British Airways has been forced into yet another U-turn over controversial changes it made to meal services in its premium cabins on long-haul flights. As a result, the airline has now effectively reverted entirely back to its pre-October 2024 inflight dining experience on all flights.
Since late last year, British Airways has only offered light bite options in its Club World business class cabin on the majority of its late-night long-haul flights departing after 9 pm.
Rather than being able to choose an appetizer and hot entree, finished off with a sweet dessert or cheese plate, premium customers on late-night departures were only offered snacks like soup, paninis, and salads, including on some of BA’s longest routes.
Earlier this month, British Airways confirmed that it was ending the unpopular ‘Goodnight’ service on longer flights, and from February, the light bites menu will disappear from shorter long-haul flights, including from the US East Coast.
The airline admitted that the changes were made after it was barraged with negative feedback, not only from passengers but also from its own employees.
At the start of 2025, British Airways also ditched its brunch service on all long-haul flights after it proved so incredibly unpopular that the debacle was dubbed ‘Brunchgate’ by frequent flyers.
The airline initially insisted that customer feedback had led it to introduce brunch on long-haul departures up to 11:30 am. Menu items included typical breakfast dishes like pancakes and omelets.
The problem, however, was that passengers who had already eaten breakfast earlier in the day were being forced to eat a second breakfast closer to 1 pm or even later in some cases. Following a backlash, British Airways introduced a full Christmas lunch in December 2024 and then quietly sunset the brunch service in January 2025.
Breakfast dishes will now only be served on long-haul flights departing up to 9 am.
Matt’s take
Like so many of BA’s woes, this was an entirely self-inflicted fiasco that should have been obvious to decision-makers who ordered the changes. One has to wonder whether Brunchgate was really born out of customer feedback or a desperate cost-cutting initiative led by the airline’s finance department.
That being said, I’m sure a lot of passengers on short overnight flights, especially from the US East Coast, would actually appreciate an abbreviated meal service that allows them to eat a substantial meal while also getting as much rest as possible on a short six or seven-hour flight.
Many other airlines seem to pull off this type of service pretty effectively, including the likes of Air France, which is often lauded for the quality of its premium cabin catering while offering a ‘one-tray’ service that is wrapped up within an hour of takeoff.
I’m yet to see British Airways develop a similar solution, so it will be interesting to see whether some frequent flyers choose to forego the meal altogether on these shorter overnight flights.
As an East Coast flyer, I totally agree having an expedited dinner service MAY be good for some, but it’s not good for everyone – such as those that dont sleep on planes and actually want to pass the time.
Part of the premium experience should be the ability to give the passenger the choice, its 2025! If that causes catering issues, maybe preselect in my booking?
And the need/wish to dine better onboard is predicated by the ability to eat on the ground. At my home base, ATL, the lounge (The Club ATL) is very poor, and that’s if you are lucky enough to get in!
The fact that they ditched the meal service in the first place while charging more tells the whole story about this declining airline. Used to use them on my usual long haul but since switching to Air France it’s a no brainier, goodbye B.A.
BA has been deteriorating after coving and the rota was already setting in before that. Cabin crew are largely surly. Business class, you are jammed in with a configuration which ensures there are too many people in the space. I use KLM whenever I can, but a flight from cape town to Amsterdam is fine, then you get jammed into a smaller space with less luggage room in the business class to London.
BA direct flight to cape town from London, you might as well fly economy. I moved my seat last flight, cost me points, to find that staff had put their luggage into the space for clients.
At 1.93 meters, the economy seats are now impossible to sit in.
For BA, customer service is no longer a priority, in fact it’s not even on the list. You can see the accountants are in charge. I will be flying Emirates next time. It’s longer, but at least, you are comfortable