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British Airways introduces summer improvements
I recently wrote about the new wines now onboard in Club World and First. I’m currently working my way through trying the new Club Europe wines, so I will report back on them next week.
BA has also introduced some summer specials and general improvements on board. From today, the airline is offering complimentary ice cream on daytime flights departing London Heathrow and London Gatwick before 5pm UK time, partnering with fellow British brand, Jude’s, to offer a range of flavours from very vanilla, strawberries and cream, truly chocolate and salted caramel. The ice cream is produced less than 60 miles from Heathrow in Hampshire, and will be available for customers to enjoy over the coming months when travelling in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy) on all long-haul day flights departing before 17.00 local time from London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
I also did a quick tour of the Galleries First when passing through and saw that they also have a Jude’s ice cream cabinet there too. It is situated by the chiller cabinets in the dining area. There was vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream as well as mango sorbet.
They also had a Pimms display.
Rose champagne was available too, Besserat de Bellefon – the same one that used to be on board in Club World until recently.
British Airways is also re-introducing sparkling wine in its World Traveller Plus cabin from mid-July as part of its pre-take off drink offering.
BA is rebranding its Buy on Board product from Speedbird Cafe to High Life Cafe from 20 July. As well as the Whispering Angel in the lounges at Heathrow and onboard in First (Rock Angel), Whispering Angel’s Provence rosé is now available to pre-purchase through High Life Café. The Whispering Angel Rosé 375ml half bottle costs £17.00 or 2430 Avios. Given my trial of the new Club Europe wines so far, I may be buying some!
There’s also a range of summer-inspired menus across the cabins, available until September. Travellers in First can choose from a classic prawn cocktail, grilled fillet of Atlantic halibut and British summer staple, berry bread and butter pudding . Meanwhile, those travelling in World Traveller Plus can have a fresh calamarata pasta followed by a raspberry panna cotta.
IHG summer sale up to 25% off
IHG has launched a new summer sale where you can save up to 25% off hotels in the UK and Germany at IHG Hotels & Resorts. You need to book by 12 July and stay by 30 September 2023.
The rules show a minimum of 3 days advance booking, and the bad news is that there is a non-refundable deposit required in full at the time of booking. Cancellations and changes are not permitted.
The offer is valid at participating InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, Crowne Plaza, Vignette Collection, Hotel Indigo, voco, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites hotels and resorts, located in the United Kingdom & Ireland. Six Senses Hotels, Resorts, & Spas, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts and Mr and Mrs Smith hotels are not included in this Offer.
IHG One Rewards Members save more, with an additional 10% off the public rate. It is free to join, so it is well worth it if you want to make a purchase.
You can find the sale page here.
6 comments
Have you had a chance to travel on a JFK service since the program to (do what it should never have stopped doing:) have a dedicated crew to that cabin? I read about it in a few places so don’t know if I was pre-judging before the trip but there was a definite spark to the crew yesterday coming to NY. There were two of them and they seemed to like what they were doing. He was funny too about the food but what I thought were his odd ball suggestions pairing with some food while I was trying bottles of wine were really cool suggestions.
(I read your article with about the wine specialist at BA) I live on a wine farm in South Africa.
I have not had the chance to do a BA JFK flight recently but it is good to here that the standard is high again. It is one of their most important routes so they have superior aircraft and catering on that route.
I’m guessing that the mango sorbet might actually be dairy free? My husband and I are both allergic to dairy and there are good vegan ice creams in the supermarkets these days. It would be great if BA could offer a chocolate vegan alternative for those of us who just can’t tolerate dairy.
yes it appears to be dairy free
‘Brandygate’ lest we have forgotten???
We are all still waiting………………
I asked their master of wine and they are still planning to get it back in Club but are having trouble sourcing it.
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