From next Wednesday, British Airways will introduce its Buy On Board programme
British Airways A320 from Heathrow Tower – And as it’s short-mid haul aircraft, expect to pay for any food and beverage items aboard it as part of the Buy on Board programme. Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
So, a quick reminder to the Buy on Board programme:
- It’s going to start on the 11th January 2017
- It applies from routes from London Heathrow and London Gatwick
- It affects EuroTraveller and UK Domestic Cabins
- Payment is by card or via Avios for Bronze, Silver and Gold BA Executive Club Members
- Cash is not accepted
For those who want to look at the actual prices head here (food) or here (drink). For those who want to read on and find out what it’s going to cost… hang on.
Avios costs vary per item, and unless you’re Avios rich, I wouldn’t waste Avios on these.
Why?
Considering how few Avios you earn short-haul (and even fewer you earn on long haul routes) , it’s going to be a lot more difficult to save up for a reward flight saver.
Or let’s put this another way: A reward flight saver zone one is 4500 one way. Here are the equivalents of what you can buy for that:
- 7 and half Bacon rolls
- 17.6 bottles of water
- 15 Cups of in-flight hot drink
- 20 packs of Percy Pigs
- 2.2 Bottles of Monopole BlueTop
- 5.8 Gin and Tonics
And so on. Think about it before you reach for you Executive Club Card to pay for your food aboard British Airways
So without further ado, here how much things will cost in the Buy on Board Programme.
Food
Fresh Items
Smoked British bacon roll - served hot £4.75 / 600 Avios Aberdeen Angus beef and red onion chutney bloomer £4.75 / 600 Avios Harissa chicken and couscous salad £4.50 / 575 Avios Farmhouse cheddar cheese ploughmans £3.00 / 375 Avios Buffalo mozzarella and tomato focaccia - served hot £4.95 / 625 Avios Fruit salad £3.50 / 450 Avios Yogurt with summer berry compote and crunchy granola £1.95 / 250 Avios
Savoury Items
Cashew nuts £1.60 / 200 Avios Wasabi peas £1.60 / 200 Avios Lightly sea salted hand cooked crisps £1.00 / 125 Avios Sea salt and balsamic vinegar hand cooked crisps £1.00 / 125 Avios Oat and barley porridge £1.40 / 175 Avios Nut assortment £1.60 / 200 Avios Oloves basil and garlic olive snack £1.20 / 150 Avios
Sweet Items
Milk chocolate covered pretzels and popping candy popcorn £2.45 / 300 Avios
Soft apricots £1.95 / 250 Avios
The Whippy One - fluffy light mallow encased in creamy milk chocolate with caramelised walnut pieces
£1.00 / 125 Avios
Mini oat biscuits £1.10 / 150 Avios
Brownie bar £1.45 / 175 Avios
Super nut, fruit and seed flapjack £1.45 / 175 Avios
Milk chocolate mountain bar £1.75 / 225 Avios
Percy Pig - soft gums made with fruit juice £1.85 / 225 Avios
Salted caramel hazelnut millionaire - gluten free biscuit £1.45 / 175 Avios
4 Finger KitKat £1.20 / 150 Avios
All butter shortbread - pack of two fingers £1.25 / 150 Avios
Drink
Hot drinks
Java Republic regular coffee - 12oz cup £2.30 / 300 Avios Java Republic decaf coffee - 12oz cup £2.30 / 300 Avios Twinings English breakfast tea £2.30 / 300 Avios Twinings Earl Grey tea £2.30 / 300 Avios Twinings Pure Green tea £2.30 / 300 Avios Twinings Pure Peppermint tea £2.30 / 300 Avios Cadburys hot chocolate - 12oz cup £2.70 / 350 Avios
Soft Drinks
Highland Spring sparkling water - 500ml £1.80 / 225 Avios Highland Spring still water - 500ml £1.80 / 225 Avios Vita Coco coconut water 330ml £2.70 / 350 Avios Sprite - 330ml can £1.80 / 225 Avios Coca Cola - 330ml can £1.80 / 225 Avios Diet Coke - 330ml can £1.80 / 225 Avios Fanta Orange - 330ml can £1.80 / 225 Avios Pip Organic orange juice - 200ml £2.70 / 350 Avios Pip Organic apple juice - 200ml £2.70 / 350 Avios Folkington`s Elderflower Presse - 250ml can £2.20 / 275 Avios Fruit shoot Orange, low sugar - 200ml £1.80 / 225 Avios Appletiser - 330ml £1.80 / 225 Avios Fever Tree tonic water - 150ml £1.50 / 200 Avios Fever Tree Slimline tonic water - 150ml £1.50 / 200 Avios Big Tom Spiced Tomato mix - 150ml £1.50 / 200 Avios Folkington`s Ginger Ale - 150ml £1.50 / 200 Avios Folkington`s Club Soda - 150ml £1.50 / 200 Avios Folkington`s Bitter Lemon - 150ml £1.50 / 200 Avios
Alcoholic Beverages
Bacardi Carta Blanca rum - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Baileys Irish Cream - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Bombay Sapphire® Gin - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Jonnie Walker Red - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Jack Daniels - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Smirnoff Red - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios XO Brandy - 50ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Dry River Shiraz - 187ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Shorn Sauvignon Blanc - 187ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Belle Vignes Sauvignon Blanc - 187ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Belle Vignes Syrah Rose - 187ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Belle Vignes Grenache Syrah Marselan - 187ml £4.50 / 575 Avios Prosecco Bottega Gold - 200ml £6.00 / 750 Avios Heidsieck & Co. Monopole, Blue Top, Brut - 375ml £16.00 / 2025 Avios Heineken - 330ml £4.00 / 500 Avios Old Speckled Hen - 330ml can £4.00 / 500 Avios Magners Original Cider - 330ml can £4.00 / 500 Avios
The prices aren’t hot, but at least the majority of items are under £5 for food, £3 for a soft drink or £6 for a mixed beverage.
However, whilst I can see a rationale for food being offered for sale, British Airways have constantly failed to offer a good quality explanation why drinks are being charged for.
It’s another nail in the “To Fly, To Serve” Strategy.
Welcome to the world of Alex Cruz – To Fly, To Pay.
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What’s the difference between BA and an LCC these days on a short haul flight? As someone in the North of England I can’t find anything to justify travelling to Heathrow or Gatwick for a flight with them instead of using a LCC closer to home.
You tell me -apart from a pittance of “loyalty” points, and a long haul feed, I can’t find any reason to fly BA short haul (bar cheap redemptions) these days until the curse of Cruz is lifted.
And to be honest, I’m still not sure how this can be a success in any form. Turning anything from a complimentary item to a revenue stream always ends badly.