Catering Not Assured

[JohnK]

I got this printed on my boarding pass yesterday.

Went to BNE airport 75 minutes early and got offered a seat on earlier flight. I had 4A on a 738 and I was not too keen on that idea so took the earlier flight but best available was 38K or 23E. Anyway finally given boarding pass for 34A and no one in 34B and seq #104.

Judging by the seq # and the number of people on board (Only 24 people sittiing in 70 seats in front of row 34 and hardly anyone down the back) would suggest an extremely light load. Is that why the message catering not assured was printed on boarding pass? Or is this standard practice when offered alternate flights?

Anyway had a very good flight made even better by the lady sitting in 35K. She only caught me looking (OK, staring) a couple of times.

 

[Mal]

CNA is quite common when you've been moved to a flight that departs soon and the catering has already been finalised.

In Economy it shouldn't make a difference due to people skipping the food service etc. In Business it can - but I'm not sure how many meals they load these days.

 

[serfty]

Presumably you has an exit seat in 34A ...

Well, did you get catered for? (And I'm NOT referring to the occupant of 35K*)

(*BTW, not only is 35K in the row behind you, it right across the other side of the aircraft - must have been quite distracting)

 

[mvjs]

Only once have I had CNA printed on my BP. It was a full 734 SYD-MEL.

 

[JohnK]

Presumably you has an exit seat in 34A ...

Nope. It was a 767-336 with mini cabin in front of economy.

Well, did you get catered for? (And I'm NOT referring to the occupant of 35K*)

Yes the meal service was extremely quick.

(*BTW, not only is 35K in the row behind you, it right across the other side of the aircraft - must have been quite distracting)

Yes she did distract me.... But it is not that hard to look (with casual sideways movement of eyes) at occupant (or at least gorgeous legs and thighs) of 35K from 34A when there is no-one in the way. She was reading a book anyway and I was trying very hard not to make it look so obvious.

 

[MrJetset]

(or at least gorgeous legs and thighs) of 35K from 34A when there is no-one in the way. She was reading a book anyway and I was trying very hard not to make it look so obvious.

A little creepy, and peeping tom like.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Ah, the bain of a CSM's existence.....

Usually done on last minute bookings/transfers to earlier flights when the number of pax booked on the flight exceeds the number of meals catered.

By printing that on boarding pass (should also appear on pax manifest given to CSM) they know who is last to be offered a meal.

Generally pax would be told that if they are booked/transferred onto a flight that it will be on a "catering not assured" basis which gives them the option of getting something to eat prior to boarding the flight.

It depends too what airport you're at because at larger ports it would be easy to borrow meals off a later departing flight then top that flight up later. Also some airports have the catering facility at the airport whereas for other airports the catering place may be 20 minutes away and last minute meal deliveries is not practical.

JohnK
From your perspective would you still use points to upgrade to J class even if it was "catering not assured" & risk no J meal or elect to remain in Y:?:

Cheers
Oz

 

[JohnK]

JohnK
From your perspective would you still use points to upgrade to J class even if it was "catering not assured" & risk no J meal or elect to remain in Y:?:

I would not normally request upgrade to business class for domestic flights but if I wanted to request upgrade to business class for a long-haul flight and catering was not assured I would still request the upgrade and take chances with the catering.

The meal is only part of the entire business class experience although it may be a little more important on the shorter sectors....

 

[drron]

Well what if 35K is an AFF lurker?
Have you received a PM?:shock:
Maybe 2010 is your lucky year!

 

[Reggie]

peeping tom like.

Peeping John

If John is a peeping tom, that makes most of us including me one. A flight with attractive females as crew or pax always seems to go faster. The AA flights seem to take a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time.

 

[david870mdg]

Yep.
I was moved to an earlier flight and had this message printed on my BP.
QF gave me a cookie "refreshment" and I looked at my BP and couldn't help but feel that "catering was not assured"....
I believe its standard process for airlines to print that message, especially if upgraded.

 

[codash1099]

I had a CNA on points upgrading Y to J on a MEL - PER flight.

Apparently there were a few of us and the guy in front of me got into a slightly raised voice confrontation with the FA. Almost a DYKWIA but using his WP status to justify why he should be treated differently.

I'm against that sort of behaviour, at least until I make WP.

 

[Gold Member]

Had a similar experience via ODU points upgrade BNE-MEL a month ago. Lounge Dragon explained the CNA to me and I was on my way. As it turned out, I was seated in row 3 and was the last to receive a full meal whereas others behind me with CNA as well did not - just lucky.

