BA's Meal Choice, what Meal Choice?

[Athena5]

I've just returned from a vacation (see "vacation", I'm beginning to sound like an American already) in the States yesterday & I flew return with the world's favourite airline. On the way out on one of their 777's I got an adequate choice for dinner of a chicken or meat dish plus of course there was a vegetarian option for those who had requested it.

Returning on one of their 747-400's I decided early on to read the inflight magazine & saw where BA recommended light meals when flying in an aircrafts rarified atmosphere excluding redmeat. Of course roast beef was offered for the meal to eh back up this bit of sound advice but what surprised me was the only other option was a vegetarian cannelonni.

Now given that two of the three trips I took in the States had imposed flippin vegetarianism on me whether I liked it or not (I didn't) & that a fair portion of this had ended up being dumped discreetly in the nearest bin when someone in the group wasn't roaring out to everyone & sundry embarassing the hell out of me "Hey H, did you not like your meal" , I was quite literally ready to eat a cow & had since avidly swore to forego the idea of me ever turning to vegetarianism forever! It didn't take too long for me to decide the roast beef would be the dish for us yum yum!

Imagine my surprise when the rather hunky (infact I could have ate him) but as always married (when the're good looking) male!!! FA told me that they'd run out of roast beef & that I had to have the cannelonni. I looked at him with a mixture of aghast & horror & gave him the flithiest look I could muster. However he ignored me & unceremoniously dumped the cannelonni infront of me.

But he wasn't getting away with it that easily, oh no he wasn't!!! I called him back & told him "I'm not a vegetarian you know, is there anything else you can give me" (thinking of all the scrumptious meals those moneybags must have been digging into in first & business class ) to which he replied in a take it or leave it, stuff it or starve kinda fashion "Well those who order special meals always get pasta" & promptly disappeared & repeated to numerous other pax that there was only one menu 'option'.

Not wanting to contribute to the latest airrage statistics I fumed quietly. Actually to be fair the cannelonni didn't taste too bad but as for that pathetic salad. Now forget about all this noveaux, minimilistic (cheapskating) cuisine, a salad does not constitute some varied pathetic leaves, a bit of grated carrot & a crummy tomato, when can we return to the real mixed salads of old?

BA, you will have to do better than that. Cattle class or not I paid enough for my ticket & I expected better service & variety of meals than that!!!

As for the Jehovas Witness in the queue for checking in preaching in to me, well that was a different matter. I listened politely but secretly hoped for anything I wouldn't be sitting beside her on the aircraft. I wasn't. Instead I was sat beside an elderly Chinese American lady & her lovely daughter. I related the Jehovahs Witness story & the daughter sensing I was about to come out with some very bitchy, imprudent, sarcastic comment said "wait till I stop you there, my mother is a Jehovahs Witness". Phew, stopped just in time!

Her mother said "Don't worry, I won't preach to you if you say you're not interested"
I said "I'm not interested".
It worked, that ended that, she never mentioned her religion for the whole flight. Whoever said diplomacy was the better option the're wrong.

[B Sousa]

I think folks are finally going to have to realize Airlines are just getting by financially. Travel is available, not to comfortable in all cases but its travel. THATS what you are paying for. They feed you and give you something to drink so you will stay off their A
I have learned that if I need to eat on a flight, I bring it with. If they serve something edible that will be nice but no longer expected.

[Rollingthunder]

Yup, I always take two bacon sandwiches and two litres of water with me, even when I'm in business class.

[bealine]

BA, you will have to do better than that. Cattle class or not I paid enough for my ticket & I expected better service & variety of meals than that!!!

Don't worry - from the BA staff point of view, our current meal offerings are an embarrassment too! However, our marketing department tell us 98.75% of our passengers are enthusiastic about the current fayre (and we tell 'em 99% of statistics are probably made up!!!).

