British Airways cuts Club World meal service for departures after 9pm

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• davidn says:

  22 Oct22 October 23:04

  As their IT system already allows you to chose a meal which is vegetarian, gluten free, halal, etc… presumably it wouldn’t be a major stretch to add options such as ‘light meal’, ‘full meal’, ‘don’t know’ – i.e., load a full meal – etc.? (Please don’t get hung up on the exact wording of those two options… I offer them purely as an example.)

  This would give people the choice mentioned in these comments, cut down on waste (the food itself, the packaging, etc.) and presumably bridge the gap between the cost-cutting they feel they can get away with, and receiving a slightly lighter bashing from the customers?

  While I completely appreciate it won’t cover all eventualities, unforseen factors (delays so can’t eat in the lounge as planned, etc.) this seems like an obvious middle ground?

  Save every penny they can, or I’m missing something?

  • Simon Schus says:

    22 Oct22 October 23:26

    United seem to be able to offer pre-ordering of standard meals on some of their international and domestic business products. BA could do it.

    • JDB says:

      23 Oct23 October 00:50

      United enjoys a totally different financial position to BA/IAG in large part thanks to a very uncompetitive US domestic market, has been through bankruptcy processes enabling it to shed financial liabilities and has received considerable government subsidies. European legacy flag carriers are at a huge disadvantage vs US, ME and many Asian carriers. When BA did offer pre-ordering, it was not particularly popular, ultimately leading to more complaints as well as creating unnecessary logistical complexity.

      • Sarah says:

        23 Oct23 October 09:37

        Virgin manages to offer pre-ordering as well, as do many other airlines. Swiss is even introducing it on short haul. It shouldn’t be beyond BA to offer this, and I’m not sure why you say it was unpopular – I certainly appreciated being able to pre-select and from online comments, plenty of other people did too.

• Russell Lines-Jobling says:

  22 Oct22 October 23:21

  Surely this will go further to demean the product and allow fora recast of the number of crew…

• Tom R says:

  22 Oct22 October 23:54

  A lot of eat in the lounge comments but (a) the food in the lounges in many places often isn’t that great (b) the lounges can be packed and don’t offer a comfortable eating experience for more than a few snacks, (c) if you’re connecting from elsewhere you may not have time to even spend in the lounge or (d) you might be coming from work etc to make a late flight so may not have time. Additionally for those who are paying for J once in a while as a “treat” (like myself because work sure won’t allow me to book in J) then you’re paying a lot of extra money for not a lot extra these days (given if you’re not high status you’ll also have to pay to select your seat). I haven’t flown BA in 5 years and this doesn’t encourage me to choose them over another carrier (since I live in the US my choices may not necessarily be amazing but there are plenty of others at least!). Incidentally are there any changes to premium economy? – although a one tray meal that did comprise of 3 courses from recollection.

• Kenny says:

  23 Oct23 October 00:43

  I’m flying back from Mexico City at 9pm next week with the family. It’s a 10 hour flight and it’s leisure. We really want the full experience… does 9pm mean we will get the reduced meal, or is that services that depart at 9.01pm and after?!!!

  • G says:

    23 Oct23 October 09:44

    Yep. Based on scheduled departure times

  • JDB says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:29

    It wasn’t much used, perhaps because many just prefer to see what they feel like on the day rather than deciding they want chicken in a month’s time. People also changed their minds on seeing what they had ordered or denied they had ordered it as they wanted to change etc. As with any special meal, if there’s disruption/aircraft swap people got annoyed when the food isn’t transferred. Unfortunately people seem to want it every which way.

  • JDB says:

    23 Oct23 October 11:38

    I’m afraid you are relatively unlikely to get a “full experience” assuming you mean a positive one! The lounge is poor (unless you can access the Centurion) and the food is very erratic from MEX. There are fairly decent reasonably priced food options in the terminal. Probably still old Club seats as well?

• JDB says:

  23 Oct23 October 00:44

  Seriously, are you trying to address this as a legal issue? What would you consider to be the measure of damages for the absence of a first course?

  • david says:

    23 Oct23 October 06:12

    500 in Avios

    • TGLoyalty says:

      23 Oct23 October 10:34

      Wasting everyone’s time for £5. Have an extra plate in the lounge.

• TripleB says:

  23 Oct23 October 01:53

  I know it’s a tiny bit off topic – but I wish that more airlines would follow Delta’s lead and let premium PAX pre-select (days in advance) no dinner on evening departures.

  On any overnight flight leaving after 8pm I have usually got to the airport 2-3 hours in advance of departure and spent a good hour in the lounge. Consequently, I almost always decline the meal on board. My environmental footprint is much larger than it should be and I would actually prefer to not have the meal go to waste. If the airline pockets the cash associated with this – well then so be it.

• JDB says:

  23 Oct23 October 02:54

  So, if people are really expecting a three course dinner on late departures, what is expected for an 01.45 departure? This is a QR flight, rerouted from a BA midday departure, so in true HfP style, obviously I’ll be seeking compensation for the missing lunch, but unfortunately that means me paying BA £50 x 2.

  • G says:

    23 Oct23 October 09:45

    You’re flying QR? You’ll get QR service

• Tammy says:

  23 Oct23 October 09:35

  The food on Club World is really going down hill. Recent flight from Toronto to LHR and my meal, a Gluten Free meal, was extremely sad. Fish smoothered in tomato puree, potatoes and something which I think used to be runner beans. It reminded me of the food from budget airlines in the 90s. All that was missing was the foil tray. This came with a plain rice cake wrapped in cling film. I have previously been given a gluten free roll.
  For dessert the option was fruit or fruit, which was so cold I had to wait for it to warm up before I could attempt to eat it.
  Breakfast was worse. I was informed they didnt have any gluten free options but I could have fruit. I told them to not worry about it, I was hungry but I’d get something in the airport. I was then given two bowls of fruit and some popcorn.
  I really dont understand how, when they know the special meal requests in advance they can not have meals on board.
  We’ll be stepping aware from BA Club World flights now and looking at alternative options

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