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NOTE: Some of this information in Euro Traveller is out of date, now meals are no longer provided on short flights, however this page is maintained for historical interest.
NEWS: British Airways is downgrading some Club Europe flighs in Band 4, by no longer loading tablecloths.
Here are BA's instructions to staff with details of what you should expect onboard British Airways flight around Europe.
All of the flights are in one of four bands. These vary from the very short hops, such as Paris CDG which is Band 1, to Moscow, which is band 4.
Club Europe Band 1
AMS / BRU / CDG (Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris)
Breakfast 0600-0959
Product
2/3rd tray with fruit plate, juice cuplet, butter, jam/marmalade. Full English breakfast. Warm bread and pastries. Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Hot towels.
Deliver HB from oven rack/trolley top directly onto tray.
Sparkling Wine on request.
Offer warmed bread and pastries from basket.
Tea & coffee by hand.
Clear in.
Extended Breakfast 1000-1129
Product
2/3rd tray with yoghurt and juice cuplet. Cold plate with assortment of meat and cheese. Warmed bread
Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver meal tray
Sparkling Wine on request
Offer warmed bread from basket
Tea & coffee by hand
Clear in
Lunch 1130-1359
Product
2/3rd tray with main course salad, dressing, water cuplet and chocolate. Warm bread. Full bar service. Tea & coffee.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver CM from meal trolley
Offer warmed bread from basket
Bar service
Tea & coffee by hand
Clear in
Afternoon Tea 1400-1629
Product
2/3rd tray with round of sandwiches, clotted cream and jam. Warm scone pass. Tea & coffee. Full bar service.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver tray from meal trolley offering tea/coffee
Separate warmed scone pass
Bar service
Clear in
Dinner 1630-2259
Product
2/3rd tray with main course salad, dressing, water cuplet and chocolate. Warm bread pass. Full bar service
Tea & coffee.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver CM from meal trolley
Offer warmed bread from basket
Bar service
Tea & coffee by hand
Clear in
Band 2
BSL / DUS / FRA / GVA / HAM / LYS / MUC / STR / TXL / ZRH
Breakfast 0600-0959
Product
Full tray with fruit plate, juice cuplet, butter, jam/marmalade. Full English breakfast. Warm bread and pastries. Tea, coffee, juice & water.
OR
Full Continental tray with muesli/cereal, fruit salad, juice cuplet, butter, jam/marmalade. Warm bread and pastries. Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Hot towels
Advise customers of choice of full English breakfast or muesli/cereal
Continental option
If hot breakfast required deliver from oven rack/trolley top directly onto tray
If continental breakfast chosen take tray with pre-bowled muesli/cereal and hand to customer
Offer warmed bread and pastries from basket
Sparkling Wine on request
Tea & coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail on GVA, ZRH and BSL
Extended Breakfast 1000-1129
Product
Full tray with fruit plate and juice cuplet. Cold plate with assortment of meat and cheese. Warmed bread
Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver meal tray
Offer warmed bread from basket
Sparkling Wine on request
Tea & coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail on GVA, ZRH and BSL
Lunch 1130-1359
Product
Full tray with main course salad, dressing, water cuplet and chocolate. Warm bread pass. Full bar service
Tea & coffee.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver cold meal from meal trolley
Offer warmed bread from basket
Bar service
Tea & coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail on GVA, ZRH and BSL
Afternoon Tea 1400-1629
Product
Tray with sandwiches, pastry/cake, clotted cream, jam, butter. One hot savoury. Hot scone pass. Tea and coffee. Full bar service.
Service
Hot towels
Tong the hot savoury into the bowl next to the sandwiches
Offer tea or coffee
Pass tray to customer
Separate warmed scone pass
Bar service
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail on GVA, ZRH and BSL
Dinner 1630-2259
Product
Full tray with main course salad, dressing, water cuplet and chocolate. Warm bread pass. Full bar service
Tea & coffee.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver CM from meal trolley· Offer warmed bread from basket
Bar service
Tea & coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail on GVA, ZRH and BSL
Club Europe BAND 3
ARN / BCN / BEG / BUD / CPH / FCO / HEL / LIN / LIS / MAD / MXP / NCE / OSL / PRG / VIE
Breakfast 0600-0959
Product
Full tray with fruit plate, juice cuplet, butter, jam/marmalade. Full English breakfast. Warm bread and pastries. Tea, coffee, juice & water.
