- Pack of noodles costing £1.50 in a supermarket but being sold for around £5 on the flight
LONDON – Passengers on a British Airways flight from Athens to Heathrow were caught off guard mid-flight when an unexpected price increase for onboard food and drinks was announced. The steward relayed the news over the PA system, instructing passengers to ignore the listed menu prices due to a roughly 10% increase implemented earlier that day, as reported by Metro.co.uk.
Adding to the passengers’ surprise was the fact that the onboard card payment readers had already been updated to reflect the new, higher prices. This meant that passengers would be billed more than the prices originally listed on the menu.
The price hike affected a range of items, including sandwiches, breakfast bacon rolls, cream tea with scones, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The sudden announcement was a shock to many passengers, with one expressing their disappointment and accusing the airline of trying to “rip us off.”
The already high prices for onboard food were a source of frustration for many, as highlighted by comparisons such as a pack of noodles costing £1.50 in a supermarket but being sold for around £5 on the flight.
In response to the criticism, British Airways cited “minor adjustments” to the prices of snacks and drinks on short-haul flights as part of regular changes. They reassured passengers that they are in the process of updating the onboard menus to reflect these changes.
However, the lack of prior notification about the price increase has raised concerns, particularly in light of the airline’s recent staffing issues and its low customer satisfaction ranking among UK airlines.
