for 132 pax, and 362 showed up for the flight (another airline AOG), additional catering was requested, and delivered within twenty minutes.
As usual, the 'British' have a problem with their staff, and being able to operate without out a hitch, seems beyond the abilities of many companies.
Of course, you get what you pay for, and in the case of the catering company that BA uses, it ain't much.
Why should we be surprised?
BA, down the tube, on many occasions.
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Another ignorant response and this time from 411A.
Gate Gourmet are one of the largest suppliers of inflight catering in the world and indeed do have an excellent product! But the reasons for BA's flights departing last night with no food was nothing NOTHING to do with BA! It was industrial action by a totally different company which was unavoidable. OTHER airlines too were effected, not just BA! It should also be noted that BA are now the last main full service airline left in the UK so I suggest you be greatful of that! If BA service is slipping its only because the prices are too!!!! As you keep saying, you get what you pay for and i think its safe to say that people are generally paying a lot less now than before for a BA flight!
Gate Gourmet are one of the largest suppliers of inflight catering in the world and indeed do have an excellent product! But the reasons for BA's flights departing last night with no food was nothing NOTHING to do with BA! It was industrial action by a totally different company which was unavoidable. OTHER airlines too were effected, not just BA! It should also be noted that BA are now the last main full service airline left in the UK so I suggest you be greatful of that! If BA service is slipping its only because the prices are too!!!! As you keep saying, you get what you pay for and i think its safe to say that people are generally paying a lot less now than before for a BA flight!
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much as I hate the all day deli (which sometimes makes nouvelle cuisine seem like a hearty meal), it is manna from heaven compared to the dried chicken burger served by Continental from Newark to Las Vegas, and when someone had the temerity to ask for the requested vegitarian alternative, they were told to take the chicken out and eat the bread.
Sims Fly Virtually
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Barbie - Done before
Bumz,
I think it was a Primus, not a barbie - if you are referring to 25 years ago at RUH and SV.
Still proved not to be a good idea though!
I think it was a Primus, not a barbie - if you are referring to 25 years ago at RUH and SV.
Still proved not to be a good idea though!
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Last time I flew with BA across the pond the catering was excellent. In economy had a prawn cocktail to start followed by a beef stew and a piece of cheesecake.
I flew Continental last year and the catering made Tesco's "Value" range look haute cuisine! Heavily processed lasagne that sums up cheap cooking.
Having flown Continental with their grumpy crew and crap food I'm not going to chance it again. I'll take the grumpy BA crew with the better food and excellent higher quality product over Continentals.
I flew Continental last year and the catering made Tesco's "Value" range look haute cuisine! Heavily processed lasagne that sums up cheap cooking.
Having flown Continental with their grumpy crew and crap food I'm not going to chance it again. I'll take the grumpy BA crew with the better food and excellent higher quality product over Continentals.
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411A
You're predictably consistent in your negative and unbalanced responses.
you say
"As usual, the 'British' have a problem with their staff, and being able to operate without out a hitch, seems beyond the abilities of many companies.
Of course, you get what you pay for, and in the case of the catering company that BA uses, it ain't much.
Why should we be surprised?"
Fact is, back in the good ol' U.S of A, I had the fortune to fly on the good ol' American Airlines recently. They ditched catering on most flights long ago, my 4hr intl flight to Canada had no food at all, along with all the other cut backs, no pillows, blankets, magazines or papers, cutting staff numbers.... and better still, to 'save money' AA has been trialling not using the apu on the ground, so all the aircraft on this 90degree day were steaming hot and stuffy as hell. Hardly civilised travel?
I still think BA offers a good product on balance.
With regard to sole caterers - Gate Gourmet is one of the only caterers that has the ability to service a carrier as large as BA at LHR. If you look at ORD for UA, they also rely on one caterer for their needs, if that caterer were to go on strike then UA would be hooped just like BA.
Finally, I do think that BA will most certainly have lessons to learn from this, and we'll have to see how things play out.
But comments like yours above are neither balanced, well founded, or researched.
You're predictably consistent in your negative and unbalanced responses.
you say
"As usual, the 'British' have a problem with their staff, and being able to operate without out a hitch, seems beyond the abilities of many companies.
Of course, you get what you pay for, and in the case of the catering company that BA uses, it ain't much.
Why should we be surprised?"
Fact is, back in the good ol' U.S of A, I had the fortune to fly on the good ol' American Airlines recently. They ditched catering on most flights long ago, my 4hr intl flight to Canada had no food at all, along with all the other cut backs, no pillows, blankets, magazines or papers, cutting staff numbers.... and better still, to 'save money' AA has been trialling not using the apu on the ground, so all the aircraft on this 90degree day were steaming hot and stuffy as hell. Hardly civilised travel?
I still think BA offers a good product on balance.
With regard to sole caterers - Gate Gourmet is one of the only caterers that has the ability to service a carrier as large as BA at LHR. If you look at ORD for UA, they also rely on one caterer for their needs, if that caterer were to go on strike then UA would be hooped just like BA.
Finally, I do think that BA will most certainly have lessons to learn from this, and we'll have to see how things play out.
But comments like yours above are neither balanced, well founded, or researched.
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OTOH, YYC F/A, is does seem to have gone rather pear-shaped, as apparently nearly all BA flights ex-LHR, are grounded.
Ain't it grand?
Ain't it grand?
Last edited by 411A; 12th Aug 2005 at 17:02.
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apaddyinuk,
I share the views of 411a. British Airways have become the joke of UK airlines and a carrier to avoid. It was not only Gate Gourmet that went on strike. Baggage handlers (employed directly by BA) also walked out in support for the caterers. The baggage handlers were not even involved in this dispute (Any excuse for lazy staff at LHR not to work). This was an illegal wildcat strike and those sacked by Gate Gourmet were dealt with accordingly (Fired in mass by megaphone). I will encourage everyone I carry in future to fly with an alternate airline, because behind the scenes BA is appallingly run.
Come on Willy, sort it out.
I share the views of 411a. British Airways have become the joke of UK airlines and a carrier to avoid. It was not only Gate Gourmet that went on strike. Baggage handlers (employed directly by BA) also walked out in support for the caterers. The baggage handlers were not even involved in this dispute (Any excuse for lazy staff at LHR not to work). This was an illegal wildcat strike and those sacked by Gate Gourmet were dealt with accordingly (Fired in mass by megaphone). I will encourage everyone I carry in future to fly with an alternate airline, because behind the scenes BA is appallingly run.
Come on Willy, sort it out.