OR
Full Continental tray with muesli/cereal, fruit salad, juice cuplet, butter, jam/marmalade. Warm bread and pastries. Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Hot towels
Advise customers of choice of full English breakfast or muesli/cereal
Continental option
If hot breakfast required deliver from oven rack/trolley top directly onto tray
If continental breakfast chosen take tray with pre-bowled muesli/cereal and hand to customer
Offer warmed bread and pastries from basket
Sparkling Wine on request
Tea & coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail
Extended Breakfast 1000-1129
Product
Full tray with fruit plate and juice cuplet. Cold plate with assortment of meat and cheese. Warmed bread
Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Hot towels
Deliver meal tray
Offer warmed bread from basket
Sparkling Wine on request
Tea & coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail
Lunch 1130-1359
Product
Full tray with cheese plate and chocolate box. Choice of two meals, one hot and one salad. Warm bread pass
Full bar service. Tea and coffee.
Service
Hot towels
Bar service
Offer choice of meals from the trolley top
For hot dishes, take a tray and place on top of the trolley
Tip or slide the hot meal into the china bowl and pass tray to customer
Stack empty hot meal containers inside the trolley in an empty drawer and dispose of on return to the galley
If a salad is selected, ensure a dressing is on the tray, then pass to the customer
Offer warmed bread from basket
Wine service
Tea and coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee
Clear in
In flight retail
Afternoon Tea 1400-1629
Product
Tray with sandwiches, pastry/cake, clotted cream, jam, butter. One hot savoury. Hot scone pass. Tea and coffee. Full bar service.
Service
Hot towels
Tong the hot savoury into the bowl next to the sandwiches
Offer tea or coffee
Pass tray to customer
Separate warmed scone pass
Bar service
2nd tea & coffee on clear- in trolley
Clear in
In flight retail
Dinner 1630-2259
Product
Full tray with cheese plate and dessert. Choice of two meals:- Summer = one hot and one salad- Winter = two hots. Warm bread pass. Full bar service. Tea & coffee
Service
Hot towels
Bar service
Offer choice of meals from trolley top
If one choice is salad, swap with empty bowl from tray lay-up, add dressing to tray and pass to the customer
If hot meal preferred, take a tray and place on top of the trolley
Tip or slide the hot meal into the china bowl
Pass tray to customer
Stack used hot meal containers inside the trolley in an empty drawer and dispose of on return to the galley
Offer warmed bread from basket
Wine service
Tea and coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee·
Clear in
In flight retail
BAND 4
ATH / DME / IST / KBP / LCA / LED / OTP / SOF / TIP
Breakfast 0400-0959
Product
Full tray with yoghurt/cereal, fruit plate, juice cuplet, butter, Jam/marmalade. Choice of two hot cooked breakfasts (including VLML option). Warm bread and pastries. Tea, coffee, juice & water.
Service
Offer magazines and Skyflers packs
Hot towels
Distribute tablecloths
Deliver tray to customer served from meal trolley
Offer warmed bread and pastries from basket
Sparkling Wine on request
Tea & coffee by hand
Clear in appetiser and offer choice of breakfast
Additional bread and pastry pass
2nd tea & coffee and clear in
Hot towels
In flight retail
Bar service prior to landing (time permitting)
Rest of day 1000–2159
Product
Full tray with appetiser, dessert, cheese plate. Choice of two hot main meals. Warm bread. Full bar service. Tea and coffee.
Service
Offer magazines and Skyflers packs
Offer menus
Hot towels
Bar service
Clear in and distribute tablecloths
Deliver tray to customer
Offer warmed bread from basket
Wine service
Clear appetiser plates into empty drawer in meal trolley and offer choice of entrée from the trolley top
Tip or slide hot entrée into china bowl and deliver on a blue glass charger lined with a round slip mat
Replenish drinks where appropriate
Tea and coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee and clear in
Hot towels
In flight retail
Bar service prior to landing (time permitting)
Supper 2200 - 0359
On late night supper flights the one tray service is offered to maximise customers’ sleep
Product
Full tray with dessert and cheese and biscuits. Choice of two hot main meals. Warm bread pass. Full bar service. Tea and coffee
Service
Offer magazines and Skyflers packs
Offer menus
Hot towels
Bar service
Clear in
Offer a choice of meals from trolley top
Tip or slide the hot meal into the china bowl
Pass tray to customer
Offer warmed bread from basket
Wine service
Tea and coffee by hand
2nd tea & coffee and clear in
In flight retail
Bar service on request
DOMESTIC
ABZ / EDI / GLA / MAN / NCL
Scotland
Breakfast 0600-0959
Product
Traditional English Breakfast
Service
Offer meal trays with hot breakfasts. Tea and coffee (hand run service). Second tea and coffee (time permitting). Clear in.
MAN/NCL
Breakfast 0600-0959
Product
Hot baguette. Tea and coffee.
Service
Offer hot baguettes. Tea and coffee from beverage trolley. Second tea and coffee (time permitting). Clear in.
Late Morning 1000-1129
Scotland/MAN/NCL
Product
Drinks service & nibbles
Service
Place snacks in bar and offer drink and snack simultaneously from the combined bar/ beverage trolley. Clear in.
