New Catering In Business
New packaging that looks like a sarni box on the web site.
Urgh!!!!
[This message has been edited by ajamieson (edited 01-22-2003).]
Outbound: Big box with yogurt drink, chocolate, sachet of tomato ketchup and the usual: glass, cup, napkin & plastic cutlery painted silver! [And some novelty straws that were meant to do wonders for our disgestive systems!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif] FAs came round with sausage panini and OJ separately. Would rate both at no more than a 5/10 - the paninis were hot but greasy and not too tasty [nothing else in them but a sausage sliced lengthways!]; OJ was from a carbonated can rather than 'freshly squeezed'. Offered a choice of earl grey or normal when I asked for tea. From what I could gather those behind the curtain got the paninis too, albeit sans the box!
On the inbound, the yogurt had been replaced by a bag of fresh little carrots - I actually liked them! No funny straws as a result! The hot meal was a sort of Cottage Pie - nice: tasty and hot - 7/10.
Everyone seems to be moving to boxed meals these days - Have also had them on KLM UK & South African Express Airways in the past few weeks. Not sure that bmi's boxes aren't too big - the box itself takes up a lot of space and as such it became quite difficult not to keep knocking one's glass while trying to eat a hot meal like the cottage pie. The SAAEx box was smaller but contained far more 'goodies' in any event!
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KLM FD PE, BMI Gold, AA Platinum, UA Premier, HHilton Silver
My $0.02's worth:
Breakfast was, as has been said, a boxed set of yoghurt, fruit, tub of OJ, and the usual bits + bobs (glass, cup, milk, napkin, condiments, and plastic cutlery that is desperately trying to look like it's metallic). Saussage Pannini was served hot and seperate, and was, to someone like me, who had not had breakfast, quite satisfying. However, it was no substitute for the usual hot breakfast. The yoghurt did indeed come with small straws allegedly filled with bacterial culture, which was all a little bit too "Andromeda Strain" for me - I'll get my Lactobaccilus from a known source thankyou....
The mechanics of the box take a little getting used to, and I found myself putting live drinks in the box to avoid spillage, rather than use the thoughtfully provided (but useless) in-lid cupholder.
Overall, I'd class this as better than a US-domestic "Sky-deli" style lunch, but only slightly above the current BA domestic deli-bag.
Next meal was lunch (12:35 flight), and consisted of a (cold) chicken caesar salad, a bag of carrots (BD please note, I think we're taking the "rabbit food" a little too far here") a mini chocolate snack bar (Toffee Crisp I think), and the usual tools etc. A hot roll was also served seperately.
Salad was OK, but pretty small, and came with a pack of dressing that appeared to require power tools to open. I tried the carrot snack, but found them an acquired taste (that I obviously haven't acquired).
Overall, not a patch on even the previous DIY bagel that we used to get for lunch, never mind the long forgotten hot meal served when the MAN-LHR route started.
Final meal was, erm, dunno really, Lunch again perhaps? 14:45 out of LHR gave us a cold egg and bacon roll (sorry, sesame seed roll), bannana, and chocolate bar, plus the usual tools. Roll was OK, well filled, but more of a snack than a meal, bannana was, well, very bannana-ish, and the chocolate was gone in two bites.
All three meals were served with the usual biz-class drinks service, including champagne, and a round of hot drinks.
I should also point out that regardless of what the bmi website, and the leaflet enclosed in the meal says, I was only offered a choice of meal at breakfast, and the choice consisted of vegetarian or carnivorous pannini. Other meals appeared to offer the classic BA "take it or leave it" meal choice options.
Overall impression:
I don't object to the idea of boxed meals per-se, and can see how they improve both in-flight storage and serving times, but bmi's implementation of the concept just doesn't add up to a business class service. If they were to serve the base meal in the box, but the main course as a hot item seperately, I'd be willing to give it a chance, especially if they borrowed from LH the concept of a choice of hot mains but a fixed starter/desert.
Technically, the box design has a few problems. The lid/tray is too flimsy, and has a worrying tendency to slide into your lap (hence why I didn't use it for drinks). This is especially true if you are in row 1 with a pull-out table. Someone should remind BD that the reason the old trays have a groove around the edge is that this engages with a ridge on the tray-table, and thus stops the tray sliding around. Without this anchor, I predict many more "dinner in lap" opportunities with these meals.
With the introduction of this service, bmi has, yet again narrowed the gap between C and Y, to the point where even a dedicated lounge-lizard such as myself is beginning to wonder if it is worth it. I can't help but notice that the one other thing my three flights had in common was the small size of the business cabin. Even on the morning MAN-LHR flight, which always used to be C-class virtually to the back of the plane, 6 rows was the limit, and the other flights were similar (if not smaller).
If I still signed off peoples expenses, I'd think very seriously about handing them two small bottles of champagne and an economy ticket and telling them that they wouldn't spot the difference.....
Ken.
'How come it's "A penny for your thoughts", but you "Put your two cents in"? Someone's making a profit here...." - Steven Wright.
Changing service levels to reflect changing consumer needs is one thing but the hot breakfast on a "short" morning flight is important to me. It was a major factor in me switching to Bmi when they started operating out of Manchester. If I take an early flight I can stay at home the previous evening. I then go into a series of meetings often skipping lunch. That 50 mins or more for some nurishment in financial terms is therefore quite valuable.
