What's The Most Exorbitant Catering Bill You've Gotten For A Short Flight?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: 3rd ROCK FROM THE SUN
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What's The Most Exorbitant Catering Bill You've Gotten For A Short Flight?
Hi guys,
This forum is just for interest. As we all know, executive jet catering is a licence to print money. We also know that our pax expect everything they could possibly want to be onboard, or all hell will break loose...even though they only touch 10% of it. We recently got billed $7000 for our 2 hour flight with 20 pax. The main pax is VERY meticulous about what he eats, or doesn’t eat for that matter. We all know what a terrible waste all this is, with people starving of hunger etc.
Would be interesting to hear about your exorbitant catering requests / bills?
69
This forum is just for interest. As we all know, executive jet catering is a licence to print money. We also know that our pax expect everything they could possibly want to be onboard, or all hell will break loose...even though they only touch 10% of it. We recently got billed $7000 for our 2 hour flight with 20 pax. The main pax is VERY meticulous about what he eats, or doesn’t eat for that matter. We all know what a terrible waste all this is, with people starving of hunger etc.
Would be interesting to hear about your exorbitant catering requests / bills?
69
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Age: 75
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was realy hacked off when the sandwiches and wraps at M & S were not on special offer and they cost me £13.99. (They were delicious and the passengers were really appreciative)
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hilton, Sheraton or Marriott
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
$70 for the same bag of ice in Anchorage in the middle of a snow shower. Also declined.
My most exorbitant catering bill was $48,500 out of Los Angeles - 9 passengers, two meal service (dinner & breakfast). Was using the Mercury (since gone) FBO where the deputy manager was the shyster L. Ke**y. Guy was always on the take but this one literally "took the cake." There wasn't any alcohol, a tray of caviar and not much else remarkable. Other than the price. Needless to say there was hell to play.
The new (Private Catering) catering company in Nice is ripping the ring out at the mo - over €70 this month for 10 kilos of ice & half a liter of milk. Next time I'll get it elsewhere.
Good thread - must be some great stories.
My most exorbitant catering bill was $48,500 out of Los Angeles - 9 passengers, two meal service (dinner & breakfast). Was using the Mercury (since gone) FBO where the deputy manager was the shyster L. Ke**y. Guy was always on the take but this one literally "took the cake." There wasn't any alcohol, a tray of caviar and not much else remarkable. Other than the price. Needless to say there was hell to play.
The new (Private Catering) catering company in Nice is ripping the ring out at the mo - over €70 this month for 10 kilos of ice & half a liter of milk. Next time I'll get it elsewhere.
Good thread - must be some great stories.
.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Humboldtianum Basin
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I worked for Club 328 the sales team decided that it would be nice for the pax to have a really nice meal... £1500 worth of nice meals for 5 pax! Was it charged back to the customer? No
Did it tumble all the profits for the flight? Yes it did...
Did it tumble all the profits for the flight? Yes it did...
150 quid for one 6-inch plate, upon which were sat three canapés. And the pax didn't even look at them. I, however, can report that they were quite pleasant.
Oh, and 53 quid for a pint of milk.
Oh, and 53 quid for a pint of milk.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Age: 75
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Catering Costs
We have this sort of thread before, I cannot believe what I am reading. Catering is cheap and exellent quality if you have a good hostie that has catering supply and preparation in her job description. It does mean extra work but at least the passengers get good food that they want at a price that does not cripple the operator.
If a client asks us to operate without a F/A the price goes up to cover the cost of catering.
We have this sort of thread before, I cannot believe what I am reading. Catering is cheap and exellent quality if you have a good hostie that has catering supply and preparation in her job description. It does mean extra work but at least the passengers get good food that they want at a price that does not cripple the operator.
If a client asks us to operate without a F/A the price goes up to cover the cost of catering.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
True,
But for a while LFMN did not let you bring ANY food/drink airside..thus you had to use the usual rip off suspects.
I once worked out that across the fleet the company spent 3000 euros a year on sliced lemons alone (cost, delivery etc..) all so passengers could stuff them in their tea.
but never did
But for a while LFMN did not let you bring ANY food/drink airside..thus you had to use the usual rip off suspects.
I once worked out that across the fleet the company spent 3000 euros a year on sliced lemons alone (cost, delivery etc..) all so passengers could stuff them in their tea.
but never did
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
Age: 79
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's why I always tried (90% success) vetting those intoplane caterers for my customers, I set parameters for my GH Service Providers to send every and all menus and price lists for auth. Otherwise would not use on behalf of my customers.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In The Ether
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I worked for Club 328 the sales team decided that it would be nice for the pax to have a really nice meal... £1500 worth of nice meals for 5 pax! Was it charged back to the customer? No
Did it tumble all the profits for the flight? Yes it did...
Did it tumble all the profits for the flight? Yes it did...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: FL430
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My worste was 1200 Euro for 1 tray of sandwiches. 
Pax never ate them so I took them home to the family. We worked out each sandwich was worth 60 Euros.
I didn't feel any richer for eating them though, but I did try and spend one in the pub
Pax never ate them so I took them home to the family. We worked out each sandwich was worth 60 Euros.
I didn't feel any richer for eating them though, but I did try and spend one in the pub
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tween Hurn&Filton
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Utter waste!
Actually while the prices are disgusting, going back to the first post by GULF69, I totally agree that it's the utter waste of good food that upsets me.....and the figure of 90% into the bin/crew/handlers is probably just about spot on.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Poland
Age: 69
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't get me wound up about Nice again. Dick Turpin provides the catering there!
Last week I paid 21 Euros for three nicely presented smoked salmon salads, and got 2 kg of ice for free - all from upstairs in Terminal 1.
Same would have cost Eu 300 + Eu 40 to deliver it to the airplane!
And don't waste your money getting them to wash your dishes either - buying replacements is MUCH cheaper, and that is a FACT!
Last week I paid 21 Euros for three nicely presented smoked salmon salads, and got 2 kg of ice for free - all from upstairs in Terminal 1.
Same would have cost Eu 300 + Eu 40 to deliver it to the airplane!
And don't waste your money getting them to wash your dishes either - buying replacements is MUCH cheaper, and that is a FACT!
Last October my employers decided that they no longer desired inflight catering. Our TOTAL operating costs have dropped 4-5% since then. Thats £20-25k per annum just on food. Incredible.
+1 for the disgust at the wastefulness of the whole thing. We make it clear that catering to requirements will be put on at cost, but no request=drinks and dry snacks only.
It's amazing how many pax who previously couldn't live without having a plate of sarnies to watch going curly, suddenly demand 'no catering under any circumstances!' when they realise how much it was costing them...
It's amazing how many pax who previously couldn't live without having a plate of sarnies to watch going curly, suddenly demand 'no catering under any circumstances!' when they realise how much it was costing them...