The meal might be not assured, but I can tell you they certainly didnt skimp on assuring me a fair dosage of alcamahol.

 

[737]

Ah, the bain of a CSM's existence.....

Very much so... but in a nice way, we will usually try everything to ensure that pax have meals to eat.

Usually pax with CNA will not have a problem in Y Class, especially on shorter sectors. We don't have the time to look through 200 names to see if anyone is CNA, plus there is most likely going to be a few people who opt not to eat.

In J Class is where it is the most problem. Depending on the amount of meals that have been loaded, and where you are seated we will try not to skip you. I believe catering usually load an extra 10 or 15% (Y catering is usually exact to what we need) for J Class to ensure everyone has a choice (and for upgraded pax). But usually its up to the CSM on the day, who might decide to not skip anyone because we have enough meals, or if we are limited, we will have to skip and move up and back to ensure those who should get a meal do.

And sometime you might get an F/A who isn't eating, so we may well top up the amount of meals with one of ours, just to ensure you can get a meal, so be thankful for that Doesnt happen all the time, but I know some of us do

 

[JohnK]

Well what if 35K is an AFF lurker?
Have you received a PM?:shock:
Maybe 2010 is your lucky year!

No PM's. I could never be that lucky.

If John is a peeping tom, that makes most of us including me one. A flight with attractive females as crew or pax always seems to go faster. The AA flights seem to take a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time.

There is no way anyone is ever going to stop me from looking at and appreciating a gorgeous woman. It has nothing to do with being a peeping tom, it is harmless and if the person involved feels embarassed or harrassed in any way then they will certainly let you know about it.

 

[thewinchester]

Thanks for taking the time to give us inside track 737, greatly appreciated.

Very much so... but in a nice way, we will usually try everything to ensure that pax have meals to eat.

Usually pax with CNA will not have a problem in Y Class, especially on shorter sectors. We don't have the time to look through 200 names to see if anyone is CNA, plus there is most likely going to be a few people who opt not to eat.

In J Class is where it is the most problem. Depending on the amount of meals that have been loaded, and where you are seated we will try not to skip you. I believe catering usually load an extra 10 or 15% (Y catering is usually exact to what we need) for J Class to ensure everyone has a choice (and for upgraded pax). But usually its up to the CSM on the day, who might decide to not skip anyone because we have enough meals, or if we are limited, we will have to skip and move up and back to ensure those who should get a meal do.

And sometime you might get an F/A who isn't eating, so we may well top up the amount of meals with one of ours, just to ensure you can get a meal, so be thankful for that Doesnt happen all the time, but I know some of us do

 

[WTL]

I once had CNA on an ODU (from Adelaide to Sydney I think it was), was told there would be no catering and was given airport vouchers to the tune of about $30. I was fed onboard anyway.

 

[straitman]

I once had CNA on an ODU (from Adelaide to Sydney I think it was), was told there would be no catering and was given airport vouchers to the tune of about $30. I was fed onboard anyway.

Isn't it good to have a win occasionally :!:

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Nope. It was a 767-336 with mini cabin in front of economy.

JohnK she must've have been a looker for you to get your seat numbers muddled. The B767-336's are the ex-BA ones where the exit row is row 43.

Apparently there were a few of us and the guy in front of me got into a slightly raised voice confrontation with the FA. Almost a DYKWIA but using his WP status to justify why he should be treated differently.

The CNA should probably be on the boarding passes of those who did ODU last when it was apparent there wasn't sufficient catering.

Probably why CSM's want to know who the upgraded pax are as it's only fair to full fare paying pax that they be offered catering or choice of catering ie hot or cold meal first.

Had a similar experience via ODU points upgrade BNE-MEL a month ago. Lounge Dragon explained the CNA to me and I was on my way. As it turned out, I was seated in row 3 and was the last to receive a full meal whereas others behind me with CNA as well did not - just lucky.

Can we awkward for crew when ODU's are seated in row 1 as they would have to bypass them to give full fare pax their meal service before returning back to ODU's to feed them last.

Even though 'lounge dragons' advise pax of CNA & it's on their boarding pass there are still those pax who do the "nobody told me it was CNA" line which makes it an uncomfortable situation for the crew to have to deal with.

Oz

 

[prozac]

I got this printed on my boarding pass yesterday.

..........................................................................................................................................

Anyway had a very good flight made even better by the lady sitting in 35K. She only caught me looking (OK, staring) a couple of times.

Hello John,
Excuse me but I am the "woman" to whom you are referring, and yes I did notice you looking. It was most flattering as I don't often receive the sort of look you were offering.
The name's Bruce by the way, glad to meet you.