Are these grounds for a complaint?

[wanderer]

or am I being precious?

We were on a Club Europe flight out to Greece from LCY on a busy service. We didn’t get our first meal/drink service until over an hour into the flight. Then the curtain to the galley area closed for the rest of the flight and the two air stewards chatted. We only got another drink after pressing the call bell. So £300 each for a small meal and two glasses of champagne.

Previous CE flights have been with very chatty staff and a continuous flow of champagne etc.

Complaint or no?

[Colin MacKinnon]

I’d complain to whoever advised you to go CE out of London City! No lounge, no free middle seat.

Not sure what you realistically expect from the crew, they are not cabaret artists or street performers. Their job is your safety and to serve you. As you did, if you want another drink, press the call button. Repeatedly, if necessary on a four hour flight!

The only people to complain to otherwise are BA – they might throw you some avios, but then they might not. You never know.

Me, I prefer to be left in peace and quiet!

[Gosia44]

I would complain. The service you received was significantly below the expected BA level. Taking into account that there is no lounge at LCY, two glasses of champagne seems poor.

[AJA]

I think it’s worth reporting as feedback to BA not in the expectation of getting anything back but just so that they know how poor the service is on a longer shorthaul flight.

The reality is that in those situations the call button is the only way to get crew’s attention in flight unless you get up out of your seat and go to the galley. If the crew are not proactive you should feel free to just repeatedly call crew if you want a top up.

As Colin said the reality is flying CE out of LCY is not really worth the extra charged by BA, apart from possibly earning TP from a good cash fare or if an Avios reward flight gets you a decent return vs a cash fare.

[Fraser]

Club Europe crew are not stingy with the champagne, especially now they use full size bottles so should be happy to refill you (and even insist on topping off to use it up near landing!), just press the call button if you are not near the front and need to get their attention.

[HughM]

That’s two glasses each, right?

I’d complain with guns blazing for a ration of one. Two? Bit of a sticky wicket.

[Londonsteve]

Really the only disappointment here is that they didn’t proactively go around the cabin asking people if they wanted another drink but it’s subjective if this constitutes ‘bad’ service, or just somewhat less than what a casual passenger would expect. In CE if you actively ask for another drink, it’ll never be denied, unless you’re quite clearly already legless. Iberia is notorious even on long haul flights for completing the meal service then retreating to the galley, with some cabin crew appearing hostile to passengers that disturb them while they’re enjoying their social. Grounds for complaint? More so on an 8+ hour flight. Personally, I’ve no expectations in CE these days beyond receiving a meal and a drink, I’m prepared at the outset that if I want another one I’ll have to go and hunt it down. If you complain I’ll expect they’ll send you 5,000 Avios with an apology for ‘falling below your expectations’.

[executiveclubber]

I think part of the complaint is the fact it took an hour to do a drinks round tbh, which is a valid reason to be a bit peeved enough to get some Avios thrown at you in my opinion!

[Londonsteve]

Yes, that is a bit long, especially compared to service standards in CE from a few years ago. They used to come around with the pre-meal drinks service almost immediately after take off. I’ve noticed this on longer flights; it takes a while to heat up the meals and they’re under less time pressure to perform the meal service so everything gets delayed. You get your first drink either with, or immediately before the meal service.

[NorthernLass]

I’ve started asking for 2 drinks (as I’ve noted fellow pax doing!) then if the crew don’t have time to come around again, I don’t feel too deprived (I’ve given up on the Champagne as it’s never very good). They always seem quite happy to throw me a couple of miniature wines or spirits and mixers – in fact one of the crew on my LHR-LYS last week was proactively asking people if they wanted doubles!

[smblcklck]

NorthernLass wrote:

I’ve started asking for 2 drinks

We managed three G&Ts on NCL-LHR last month, proactively offered by the fantastic inflight manager. I had to turn down a 4th!

In such cases of excellent service I always note the crew member’s name and complete the ‘staff compliments’ form on the BA website. Whether or not it makes any difference (or indeed ever gets back to them) I don’t know, but feedback should be given when things go right also.

[Ihar]

Never had a problem, and always thank staff and follow-up with feedback as appropriate. Usually just ask for 2 drinks (if not offered, most times is).

Otherwise I’d just go up to the front (never liked the call button – they are not servants). Always politely what I asked for, and usually more.

So yes I’d complain. You should be suitably fed and watered in CE as the VIP cattle we are 😂

[Aston100]

Ihar wrote:

Otherwise I’d just go up to the front (never liked the call button – they are not servants). Always politely what I asked for, and usually more.

Yeah I don’t like to use the call button.
Partly out of embarrassment but mostly out of fear.
On European airlines that is.

[cin3]

The correct thing to do is to go and speak to them and ask for what you want. They can’t read your mind.

Also preloading with two drinks is always wise. If the meal is too small, ask if there are any spare.