Business Class meal in economy?

[buggy00]

Hey AFF! No this isn't me requesting a business class meal. But i thought i'd ask a question to the collective brain that is AFF.

Today I noticed a man sitting next to me in row 3 being offered a business class meal. I was in awe, and mind you i'm Plat as well and never been or have seen other Plats been given a meal in economy. So it got me wondering. Was this guy a Beyond member to receive such treatment? Wish that was a perk of platinum, or a sandwich haha.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hey AFF! No this isn't me requesting a business class meal. But i thought i'd ask a question to the collective brain that is AFF.

Today I noticed a man sitting next to me in row 3 being offered a business class meal. I was in awe, and mind you i'm Plat as well and never been or have seen other Plats been given a meal in economy. So it got me wondering. Was this guy a Beyond member to receive such treatment? Wish that was a perk of platinum, or a sandwich haha.

You’re not alone! I’m pretty sure someone mentioned the same thing a while ago on another thread. Although the recipient was a platinum in that case.

Apparently not ‘the rules’, and I can understand why as it potentially sets expectations, or creates disappointment (for those missing out).

The alternative argument is that it’s a spare meal that might otherwise be thrown out, so might as well use it?

 

[ThatMrBlake]

I’ve seen it happen before but in that case it was a pax in the exit row. Turned out to be a paxing pilot.

 

[AIRwin]

I’ve seen it happen before but in that case it was a pax in the exit row. Turned out to be a paxing pilot.

In uniform?

 

[ThatMrBlake]

In uniform?

Plain clothes

 

[Mattg]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a staff member.

I've certainly never been offered this as a Platinum member, and I suspect most AFFers haven't either.

 

[twinaisle]

Most likely paxing pilot either in uniform or unidentified. Beyond don't get that as a perk so it would be highly unlikely for Platinum.

 

[samas]

Any potential it could have also been someone that was booked in business on another flight and disrupted and now on a business ticket in economy?

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I have been offered a business class meal once in economy. I have a peculiar allergy to cheese (and chillies), and I had not been able to eat any meal offered so far on a long flight. I was particularly grumpy at this point, until a FA brought a business class meal to me.

You would be astonished at how many meals and snacks actually contain cheese, and how many processed foods also contain chilli, even if you can't even taste it.

(yes, I could state this allergy when booking, but you end up getting cardboard meals at best if you do)

 

[Bagpuss]

Years a go a friend's flight was cancelled and go re-routed and moved to economy. They were specifically placed into row 3 and given a business class meal.

Unsure if this is the case, but it's a possibility.

 

[Mattg]

Any potential it could have also been someone that was booked in business on another flight and disrupted and now on a business ticket in economy?

This also sounds plausible.

I did once get downgraded on VA from J to Y and did not get a J meal, but the cabin manager did come by with a couple of snacks (nuts etc.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This also sounds plausible.

I did once get downgraded on VA from J to Y and did not get a J meal, but the cabin manager did come by with a couple of snacks (nuts etc.)

It would have to rely on one of the seated J class pax refusing a meal to have one left over!

VA only caters for the expected number of pax, they don’t even cater 8/8 as standard, despite their delays and cancellations which mean people end up on different flights to the one the have booked

 

[twinaisle]

Any potential it could have also been someone that was booked in business on another flight and disrupted and now on a business ticket in economy?

No. That new flight still would have had up to 8 catered meals for that flights business passengers. They won't cater or add additional meals to a flight that someone's been downgraded to.

 

[MarkD]

Years a go a friend's flight was cancelled and go re-routed and moved to economy. They were specifically placed into row 3 and given a business class meal.

Unsure if this is the case, but it's a possibility.

Lucky friend. I got shoved in row 30, wife in 22. Both middle seats and got told to EAD pretty much by VA When we got downgraded on a MEL - BNE after flying DPS-MEL the. Connecting to a coughshow. No compensation forthcoming and they only paid Y SC and points, gave up after 3 months of their BS, trying to get it all sorted out. Next trip after this debacle was on Garuda and to be honest it was much better. Considering this I cast serious doubt on the displaced J pax line. They dont care. Good on whoever got this off them but I would assume its just a mate or a staff member of some description positioning.