Like it or not, we’re barrelling into the festive season faster than most of us would like. British Airways has announced its onboard offerings for the festive period, with lots of food – as well as a few other things to delight its passengers.
For those travelling through the airline’s hubs at London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports, they will notice the decked-out halls with festive check-in screens, Christmas décor and seasonal music playing.
Customers travelling through the airline’s lounges can tuck into bespoke Christmas menus, cookies, gingerbread and mulled wine, and soak up a special festive scent featuring cinnamon and festive spices.
The airline has partnered with Hotel Chocolat to offer customers a hot chocolate winter warmer in its Concorde Room, or a festive chocolate cream cocktail in its First lounge.
As British Airways customers board over the festive period, they will notice Christmas music ahead of settling into their seats that will be decorated with specially designed festive headrest covers, featuring the airline’s bespoke Christmas ribbon design. There’s also seasonal inflight entertainment loaded on the long-haul segements.
All customers will also be handed farewell chocolates when they depart from their flight.
Taking the celebrations to 35,000ft, customers travelling on the airline´s long-haul flights can tuck into traditional Christmas dinners* served on festive-themed trays on long-haul flights.
In FIRST – A chestnut stuffed British roast turkey main course with all the trimmings and a decadent chocolate yule log.
In Club World – British roast turkey and a chocolate orange mousse.
And World Traveller Plus and World Traveller – A traditional Christmas roast turkey dinner accompanied by a mince pie.
The airline expects to serve a staggering 380,000 Christmas dinners, which include more than 600,000 Brussel sprouts and 8,000 Yule logs. Christmas dinners will fly until the 4th of January 2024. Other menu options should be flying alongside the Christmas offerings.
British Airways will present each passenger with a beautifully hand-painted, bespoke glass Christmas bauble as a special gift to the airline’s most premium customers travelling on December 24 and 25.
In EuroTraveller
The airline’s customers travelling in Euro Traveller on short-haul flights will also be able to choose from a selection of festive treats available to purchase through the airline’s High Life Café.
This includes Tom Kerridge’s turkey feast sandwich, Pullin’s Gingerbread Muffin, and LoveRaw’s vegan M:lk Choc Cre&m bar. Customers can also choose from a variety of Christmas drinks, including Black Cow’s Christmas Spirit vodka and Brewdog’s Elf lager.
In Quotes
Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said:
“Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year – customers and colleagues alike – and we’re all really excited to spread some holiday cheer over the coming weeks, both at the airport and in the skies.
“We hope these special touches, both big and small, help make our customers’ journey, wherever it may be, as original and extra special as possible. To all our customers, however you are celebrating, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!”
A Big Little Welcome
Finally, British Airways has also launched its ‘Big Little Welcome’ campaign, allowing customers to greet loved ones with a welcome message that could be displayed across billboards and airport screens when they arrive at Heathrow, Gatwick and City Airport over the Christmas period.
The airline is inviting customers to spread their holiday cheer and submit their welcome messages here, for family and friends travelling to London from December 15 – 24.
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Catering is just one area where BA have cut too far. Do & co is a vast improvement but for as long as the per plate charge is set so low and BA refuse to load enough as a cost saving measure, customers will be left disappointed. Cuts have gonw way too far and no sign of the long promised improvements…