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What’s new onboard British Airways?
British Airways has announced that new brunch menus will be on all long-haul flights from today, 15 October. Brunch will be served on flights departing from 8.30am to 11.29am. I am not thrilled about this personally as we all know on a long haul flight that if it is scheduled to depart at 11am, the chances are you won’t get a meal until at least 12.30pm if you are lucky. You most likely have already eaten breakfast so that just leaves one or two options that aren’t breakfast on the menu. This feels like a way to keep costs low rather than give any benefit to customers.
In First, there are classic brunch dishes like poached egg on sourdough with smoked salmon and lighter options such as a Niçoise salad with grilled prawns. Club World customers will still get a starter, main and dessert with a choice including smoked tomato, beetroot tartare, and Cornish chicken breast.
BA are also bringing back the “goodnight service” for First and Club World customers on flights departing after 9pm. This used to mean that there was not a normal meal service at all but a cut-down menu with only 2 courses and a limited choice. It does not specify if it is only for short night flights as it was before. Hopefully, it is. Otherwise, it is a massive downgrade. I’m in two minds about this change, on the short US East coast flights I’m usually keen to have a quick snack and most and get to sleep. Yet I’m often kept awake by people clanking cutlery for ages, having the full three courses. However, some people who are on holiday want to have a full meal and get value for money.
To celebrate 100 years of flying to India, there are new bespoke menus for all routes to and from India, available from 1 October to 30 November. The dishes include Khaldari Kofta and Rogan Josh in First, Shahi Paneer Korma in Club World, and a choice of Young Jackfruit Biryani or Zafrani Chicken in World Traveller Plus and World Traveller. All dishes are available on routes to India, North America and Canada, from Heathrow Airport during October and November.
In Club World, there is now an expanded wine selection, increasing from four to six options, including the addition of Whispering Angel rosé and from October to December, the featured wines will be from Adelaide in South Australia. This is good news as while in my opinion Whispering Angel is not that fantastic, often I don’t like either white wine choice and I know exactly what I am getting with Whispering Angel. Having 6 wines to choose from is great news.
However, there is some potentially bad news in First although it is not clear from what has been announced exactly what it means. I am flying First in a couple of weeks so I will report back. It sounds like they have swapped the canapes for pre-departure snacks and an amuse bouche. I have always loved the canapes, so I am a bit disappointed. It feels like it is also giving the crew more work when they are already at one of the busiest points in the flight before departure.
You will now get a trio of snacks in First such as green olives, cheese bites and warm nuts while you settle into their seats before take-off. I certainly appreciate not getting the Club Europe nuts in First though! I was not keen on those at all. Once in the air, customers will be offered the option of an amuse bouche as a pre-starter prior to the full dining service commencing.
Since the demise of LPGS, there has been a rotation of champagnes in First. I am looking forward to trying the latest iteration which will be Bollinger, La Grande Année 2015. There will also be Rock Angel Rose for First.
What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments below.
HT: Flyertalk
British Airways discount on flights to Italy
BA is offering 30% off flights flight to Italian cities. Pisa has flights from £34 each way, Milan from £41 each way, or Rome from £50 each way in economy. The offer also includes destinations such as Florence, Bologna, Turin and Verona.
Book by midnight on 21 October for selected travel dates between November 2024 and March 2025.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays Flash sale
Virgin Atlantic Holidays have just announced that they will be running a flash sale for 2024 travel, saving up to £100 on 2024 holiday bookings.
You can save up to £100 per booking on all new package holiday bookings made byThursday 17th October 2024, for travel 20th October 2024 to 31st December 2024, when staying a minimum of 3 nights.
The following discounts will apply:
- 3V or 3.5V hotel save £50 per booking.
- 4V or 4.5V hotel save £75 per booking.
- 5V hotel save £100 per booking
The savings apply to the total cost of the holiday, excluding taxes, APD, surcharges, and other compulsory charges which may apply at the time of booking.
7 comments
Re the Italian deals, I’ve just come back from Venice with BA – it’s a nice time of year to visit and less crowded. Weather warmer than UK with just a slight nip in the air. Venice’s Marco Polo airport was fairly straightforward.
Thanks Jane. I have been in October too and agree it is definitely much less crowded at this time of year.
We just flew back from Nashville last week in Premium Economy. There was no pre take off drink, nor was there any pre dinner drinks. No bar service was offered and on overhearing the crew it seems the bar ran dry on the outbound sector with no re-stick in Nashville. The stewardess claimed it was an ‘Express Service’ as the flight departed after 2100. I have never experienced this before or read it was being implemented.
Hmmm, that’s odd. Sometimes they don’t offer alcohol before departure due to having to pay duty but I would have expected water or juice. That sounds like a poor crew allowing that to happen.
In First and Club you do get Champagne or orange juice prior to take off.
Definitely cost cutting with brunch, which for me is very similar to breakfast on board i.e. not good food or choices.
The Bollinger, although a good vintage champagne, is not at the same level as LPGS.
I am normally leaning towards protecting BA because often large companies have to make decisions based on factors we don’t know and which may be part of larger picture we don’t see.
However the idea of serving brunch is inexplicable – it’s been said already but the majority have breakfast at the airport or home and then look forward to a flight lunch for any departures post 10am as invariably this will end up being post 11am.
PS thanks for my daily dose of TLFL news
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