BA Club lunch review and comments please

Flight LGW to Faro – Club Europe

Lounge was busy but could find a corner of peace and quiet by the window.

Tables are not cleared with regularity…it was transition from breakfast to lunch but this seemed to over occupy the staff….considering its soup and a sandwich. Talking of which these seem to have gone down hill, very cheap ingredients, odd combinations….better to bring in M&S to deal with this one?

Great service from the front desk (or was it?) I asked if I should eat lunch or would I still get a hot lunch on the 13.15 flight. Oddly they had no idea and made it up and said it stopped at 12.59! Then 10 minuets later ‘said’ front desk person turned up and informed me its 14.00 Sir. So no more horrid sandwiches. He will be in so much trouble if he is wrong.

Boarding went from open to almost closed in a few minuets they even started calling on the way to the gate lucky not far like some of them at LGW. Long queue on the air bridge onto the plane, very slow moving in fact. Crews welcome was somewhat absent minded in a short of find your own way type of way. Doors closed as the last passenger came on board.

Hot towels followed (very hot). Cleared and safety demo…some jackets hung straight away some not, again seemed no clear routine.

Take off was moved forward due to air traffic clearance so well up on the delay we were informed about. Drink service was started quickly although not set up as normal and crew member (only one) almost toppled the trolley over due to lack of drinks balance on the top tray….never seen that before. Also my feeling is that if people see Champagne on the trolley they will ask for it (another cut back?) I had a G&T.

Offered Thai beef curry or salmon on some leaves. I chose the beef. Nice tray service for all (good job after trolley mishap). I was missing a bread plate and later found no bread either, it seems it had not been loaded! Although passing through when boarding (slowly) I did seen it labelled in the galley. Made the plate look a sorry site with only a tub of over sweet pudding and a redundant butter pat.

Beef was just ok, rice was dry, nothing to write home about. The pudding was over sweet and not very nice. I was offered a drink, I choose white wine, not given a choice so thought maybe only one on board….later I was given another type of white wine. So two choices after all? Still only one cabin crew for 16 business class passengers.

Trays not cleared quickly at all, would, be a problem with new seating in Club. Rest of the flight uneventful but lacking in seeing any crew. Found two at the back having lunch and a chat. Arrival a few mins early.

I am no airline catering guru but I do have some ideas for BA Club lunch service.

As Egon Ronay said many years ago, keep it simple. Soup, a plate of smoked salmon, good cheese and pickle, pates, ham, cold beef, salads, good warm bread, all things British. Middle Eastern airlines do mezze because its what they serve at lunch. Don’t try and serve a poor hot meal if its not needed. Just good product, a good ice cream or decent steamed pudding, not an over sweet thing in a tub. This is Club Class after all. Lets show the world how we can be British Airways again. Oh and a choc maybe where have they gone?

Ideas and comments please.

Ideas and comments please.
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If it was my own money, I would not waste it on Club Europe, but would use easyJet and invest the savings in an exit row seat, a trip to the #1 lounge and a nice meal when arriving in Faro.

YMMV.

SimonS1

I didn’t know he was leaving. Any idea why? Is it beyond BAs capability to ensure emails to en ex plc board member get taken care of by somebody else?

Ideas and comments please.
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Try to view life in a more positive way. If you’re looking for things that’ll irritate you, you’ll more than often find them. I mean, it’s only a bloody flight

@esselle – sorry thought I had read it on here but it was on another board.

FvdP is leaving to join Dutch telco KPN.

http://corporate.kpn.com/press/press-releases/kpn-to-appoint-frank-van-der-post-as-chief-commercial-officer.htm

No it isn’t beyond the wit of man to have emails forwarded, however you are talking about a company that regularly takes 6 weeks to answer a query or even an hour to answer the phone, so I wouldn’t hold my breath really.

Flying from T5, either do as MrMichael suggests OR the food in the lounge remains good and tasty…

When I can, always try to depart just after lunch so I board fed and watered…

No Faro flights from T5 until maybe next year again…sadly. Flew LHR in Sept lovely.