Last week, I flew British Airways short-haul in Club Europe. And normally, you know what you’re going to get on a short flight between the UK and Germany – something that is comical and small.
However, there had been a change in the catering recently. And I think we need to step back a minute and work out what’s going on with this airline – because I’m struggling to see any reasons to fly Club Europe any more (unless you’re on a connecting Club World/First Flight or redeeming Avios).
Here’s the outbound meal during the lunchtime period (well, it was lunch time by the time we were in the air) – a beef and cheese ciabatta. Whilst it doesn’t look great, it was reasonably well filled. – so marks there for effort. However, minus marks for no side salad (although Head for Points is saying that there will be one now)
Thankfully, the ciabatta wasn’t overly dry. Unfortunately it seems the flight was short-loaded of this product, and as result some passengers had had the salads – to much grumbling in the back rows of Club Europe.
Meanwhile on the return leg to London at evening-time a King Prawn Salad was offered (as well as ploughmans salad and another option). So, where to be here…
First up – that King Prawn looks lonely by itself. Secondly, I still have no idea what’s going on with the green thing in the middle right. And those small slices of chicken… were small.
The cheese plate was a new addition that day (although regular readers will know why I avoid cheese when I can). And as for the Rhubarb thing in the top corner… I’m still working out what was going on there.
Oh and the Champagne has taken another plunge – if its possible – from Monopole Blue Top to Château Castelnau Brut Réserve.
The new BA Short Haul Champagne.
I found to be pretty acidic (I suspect it didn’t help that the Champagne bottles weren’t really chilled well) and not overly enjoyable – even compared to the old Monopole Blue Top.
Put it like this: I’m glad I ate in the lounges in both directions. For an in-flight snack, the ciabatta was the only one that satisfied me. The salad was pretty disappointing.
Whilst I don’t expect silver service in the skies in short hauls, it’s disappointing to see catering go to levels that can be described as disappointing at best. It is welcoming to see that all Club Europe routes to get something at least… but the implementation has been half-hearted at best.
Combine this with the B/E Aerospace Pinnacle Seat that has been deployed on the British Airways short-haul fleet, and you get a passenger experience that just doesn’t sit overly well with me.
To Fly, To Meh.
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