Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Forums Frequent flyer programs British Airways Executive Club First time in Club Suite – should we prebook vegetarian meals?

  • tygerbright 59 posts

    Hi all!

    I have a trip to Singapore in CS in a few weeks – we’re all vegetarians and wondering if we should pre-book meals or as we are travelling in Business can we decide our meal choice on the plane itself and see what takes our fancy – normally they have vegetarian and vegan options I think.

    Also, would be great to get a view on what is actually being served – not sure that’s available online anywhere?

    Thanks for the help in advance

    executiveclubber 531 posts

    IMO I don’t like to leave it to chance so I pre-request and usually if there’s an option you’d prefer they’ll let you switch it out on board. Better safe than sorry!

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 3,074 posts

    There is an on board vegetarian option (which isn’t the same as the pre order special meal)

    If you just go with the on board option then let a member of CC know as it makes their life easier when it comes to the meal orders.

    If you order the special meal and decide you don’t like it you will be at the back of the queue for the onboard option.

    Anna 458 posts

    There’s usually one vegetarian option in CS, IME, I think you’ll need to pre-order for vegan. I’d pre-book the veggie as well because there’s no absolute guarantee that BA will load enough or even any of them!

    It used to be possible to see the menu and pre-order but that facility disappeared during the pandemic and has yet to be reintroduced.

    FatherOfFour 348 posts

    There’s usually one vegetarian option in CS, IME, I think you’ll need to pre-order for vegan. I’d pre-book the veggie as well because there’s no absolute guarantee that BA will load enough or even any of them!

    It used to be possible to see the menu and pre-order but that facility disappeared during the pandemic and has yet to be reintroduced.

    Reports on flyertalk that Pre-Ordering of MAIN meals (in all cabins) is returning.
    My wife and I tend to pre-order specials- a VLML (standard veggie) and the AVML (Asian/Spiced Veggie) There are often common components between the specials and the onboard menu, but the main tends to be different. We choose two because one of us (yours truly) is more fussy. I tend to be very happy with the AVML and if we both like both meals, we’ll go halves… if not I’ll eat whichever dish has no mushrooms or asparagus!

    Iona 67 posts

    Our current approach is to pre-order if we’re flying out of Heathrow and take a chance of being able to get something off the menu (even if it’s just a starter and a dessert) if we’re flying from Gatwick. The logic behind this is that the veggie catering (be it VLML or AVML) seems to be much better out of Heathrow. Gatwick seems to give you the vegan option whatever vegetarian option you select and I’ve no idea who puts the vegan “menu” together. One particularly memorable trip featured quinoa with a few bits in it for a starter, quinoa with a few bits in it for a main and quinoa with a few bits in it for the second meal (both meals being accompanied by some chopped up underripe fruit for “dessert”)…

    tygerbright 59 posts

    Thanks for all the feedback!

    Quinoa eh?! I’ll eat it but I wouldn’t choose it! 🙂

    General advice seems to be book in advance and then see on the day what the offerings are. I’ve been stung in economy where I ordered a vegetarian and the main onboard meal also had a vegetarian option that looked way better so this time round I’ll ask the crew before they start the service!

    Certainly like the idea of trying to nab a starter or dessert from the onboard menu as most likely these will be able to fit our dietary requirements.

    Also a follow on question, I’ve assumed the pre-booked meal – e.g. vegan meal is the same as that served up in the rest of plane? or do they make a separate dish available for those in club?

    FatherOfFour 348 posts

    Interesting regarding opinions of Heathrow vs Gatwick. The onboard Gatwick menus always look mors appealing to me, but taste and fancy amd all that!
    Admittedly on my ex Gatwick flight we had a lot of grains, but there was variety VLML vs AVML vs onboard veggie.
    I’m not sure if the specials are differentiated between Club and other cabins…I think they are and they are certainly plated as Club.

    memesweeper 1,546 posts

    If you’re not too fussy or risk averse just take what’s on offer. Personally I’d not do that if I was in the last row or two of Club. Also Singapore is a long way to go without food if they undercater …

    Olly 311 posts

    Long-time (33 year) veggie here. In my experience the pre-ordered option never comes close to being as tasty as the one which is part of the onboard menu. I’m yet to experience a time when they’ve run out, though if you’re sat at the back of the cabin and risk-averse then pre-book to save any angst.

    jumpersforgoalposts 88 posts

    I feel your and other poster’s conundrum here.

    I have always pre ordered the veggie meal (which have been getting better over the years) but often, the on board veggie main tickles my fancy.

    On the one occasion I thought I’d chance it, they’d run out of veggie on board!

    astra19 62 posts

    I’ve never pre-ordered veggie for Club, and it’s always worked out.

    Scott 337 posts

    Something that occurred to me previously is that if I decide to take my chances by not pre-ordering the veggie main meal, then I won’t be provided veggie for the other meal, so would end up with, e.g. bacon for breakfast. Not sure if I’m correct on this, perhaps someone could advise?

    Lopster 1 post

    I thought you could only pre-book “special” requirements like Vegan or gluten-free. The cheese-based options are often mainstream and count as veggie.

    astra19 62 posts

    @Scott there’s always a vegetarian option at breakfast in Club. Might be boring or cold, but there’s always something.

    Always Somewhere Else 2 posts

    A few people have mentioned they’d be inclined to take a different approach if they were seated towards the rear of the cabin rather than at the front of Club World with the implication they think dish availability is managed on first come, first served basis. I just wanted to flag that the service standard in Club World (unlike in Club Europe) is for the crew to take orders for the entire cabin and reconcile these in the galley. If there they do not have enough items to meet everyone’s first choice passengers will be prioritised by status and those with the lowest status will be asked to reselect regardless of where they are seated. Being seated in the front row won’t help you if you’re Blue and a GGL is in the last row and wants your main course.

    SIN is a long flight so I’d take some snacks with you in case whatever you decide to go with doesn’t work out.

    Mighty Hunter 43 posts

    <I just wanted to flag that the service standard in Club World (unlike in Club Europe) is for the crew to take orders for the entire cabin and reconcile these in the galley.>

    That is service standard but sadly like most other service standards these days, mostly ignored.

    My longhaul CSD wife retired 3 years ago and is now a gold card holder, and has often not got her first choice because they’ve all gone. Her friends still flying confirm nobody bothers much these days because there’s no managers anymore to hold anybody to account. I’m a silver card holder and have been luckier.

  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.