The verdict on the new catering concept appears to be that Bmi have scored an own goal. Personally I object to the wasteful packaging and I'm sorry but I want my fruit served on a plate and not in a plastic bag that then makes my hands sticky so defeating the concept of working whilst eating.... I alos liked the idea of a choice of sandwiches and a hot scone for afternoon tea. Now we have the One ofr all concept.
It reminds me of the catering boxes Dan air served on charter flights when i was a kid.
Sevice levels are dropping to economy of BA levels with a natural trend to dish the boxes out instead of the refined service that you get when balancing a tray.
Bmi have received numerous complaints and I wouldn't be suprised if we see a return at some point to the service we are used to. Already I notice how many people are simply declining the box with a dismissive wave.
Is business worth it for me anymore? I don't think so. Do I move to Bmi in economy? No, I go to BA and take advantage of their superior catering in the lounge. Sad really....when you think back to how Bmi forced Ba to introduce hot meals on the EDI and GLA flights all those years ago.....
They almost made it worth getting up at 4.30 in the morning.
:-(
At least they are introducing desserts - the one thing which seemed to be missing from the evening meals.
I asked one of the CC for a glass of water and when she returned she was carrying a bottle. I said it would be easier if she left the bottle and she happily obliged! I'm never drinking again. I mean it. Well maybe I'll have the odd drink but I'm never getting drunk again!
bmi, the UK's second largest full service scheduled airline, is revolutionising business class catering on all its services in and out of London Heathrow.
'food on the go' is a new concept in airline cuisine, which will be introduced for passengers travelling business class on domestic and European flights from early December.
bmi has worked with top retail food suppliers to develop a product which reflects the changing eating habits and demands of consumers outside the airline environment. The range represents a new approach to airline catering, introducing a consistently high level of quality, freshness and variety served in custom-designed contemporary packaging.
"People have become very discerning when it comes to food. In the high street they get guaranteed choice, quality and consistency of presentation. We're giving business class passengers the same on our aircraft," said Simon Gregory, bmi marketing director.
"We carried out extensive research with our customers, listened to what they wanted and developed a product to better fit their tastes and needs. We are confident they will be pleasantly surprised at how much airline catering has changed.
"Passengers will continue to benefit as we'll be working with our suppliers on an ongoing basis to develop and deliver innovative and creative catering ideas, reflecting developments in the high street."
Menus range from hot paninis and organic yoghurts for breakfast, to a choice of hot and cold meals on lunch and dinner services, including healthy options such as freshly prepared salads and fresh fruit to more indulgent items like luxury desserts.
The 'bento' style box, which is made from environmentally friendly recyclable materials, is a practical alternative to the traditional airline tray, providing more space to work or relax. Once served, the lid of the sealed box removes to form a tray complete with built-in glass holder.
bmi has also worked with healthy eating TV chef Daniel Green on the healthy range. Daniel is helping to launch the 'food on the go' range and give ongoing advice.
"food on the go is a unique service which again demonstrates bmi's determination to offer great value to all," said Simon.
And leaves a stain on shirts which not even Vanish will shift, as I have discovered. Makes you wonder what is actually in the 'sauce'.
About BMI's international J class, expect to be pampered and well-fed... the best J class in the world...
I'll reserve judgement until I see what they serve up for lunch and dinner.
Note. The packaging allows you more space to work! In other words smaller servings?
I hope not though I'm off with them next week out of LHR so I will report.
Full marks to the new BD service to the Highland & Islands!
First remove all meaningful catering from Y after 9am.
Second give to C more or less what Y used to get and so you have a differentiation between the two classes without havingt o go to the trouble of giving anyone anything worthwhile?
Stephen
As of this week, the bmi C-Class lunchboxes have included a new item.... A Feedback Card!. This asks for opinions on the concept, and, if you have had experience of the "traditional" bmi tray service, your thoughts as to which is better.
No prizes for guessing what my thoughts were! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Let's all make sure we make a positive effort to fill these cards in, eh? In case the enlightened self-interest of getting some decent food back isn't enough, they're offering a draw for a case of Champers to those who respond..
Battlefield report:
bmi batting as follows:
4 more UK domestics...
1 flight no C meals loaded, Y got fed though, nice to see they've got their priorities right http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif
1 flight egg&bacon roll as above
1 flight choice of chicken paprika & noodles, or something vegetarian
1 flight chicken paprika & noodles or naff all http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
The chicken & noodles portion is a little small, and comes with another one of those strange plastic containers of sauce (this time tomato&chilli) that requires deadly force to open (and then squirts everywhere http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif). Ho Hum.....
Did I mention we should really really make sure we fill in these questionaires? I did? Good, let's do it!
Ken.
"I could eat a bubble car, or a pac-o-mac, good god it's a snack attack!" - 10cc
Stephen
After all guys we are talking about flights of 90 mins or less do we really need any food at all. I would be happy to see a financial reduction of the price of the air ticket and dispense with the food service.
as it is now i normally buy the cheapest round trip ticket in economy and hey if my plans change i buy another as it is often cheaper to buy the 2 tickets then pay full business fare.
The question in my mind now is when do the free drinks depart from economy?????????
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