Like you, Athena 5, I am carniverous and prefer to have meat choices. However, I do believe civilisation has given us a responsibility to ensure minimal suffering to animals and it's high time the world's big caterers took notice from Compassion in World Farming and purchased from reputable suppliers.

How proud I would be of my airline if we were able to state that all our eggs, meat and dairy products were free-range and sourced from ethical suppliers!

[Xenia]

Hi Athena5
It gets even more difficult for us cabin crew ... the space on board is limited, so it is impossible to carry on board 1000 meals (to cover 2 services) to make everyone happy ... Space is an issue ... and money nevertheless is another, and also the waste in such case will be incredible.
We (cabin crew) would love to please everyone of our pax in every single flight, in every single class when it's meal time ... but it's never the case Everytime we have problems with vegetarians who didn't get their meal, meal choice that puntually run over ... therefore no more choice and pax unhappy about it, pax who don't like this or that on the tray, pax who didn't get something, pax who are allergic or intollerant to something else, or have a medical condition and can't eat that (next time order a special meal!) ... And don't think things in first & business class are always better
We try our best, honestly but sometimes it is just impossible for us, limited on a metal tube at over 32000 ft to do something about it ....
... As crew meals we don't have much choice neither (in the way that it is also impossible to please everyone taste, wishes and dietary needs) So my dear next time take your own sandwiches believe it or not ... Crew do the same!!!

[twonky]

Meals

Ciaio Bella

You never shared your sandwiches with me !!!!!
Twonky

[Xenia]

Curry

You are telling me JUST now you never enjoyed all that curry we had on board?

[Athena5]

Hi there

Thanks for your replies.

the space on board is limited, so it is impossible to carry on board 1000 meals (to cover 2 services) to make everyone happy

Interesting comment. Why I mentioned the type of aircraft I flew in was because I wondered had this contributed to the problem cause I couldn't help but notice their very different layout from what I could ascertain in the storage area. On the 777 which I gather carries alot less pax than the 747-400 there seem to be no problem storing three different menu options & due to me flittering around the aircraft at the time I gather I was one of the last to be served.

Yet the 747-400 couldn't manage to satisfactorily store two menu options & the powers that be managed to totally underestimate how many customers would go for the blatantly more obvious of the very limited choices leaving no doubt alot of disgruntled passengers.

I do believe civilisation has given us a responsibility to ensure minimal suffering to animals and it's high time the world's big caterers took notice from Compassion in World Farming and purchased from reputable suppliers.

Good point. Yes, me too and I would gladly pay more for my ticket to ensure this was the case.

[davethelimey]

Hi.

For God's sake.

Can you imagine the extra cost involved to an airline if they brought three different meal choices for each passenger? Can you also imagine the quantity of wasted food per passenger? The later some passengers get served, the fewer the meal options, it's a bit of a fact of life and it's not as though the purser can nip out to the shops to stock up on meals they're running a bit low on. Read the T&Cs on your ticket and you'll see that getting your choice of meal isn't guaranteed unless you're a vegetarian.

You also appear to be under the impression that BA is run by demi-Gods who can affect who stands next to you in the check-in queue. I imagine that the last thing the people you sat next to wanted to hear you bitch about Jehova's Witnesses but I don't see them posting here about the lunatic they got stuck next to on the flight.

[Athena5]

davethelimey

Calm down! The tone of your post is very rude & aggressive.

Can you imagine the extra cost involved to an airline if they brought three different meal choices for each passenger?

Infact to an extent on my flight over that's exactly what they did, two non vegetarian choices & vegetarian/special meals options for those who requested it. Also I was one of the last pax served on this flight & I had no problem getting either of the non vegetarian choices I requested.

On the return flight many got unrequested vegetarian i.e special meals whether they wanted them or not. Why the disparity? Is it any wonder I was surprised & no I normally enjoy airline food, am glad to get anything by that stage. Despite my disdain for vegetarian food I'm actually quite easy to please & wolf down almost anything put out infront of me.

