British Airways is reportedly tightening up on some of the special touches, both comfort and culinary, that it bestows on passengers.
A report in Britain’s Daily Express says BA has already removed the amuse-bouche (a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre served as a special treat, rather than ordered) from its First Class meal service and has removed the blanket from day flights, now providing blankets only on request.
In an economy drive flowing through all classes, Club World has seen kitchen changes, with more “ambient” items, like chocolate bars, stocked and fewer fresh items.
World Traveller Plus has seen the second meal removed on shorter routes, the Express report says, to be replaced with the opportunity to select something from a basket of ambient snacks passed around by cabin crew. Pretzels, cheese and biscuits have been removed entirely.
What this mean, according to the Express, is that if you are flying London to New York, “your second meal might be just a chocolate bar”.
Similar changes have been made in World Traveller, where the bottle of water has been replaced by a small plastic cup of water, the report says. Toothbrushes and toothpaste will no longer be provided but will be available on request.
British frequent flyer website Head for Points (www.headforpoints.com, devoted to helping UK business and leisure travellers maximise their miles) cites cabin crew reports on Flyertalk that the cutbacks will increase next month, with invitations to the First and Club World arrivals lounge no longer handed out to passengers on flights arriving after midday.
Head for Points admits it couldn’t confirm reports suggesting that from London, Club World passengers are about to receive a compulsory tomato, mozzarella and avocado salad rather than a choice. The change, reportedly, will be tried for a month and kept if successful.
Rumours are rife that ice cream will be removed from the Club Kitchen.
Commenting on the spate of reports, British Airways told Express.co.uk that all customers on transatlantic flights received a three-course meal, bar service and snacks “and on our longer transatlantic flights, including to the West Coast, customers are offered an extra meal during the flight”.
“We regularly review our catering to ensure we are investing where it matters most to our customers,” the airline said.
Written by Peter Needham
