British Airways to end free food in coach on short flights

At a time when big U.S. airlines are restoring free snacks in economy, European giant British Airways is headed in the other direction.

Starting in 2017, the carrier will no longer offer free food and snacks to coach-class fliers on short-haul flights. Instead, British Airways will sell food offerings from U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer. The switch to the a la carte menu will come Jan. 11 on short-haul and domestic flights at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The effort will expand to British Airways’ short-haul flights from the London City and London Stansted airports by summer.

British Airways says it’s making the change following “extensive customer research and feedback, which highlighted dissatisfaction with the airline’s current short-haul economy catering.” The airline adds its research indicated its customers wanted “choices that reflect what they would normally select when out and about.”

BOOKMARK: Go directly to the Today in the Sky homepage

Qatar Airways, British Air parent set up revenue-sharing deal

Everything on British Airways’ in-flight menu will cost £5 (about $6.50) or less, with prices ranging from £1 (about $1.30) for “hand-cooked crisps” to £4.95 for "spiced chicken with quinoa and rice salad."

Other options will include the “Aberdeen Angus beef and red onion chutney bloomer” sandwich for £4.75, cashews and hazelnuts for £1.60, and “nut and seed flapjacks” for £1.45.

The carrier also appears set to charge for soft drinks and water.

Passengers also will be able to redeem their Avios frequent-flier points for the new menu items, according to The Telegraph of London. The newspaper says a £3 ploughman’s sandwich, for example, would cost 375 points for customers wishing to pay with loyalty points.

Overall, the move has drawn criticism from airline and travel blogs.

"People expect easyJet to charge £2.30 for a cup of tea. They don’t expect an airline that still uses the silver service heritage from Concorde and the flying boats to do so," writes John Walton of the Runway Girl Network, a website devoted to "passenger experience."

Readers of The Guardian expressed their opinions, which were generally opposed to the move.

"This will inevitably (mean) ever more BA passengers bring their own food on board, so expect the cabin of your average BA Airbus A319 now to be filled with the whiff of Big Macs, hot dogs and pizzas," one Guardian reader says.

But another suggested it wasn't a big deal: "It's funny how nobody ever demands to be served free food on a bus, ... but put wings on that bus and suddenly people's expectations change dramatically."

British Airways' description of the change as a way to give fliers what they want was labeled as "next-level spin" by One Mile at a Time blogger Ben Schlappig.

Said British Airways CEO Alex Cruz: “We know our customers expect a great experience with British Airways. They’ve told us we are experts in flying and service, but when it comes to catering on short-haul flights, they want to choose from a wider range of premium products. Like British Airways, Marks & Spencer is a well-known, premium British brand that is respected and trusted, so it’s an ideal partnership, providing our customers with a choice of products they recognize and value.”

Passengers flying in British Airways’ “Club Europe” short-haul business-class cabin will continue to receive complimentary snacks and drinks.

The switch to the a la carte meal service will apply to British Airways’ flights of less than five hours, according to The Guardian of London.

Free snacks now back at all 3 big U.S. airlines, even in coach

The newspaper says British Airways is making the switch to “join no-frills rivals such as Ryanair and easyJet in charging for sandwiches, crisps and drinks.” Reuters adds that “British Airways has been trying to close the price gap to Ryanair and easyJet and this is another step in that process.”

Indeed, in a release about the meal changes, British Airways notes how its meal prices will compare to options offered by European competitors easyJet and Ryanair.

But British Airways’ effort stands in contrast to moves made recently by the biggest U.S. airlines.  American, Delta and United –the USA’s three biggest carriers – have all announced in the past year that they would restore free snacks for domestic coach-class customers.

TWITTER: You can follow me at twitter.com/TodayInTheSky

IN PICTURES: 30 cool aviation photos