British Airways accused of cost-cutting for axing bottles of champagne

2022-08-12

Things must be bad… now BA’s rationing champagne! Business-class passengers accuse airline of cost-cutting for axing small bottles on some short-haul flights

Passengers said the champagne is now being poured one glass at a time
They had to wait for the trolley and couldn’t take a small bottle after the flight
One customer noted a ‘reluctance’ from BA to give out champagne on flights
BA denied cost-cutting and said many preferred the ‘restaurant-style’ service

British Airways has been accused of cost-cutting by business-class passengers who say small bottles of champagne have been axed on some short-haul flights.

They say that instead, one glass at a time is being poured from a big bottle on the trolley.

Regular flyers said it felt like BA was ‘rationing’ measures because the service did not start until after take-off and they had to wait for the trolley to reach their row.

They said it also meant not being able to take away a miniature bottle after the flight.

But last night BA denied it was cost-cutting and said many passengers preferred flight attendants providing a ‘restaurant-style’ service.

It said mini bottles were still served on flights to places like Amsterdam and Dublin.

British Airways has been accused of cost-cutting by business-class passengers who say small bottles of champagne have been axed on some short-haul flights. Pictured: file image of a BA plane

Customers put on an Iberia Express plane, BA’s sister airline, complained that the seats did not recline.

Thousands of BA passengers flying from Gatwick have been switched to the budget carrier to avoid cancelling holidays.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: ‘I noticed it flying to Marseille.

‘They’ve changed it, taken away mini bottles completely.

‘There appears to be a reluctance to give champagne out on short haul. You have to really ask for it when the trolley comes round.

‘The great thing about mini bottles is they can be handed out before take-off or a meal and you can take one away at the end of the flight.

‘I think it’s clearly part of the cuts to the quality of service in business class for short haul.

‘The airline was renowned for distributing mini-bottles of bubbly within minutes of taking your seat.

‘In the old days you’d be on a BA flight and they’d lavishly hand out your champagne, but it certainly seems as though some high-flyers have lost their fizz.’

Another frequent business flyer told the Daily Mail: ‘It felt like rationing. Me and my wife asked for champagne and were poured just a glass for our meal. ’

BA said: ‘We know our customers value our restaurant-style service where fine wines and champagnes are personally poured and topped up by our crew throughout their journey.’

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