Pax food and service

[RoyHudd]

Just to understand clearly, are pax on outbound and inbound BAflights being fed? I am off to Rome in Club Europe this weekend, back in a week's time. (Special treat for 2 of us, not paid for by any company)

Should I carry on nosh for my friend and myself? This is not a whinge, as I am glad the flights are operating. Pity about the extra few hundred I shelled out for that treat, but that'll teach me where to spend my hard-earned money for any future luxuries!

[Helli-Gurl]

And what about us diabetics,who rely on eating at certian times for obvious reasons, BA are telling us to eat befor the flight, all well and for the first 3-4 hours, what about on an 11 hour flight? if we can't bring meals on board to heat up etc...

Also, I dont see any reduction in ticket prices to cater (bad pun) for the fact BA aren't supplying meals that are incorporated in the ticket price!

[Carnage Matey!]

Roy - I think you'll either get sandwiches on board by next week or they'll stick with a voucher for a free meal in the terminal.

Helli - bit of an academic question as passengers only ever ate when the crew gave them food anyway and the cabin crew weren't supposed to heat passenger food for them before the strike. So effectively no change.

[Biggles Flies Undone]

There are solutions to every problem.
That is very true - especially from the SLF perspective. I've always done my best to 'Fly The Flag' (especially when my company is paying) but this is another kick in the nuts for the paying public as far as I'm concerned - low cost service at full service rates!

I suspect that I'm not the only frequent flyer who will be actively seeking alternative carriers in the fuure.

[411A]

Ah yes, another once proud British airline slides down the tubes, ever so gracefully...:yuk:

Why are we not surprised?:}

[Max Tow]

411A:
Yup, but there's a few miles of tube to slide down before they get to the level of the walking-dead, propped up dinosaurs your side of the pond!

[newswatcher]

Now what was that article I was reading on Delta, earlier this week?
:E

[BahrainLad]

Now what was that article I was reading on Delta, earlier this week?

...I *think* it was sandwiched between the articles on United continuing to cause pensions chaos, Northwests engs going on strike and US Air renaming its NYSE ticker symbol as LCC..."low cost carrier"....:D :D ;)

[DoNotFeed]

just looked up my nick, does it qualify for BA - type flown is suitable with many wheeeeeels on *gg*

[Helli-Gurl]

not really Carnage...you pay fr a meal even two on v long flights in the price of the ticet, and you roughly knew when you were going to get your meal and it even goves an indication when you are likely to eat on the BA website! so you could plan your dietary requirements.

Now BA are telling us to eat before we fly, on an 8 hour flt that's a no brainer, short flts fine, not saying BA should heat food for us, but being told we should eat before we fly isnt suitable for certain groups with specific dietary needs .

I haven't seen any discount yet for the food we don't get as part of the ticket other than a voucher for use in the terminal which to some may not be acceptable,

mind you from prvious experience even before the strike BA have never been very good at gettg diabetic meals onboard, the last 3 times I have used them Diabetic meals were requests and on the itinery, but out of the 6 legs had a diabetic meal for one of them, thank god i packed supplies i my hand luggage....not ideal but got me thru

[whattimedoweland]

Welcome to the debate 411A!!. Nice to see your well balanced view....NOT.

Could'nt get back on BA from LAX,thankfully made it back with some great help from the AA check-in guy at LAX.

As for the onboard service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......forget it,I've never seen anything as bad.Bare minimum is the best I have to say for it.Poor main meal $5.00 for an excuse for a beer(BUD)!!followed by a worse effort for breakfast.

Nothing in between,not even a sign of the crew!!!.i went to the toilet and as I waited a very polite lady(not the crew for sure)asked for a drink.The flight attendent pointed at a bottle of water and a glass and said 'there it is and when you're finished put the trash in the grey bag'....great service!!.

I had the joy of also America West,50 minutes to LAS,70 on board and they just about managed a drink.When I asked for peanuts I was told there was no food due to the short flight.Compare that to what you get with the majors in europe.

Even without food we knock spots off all areas of U.S. carriers service.We come to work to do the best we can with what we have and deliver it with a smile and keep a good presence in the cabin throughout the flight.Have have also flown with Virgin who were excellent.

Get back to me with a post when U.S. carriers have sorted out their own CR*P standards.

What a merger thats going to be when USAirways and AWA get together,can the standards get any worse?!!.

WTDWL.

[Ozzy]

US carriers are the pits in terms of on board customer service. They have an inferior transatlantic product also which I avoid at all cost. I just hope that BA has things sorted out by November when the family and I are flying Club transatlantic. I'm sorry, but a voucher to replace the meals and drinks in Club won't do it for me.

