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Free food seems an inevitable loss when traveling in economy on short-haul flights, as each airline tries to reduce its headline flight fares further to beat the competition. I have already written about my disappointment in the current food offering in euro traveler which has recently been downgraded to just a snack and a drink, and which has encouraged me to spend my Avios on Club Europe seats and enjoy priority luggage, more spacious seating and a nice salad like the one pictured above (or endure the BA afternoon tea). The lack of food in Euro Traveller makes it more worthwhile spending you Avios on upgrading to Club Europe.
For those traveling in economy, it seems that M&S is in the frame to provide the catering on British Airways, and, like other low-cost airlines, you will soon have to pay for your sandwiches on board. On the other hand, at least the offering should be reasonable. With the gradual downgrade of food in economy on BA, which was a lemon biscuit, or a packet of crisps on my last flight, you are a bit stuck if you currently travel in economy and are hungry.
BA apparently still struggles to make money from its short-haul routes because it offers add ons like food as part of your ticket price. A deal with M&S to provide food for passengers to pay for in-flight may help to bring its fares closer to the likes of Ryanair and Easyjet.
Savvy customers will probably now stop off at an M&S en route to the airport to pick up a sandwich at a lower price than they’d pay onboard their BA flight. My choice is a chicken avocado from Pret at terminal 5, but I am sad to see yet another layer of the glamorous days of flying peeled away.
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