Chicken Sandwich delays Flight
Chicken Sandwich delays Flight
Earlier this week I was on a flight from LHR to CGN. BA replaced the original 767 with a 757 and we were advised of a short delay while the flight crew were organised. However, when the 767 was towed away to T4, they forgot to take the food off and, although we boarded on time, there was a subsequent delay of about 60 minutes while they fetched and stowed the victuals onto the 757.
The food? A chicken sandwich and a plastic cup of water. The delay? The 55 minute flight was over 60 minutes late arriving which made me late for my meeting and, more important, I missed a very good lunch.
Isn't it time that BA (and others) gave up this charade of providing hospitality on short haul flights? I cannot speak for other passengers but I would have much preferred going on time without the food. I appreciate that they also loaded food for the return flight but, presumably, this was late as well.
The food? A chicken sandwich and a plastic cup of water. The delay? The 55 minute flight was over 60 minutes late arriving which made me late for my meeting and, more important, I missed a very good lunch.
Isn't it time that BA (and others) gave up this charade of providing hospitality on short haul flights? I cannot speak for other passengers but I would have much preferred going on time without the food. I appreciate that they also loaded food for the return flight but, presumably, this was late as well.
Go On Time or Go Hungry?
Pulse1
The company I work for has a policy not to delay flights for catering. When we do go without the butties the whingeing it generates is out of all proportion to the problem and this is after I have made a PA explaining the situation and adding that:
"I am sure that your first priority is to get to XXX as quickly as possible"
A few days later the company starts to receive the opportunistic letters demanding full reimbursment and or free flights following the "gross inconvenience" (50 min flight), "intolerable situation" (1hr 10min flight) etc. etc. I should add that we always have soft drinks and usually tea or coffee available.
I do take your point Pulse1 but I hope that you see that from the our side we just can't win! But honestly, we do try.
Rgds
YS
The company I work for has a policy not to delay flights for catering. When we do go without the butties the whingeing it generates is out of all proportion to the problem and this is after I have made a PA explaining the situation and adding that:
"I am sure that your first priority is to get to XXX as quickly as possible"
A few days later the company starts to receive the opportunistic letters demanding full reimbursment and or free flights following the "gross inconvenience" (50 min flight), "intolerable situation" (1hr 10min flight) etc. etc. I should add that we always have soft drinks and usually tea or coffee available.
I do take your point Pulse1 but I hope that you see that from the our side we just can't win! But honestly, we do try.
Rgds
YS
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The Pub
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does seem a little stupid.
If it was me I'd say go without the catering and do double drinks rounds ans get vouchers organised at other end for the hungry hoards, I'm sure most Captains would agree as well.
If it was me I'd say go without the catering and do double drinks rounds ans get vouchers organised at other end for the hungry hoards, I'm sure most Captains would agree as well.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Camp X-Ray
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rather depends upon the circumstances on the day, but I suspect the food took somewhat longer to arrive than was originally promised (it's always 'just around the corner'). It would also depend on the club load as the club meals are usually rather more substantial than just a sandwich. Also, if it was a very late aircraft change it may be that there were no stores aboard of any kind - no tea, coffee, bars, cups, bottled water, nothing! As we no longer have the facility to uplift stores downroute that would have meant no service at all for both the outbound and inbound sectors, which might have had a significant commercial impact on whoever was on the return sector. My own inclination would be to depart and make the schedule rather than delay for catering if no other delay was involved, but sometimes if a slot delay is involved theres nothing lost by waiting with the door open for the grub to arrive.
I think that, for all the reasons given above, there was no option to go without the victuals. Yes, Hans Solo, we were told that there was not even any water on board.
The point I was making was that I think it maybe time that airlines like BA stopped providing any kind of refreshment on such short flights. I travel quite a lot and, on these short flights, I would prefer not to have any food, rather than the awful Deli sandwich we are usually given.
What I want is the most painless boarding system, which means seat allocated, polite and considerate treatment from the cabin staff, and an on time, safe arrival at my destination. On business trips I do not mind paying a little more for that, compared to the treatment you get from so called budget airlines.
For long haul, or when I am paying for it myself, my priorites are somewhat different.
The point I was making was that I think it maybe time that airlines like BA stopped providing any kind of refreshment on such short flights. I travel quite a lot and, on these short flights, I would prefer not to have any food, rather than the awful Deli sandwich we are usually given.
What I want is the most painless boarding system, which means seat allocated, polite and considerate treatment from the cabin staff, and an on time, safe arrival at my destination. On business trips I do not mind paying a little more for that, compared to the treatment you get from so called budget airlines.
For long haul, or when I am paying for it myself, my priorites are somewhat different.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: southern england
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
how many pay?
Does anyone have any statistics about the "take-up" for "paid" meals on the "low-cost" scheduled carriers?
On average, what percentage of the passengers on one of these flights pay for food?
On average, what percentage of the passengers on one of these flights pay for food?
Last edited by newswatcher; 10th Oct 2002 at 10:01.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Hey, pulse1, you want seat allocation, polite and friendly staff, on time, safe arrival, and can't get that from a low-cost carrier ? Try changing your carrier. Shouldn't mention any names but the airfield's just up the M11 and the company used a lot of yellow paint on the aircraft. Come and enjoy the experience.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: preston
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mars bars delay nimrod
several years ago a nimrod captain delayed departure because he wasnt happy about the amount of mars bars on the aircraft. the caterer and the captain had a stand up arguement about said confectionary, unfortunately the caterer lost! i say unfortunately cos the captain was a ************ he is now a senior officer in a reserve post,and if anyone from kinloss is reading this rememember the great white shark? i often wonder if northwood found out the real reason he was almost one hour late departing?
