Business class food shortages and cabin crew helping themselves to the meals.

[codash1099]

But this was an International flight so AA catering would not be as stingy.The last time I flew AA J international they had run out of my choice-I was given a similiar F meal instead.So they had spares. Domestic-well any one here should know of FEBO.

I don't think FEBO is as reliable as it once was. I've been on a couple of AA flights where service was the "wrong" way around.

 

[djfuzz]

I don't think FEBO is as reliable as it once was. I've been on a couple of AA flights where service was the "wrong" way around.

Also, FEBO is predicated on you being able to select the correct seats - if everyone knows about it, that can be somewhat difficult.

The real issue with AA (international) catering is the ridiculous number of choices they have available, meaning that they will run out of the more popular ones even more quickly (hell, they even split it by aisle - I've been lucky enough to have my choice at the last minute because the trolley in the other aisle had one spare, but FEBO wouldn't have saved me otherwise).

QF is somewhat better, but to be honest, more than three meal choices is inviting customer disappointment when you inevitably run out of one of them.

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't think FEBO is as reliable as it once was. I've been on a couple of AA flights where service was the "wrong" way around.

I've not seen the service occur the wrong way around per se (out of a pretty fair sample size), but I have noticed on occasions that they take orders for meals according to FEBO, but the actual delivery of those orders has occurred in the opposite direction.

Not sure why they do that.

 

[gumpy]

I had an annoying situation where on a j flight from AKL to LAX i asked for the healthy option. The attendant was in mid-speech about how there weren't any left when the CSM stepped in and said there were some left... I was like wtf? but moved on as I was served what I wanted and it was decent.

You sure they don't eat some of the left over J meals? I had a sneaking suspicion the attendant was trying to keep one aside for himself.

 

[milehighclub]

I had an annoying situation where on a j flight from AKL to LAX i asked for the healthy option. The attendant was in mid-speech about how there weren't any left when the CSM stepped in and said there were some left... I was like wtf? but moved on as I was served what I wanted and it was decent.

You sure they don't eat some of the left over J meals? I had a sneaking suspicion the attendant was trying to keep one aside for himself.

Again, I'm sure there are no surprises that we eat any leftover food - once everyone has eaten! We would never (and as mentioned I'm sure one bad egg might) put aside a passenger meal for our consumption. Even if one crew member did - another crew member would spot it and be asking questions, it's not something you could hide.

Your scenario can be common - as more than one crew member takes orders, the meal tally is usually split between them. Quite possible, that they had thought they had run out, but the CSM obviously had over heard, and may of had one left, and gave it to that crew member (and thus to you) Or perhaps they had ran out, and someone changed their mind - could be a million reasons (and of course yours could be one of them)

 

[Homer]

That's not an apples and apples comparison. F is a whole different story to J, and if EK operated their own 738 I'd like to see them try and do the same thing with a much smaller galley.

That wasn't the context. My reply was to a comment that "no airline loads 100% of choices" and I was pointing out that actually some claim that they do. I think there are sometimes too many assumptions on this board which are presented as facts so I wanted to demonstrate that this may not be an absolute case.

 

[Sprucegoose]

That wasn't the context. My reply was to a comment that "no airline loads 100% of choices" and I was pointing out that actually some claim that they do. I think there are sometimes too many assumptions on this board which are presented as facts so I wanted to demonstrate that this may not be an absolute case.

agree, if they did the accountants would have a fit!!!

I used to enjoy the SQ program, book the cook. One way to ensure certainty of meals and for the airline to benefit at the same time.

 

[anat0l]

I used to enjoy the SQ program, book the cook. One way to ensure certainty of meals and for the airline to benefit at the same time.

Well, almost. There was a story once of someone who used BTC but then decided (when on board) that they would rather prefer one of the menu meals instead. Turns out then they (the caterers) hadn't planned for that contingency.

Moral: you still can't quite please everyone!

 

[ermen]

Again, I'm sure there are no surprises that we eat any leftover food - once everyone has eaten! We would never (and as mentioned I'm sure one bad egg might) put aside a passenger meal for our consumption. Even if one crew member did - another crew member would spot it and be asking questions, it's not something you could hide.

Y

Interesting and somewhat reassuring. I remember a couple of years ago I was on a QF flight in Y and they ran out of the beef choice that I wanted - however I saw a crew member eating in the galley what I thought was the meal choice that I wanted...

 

[medhead]

Im pretty happy with qantas domestic J meals. I've never had a problem getting my choice. I even had a really good situation recently travelling with the family. Row 3 of a 738 and the CSM pre-asked about our meal preferences, mainly because we had upgraded and there where Y kids meals loaded. I requested the salmon option for SWMBO and number one child, not sure of the other option but not something they wouldn't eat. There was a bit of uncertainty, need to check how things go etc. But ended up with the 2 salmon meals. Great service especially as they knew we'd upgraded, due to the kids meals.

I had the other option and number 2 child had her kids meal. If the second salmon wasn't available then number 1 would have had the kids meal as well. Oh and our BPs did not say catering not assured.

 

[Zulaiha]

Im pretty happy with qantas domestic J meals. I've never had a problem getting my choice. I even had a really good situation recently travelling with the family. Row 3 of a 738 and the CSM pre-asked about our meal preferences, mainly because we had upgraded and there where Y kids meals loaded. I requested the salmon option for SWMBO and number one child, not sure of the other option but not something they wouldn't eat. There was a bit of uncertainty, need to check how things go etc. But ended up with the 2 salmon meals. Great service especially as they knew we'd upgraded, due to the kids meals.

I had the other option and number 2 child had her kids meal. If the second salmon wasn't available then number 1 would have had the kids meal as well. Oh and our BPs did not say catering not assured.

Lucky you.

Me in general slept almost all the way in every flights I had, I never care about the meal as I hardly ever had them anyway.

I understand that we might not got our choice of meal on the plane, but if a CSM took his time to argue with my husband about the fact that he had to have the left over meal or none (other choices had run out) is really annoying. A simple apology is enough I think?

The argument even got to the fact that the meal card had an apology preprinted? In the meal card just said Apology if you can get your first choice of meal, not no choice of meal. And we are their Gold FF member of said airline (yes, the argument ceased soon I told him that we are the gold members).

Anyway, I intentionally quoted the above post to show how I actually overheard a CSM asking a pax in front of me of her choice of meal in one of my recent flight.

To me, FEBO is just that, FEBO, as long as you have friends, you will need no seat arrangement to get your meal (shame on whoever differ the rule tho...)

 

[medhead]

Lucky you.
<snip>

Anyway, I intentionally quoted the above post to show how I actually overheard a CSM asking a pax in front of me of her choice of meal in one of my recent flight.

To me, FEBO is just that, FEBO, as long as you have friends, you will need no seat arrangement to get your meal (shame on whoever differ the rule tho...)

I'm really not sure what your point is? FEBO is not relevant to Australian domestic flights on qantas. Far from being lucky it is standard practice to be given a meal choice on qantas domestic flights in business. At least that has been my experience, I've always got a meal choice, touch wood. Others as have posted here have different experiences.