Article: The Challenge of Business Class Service on Very Short Flights

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/business-class-very-short-flights/

The Challenge of Business Class Service on Very Short Flights is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

The Challenge of Business Class Service on Very Short Flights

Many airlines sell Business Class even on very short flights with less than half an hour in the air. Providing a premium service in such limited time is a challenge - which only some airlines rise to.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[aspro2]

The article asks "And how do you think airlines should approach premium cabin service on these flights, given the limited time available in the air?".

Regardless of the length of the flight, the passenger is (conventionally) paying an enormous premium for being in the J cabin. There are sufficient added-value solutions that could be offered for those pax without it being logistically difficult. Things like mini lunch "hampers" or a "component" selection tray that is quickly offered around would overcome some of that, and only serving prepackaged drinks. But whatever the case, I think a minimum effort should apply. Drinks with not even a little pack of nuts is an insult.

I think a plated service adds stress for staff and, actually, for pax too. On the 45-60min flight from Quebec City to Montreal, it really looked like service would fail, but in the end AC managed to serve a quite tasty toasty and drinks, but only just. Meanwhile, on an even shorter flight MUC-FRA back in the early 90s, a tin of pate was served in J (presumably with bread...). I was the only(!) pax in economy and a stewardess palmed me the pate so I never saw the actual meal service.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

BA, Swiss and Lufty all do good services on ultra short business flights. I didn’t realise until recently that LH also has a vegetarian option on those flights!

But it’s mainly a US thing to forego service on short flights. Thankfully that hasn't caught on.

I’m still impressed by my flight on Bangkok Airways last year… 144 pax served a hot meal, separate trolley service for tea and coffee - with fresh milk poured from a carton for those who wanted it. All in around 25 mins!

 

[SYD]

But it’s mainly a US thing to forego service on short flights. Thankfully that hasn't caught on.

Agree. It’s almost comical if travelling on a hub ‘n spoke trip. Once on USAirways (F) on a short (~1hr) hop to CLT we receive one drink and a bag of nuts.

Then on the onward flight to LAX (~4hrs), it was a pre lunch drink followed by white table cloth and four individual courses!

Another time on a UA YUL-ORD-SFO “F”, we didn’t even get water on the first leg…

I’m still impressed by my flight on Bangkok Airways last year… 144 pax served a hot meal, separate trolley service for tea and coffee - with fresh milk poured from a carton for those who wanted it. All in around 25 mins!

Yep. We had similar on a slightly longer flight. Plus the legroom!

 

[dajop]

Agree. It’s almost comical if travelling on a hub ‘n spoke trip. Once on USAirways (F) on a short (~1hr) hop to CLT we receive one drink and a bag of nuts.

Doesn’t have to short either. Just at the wrong time. Once did DFW-LAX in F and it was 1 warm cookie as it departed after meal-o-clock.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I have fond memories of SQ F between SIN and KUL.

 

[jb747]

I have fond memories of SQ F between SIN and KUL.

I too, enjoyed that sector, but from a different perspective. You do need an airline that only pays lip service to seat belts for it to work though, as that’s a route that was never totally clear of weather.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Lufty on a 20 minute FRA-NUE was pretty impressive in business a BMI points ticket.

They were the days.

 

[jase05]

But it’s mainly a US thing to forego service on short flights. Thankfully that hasn't caught on

And the Chinese carriers from my experience

 

[dajop]

Outside of those who simply don't offer any service on short flights, I find the ones that struggle the most with the service on short flights are carriers where the crew and aircraft usually do medium-long haul flights.

SQ has a very abbreviated service on SIN-KUL which despite that can be a struggle in a wide body, and even longer flights like SIN-CGK where a full tray meal is offered, seem to test the crews who are more used to having plenty of time. Haven't yet travelled in SQ's 737's but back in the Silk Air days, their crew was much more efficient in completing the service in the narrow body on short flights.

 

[CorvettePete]

We were in South America recently and did about 10 internal flights. Most of these were fairly short (although longer than 30 mins). We had a mix of Avianca American Business and LATAM Premium Economy both of which are like European Business Class.
We were impressed at their ability to do a food and drinks service on all of these flights.
As to whether Business/Premium Economy was worth it: I would say yes. There is priority boarding (which was strictly enforced), additional hand luggage, additional leg room (I am about 6'4"), additional space with the empty middle seat and excellent service.

 

[gazzax2]

I was once upgraded to Business on Lufthansa Hamburg to Copenhagen (25mins).
It was an ATR72 - no real extra leg room.
They served a full meal - I was extremely hung over and could eat any of it....

 

[RooFlyer]

KLM on a 1 hr flight (and longer ones, in Europe) give you this lidded box of the meal. Together with a printed menu, it presents well and is very quick to distribute.

 

[dajop]

AF meal on the short CDG-LHR sector (about 40 mins in the air)

 

[moa999]

Also seems to be a difference in airline policy (or perhaps onboard tech) on when the ovens are turned on which makes a difference.

The Euro Biz airlines tend to do pre-plated cold meals which speeds up service and can still be decent.

 

[Myrna]

"In the US, meanwhile, it’s common for airlines not to offer meals in “First Class” on flights blocked at even 1-2 hours, with the excuse that it’s “too short”."
Two years ago we flew from Jackson Hole (WY) - Yellowstone to LA with AA in so called "First Class" and it was over 2 hours flight. They handed out a small packet of pretzels, hubby did not eat it as he thought there would be a meal later. Alas, he was wrong! That was all we got ... We were hungry by the time we arrived in LAX so went to AA Admiral Club lounge to have a late lunch. There was no lounge at Jackson Hole airport.

In contrast, we flew TK from Istanbul to Bucharest - a 45 min flight, and we got the full meal tray service with proper business class seats. The return flight was on a larger aircraft and J cabin was full, and again it was a full meal service. That's what called 'proper business class service'

 

[jase05]

AF Euro J on the A220 short 40 minute flight from GVA-CDG
3 of my most despised foods so didn’t have anything but Mrs Jase loved it

 

[HMcM]

But it’s mainly a US thing to forego service on short flights. Thankfully that hasn't caught on.

"Short" can definitely mean different things than I would interpret. Between Melbourne to Sydney (~1.5 hours nowadays, 443 miles (713 km)) they are able to do a drinks service, a nice hot meal and often times a second drink service if you really want one. Flying AA earlier in the year I flew 6 flights in first. The longest being MSY-DFW at around 1h45m and about 448 miles (720 kilometers). I made the most of the included liquor, but got a pack of nuts for food. It's frankly really poor service compared to QANTAS or Virgin here.

The article asks "And how do you think airlines should approach premium cabin service on these flights, given the limited time available in the air?".

Regardless of the length of the flight, the passenger is (conventionally) paying an enormous premium for being in the J cabin. There are sufficient added-value solutions that could be offered for those pax without it being logistically difficult. Things like mini lunch "hampers" or a "component" selection tray that is quickly offered around would overcome some of that, and only serving prepackaged drinks. But whatever the case, I think a minimum effort should apply. Drinks with not even a little pack of nuts is an insult.

I think a plated service adds stress for staff and, actually, for pax too.

I can agree with that. If doing a proper plated service is too much then the best effort is preferred to nothing. Provide something that's quick and easy. If choice is too hard then do away with it but nowadays with a good deal of passengers able to use their phones pre-selection would make things quicker with taking any orders.