BA announce end of inclusive catering in short-haul economy
 

This will probably come as no surprise:

British Airways Announce End of Inclusive Shorthaul Economy Class Catering. | The BA Source

No doubt they will market the ability to purchase food as an "enhancement."

I can imagine many point to point travellers will now be more open to trying a competitor unless LHR is an absolute must.

I do wonder when legroom is tight, you pay extra for a bag, you pay for food and free seat assignment is limited, at what point do you become a LCC?

I recall that Swiss Int'l stopping free food and quickly reversing themselves.

Then again SAS stopped free food in Y and stuck to it.

I'm not sure that an inconsistent product is a good idea for transfer passengers, but then again anyone travelling onwards in the U.S. will be used to it.

I think BA for Y-class intra-European travel has just made itself pointless. For the flights my family and I need, Ryanair, even using their "leisure plus" fare, have been significantly cheaper for some time.

So other than LHR, what's the difference between BA and EZY now?

Connectivity via OneWorld onto other destinations.

To succeed an airline needs to be either a low cost or a full service. BA will be neither, Aer Lingus are in a similar position. Passengers won't pay full service fares for a low cost service but BA costs are too high to compete solely on price.

Malaysia Airline took alcohol out of business class on flights of less than 3 hours in a similarly less intelligent move.

BA are trying to be low cost down the back and premium up front. They might succeed, they might not - they have very little choice but to try. Numerous other carriers are in the same situation. There are no accurate predictions for the next ten years of airline life.

It's a disappointing decision although we recently flew BA CityFlyer from/to LCY and the food was a bit dire.
For anyone making a kneejerk move to a 'LoCo' check all the extras and gotchas very carefully lest they charge you the same or more than BA.

Next step is introducing "Last Class" on routes where they compete directly with the low cost airlines. No baggage allowance, no food, no ticket changes, no FF miles or seat reservations allowed in return for a dirt cheap fare.

Im surprised it's all economy that is having inclusive catering removed. I was expecting a 'last class' but those with full or semi flexible tickets will get something. A bit like what germanwings, air Berlin and Brussels Airlines have. Or a Virgin Australia style system whereby you get what you're given for free but can buy something more substantial.

It's a little disappointing that on UK domestic we won't get anything at all. Even if we have paid a lot to be on a fully flexible ticket.

How would the cabin crew know which passenger had which class of ticket?

Boarding cards or manifest or a divide are the only ways I know of. Other airlines do it so it must be possible. I remember EasyJet had a coupon printed for discounted drinks a while back. Perhaps those entitled to a freebie could have a coupon printed on their boarding card which could be scanned by the crew. I recall BMI used to give a free snack if you were a FF and it was a matter of showing the Diamond Club card.

As I read the announcement, it means Y only. So the dividing line is really easy.

I don't actually mind paying for food & drink so long as it's reflected in the fare and the airline cares to include some customer service:

I used to fly regularly with Austrian, they did reintroduce inclusive catering but it had been pay as you go, I didn't mind because rather than being dished up some piece of cr@p I could choose if I liked to have a pizza slice, a sandwich or whatever.

SAS has been mentioned, I'd had an early start and a long and tiring day before the flight back ARN/LHR, having not eaten all day I was hungry and being on company expenses helped as I ordered and tucked in to more than one of their seafood baguettes and low alcohol beers.

KLM withdrew alcohol from economy whilst they other side of the business class curtain there could be a party going on, they realised the error of their ways but when they did reintroduce beer the can had shrunk from 330ml to 250ml.

My local airline is a LoCo, generally I only fly one hour ish (or less) sectors with them, I actually look forward to buying one of their ham and cheese croissants with a beer and I'm disappointed on the occasions on the flights when they don't provide the trolley service.

In comparison I paid OTT for a recent two hour sector with Philippines Airlines (PAL Express) whereas there was supposedly a light snack included, their light snack consisted of a wedge of over sweetened and disgusting cake served with a plastic cup of room temperature water and that was the only catering they had on board ... I mean on their Q400 aircraft they don't even have the facility to heat water for a tea or coffee ... Give me the local LoCo any day!

As for BA, it's some ten years since I last flew with them, they cancelled my flight lying to me that it was due technical when I knew it was due commercial, they invol rerouted me with another carrier that had no UK representation and refused any assistance regarding my trashed suitcase, then AMS/LGW not only was my seat broken but we flew the (lumpy) sector with the gear down because the World's Favourite had overfuelled the damn thing ... Never again!

On a positive, the ticket price will now reduce....

perhaps you are being sarcastic FANS but if not them I doubt they will reduce ticket prices. Airline marketing people can find a way to demonstrate that the cost of a sandwich is insignificant compared to the cost of the fare.
Actually what i think will happen is a sectorisation of London pax . Live North or East STN or Luton, South Gatwick and West or central LHR.

Although BA are often but not always the costlier option there a £30 difference in cab fare from where I live to go to LGW not LHR and STN is pointless as its such a long way and virtually impossible to get to with any certainty about arrival time.

So looked at overall getting a sandwich or not isnt that high on the list of choices about who to fly with

Airline pricing has nothing to do with costs.

Airline executive bonuses have everything to do with revenues (not profits), and these days incremental revenues.

When planning a journey there is always a process to reach the final decision.
First who flys to the destination. Second if more than one airline which has best reputation. Third schedule. Fourth, and probably most important, all up price.

So food and drink will come into fourth category. I wouldn't book a flight on the basis of a free snack but on an early morning flight with little time to spare I would be interested in a hot breakfast. Two gin and tonics will now cost £12 on BA and a sandwich £4.50 add a bag of crisps £1 so now for a couple flying nearly £40 extra.

Remember as well W/T longhaul flights are losing the second meal and next step will be saleable food mark my words.

I wonder if the introduction of BOB alcohol will lead to an increase in disruptive behaviour as people allegedly tank up at the airport to avoid 'high' onboard prices.