7 trolley dollies, one packet of crisps!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
7 trolley dollies, one packet of crisps!
I've just flown BA Eurotraveller for the first time in a while. LHR-GVA and return. A321. I was gobsmacked to find that it needed 7 cabin crew to serve a packet of crisps and a drink (very nice crisps mind, well done Burts). When I asked, "is that it", I was told that if I travelled earlier in the day I'd have got a butty for breakfast!
I'm sure you are on to it Willie but you could save a shedload on CC if you're not going to give a proper service. By the way, why not try giving a service so you keep the distinction between you and low cost - just an idea!
I'm sure you are on to it Willie but you could save a shedload on CC if you're not going to give a proper service. By the way, why not try giving a service so you keep the distinction between you and low cost - just an idea!
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
From: HKG
I've just flown British Midland LHR-CDG. It was pretty uncomfortable and the drinks/sandwich very expensive and very slow, I got mine served at top of descent. I'll fly BA next time, very little difference in cost.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: The Sunny South
I had a similar experience in the middle of the month returning BA from Basel. To be fair, the CSD and the team did also hand out a nice minature bottle of wine with the packet of salty greasy crisps. On a LoCo, at least I would have had the option of buying a sandwich but there would not be a CSD to oversee the exquisite culinary feast 
BA are milking the Gate Gourmet situation, are avoiding picking up food downroute and are laughing all the way to the bank.
BA are milking the Gate Gourmet situation, are avoiding picking up food downroute and are laughing all the way to the bank.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: London
This I think is the problem the mainline carriers face.
They don't want to look like a loco but they're happy to have a loco standard of service.
At least with a loco you know what you're going to get. Nothing for free but a service where you can buy food if you're hungry.
On mainline if you miss the chance to eat and are hoping to get something on the plane you can be severely disappointed as there is no trolley to buy from.....
They don't want to look like a loco but they're happy to have a loco standard of service.
At least with a loco you know what you're going to get. Nothing for free but a service where you can buy food if you're hungry.
On mainline if you miss the chance to eat and are hoping to get something on the plane you can be severely disappointed as there is no trolley to buy from.....
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Yes Volmet, but what fooled me was that BA's website said that full catering and bar service was back on all flights from LHR. Full catering was one small packet of crisps and no provision to buy anything else.
Minimum cabin crew for the 321 is probably 3 or 4 (Idon't know how many seats BA have) so they have the opportunity to save at least 3 CC on these short flights.
I'd rather have nothing and know what the situation is than be insulted with what I did get.
Minimum cabin crew for the 321 is probably 3 or 4 (Idon't know how many seats BA have) so they have the opportunity to save at least 3 CC on these short flights.
I'd rather have nothing and know what the situation is than be insulted with what I did get.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 0
From: UK
BA are milking the Gate Gourmet situation, are avoiding picking up food downroute and are laughing all the way to the bank
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
So far as I know, the main reason for having cabin crew there is to provide safety briefings and to assist you in the event of a problem or emergency - in between the (hopefully extremely large) interval between problems and emergencies, the airline often keeps them occupied by serving you food and drink.
If the airline doesn't give them very much food and drink to serve you, it doesn't actually negate their reason for being there.
G
If the airline doesn't give them very much food and drink to serve you, it doesn't actually negate their reason for being there.
G
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: by the river
Its only time and motion chaps
Would have thought this would be a great opportunity for the Gourmet Sandwich companies like Prêt-à-Manger to step up to the tarmac and do a deal with you picking something from a rack as you board (Lufthansa style) - that way you get what you want, and can reduce the CC's to a safety minimum.
But why would airlines wake up - get a think-tank panel of a few long suffering PAX and get it right.
But why would airlines wake up - get a think-tank panel of a few long suffering PAX and get it right.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: The Sunny South
BA haven't picked up food downroute for about two years.
.I do fly BA regularly (6 times in the last two months including 2 x 12 hr sectors and will do twice more before the end of the year) however I am often forced to use other carriers where BA choose not to offer any competition but that's another thread altogether
Resident insomniac
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 1
From: N54 58 34 W02 01 21
>So far as I know, the main reason for having cabin crew there is to provide safety briefings and to assist you in the event of a problem or emergency - in between the (hopefully extremely large) interval between problems and emergencies, the airline often keeps them occupied by serving you food and drink.
So if the CC are underoccupied, why don't they provide some SERVICE to passengers instead of hiding, chatting in the kitchens?
They could offer head (massage) or sit on my knee and tell me a story to calm my flying nerves. They could even put on a panty-mime (in place of those boring games of charades that precede the flight). I'm sure their talent needn't be wasted.
So if the CC are underoccupied, why don't they provide some SERVICE to passengers instead of hiding, chatting in the kitchens?
They could offer head (massage) or sit on my knee and tell me a story to calm my flying nerves. They could even put on a panty-mime (in place of those boring games of charades that precede the flight). I'm sure their talent needn't be wasted.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 0
From: UK
following the failure of BA to manage their catering supplier, they have intentionally made no effort to resolve the situation by picking up catering down-route
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,395
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
7 cabin crew on a 321 seems excessive, surely? Perhaps some were positioning for other flights?
Since April 2004, Lufthansa has also cut back on cabin service. They now only carry the legal minimum cabin crew on European flights; their cabin crew are frankly embarrassed at the low standards they are now obliged to provide even in Business Class. And yes, nuts are now also orff....
Despite thousands of complaints and the rise in popularity of their lo-co competitors, European mainline airlines seem hell-bent on their downward slide in service standards.
Is this a rumour? No. Is it news? Perhaps because unless airline bean counters wake up to customer dissatisfaction, mainline pilot careers will ultimately be in jeopardy as the lo-co airlines offer similar service but at a fraction of the cost.
Since April 2004, Lufthansa has also cut back on cabin service. They now only carry the legal minimum cabin crew on European flights; their cabin crew are frankly embarrassed at the low standards they are now obliged to provide even in Business Class. And yes, nuts are now also orff....
Despite thousands of complaints and the rise in popularity of their lo-co competitors, European mainline airlines seem hell-bent on their downward slide in service standards.
Is this a rumour? No. Is it news? Perhaps because unless airline bean counters wake up to customer dissatisfaction, mainline pilot careers will ultimately be in jeopardy as the lo-co airlines offer similar service but at a fraction of the cost.