Ozzy

[Sarl]

I couldn't help but comment having recently had the misfortune to travel with AA from Miami to Washington. The standard was simply dreadful - slovenly is probably the best description - and it amazes me how this is a partner of BA through the One World Alliance!
I am sorry but regardless of the current problems, I still believe that BA is a cut above most operators and I hope that they are soon back on track and giving the first class service that people have come to expect.

[PAXboy]

Received this e-mail this morning from Martin George. Commercial Director, British Airways

Dear Mr PAXboy ;)
As you are a valued customer to British Airways, I would like to provide you with an update on the current problems we are experiencing with our onboard catering, due to unofficial industrial action by our Heathrow catering supplier Gate Gourmet.Although British Airways services into and out of London Heathrow continue to operate as normal, we have limited onboard catering. There will be some catering provided at the airport prior to departure, however, we are continuing to advise passengers, especially those with special dietary requirements, to eat before arriving at the airport.

British Airways services to and from London Gatwick and UK regional services that do not connect with London Heathrow have not been affected and are operating as normal with a full catering service.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this situation may cause our passengers and would like to assure you that we are doing all possible to return to the high service standards you have come to expect from us.

For more information please visit http://ba.com

Yours sincerely,


Once again my sign off quote is apposite ...
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

[egbt]

whattimedoweland

Get back to me with a post when U.S. carriers have sorted out their own CR*P standards.

I don't think I would go quite that far w.r.t. long haul but I would agree that in general the US lag in service. My personal view for long haul club would be

1st Cathay
2nd Virgin/BA perhaps Virgin a little ahead
3rd AA
4th US

In 1st, BA and Cathay are very simliar with the later having better wine these days.

Above over about 30 sectors in the last year, and many many more over the last 20 years.

[whattimedoweland]

Aologies to all if my previous post was a little too direct.The fact is from a young age for whatever reason I always wanted to be cabin crew for BA.

I have now nearly 20 years service with BA, 13 as crew and to date I am always pleased to be coming into work in a proud way and looking after the punters who pay good money and in turn pay my wages.I enjoy the job I do even if many would'nt want to do it.

I got stranded on holiday and tomorrow is my first day back.I will do all I can to motivate the crew and encourage them to do their best with what they have.

In truth I am going to be totally embarrassed having nothing to give and also very little to do.

I will no doubt have to take a lot of stick and negative comments and rightly so as our passengers deserve better.

The time has come for BA and Gate Gourmet to stop their finger pointing at each other and get this resolved for the benefit of all,start pulling out all the stops and start getting some sort of food back on the aircraft.If not their are many good carriers out there who will end up taking our business and loyal customers who will only stay loyal for so long.

Gate Gourmets management should be disgusted at the way they have treated thier staff and the whole way they have handled this situation.

BA management 'eggs in one basket' comes to mind,next time look beyond the ends of your nose's.Maybe it's time to bring the catering back in-house after another failed out sourcing!!.

A very unhappy,sad but still for some reason, loyal employee.

WTDWL. :sad:

[egbt]

whattimedoweland

well, may see you on BA67/66 next week:ok:

[whattimedoweland]

Sorry EGBT , off to NAS/GCM for six day trip;) .

WTDWL.

[egbt]

sounds like more fun than PHL! :{

[whattimedoweland]

Oh yes it will be;)!!!.

WTDWL. :O

[Final 3 Greens]

Don't knock 411A.

He is reassuringly consistent with his posting about BA.

Don't let on, but I think it goes back to the days when he was turned down for the third officer's job on the HP42 of Imperial Airways.

[BWBriscoe]

I thought I'd add my thoughts as I was on ATH-LHR this evening, riding down the back for a change.

The check in desks were a nightmare...queues for miles, and this was mainly due to the fact that the check in agents had to fill in the food vouchers (I don't understand why these were not completed beforehand, as it nearly doubled the check in time).

Problem was that because check in took so long (I arrived with my rather large family group over two hours before departure and it took an hour to queue) there was not much time to find a place to eat and actually eat!

There was literally a non-existent service on board; no offer of water, and also no duty free?! (don't tell me we've contracted out our duty free supplier to GG too?!). I thought the crew should have at least offered the PAX a drink of water. One thing that really irritated me was that during boarding, a woman walked down nearly the entire length of the aircraft carrying a full, open, steaming cup of coffee that she had obviously bought from a coffee shop in the airport. The crew should not have allowed this...this is extremely dangerous, especially during the boarding process when luggage is going everywhere.

I realise the crews are working in difficult cirumstances (I think our crew was actually looking for things to do!) and I am by no means condoning the illegal industrial action, however I thought the crew could have made a bit more of an effort to provide some sort of a service.

[backseatjock]

BW - totally agree with your comment re drinks. It is the lack of even a bottle of water or soft drink from trolley that gets me.

Have flown four sectors with BA this week and only MAN-GLA had any catering at all. Just about to set off on my fifth. When is BA going to pressure GG into sorting this dispute before it really does start to hurt its own bottom line.

