Aer lingus on board catering

coupons1987

Flew back from Palma on Sunday night with Aer Lingus with the friendliest crew ever ( Cork based working out of Dublin currently) but my god the on board catering may as well not exist! milk wasn’t even available for the tea or coffee ! How has the switch over to Dnata been such a disaster ?

Qprmeath

Supposedly DNATA can’t get supplies? Ryanair having similar issues but are able to stock up at out stations. Beggars belief EI are putting up with it considering how fed up a lot of people are with their overall service.

Locker10a

The worst thing is, this isn’t a temporary issue it’s been ongoing for months now.

Huge revenue loss for EI too as there’s literally nothing to sell onboard.

I can’t understand how it’s not been resolved. It’s been months ….

kevinandrew

If it’s not sorted by the start of the winter schedule you have to question the competency of management.

Months later and no sign of a resolution is starting make the whole thing feel like a very amateur operation.

Jack1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117953687#Comment_117953687

Indeed pathetic.

Strumms

No matter the airline...only solution is when you get past security screening at the airport get stocked up in the shops, I’ve been doing that for a while, not taking a chance and relying on what if anything might be left onboard , ....I’d just rather bring on say a subway or freshly made sambo, crisps, muffin and a coke & water knowing when I want it it’s in my bag and I can relax and get fed..

Noxegon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954750#Comment_117954750

Reminds me of a Scoot flight from NRT-SIN a few years ago. My backpack was searched at the gate and my bottle of water was removed because outside food and drink was not allowed on board.

Candamir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058210893/aer-lingus-on-board-catering

You were lucky to get the tea and coffee tbh. It's a complete disaster.

Stovepipe

send Lynne Embleton an email. Lots of emails. Why cant DNATA source in Ireland?

Jack1985

Internal comms refer to Brexit problems, which is a load of cr*p, I've yet to hear of any supply issues anywhere in ROI from Europe. FR are cleaning up.

kevinandrew

Unless Dnata is sourcing its Dublin business from its larger UK operations, there really shouldn’t be any Brexit related supply issues in Ireland.

My guess is that Aer Lingus management just see it as an easy excuse to staff that can be passed down to passengers; first it was easy to blame Covid, now easy to blame Brexit. The reality is the airline outsourced its catering and the new supplier has got it very, very wrong leaving Aer Lingus with mud on its face once again.

The race to the bottom is a rocky one.

coupons1987

I don’t buy the brexit excuse the milk Aer Lingus normally have on board is from Lakeland in Cavan how on earth could Brexit have any effect on the supply. Are transatlantic flights being catered properly?

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954861#Comment_117954861

Sounds more China style then Japan...

at that rate why didn’t they confiscate your MP3 player, they might have sold those too...because that’s the logic. :)

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117959560#Comment_117959560

I think scoot are Singapore Airlines budget brand?

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117959620#Comment_117959620

True but the flight was originating in Japan. It would have been local ground staff confiscating stuff if that’s the deal.

Only solution these days the way things are is get yourself stocked up in the shops and forget the tat on the trolley.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117959647#Comment_117959647

I think it was in the t&c's when I flew with them last a few years ago, although they didn't search me at the gate. I managed to smuggle some sandwiches on board.

Its the pile em high uber capitalist approach. Nice planes, but that's about all that's nice.

Strumms

I doubt t&c’s like that would be legal, prohibition of the consumption of certain food, what food ? “Ohhh any food we didn’t sell you sir”

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117959698#Comment_117959698

That's the way cinemas operate, and indeed cafes and restaurants. Don't know anything about Singapore law though.

My experience with them was ok, but have read they can be thoroughly unpleasant to fly with too. RYR of old on steroids is how an Irish expat described them to me as.

