While “To Fly, To Serve” might be the official motto, “Death By A Thousand Cuts” strikes me as the better British Airways motto, as I found out on my recent afternoon flight from London (LHR) to Basel (BSL). Yes, British Airways is now serving afternoon tea sans clotted cream and green tea.

British Airways Cuts Clotted Cream And Green Tea From Club Europe

British Airways serves afternoon tea in Club Europe (business class) on flights departing between 14:00 to 16:59 (2:00 pm to 4:59 pm)…it has long been a staple of afternoon service on British Airways and something that I’ve rather affectionately written about over the years.

Recently, I flew from London to Basel on BA on a flight that departed at 3:50 pm, right in the middle of afternoon tea service. While I wasn’t all that hungry, I was not going to turn down the novelty of a cup of tea, a trio of sandwiches, and most of all, a warm scone with clotted cream…things I never eat or drink at home.

Even though I was seated in row two, the flight attendants appeared to take orders by British Airways Club status, and I was left with no choices (I would have opted for the vegetarian sandwiches), but no matter…at least I’d have my scone.

Notice what is missing from the tray? No clotted cream! When I asked for the clotted cream, the flight attendant sheepishly responded, “As of this month, British Airways has cut clotted cream from Club.”

I looked at him, and he sort of shrugged and offered that incredibly polite British apology. He then asked me what I wanted to drink, and I requested green tea.

“Oh, as of this month we’ve cut that as well.”

I started laughing…but I had just had two flat whites in the Qantas Lounge and had no more tolerance for coffee.

So I asked for an Aperol Spritz.

You should have seen the look on his face!

“Unfortunately, that’s on the buy-on-board menu. I could bring you one, but I’d have to charge you £6.50 for it.”

I really started laughing…this was comical.

“Ok, I’ll have sparkling water,” I said, “Unless you’ve cut that too!”

I want to really commend this FA…he apparently was a green tea drinker himself and brought me one of his own tea bags, whch was such a sweet gesture. What a shame he has to apoogize to customers for his employer cutting things it should never have cut.

Oh, and I still enjoyed clotted cream…thankfully I had snagged a tub from the lounge becuase I like it so much I find one tub is not enough. Instead of having two tubs (one from the lounge and one onboard), I only had one, but it makes all the difference when eating a scone…

CONCLUSION

I feel teabagged by British Airways…

For the life of me, I cannot fathom why the carrier claims to be premium and is constantly trying to find new things to cut. Just give customers a premium experince and they will pay a premium for your product…it’s not that hard of a concept!