Regarding your last post about the Jehovahs Witnesses, it was meant a bit tongue in cheek infact the whole thread is meant lightheartedly, not as seriously as you're taking it anyway. Of course I don't blame BA cause I was stuck in a queue listening to their rantings being shoved down my throat against my wishes, it would be irrational to do so. You're reading things that aren't there. Perhaps you're one I don't know. Judging by the exception you take I wouldn't be surprised but I am a blood donor & carry an organ donor card so personally I take exception to their views on this issue & their airy fairy, pie in the sky explanation on such a serious issue that affects vulnerable peoples survival & chances of life the other day held as much water as a paper sieve IMHO.

No the pax beside me didn't mind me bringing the subject up, just put my foot in it a little bit, that's all. We struck up a very good amiable relationship during the flight as I normally do with my fellow pax, can't see you doing the same somehow with your attitude & please refrain from your defamatory insulting remarks in future!

In every other way BA's service was exemplary!

[Ozzy]

The first airline to let pax select their meal from a menu when booking the ticket will win this game I guess it would also cut costs in terms of less wastage. Seems like a no brainer to me. Introduce it as a test when a customer is booking a flight over the airline's web site and there's no real extra operational expenses in terms of cost of goods of selling the ticket.

As I said, seems a no brainer to me. Oh, and the license to this idea can be acquired by the highest bidder contacting me on PM by the end of the day. (bealine are you reading this?)

Have a nice day

Ozzy

[Athena5]

Hi Ozzy

Nice to have your input and a very good point you raise there too, would keep everyone happy.

I was over in your posh part of the world (Saw Peter Falks house (Colombo) in fact, a hero of mine.)

Pity we couldn't have met up when I was there.

BTW Universal Studios was just fab.

[PAXboy]

Had I have been in Athena5's position, I would have spoken (very politely) with the CSD. The reason is simple, I cannot eat pasta - of any type. And I would not have been interested in being told 'tough luck'. It would not have been air rage but it would have been 'letter rage' when I got back. Not that that would have made much diff.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

[Athena5]

Sorry, what is a CSD?

I doubt Paxboy that anything you would have said would have made a draught bit of difference judging from the reception I got, the FA quite frankly couldn't care less. Suppose his attitude was I was only cattle freight so I could like it or lump it. Doubt a business or first class pax would have been treated with such indifference somehow.

As many of you may have gathered I'm a foodie, I actually look forward to my airline meal (when I'm on an airline that actually serves meals) much like to many of you drink is a big issue so what happened was a bit of a slap in the face. But as I said on this occasion I actually enjoyed my vegetarian fare, well it was edible anyway compared to some of the dogs dinner, every veg etc in the world thrown in together mush I was served up on my holidays. I just didn't enjoy the laissez faire, couldn't care less about you attitude.

P.S. Why couldn't BA have just subtracted the number of pax who had ordered vegetarian/special meals from the total number of pax. Minus a few that would have given them a good idea how many pax would have gone for the one & only meat option they skintflintingly chose to offer?

[take_up_slack]

Suppose his attitude was I was only cattle freight so I could like it or lump it. Doubt a business or first class pax would have been treated with such indifference somehow.

Actually, I flew to LAX with AFR a few months ago and got no choice of meal not once but twice. Both meal services were done in the same order and by the time I was got to there was no choice left. The first time I was mildly irritated but the choice was OK. The second time was an offering of veal (I think) which I ate one mouthful of. I got the gallic shrug when I suggested that they could have tried to organise things that the people without choice last time got one the second time round.

Maybe if there are any cabin crew lurking you could explain why the meal service is always done in the same direction on any given flight, thus increasing the risk of the same passengers getting no meal choice more than once?

TUS

[slim_slag]

seem to remember BA had exceptional dining service in economy 20 years ago on 747s, so why blame the plane? BA is just not what it used to be.

