Oliver (“Dickensian” BA breakfast service)
Back to Forum- This topic has 16 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 21 Dec 2014
at 09:50 by canucklad.
-
- Author
- Posts
- Skip to last reply Create Topic
-
TravellatorParticipantI relived the Dickens part on a recent CW BA 380 flight from HKG to LHR.
Breakfast was served and extra bread was being served, I asked for another portion of Marmalade.
In true Oliver fashion I was told emphatically – NO – only one per tray !
10 Dec 2014
at 06:24
K1ngstonParticipantNot quite as draconian, but many years ago I was travelling on a flight between Novirsibirsk (hope thats the right spelling) and Moscow and it was a new airline set up by a rich guy aiming to take away the Aeroflot business and I was travelling business class!
The flight was travelling at night and I wanted to just put my seat back and get 3-4 hours sleep before landing and had fallen asleep when I was rudely awoken by the stewardess announcing that food was being served! I politely refused saying I wanted to sleep when I was officially told off … “This is business class” she stated “everyone in business class eats our food” and she proceeded to ply my tray with all sorts of unimaginable delicacies …. Just reminded me of your predicament Travellator in your splendour aboard your 380 …….. Fly the flag!!!!!
10 Dec 2014
at 07:40
Poshgirl58ParticipantHad an “Oliver” moment on a Cyprus Airways flight from Heathrow a few years ago. Drinks were free and spirits poured from proper bottles, so measures were generous. Decided my brandy and lemonade was a bit strong so asked for more lemonade. For a Cypriot, the FA did a passable impersonation of Mr Bumble with “more lemonade Madam”. Unlike Oliver, my request was granted.
10 Dec 2014
at 09:47
bryanp01ParticipantLOL I had a similar experience out of Mexico City to NY with American Airlines in 2002 ( Business Class ). I asked for extra nuts ( they were bagged NOT hot and served in a dish) and the most miserable FA virtually threw a bag at me – and said ‘make sure they’re your last, we’re are low on those today’……….I was absolutely flabergasted and swore I’d NEVER travel on AA ever again, and I havn’t.
19 Dec 2014
at 19:16
TominScotlandParticipantFunny you should say that, Karl (may I use the familiar with such an august thinker on the social and economic plight of the Dickensian working class as yourself?) – anyway, I was on a BA domestic flight a couple of weeks ago and enjoying the excellent breakfast that is served on these flights when, indeed, my neighbour requested a second marmalade. Not being a partaker of that wonderful Dundee preserve, I offered him my own but the FA quickly chirped in with “No need for that, Sir, we always carry plenty!!!”.
Have a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year, all.
20 Dec 2014
at 08:18
KarlMarxParticipantTo the simple mind of an economist, this is difficult to grasp
– someone pays a certain amount of money for a domestic flight (of ~ an hour) and gets a full English breakfast and is offered an extra tub of jam
– someone pays a lot more money for an overnight intercontinental flight of many hours (so no choice to eat breakfast beforehand) and gets a breakfast with a warm bacon roll etc and is put in their place for asking for what is available on a much shorter flight, when the passenger has the option of eating before boarding.
How does this make sense?
20 Dec 2014
at 11:23
TheRealBabushkaParticipantKarlMarx, as an economist I’m sure you can contend with the fact that cabin crew are not homogenous. I’m sure they’re not made to wear collars around their necks, where a non-compliant service response is met by an instantaneous electric shock.
20 Dec 2014
at 12:14
TheRealBabushkaParticipantKarlMarx, I have and disagree with the premise of your response. You seem to suggest the problem is in the design of the service offering rather than the nature of the individual delivering the service.
On the contrary if the design is in fact poor, a competent crew would respond in a manner that is forthcoming.20 Dec 2014
at 12:24
KarlMarxParticipantTheRealBabushka – 20/12/2014 12:24 GMT
So how does a competent cabin crew change the availability of a full English breakfast on a domestic hop and the non-availability of the same on a ~12 hour intercontinental overnighter?
Does personality conjure a full English out of the ether?
20 Dec 2014
at 12:26
PeterCoultasParticipantIt happens even with BA – LGW to Marrakesh the chap in front requested an additional wine only to be told its not possible otherwise we cannot supply all passengers on the return flight!
20 Dec 2014
at 16:14 -
AuthorPosts