Anyway to return to the thread, are Lingus catering hasn't been great for a long time.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117959722#Comment_117959722

Cinema I go to doesn’t have that policy, don’t remember seeing it elsewhere i just bring whatever and nobody in 17 years said boo, no signs either.

well a cafe and restaurant it would be a little odd if you brought your own food.

an aircraft, not so...haven’t got time to sit down and eat and it’s a subway and diet coke... bring my own rubbish off though...problem with EI is the lack of real substantial offerings.

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954750#Comment_117954750

That’s cool, that’s your personal choice.

However from a business perspective it’s piss poor, as a plane full of people with nothing to do for 2/3 hours going on their holidays to the sun like to, and do buy drinks and snacks on flights.

Everyday Aer Lingus are sending out flights full of passengers with their purses and wallets at the ready to spend onboard and they’re then declining this revenue; at a time when they’ve made record losses due to the pandemic. It beggars belief really.

Family members went to Gran Canaria last week. Ask for a G&T (you can’t consume airport purchased alcohol onboard by law) and ended up having to have gin and sparkling water as that’s all their was. This was the outbound flight. I’ve heard of other flights with no tea or coffee and some with tea/coffee but no milk!

L1011

Went to Barcelona a few weeks ago and there was hot drinks, soft drinks and chocolate bars - nothing else.

There can't be any contract in the world that would allow that level of underperformance without giving a complete out to Aer Lingus.

Lustrum

Lynne Shambleton created and appointed a Chief Customer Officer at the end of August, you would think by now she might have sorted the issue out, as there's no way she cannot be aware of it.

Instead, like the rest of the executive management, it seems she's been too busy patting herself on the back for getting the job, rather than trying to actually improve the service on board (and hence increase revenue and as a result allow the staff who are under huge mental and financial strain to recover some of their decreased wages) or resolve any of the supply issues! It's an embarrassment for the crew on board to have to inform passengers that there's no catering, and rather than admitting gross incompetence, the company have decided to hide behind Brexit.

And yes, I am in a bad mood😁

road_high

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117954750#Comment_117954750

Yep learned that the hard way coming from the canaries with Ryanair once- only had crackers and cheese and a few snacks to sell. Was starving. So lesson learned, I always bring on board food now

Comhrá

Flew Shannon - Heathrow yesterday on EI386. Just tea, coffee and chocolate bars, Twix bars etc. available. No sandwiches. Apologies from the crew.

The shiny new A321neo LR was nice to fly on however.

McGrath5

Flew out to Tenerife last week on AL and only water, soft drinks and beer were available. The cabin crew were very friendly and blamed it on a "stocking issue", the flight was nearly full so plenty of revenue missed out particularly it been a 4 hour flight.

Flew back on Ryanair (times suited better) and a full compliment of food and drink was available.

donkey balls

Neighbour flew back with EI from TFE and all they had was tea coffee and some chocolate bars, She said that the crew member told her that they be hoping to have full bars by winter time looks like I be stocking up before boarding.

Also saw the catering trucks going down the road alongside rwy10/28 are they based outside the airport these days?

kevinandrew

The Dnata catering facility is at the logistics park, towards the end of Runway 10, it’s quite a distance!

donkey balls

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118033498#Comment_118033498

Well they can expect catering delays that road does easily be backed up during the rush hours, What happened the catering facilities accross from post 4 that they used?

Jack1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054399#Comment_118054399

EI catering is gone, believe that building is returned-lease.

NH2013

Believe also that building will have to be demolished shortly for the construction of pier 5.

kevinandrew

Flew LHR-SNN yesterday, flight was pretty much full, couldn’t fault the crew as they were excellent throughout. The catering on offer was still limited of course but what they did have appeared well stocked, plenty of tea, coffee, wine and sweet treats were sold. I was in row 20 and everything was still in stock despite the good uptake in the cabin.

The sooner the full Bia offering is back, the better. Unfortunately I don’t think the logistical issues at Dnata will ever go away. A great example of how outsourcing can backfire.

donkey balls

Out sourcing unfortunately is what companies want these days, Be it through agencies or contractors.

