British Airways (BA) has launched a new brunch service on long-haul flights, sparking criticism from frequent flyers who accuse the airline of cost-cutting. The extended breakfast-for-lunch meals will be available on flights departing between 8.30am and 11.29am.
The updated menu includes cheese frittatas, Belgian waffles, and poached eggs on sourdough, replacing previous First Class options like grilled halibut, chicken Wellington, and vegetarian korma. Despite these changes, appetisers, desserts, and wine will still accompany the breakfast tray.
Due to meal service regulations, Club World passengers seated towards the back on flights departing after 11am may not receive their meals until around 1.30pm. BA claims the new brunch service aligns with positive customer feedback on classic brunch dishes and lighter lunch options.
Additionally, BA has reduced meal options for late-night flights. Passengers on flights departing after 9pm will no longer receive appetisers or a choice of dessert, with main meals now featuring items such as paninis, soup, and salads. This lighter ‘goodnight’ menu aims to help customers maximise their onboard sleep.
While BA maintains that a full meal service will still be available on some long-haul flights, several frequent flyers have expressed dissatisfaction, labelling the changes as “cheap” and a “major downgrade”. One Flyer Talk user commented, “This looks like simple cost-cutting to me, reducing canapés from three to one and adding in some cheap nuts and olives.”
A BA spokesperson responded, “We’re incredibly proud of our premium dining experience, which includes a wide range of meal options to suit the preferences of our customers depending on the time of day they’re travelling. We trialled our new brunch offering with thousands of customers across numerous routes and received extremely positive feedback on both the quality and variety of options offered.”