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BA scrap meals(except breakfast!)

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BA scrap meals(except breakfast!)

Old 29th Jul 2009, 09:38
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BA scrap meals(except breakfast!)

According to the BBC, BA is to scrap all meals and sandwiches on short haul flights of less than 2.5 hours and after 10am. Only nuts and a drink will be served. But, claims BA, it is still a full service airline, emphasising that whatever is served, is free.

Slowly, perhaps, BA is accepting that free refreshments on a short haul flight (regardless of quality) is an unnecessary expense they and their passengers could do without. That idea of flying belongs to a more elegant age of air travel, not today's hop on bus service.
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 09:55
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I always thought offering meals on short sectors was not necessary. I used to be a flight attendant when we rushed around with hot meals on flights today where only sandwiches are offered. Many is the time I wondered if we had time to finish the service, it was a mad rush to beat the clock.

People fly to travel not to dine and always have done, so I think it is a sensible move. It is of course a different matter on long haul flights when people need to eat.

I have also noticed recently a high percentage of passengers refuse the sandwiches and opt just for a drink.
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 10:12
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Crikey, what are the SH FOs going to eat on the turnaround now?
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 11:21
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I take sandwichwes etc will still be for sale? Or are they doing away with refreshments altogether?
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 11:21
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Strange, there is no mention of this on BA.com, although Sky News have it on their website.

I wonder if it applies to business class, as well as economy?

Business travellers often need to eat on their flights, due to time constraints, especially towards the end of the day.
 
Old 29th Jul 2009, 11:25
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From the POV of price there is often little to differentiate BA from the LoCo's for most of the routes that I use. The thing that makes me pick BA is that they feed and water me without asking for more money; it makes the whole experience a little more civilised. So if there's a few quid price differential, BA still gets my vote. This move potentially changes that.

I'm surprised there is not more discussion about this, but not surprised the mods have moved it here. After all, if "SLF" start changing their flying habits as a result of this rumour/news, it won't affect the jobs of sky gods. Oh, wait a minute, yes it will ...
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 11:25
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If you want to book an early morning flight...better book early. Free breakfast will be a BIG selling point. (Maybe the ticket price will go up before 10.00 am?)
What about business? Do they get luxury nuts + drink?
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 11:39
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Maybe connected with current Staff dispute?. Removes alot of the work CC do on shorthaul flights and assumes they only then need to carry a minimum compliment of crew at all times?

Removing food in Biz would virtually negate any remaining reason to fly in it - cant see that happening
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 12:22
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The food (apart from breakfast) is pretty terrible anyway. I never worked out why the 2pm ABZ-LHR flight had no food when you've been unable to eat at lunchtime as you're travelling to the airport anyway. I almost always decline the food on afternoon or evening flights as I'll be eating properly in the evening and may also have pigged out in the lounge.

Bring back the scones with clotted cream and jam!!!
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 13:04
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The food in Club will remain. Hot towels and pretzels are disappearing, but the food and full bars stay. Hope this clarifies.

Gg
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 13:09
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Definitely a prelude to reducing the number of CC on SH. It seems that BA have decided to join us LoCo at the bottom of the pool, it's not so bad when you get used to the smell.
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 14:44
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Seems like the last ...

....remaining reason for travelling BA in Europe has just gone. I.E. just a little smidgen of comfort and "service".

From the POV of price there is often little to differentiate BA from the LoCo's for most of the routes that I use.
Well, you're the lucky one, aren't you!

BA are going to DIE over this, IF IT'S TRUE.
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 14:53
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Anyone know if the new policy will apply to Cityflyer flights as well ?

Until recently they seemed to go their own way with food policy - hot meals morning and evening on the EDI-LCY.

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Old 29th Jul 2009, 16:23
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I do not think the removal of sandwiches in traveller will make the slightest bit of differance. Loads of people refuse them and prefer just a drink anyway.

The low cost carriers are not always that much cheaper if at all. If you have to pay for a baggage in the hold fee + a fee for checking -in and another fee for choosing a seat or a fee for first boarding etc. It all adds up to sometimes more than BA charge. They also have a very nice check-in on-line facility where you can select a seat and print off boarding card etc for no additional fees.