Just means the company has no liability towards pensions health care etc, Compared to actually having full time employees on the books.

And one of the biggies is redundancy no companies these days wants staff that have long service records, As the pay outs be collasal.

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060161#Comment_118060161

I believe the term is “Social Dumping”

Strumms

any job I’ve worked for where ‘outsourcing’ was a thing, it looked great on a presentation to an MD and senior management... but in the end usually costs you more then you were spending originally in the long run.. as you don’t have the flexibility or service levels from an outside company that you have in house and customer satisfaction plummets..

to be honest it shouldn’t be that complicated or expensive to cater an aircraft(s) with drinks, snacks, food and confectionary...

donkey balls

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060290#Comment_118060290

When BA outsourced catering years ago from what I heard from someone working in that end of the business, It was a complete disaster flights departed half catered.

Also when people are working for such companies, Their is no staff loyalty but with the bean counters leading the way with the race to the bottom.

In the next few years the only full time jobs will probably be working for the government.

Lustrum

The situation is so shambolic now in Aer Lingus that tomorrow's flight home from Tenerife already has limited catering on board (or at least that what the text I've just got says).

It shows how far the company have fallen when this is now the acceptable norm for them

Happydays2020

Aer Lingus are terrible on multiple grounds. Pity - looking for flights and it has moved from Aer Lingus first to Aer Lingus last. I have been at the highest tiers of Gold Circle and Aer Club with tier status since 2004 so losing a very loyal customer.

trellheim

I've had the last few decent experiences with EI but catering is a current weak point especially on bucket and spade

donkey balls

Was on a flight the other day to the Canarries, The flight was on a previous sector to ZRH so the bar wasn't restocked they were running put of stock on the outbound sector.

Pity the crew and pax on the return sector with nothing to sell or buy.

Strumms

I think the way things are going you gotta get to the airport early, purchase any drinks, food or snacks to bring on board with you… this has been an ongoing issue for a bit.

I just bring on a subway or freshly made sambo,, crisps, few drinks.. waters, cokes… have a flat style backpack that I can easily store under the seat in front so when the seatbelt sign is off I can relax straight away with drinks / sambo without having to wait for the cart and…wondering if it will have anything decent left or stocked on it in the first place.

StevenToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118331967#Comment_118331967

I think the way things are going, I wont go near an airport ever again...ill stay in Ireland or get a Ferry....fcuk aer lingus and Ryanair, why do it to yourself?

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118327557#Comment_118327557

Genuine question….. How hard can it be to have the guys in the flight deck ACARS the operations in Dublin just with a simple… catering restock request….

basill

Because the catering is planned the previous day if not days ahead so sending an ACARS message is pointless. There is no such thing as Just in Time catering within the airline.

donkey balls

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118339608#Comment_118339608

FR have often got new bars put on flights, As for EI it's being happening years now sending the aircraft out on different sectors then on to the canaries.

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118339652#Comment_118339652

When I was crew we’d sometime have “all day bars” so a bar was loaded and served the aircraft all day. So it could do 4 sectors in the morning and then an canaries in the evening. It was ok.. provided it was well stocked.

However fresh options and crew food were always uplifted at the beginning of a duty. So that element would be replenished say before the canaries sector. No idea how EI do it now

Tenger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118332056#Comment_118332056

Any such request would be ignored.

Because catering is now out sourced and any restock isnt included in the budget/business plan etc decided upon by myopic bean counters

(no offence meant towards accountants with actual business acumen)

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118341211#Comment_118341211

Yep but restocking is a revenue generating action, not a cost.. who knows.

Jack1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118340318#Comment_118340318

Exact same in EI presently.

donkey balls

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118341211#Comment_118341211

The good aul Bean counters we had one as country manager and lost out on a major engineering project, The Manager before him knows the business and had a background in engineering and worked his way up within the company were by we were getting the contracts to build maintain and run the plants.