Unknown catering on MH from 1 Sep onwards (caterer "transition")

[aspro2]

Just saw this on the MH website:

Important Message: Changes in Inflight Food & Beverage Services. Passengers are advised to update contact details.

www.malaysiaairlines.com

Amongst other things:

We regret to inform that all special meals, Chef-on-Call, meal upgrade, and pre-booked meals will be unavailable during this time on the affected routes.

We encourage passengers with special dietary or medical requirements to bring their own meals onboard subject to liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs) requirements at the departing airports on international flights.

Seems that they ended a catering contract in KL and didn't manage to get a new catering contract in place in time.

 

[AIRwin]

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/08/949090/malaysia-airlines-finally-end-26-year-catering-deal-brahims

 

[kpro]

From their FAQ. Why even put the question there if you're not going to answer it?

Why did Malaysia Airlines not proactively appoint a new in-flight caterer sooner?

To ensure minimal inconvenience to your comfort and overall journey, we have initiated a robust business continuity plan effective from 1 September 2023 to provide alternative food and beverage options while actively exploring a new service provider that aligns with our unwavering commitment to delivering premium customer experiences.

Please rest assured that our dedicated team is wholeheartedly focused on enhancing our offerings, and we genuinely appreciate your understanding and patience throughout this process.

Doesn't look like they're doing too well in any case - ‘20% of Malaysia Airlines flights delayed’ after catering contract ends.

One passenger called for action by transport minister Loke Siew cough after her flight was delayed for over three hours.

There were also claims that there was no food prepared for passengers in business class, prompting the cabin crew to serve them economy class meals.

 

[Must...Fly!]

This is exactly what I'd expect from this lot tbh. A poorly run airline and sadly a shadow of their former selves and their nearby competitors.

 

[AIRwin]

BYO:

Malaysia Airlines allows passengers to bring own food on board for affected routes after end of Brahim partnership | Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Malaysia Airlines passengers may bring their own meals on board for affected routes during its transition to a new catering service provider, but...

www.malaymail.com

 

[kpro]

Someone posted a photo of the meal provided in J from KUL to BKK. Grim - would take their advice and bring my own food until they sort out the catering.

 

[robbo135]

The fast food joints at KLIA will probably do a roaring trade

 

[aspro2]

Interestingly, MH has added more text to their main page about dining, listing routes affected by the cancellation of Chef-on-Call and Special Meals. It's notable that SPML problems are supposedly only going to affect shortish haul flights (not Japan/Aus/Europe). You have to wonder what's going on with that (more important for reputation?).

 

[kpro]

It's notable that SPML problems are supposedly only going to affect shortish haul flights (not Japan/Aus/Europe). You have to wonder what's going on with that (more important for reputation?).

Apparently MH were using a different caterer (Pos Aviation) for Tokyo and London routes. Brahim's was the caterer for all other routes.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/09/949894/brahims-gone-malaysia-airlines-now-works-eight-flight-catering-firms

BFS had previously served in-flight meals to all Malaysia Airlines' flights out of KLIA except to Tokyo and London. The in-flight meals for the two destinations are provided by Pos Aviation.

 

[aspro2]

Apparently MH were using a different caterer (Pos Aviation) for Tokyo and London routes. Brahim's was the caterer for all other routes.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/09/949894/brahims-gone-malaysia-airlines-now-works-eight-flight-catering-firms

Ah, I'd overlooked that little fact. How strange.

 

[aspro2]

SO I've just experienced the catering. There's something more to the whole caterer-contract story, because it doesn't explain why away-ports are getting different catering too (unless, say the KL-caterer contract somehow encompassed a worldwide supplier network).

Anyway, the satay was intact, but the only proper meal on the day flight MEL-KUL was this. (There was no menu, no winelist, just "Beef, chicken or fish?", and they ran out of beef in Row 2.) Following this undelicious meal was a pre-landing "snack" of a meat pie or some other small thing (and it wasn't proactively offered) . There was no announcement about the catering, nor any apology. I hate to think what Economy got.

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

This is exactly what I'd expect from this lot tbh. A poorly run airline and sadly a shadow of their former selves and their nearby competitors.

Agreed, what a freakin' joke! Reminds me of the VA Fantastic noodles saga, but that was almost understandable given the airline was under administration. No excuses for MH, this fiasco wouldn't fly at SQ!

 

[jase05]

Very disappointing to say the least as I love flying MH but if this is how they are going to be going forward I’ll have to consider all other options

 

[AIRwin]

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/09/955686/full-meal-service-restored-mid-november-malaysia-airlines

 

[Tulene]

So was no alcohol offered at all on the MEL_KUL flight?
Anyone done PER-KUL lately? What was your experience?

 

[liparj]

So was no alcohol offered at all on the MEL_KUL flight?
Anyone done PER-KUL lately? What was your experience?

Flew home BKK-KUL-PER in J last Saturday, expecting the worst.. BKK-KUL leg catering was more like QF economy, which was not unexpected after being forewarned by MH. They did however, offer seconds but I struggled to finish my first helping of chicken and rice..

As luck would have it the KUL-PER leg was a total contrast ...fully catered, including satays, champers and free flowing wines.. Was one of the better meals I've had on MH too...a nice steak..

There was a late change from the A330 200 to an A330 300 and I was able to switch seats to 1K, a throne seat, which was just what I needed after 6 weeks of traveling.

Overall, service was great on both flights and the last leg restored my faith in MH's catering.

 

[jxv]

Flying ADL-KUL-DEL in J next week. Any update on the catering situation?

 

[aaa99]

Flew MEL-KUL-MAA and back a few weeks ago. Had about 10 emails warning about the catering. In the end, the food was actually the best part of the very average MH flight experience.

This was the meal out of KUL on both directions. Nasi Lemak Prawn.
On the MEL-KUL and KUL-MEL flights, we were offered a second meal which was a vegetable/chicken pie.

The food service on the red eye (11:35pm) MAA-KUL started atleast 2.5 hour into the (4 hour) flight and I was abruptly woken up to be served a meal which I declined. The lights stayed on almost the whole flight.

 

[Mattg]

The food service on the red eye (11:35pm) MAA-KUL started atleast 2.5 hour into the (4 hour) flight and I was abruptly woken up to be served a meal which I declined. The lights stayed on almost the whole flight.

This kind of thing annoys me greatly on redeye flights. Do you know why they didn't serve the meal either right after takeoff or right before landing?

 

[aaa99]

I am really not sure as I fell asleep and didn't wake up until then. It wasn't a particularly turbulent flight.