[Xenia]

Meal service (as all the other services on board) are always done in the same way as we have to have standards. Can you immagine a bunch of cabin crew with a bunch of trolleys not knowing where to go?
May I suggest you to ask for the first rows ... but be aware some services, in some airlines start from the rear section.
Good luck

[FormerFlyer]

Seem to recall that American do front out, back home service - or something like that, so that sorta of situation can be reduced if not eliminated.

Also I recall travelling Wardair ex PIK to YYZ as a nipper and being asked how we wanted our steaks done - rare, medium or well.

Now that constitutes a form of good service I reckon.

cheers

FF

[christep]

American Airlines do FEBO (Front Even Back Odd) based on the flight number.

Athena seems to live in a world where people always eat meat or never eat meat. That isn't the world I live in... many people are happy to eat meat but don't feel any requirement to do so in every meal (in much the same way as I am happy to eat, say, rice, but wouldn't want to in every meal). I guess I take the veggie option on planes about 30% of the time. Airlines aren't bad, in general, at predicting what the mix will be that people will select so they normally only load a very few more dishes in total than the number of passengers, but they do get it wrong occasionally.

The CSD is the Cabin Service Director - the senior cabin crew on BA flights.

PAXboy - I suggest that what you need to do is make a special meal request that corresponds to your unfortunate condition... perhaps "gluten-free" if that's what your problem is?

Some airlines still do ask how you would like your steak cooked, but you need to be in Frist Class.

And if you fly in First or Business on Singapore Airlines you can "Book the Cook" and preselect your main course.
(See http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/app/...entSite=global )

By the way, from BA's website, the list of different special meals available on 24hrs notice is:

Asian Vegetarian
Lacto Vegetarian
Vegan Vegetarian
Hindu
Moslem
Kosher
Baby
Childrens
Seafood
Bland
Diabetic
Fresh Fruit Plate
Gluten Free Meal
High Fibre Meal
Low Calorie
Low Cholesterol
Low Protein
Low Sodium
Low Purine
Non-Lactose

Surely there's something in there for most people?

[Rollingthunder]

It must be one of the longest-distance takeaway orders in history. A British Airways jet carrying Tony Blair back from his whirlwind diplomatic trip to Africa made a 1,450-mile round trip to stock up on prawn risotto, asparagus mousse and cheesecake.

The Boeing 777 flew from Addis Ababa to Nairobi and back while Mr Blair was holding talks in the Ethiopian capital to pick up a consignment of in-flight food ready for his return trip to London. Downing Street staff and press were happy with the hot dinners after they boarded the plane on Thursday, but others were not so sure.

Stephen Tindale, the executive director of Greenpeace and a former adviser to Labour, said: "He should have eaten Ethiopian food, sourced locally. The more we fly, the more people will die from climate change, and Africa is in the front line."

In fact, as Downing Street pointed out yesterday, the Prime Minister did not touch his three-course airline meal. "None of this food was eaten by the Prime Minister," a spokes-man said. "It was intended for the press party travelling with him. The Prime Minister and his party had eaten in Ethiopia before they got on the plane."

The menu included a choice of fresh fruit or asparagus mousse for starters, followed by fillet of beef, prawn risotto or pasta with ricotta for the main course. Passengers were then served cheesecake with fresh raspberries or cream followed by a trio of cheese with oatcakes and grapes. The food was washed down with champagne and a selection of wines, including a Meursault 2002.

A British Airways spokesman said that the flight to Nairobi had been scheduled because the airline had no catering contract in the Ethiopian capital and could not keep food on board during the Prime Minister's visit. He said: "We fly to Nairobi daily and we carried some food, so during our downtime in Addis we flew there to pick it up. It made sense and the food was good quality."

A Downing Street spokes-woman insisted it had not asked BA to fly to pick up supplies. She said: "At no point did Downing Street ask BA to do anything other than follow normal company procedures; quite the reverse, because it was made clear matters like this were a matter for the company."

Independent.

sans comment.