Lunch 1130-1359
Scotland/MAN/NCL
Product
Sandwich box with chocolate. Full bar. Tea and coffee.
Service
Offer sandwich box from meal trolley
Follow with combined bar/ hot beverage service
Clear in
Afternoon 1400-1529
Scotland/MAN/NCL
Product
Drinks service & nibbles
Service
Place snacks in bar and offer drink and snack simultaneously from the combined bar/ beverage trolley. Clear in.
Scotland
Evening 1530-2259
Product
Cold salad tray with dessert and water cuplet. Full bar. Tea and coffee.
Service
Offer meal tray with warmed bread from the trolley top. Combined bar/beverage service. Clear in.
MAN/NCL
Evening 1530-2259
Product
Sandwich box with chocolate bar. Full bar. Tea and coffee.
Offer brioche box from meal trolley – 1 crew member per trolley
Start service from front of cabin
Meanwhile set up the beverage trolley top with juices/water/ice/lemon/ glasses/deli-cups/Worcester
sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Follow with choice of tea/coffee or juice & water from beverage trolley
Clear in to gash carts or empty drawers in the meal trolley
Late Morning 1000-1129 & Afternoon 1400-1629
Product
Full bar. Tea & instant coffee. Nibbles.
Service
Move 2 drawers of snacks into bar trolley.
Set up the trolley top with juices/water/ice/lemon/glasses/deli-cups/Worcester sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot.
Start service from front of cabin
1 crew member per trolley
Leave at least 4 rows between each trolley
Offer a drink from the combined bar/ hot beverage trolley
Offer the customer the snack that complements their choice of drink
Clear in to gash cart or empty drawers in the meal trolleys
Lunch 1130-1359 & Evening 1630-2359
Product
Filled wrap. Full bar. Tea & instant coffee.
Service
Move 2 drawers of wraps into bar trolley
Set up the trolley top with juices/water/ice/lemon/glasses/deli-cups/Worcester sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Ensure that there are some vegetarian products in one of the drawers
Start service from front of cabin
1 crew member per trolley
Leave at least 4 rows between each trolley
Offer a drink and wrap simultaneously from the trolley
Clear in to gash cart or empty drawers in the meal trolleys
Band 2
BSL / FRA / GVA / HAM / LYS / MUC / STR / TXL / ZRH / DUS
Breakfast 0600-0959
Product
Cold filled brioche. Tea & coffee. Orange juice & water.
Service
Offer brioche box from meal trolley – 1 crew member per trolley
Start service from front of cabin
Meanwhile set up the beverage trolley top with juices/water/ice/lemon/ glasses/deli-cups/Worcester sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Follow with choice of tea/coffee or juice & water from beverage trolley
Clear in to gash carts or empty drawers in the meal trolley
In flight retail on GVA/ZRH & BSL
Late Morning 1000-1129 & Afternoon 1400-1629
Product
Full bar. Tea & coffee. Nibbles.
Service
Move 2 drawers of snacks into bar trolley.
Set up the trolley top with juices/water/ice/lemon/glasses/deli-cups/Worcester sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Start service from front of cabin
1 crew member per trolley
Leave at least 4 rows between each trolley
Offer a drink from the combined bar/ hot beverage trolley
Offer the customer the snack that complements their choice of drink
Clear in to gash cart or empty drawers in the meal trolleys
In flight retail on GVA/ZRH and BSL
Lunch 1130-1359 & Evening 1630-2259
Product
Sandwich & chocolate biscuit. Full bar. Tea & coffee.
Service
Offer sandwich box from meal trolley – 1 crew member per trolley
Start service from front of cabin
Meanwhile set up the beverage trolleys with juices/water/ice/lemon/ glasses/deli-cups/Worcester sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Offer a choice of drink from the bar or tea/coffee from beverage trolley
Clear in to gash carts or empty drawers in the meal trolley
In flight retail on GVA, ZRH and BSL
Euro Traveller BAND 3
ARN / BCN / BEG / BUD / CPH / FCO / HEL / LIN / LIS / MAD / MXP / NCE / OSL / PRG / VIE
Offer brioche box from meal trolley – 1 crew member per trolley
Start service from front of cabin
Meanwhile set up the beverage trolley top with orange juice/water/ice/ lemon/glasses/deli-cups/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Follow with choice of tea/coffee or juice & water from beverage trolley
Clear in to gash carts or empty drawers in the meal trolley
In flight retail
Rest of Day 1000-2259
Product
Sandwich & chocolate biscuit. Full bar. Tea and coffee.