Have grudgingly accepted catering situ while plodding around Europe this week, but Singapore a/l has just gained itself a new passenger for my next l/h trip - not prepared to put up wth nothing at all on a 12hr flight. Can't see me being alone in having this view.

[GlueBall]

;) At least we all have this wonderful option, ...called: Choice.

...And as an added bonus, there is an option of going First Class.

...Oh, but that's expensive! But, hey,....aren't you worth it? Treat yourself.

[HandyAndy]

Interesting thread this one. Residing in Asia, I have just got back from a trip to UK with CX and I can assure you Glueball, Business Class and First Class is affected by the GG issue too. If you are crew, you would know this of course.

Meal service for the return LHR-HKG was (and presume still is) being carried from HKG so there are weight and space problems for these extra meals.

Returning in J from LHR, the breakfast was a snack box. There was plenty of coffee though! There was also no inflight shopping available for obvious reasons. I would say however, that had I known about the snack box, I would definitely have taken some sandwiches.

[ORAC]

Press Association - BA puts food back on passenger menu

British Airways will start serving hot meals again on long-haul flights on Monday.

For the past few days, BA passengers have had a drinks-only service due to a continuing dispute involving the airline's catering company Gate Gourmet.

Meals will be back on the menu from Monday for long-haul passengers leaving Heathrow and from Wednesday for long-haul customers flying in to Heathrow.

BA's customer service and operations director Mike Street said the meal service being provided from next week was "a far cry" from the normal service level but would nevertheless be "a welcome move" for passengers. He went on: "We continue to talk to Gate Gourmet regarding its capability to improve further on the service it is currently able to provide."

BA's short-haul customers will continue to be offered meal vouchers, access to refreshment centres in the terminals and pre-flight dining in the premium lounges.

Onboard refreshment remains limited to water for the time being.

[Sgt.Peppeh]

Have you lot heard of the recently launched `no frills all flying`cut price Airline that allows pax to bring in their own food and inflight entertainment ? It has become so popular that McDonalds-Captain Birds Eye- Pataks the famous Indian take away and ChowMein Howe have opened take- away stalls at every holding point to enable pax to order a quick take away before takeoff.

P/s: There are 3 regular flights to Iraq each week and you can haggle at the Check In desk for cheap tickets. One estatic passenger told Frugal Flight Magazine " I think it`s a good idea,my meals are always piping hot before take off" Unfortunalty as expected,there are always delays and the flights are never on time. A flight was cleared for take off just as the captain was having his roast duck and bird nestee soup prepared. " I don`t mind the delays " said Mrs Tally Barnn speaking to F.F Magazine,my husband is never at home when I arrive,he is always in the Pub."

The Sarge.:{

[WHBM]

BA's customer service and operations director Mike Street said "We continue to talk to Gate Gourmet regarding its capability to improve further on the service it is currently able to provide."
C'mon Mike. Stop waffling (may be difficult for you though) and tell GG and their TexPac investors how much the lawsuit is going to be per day from you to them for breach of contract if they don't get it sorted out today.

[Thunderbug]

Small light at end of long tunnel....


BBC News 19 Aug (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4165352.stm)


Some crews have been warming food - depends who you get on the day. Pax have generally been brilliant and very understanding. :ok:

T'bug

[sixmilehighclub]

BWB - and also no duty free?! (don't tell me we've contracted out our duty free supplier to GG too?!). I thought the crew should have at least offered the PAX a drink of water.

GG deliver the duty free to the aircraft, as with the vast majority of other caterers as the Customs bond do not have their own vehicles to my knowledge, and it would cause a nightmare with hi-lift lorries coming and going to the aircraft all the time.
As far as water is concerned, again, the mineral water comes from GG, and there was not another company able to supply the huge amounts of water required at short notice. Most crew I know would rather offer the customer nothing to drink than offer the apparantly 'potable' tap water on board.

If you are travelling BA in the near future, take a bottle of water, or drinks, some snacks and use your voucher for food and more drinks. Most longhauls endevour to supply you with water, juice, tea, coffee and a light meal/snack. The shorthauls have nothing or very little, as priority of stock is given to longer flights.

From what I've seen, BA are doing the best they can given the situation. I came back from a shorthaul destination today where snack boxes were given out onboard as well as a terminal voucher, the crew were hoarding whatever was left and stowing it for the next flight where there was only water being loaded. Some crew are bringing in milk and teabags for the customers paid for from their own pockets. Chocolates for children too. I even saw passengers get up and help serve and clear up today!! Everyone was understanding. The managers at GG should be put to a panel for questioning, they seem to have caused this mess then lie low. Cowards.

[whattimedoweland]

It is now time for big action from BA.

First the board should question a past move by the 'famous Bob Ayling' selling catering off for £25 million profit.

