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Flapjack or banana bread? We try BA’s new short haul economy snacks!

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Just over a month ago, British Airways replaced the free snacks it provides on short haul economy flights. Instead of a bag of pretzels or crisps, you now get a choice between banana bread or a sultana flapjack.

No images were forthcoming when the change was made, but both Rob and I had the opportunity to try them on our recent flights to Lisbon for World Aviation Festival.

This is what they look like:

British Airways economy snacks flapjack banana bread

They are hand made in the Cotswolds by Four Anjels Ltd. According to their website, they also produce own-label goods for Pret, Caffe Nero and Itsu.

Here they are, in the nude. Click to enlarge.

British Airways economy snacks flapjack banana bread

Now, I know what you’re thinking. How big are they? Well, I took some photos with a British Airways Gold card for scale – that’s the same size as your standard credit card. Don’t say we don’t offer a public service!

British Airways economy snacks flapjack banana bread

The dimensions of the flapjack are 6.5cm by 2.5cm by 1cm thick. The banana bread is slightly taller.

According to the packaging, the flapjack weighs 28g. This compares to 110g to 125g for the flapjacks in my local newsagent.

No weight for the banana bread is given but it is noticeably lighter. I wouldn’t be surprised if it weighed just over half.

The banana bread contains egg and wheat.

The taste test

Both Rob and I agreed that the flapjack is the clear winner of the two. I’m no flapjack connoisseur but it had the chewy, sweet oaty texture I associate with flapjacks. The small size means that you don’t get large pieces of sultana though.

The banana bread is less successful. It is extremely fluffy, and not at all like the more stodgy, moist banana bread I would normally enjoy or bake myself. The banana element is via puree (19% of the weight) and the cake has a light banana smell.

Conclusion

Whether you will prefer the new snacks versus the old ones will depend on whether you have a sweet or savoury tooth, I think.

(It also depends on when you are flying, as early morning services still serve a Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain bar instead of the new cakes.)

You do at least get a choice between two options now, whereas previously only one snack was stocked. If you didn’t like it then tough.

And, whilst small, a small bottle of water and a snack is still more than you can expect for free on virtually any other European airline in economy. Good luck getting much of anything for free in economy on Lufthansa.

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Comments (195)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • mkcol says:
    2 Oct2 October 12:18

    I only came here to read the moans. I was not disappointed.

    Other than that, I did wonder if they use less space in the Atlas boxes with the new offering.

    • Rob says:
      2 Oct2 October 13:17

      I suspect they do, although it would depend on whether they massively overstock to ensure everyone gets first choice.

      • Thegasman says:
        2 Oct2 October 21:48

        They don’t even stock adequately to allow First passengers to get their first (& sometimes even second) choice meals so I very much doubt they will be covering all eventualities for ET pax!

  • E4 Traveller says:
    2 Oct2 October 12:35

    I nearly always order a hot drink in advance on BA short haul. Sometimes it arrives very early in the flight, but more often just as the seatbelt sign are about to go back on or when I draw the attendant’s attention to the fact that I haven’t yet been served. Some BA crews really are rubbish, whilst a very few are on the ball. Imagine ordering a coffee at Pret and having to remind someone to serve you.

    • Londonsteve says:
      2 Oct2 October 22:40

      On one flight I wasn’t served as they claimed they ‘couldn’t find me’. I was genuinely perplexed by that one, it’s not like I popped out on the wing for a spot of fresh air.

  • Niall says:
    2 Oct2 October 12:36

    ‘No weight for the banana bread is given’

    I found this weird when I was given them on a couple of different flights. Especially as the nutritional information is given per 100g. You’re left to guess the weight and calories etc. Not that something so small is likely to be much, but is it legal to not specify?

  • Lady London says:
    2 Oct2 October 12:56

    more cr*p from British Airways. I mean, at that size could they spare it?

    I’m a bit wound up by these bar things ever since BA served one of these as a ‘second meal’ on the 11-hour flight back from SFO. And I was sat in Premium Economy. I was so shocked my jaw dropped. But I hastily recovered myself and gave it straight back to the cabin crew member saying “BA clearly needs this more than I do”.

    Before anyone thinks this was due to catering droping in covid, No it was before covid.

    • StanTheMan says:
      2 Oct2 October 13:04

      So shocked at the small snack your jaw dropped ! And then you decided you didnt even want it…..

      I think your absolutely world class bants to the crew was the true reason your jaw opened.

  • Lady London says:
    2 Oct2 October 13:10

    So is the Tom Kerridge pie off the menu then? I was seriously going to make a point of flying BA to SZB or FDH next season for that.

    • Rob says:
      2 Oct2 October 13:15

      Still there for pre-orders I believe.

      • Save East Coast Rewards says:
        2 Oct2 October 13:37

        The pie is gone by the 30th October, always been pre-order only. So if you want it then order soon

  • Lady London says:
    2 Oct2 October 13:42

    Was flying much later than October sadly….I will have to find them elsewhere.

    I’ll go to SZB by land now.

  • Tracey says:
    2 Oct2 October 14:05

    At the back of my mind, anything under 1oz/ 28g doesn’t need to state the weight.

  • Tracey says:
    2 Oct2 October 14:07

    Got that wrong, newer regulations (2021):

    Pre-packed foods are exempt from these requirements if they are:

    under 5 g or 5 ml, apart from herbs and spices, where there is no minimum threshold
    usually sold by number, provided that the number of items can be clearly seen and easily counted from the outside
    subject to considerable losses in their volume or mass and are sold by number or weighed in the presence of the purchaser

    • Roy says:
      2 Oct2 October 18:03

      But as the snacks are not being “sold” are you sure the regs even apply?

      • Niall says:
        2 Oct2 October 21:30

        This I expect is how they get away with not giving the weight. It is just so odd that they bother giving nutritional info for 100g though and not give the weight. Pretty useless.

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