Service
Offer sandwich box from meal trolley – 1 crew member per trolley
Start service from front of cabin
Meanwhile set up the beverage trolleys with juices/water/ice/ lemon/glasses/deli-cups/Worcester sauce/napkin packs/milk jiggers/1 teapot/1 coffee pot
Offer a choice of drink from the bar or tea/coffee from beverage trolley
Clear in to gash carts or empty drawers in the meal trolley
In flight retail
Euro Traveller BAND 4
ATH/DME/IST/KBP/LCA/LED/OTP/SOF/TIP
Breakfast 0400-0959
Product
2/3rd tray with hot breakfast, orange juice cuplet, fresh fruit, yoghurt, jam/marmalade, bread roll and butter. Tea & coffee.
Service
Offer Skyflers packs
Offer choice of meals from the oven rack
Offer tea, coffee, juice and water from the trolley top
Clear in
In Flight retail
Bar service prior to landing (time permitting)
Rest of day 1000–2159
Product
2/3rd tray with hot meal, appetiser, dessert, chocolate biscuit, cheese and biscuits, bread roll and butter. Full bar service. Tea & coffee.
Service
Offer Skyflers packs
Bar service
Offer choice of meals from the oven rack
Remove plastic lids before serving to customer
Bar/ wine service
Tea & coffee
Clear in
In Flight retail
Bar service prior to landing (time permitting)
CLUB EUROPE SERVICE NOTES
Meal delivery
All plastic lids should be removed and the glass stood upright before handing the tray to a customer
The main meal choices should be described using the language from the menu rather than “the prawns or the lamb.”
It is much easier to place the hot meals on top of the trolley top rather than use the oven rack. The racks tend to stick and can both tear the meal foils and spill sauce or gravy
Leave free space directly in front of you as a work surface on which to place each meal tray leaving both hands free to tip/slide the hot food.
When ‘tipping’ the food, use a gentle twist to avoid any splashing. It is perfectly acceptable to leave a tiny amount behind in the foil rather than try to shake out every last pasta curl. Should any more of the contents stick, plastic spoons are provided in the amenity drawer to assist with decanting
Stack used hot meal containers in an empty drawer inside the trolley and dispose of on return to the galley
On Band 4, the appetiser plates should be cleared into an empty drawer in the trolley and the main meal offered at the same time
Bar service
Cans must be opened and all bottle seals broken before placing a drink on the tray table
When offering red or white wine, a choice of the wine by label should be offered i.e. not just “red” or “white.” A nice touch is to pour a little of the wine or Sparkling Wine into the glass in front of the customer. Please familiarise yourself with the choice of meal in advance to help customers with their wine selection
Afternoon Tea
On Band 2 & 3, the hot savoury item should be tonged into the bowl next to the sandwiches before handing the tray to the customer
Please always offer the scones as a separate pass so that they stay warm on the customer’s tray
Direction of service
Service should start from the front of the cabin.
Where there is a high Club Europe load then service should start from the 4 corners.
Band 4 flights
On flights that depart after 20.00 most customers want to sleep and so that meal service should begin straight away.
When the meal service is completed the window lights should be dimmed so that customers can sleep.
There are some amenity packs and ear plugs loaded on the BA880 to DME which are to be given on passenger request.
On flights that depart before 06.00 most customers are not ready for food straight away, the meal service should begin later in the flight.
A321 Club Europe loads over 60
Only the first 60 entrees will be loaded into the front ovens, the other entrees and all the breads will be loaded in the rear ovens.
A Club Europe meal trolley should be brought down from the front galley before the ET meal service starts. A crew member working in ET should heat the entrees and food in the rear ovens and bring the CE meal trolley to the CE cabin when the food is ready.
EURO TRAVELLER AND DOMESTIC SERVICE NOTES
Bands 1, 2 and Domestic late morning and afternoon product
Customer feedback shows that most people’s expectation on flights outside the regular mealtimes is for a drink and something to nibble – hence the off peak drinks and nibbles service
It is important that customers are offered a drink and a sweet/ savoury accompaniment simultaneously, as they should perceive this is an enhanced drink service rather than a reduced meal service
The late morning product is a 100% loading of the sweet snack as experience shows us that most customers prefer a cup of tea or coffee or a soft drink at that time of day. In the afternoon, there is a choice between a sweet or savoury snack for those customers who might prefer a savoury option with a drink from the bar
Vegetarian sandwiches/hot items
On Band 1 and 2, where there is only a 10% buffer of non-meat sandwiches, these should be offered if the main option is declined. On Band 3, where there is a 70%/30% split, both options should be actively offered
The non-meat sandwich should be described by its filling e.g. cheese and tomato. It should never be described as “the vegetarian”, particularly if the other option has run out, as in “I’ve only got the vegetarian left!”
Clearing in
With all disposable products, waste can be cleared back into the cardboard drawers as well as into the waste carts. This saves precious space when waste carts are limited.
Note that all reviews and opinions on British Airways (BA) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, Terraces & First Lounges, and the Executive Club Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice.