For me the airport of departure and time of flight is the deciding factor. Heathrow and City are my first choices. I am no lover of those 0600 departures with an 0500 check-in from airports that are difficult to get to at that time in the morning by public transport.
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 16:26
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Bring back the scones with clotted cream and jam!!!
I second that....
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 16:35
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Bear in mind that the meals are never 'free'. They are just included in the cost. With these scrapped, passengers will be paying the same fare but getting less.
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 16:39
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One has to remember as well, that an airline being "full service" doesn't just apply to what you get onboard without paying extra. It also applies to free hold luggage, check-in and the most important of all: Back-up when things go wrong, such as technical problems and cancellations. At least BA will get you on to the first available flight and not a flight 2 weeks later. We have been known to re-route with other airlines as well, if we can't get an aircraft out quick enough.

I'm not saying BA is perfect, but a lot of the time we do try.

Gg
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 16:52
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Glamgirl

Back-up when things go wrong, such as technical problems and cancellations.
Having encountered wx related cancelations with both BA and U2, one company put me in a hotel, gave me transfers to/from that hotel and also provided 2 meal vouchers, as well as flying me there the next morning.

The other company canceled a flight several hours in advance and told me that hotac/subsistence was my problem.

Both companies followed their policies.

One ticket cost £75 one way and the other was a £350 return, in business class.

Which company do you think had the better policy.

Sorry Glamgirl, but I'm not buying your view or your company's tickets.

It's orange for me as a matter of policy.
 
Old 29th Jul 2009, 17:22
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F3G,

As I said, we're not perfect, and I do apologise if you feel you've had bad service from BA. Unfortunately the back-up sometimes goes wrong - it shouldn't happen, but it still does, and I'm not making excuses for that.

Gg
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Old 29th Jul 2009, 17:57
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You miss my point which is not about bad service, but policy.

EasyJet's policy is

"If your flight is cancelled as a result of extraordinary circumstances

If your flight is cancelled as a result of extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even though we took all reasonable steps , including but not limited to:

* Air Traffic Control
* Weather
* Civil unrest
* Terrorist alerts and Security alerts
* Strike Action
* Unexpected flight safety shortcomings

easyJet will not compensate you further other than providing you with one of the following options (“Re-routing and Reimbursement Options”):

You will be offered:

1. Re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity; or

2. Re-routing to your final destination at later date at your convenience and subject to availability; or

3. A refund of the fare paid for the journey not made. Additionally, where relevant, we will offer a return flight to the first point of departure at the earliest available time.

In addition, you will be offered free of charge two telephone calls, or telex or fax messages or emails.

Where you choose to be re-routed at the earliest opportunity:

1. You will be provided with meals and refreshments (or vouchers) in a reasonable relation to your waiting time; and

2. If an overnight stay is required because the reasonably expected time of departure is at least the day after the time of departure previously announced, easyJet shall offer you hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel (within reason)."

BA policy is

"9b) Remedies for delays and cancellations

9b1) We will take all reasonable measures necessary to avoid delay in carrying you and your baggage.

9b2) These measures may, in exceptional circumstances and if necessary to prevent a flight being cancelled, include arranging for a flight to be operated:

* by another aircraft
* by another airline or
* by both.

9b3) If we:

* cancel a flight;
* delay a flight by five hours or more;
* fail to stop at your place of stopover or destination; or
* cause you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a confirmed reservation;

you can choose one of the three remedies set out immediately below.

Remedy 1
We will carry you as soon as we can to the destination shown on your ticket on another of our scheduled services on which a seat is available in the class of service for which you have paid the fare. If we do this, we will not charge you extra and where necessary, will extend the validity period of your ticket.

Remedy 2
We will carry you to the destination shown on your ticket in the class of service for which you have paid the fare at a later date at your convenience and within the validity period of your ticket on another of our scheduled services on which a seat is available. If we do this, we will not charge youextra.

Remedy 3
We will give or obtain for you an involuntary fare refund.

We will give you additional assistance, such as compensation, refreshments and other care and reimbursement, if required to do so by any law which may apply. We will have no further liability to you."

There may be other areas where BA offers a better policy than easyJet, I don't intend to do a line by line analysis of both sets of carrier's regulations, but from experience I can inform you that the U2 weather diversion policy is unequivocal, whereas the BA one is not, as it depends on one's interpretatin of the law.

That's why I disagree with your blanket statement, which I am sure was written in good faith, but is misleading IMHO.
 

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