Not a bad deal many may say!!.If you rely on suppliers no company should ever have just one but always have some sort of back up supplier or even better have more than one.

BA should take back catering from GG FREE due to the great losses,employees(treated badly by GG),vehicles and buildings.

This is the quickest short term fix which may prove to have long term benefits with a workforce who work with perhaps loyalty to their own company and possibly taking on contracts.

BA should now be taking the strongest possible legal action against the idiots at the top of GG and and parent company.....a new Texas chainsaw lawsuit!!!.

Just completed my first flights back to work and the passengers were very understanding and actually very complimentary regarding the way BA had treated them.On a six hour flight the crew went out with sandwiches after take off and one hour before landing both with tea and coffee and drinks.Between this they went out again twice with bars and tea and coffee.

Thanks to the crew for providing still a very good service with so little to offer and a bigger thank you to all passengers in First,Club World and World Traveller for their understanding and kind remarks and support for BA and the crew.

Looking forward to offering you all better flights soon.

NJR.

P.S. One passenger did ask why we could'nt just go out and get more catering staff straight away?.
A point that may not have been mentioned is that all 'airside' workers have to go through 'criminal record checks' before they are issued a pass.This can take many weeks.

WTDWL.

[Bumz_Rush]

A certain lady BA captain on a fleet not to be mentioned, supplied her crew with a cake recently.

How many male captains would think about them..

The tear in my uniform trousers was repaired promptly too....

bUMZ

[PAXboy]

Bumz, I am very concerned as to what caused the rip in your trousers in the first place? "Do you like the cake or are you just pleased to see the Captain?"

There is a thread running in Airports Routes etc. called Gate Gournet (Merged) and ealier I made this quote from the BBC website and TV newsA new catering deal with British Airways was struck earlier on Tuesday, but it is dependent on labour issues being resolved. So it looks as if they have realised that - in the short term - they are going to be better off dealing with folks they know. There must also be the tacit admittance that they tried to scr%w the supplier too hard AND that the supplier was stupid enough to sign a contract that was too low as they were too desperate for the business.

[Rollingthunder]

There must also be the tacit admittance that they tried to scr%w the supplier too hard AND that the supplier was stupid enough to sign a contract that was too low as they were too desperate for the business.

Jeez, in business there's a technical term for that....

FAILURE

[PAXboy]

Yes indeed but, in light of the recent suggestion by some UK teachers, this might be more a case of Deferred Success?

Following the machinations of this dispute and the awful echoes of staff 'relations' from 30 years ago, I think it safe to say that it can now be awarded the formal status of a SABU.

A term from (I think) the RAF that - when a problem continues to get bigger and each attempt to fix it, makes it worse, it has become a Self Adjusting B@lls Up. :E

Only the RAF themselves, of course, can claim the higher level MAFCU being a Monumental Air Force C@ck Up. :ooh:
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

[Omaha]

I see where there was a security breach at Gate Gourmet by an undercover 'Times' reporter posing as someone who wanted to be a casual worker.

Security staff failed to carry out compulsory searches on him.

The investigation also found serious hygiene problems at the company, which prepares 88,000 meals a day for BA.

Ice used in pax's drinks was broken up on the factory floor before being loaded on trolleys used by cabin crew. Workers had discoverd the easiest way to break ice to fit into trays was to throw the bags on the grimy & unwashed floor. On atleast three occasions the reporter saw split ice bags with its contents spilt on the floor & being hastily being pushed back into the plastic bags, onto plastic trays ready to be served. (Am I glad I don't take ice in my drinks :uhoh: )

Toilets in the factory had not been cleaned for several days, sometimes several weeks because of staff shortages. Three out of five of the mens toilet cubicles the reporter visited had been vandalised, with seats broken off. (The rest is so disgusting it turned my stomach frankly. :yuk:

The reporter who was one of dozen casual workers recruited because of the industrial dispute gave bogus references and was not body searched when entering the factory near LHR.

He loaded trolleys & was told to place security seals on them to be broken on board aircrafts during flight. It would have been feasible to have smuggled explosives into the factory & put them inside a trolley.

Racial differences spilt the workers into three groups: Asians, East Africans and Eastern Europeans. These are now being joined by a growing number from East Africa, Poland and Lithuania. Racial tension rife demonstrated by graffitti. In the canteen workers tend to congregate into their ethnic groups.

The Times reporter was recruited after a cursory interview in which he gave bogus referess. The interviewer contacted them by telephone & spoke to them for less than a minute.

BA subjects its own recruits to rigorous vetting which lasts at least four weeks but it sold its catering operation in 1997.

BA are taking these latest allegation very seriously & intend to undertake a thorough investigation. Gate Gourmets security procedures & responsibilities at LHR are governed & audited by the Department for Transport & they will be asked to undertake an investigation & take appropriate action. :ugh: