I=B9ll confirm. BWIA has food that =8Crocks.=B9 My recent MIA-POS-MIA routing had stewed chicken and properly prepared pileau. The return breakfast meal was both saltfish and bake, along with a properly spiced omelet. For food served at 35,000 feet inside an aluminum tube traveling 500mph, it=B9s the best I=B9ve ever had. Of course, with BWIA, the beverage announcement is NOT: =B3Beer, wine and other mixed drinks are available for $5, all others are complimentary.=B2 Rather it is =B3Beer, wine and most mixed drinks are available for a small fee, all others, including RUM are complimentary.=B2 And in true Trini style, you have your choice of white, amber or dark rum. Matthew=20 On 6/12/02 10:40 AM, "Roger James" <ejames@escape.ca> wrote: > Bwee=3D92s way to the traveller=3D92s heart > By Curtis Rampersad (T'dad Express, June 12, 2002) >=20 > In the wake of September 11, airline travel has become less appealing ami= d=3D > =3D20 > new security arrangements and rigid cost cutting to staunch the flow of=3D2= 0 > sharp financial losses. With a $4 million loss to recover from, national=3D= 20 > airline BWIA is employing a new marketing tactic aimed at the heart of it= s=3D > =3D20 > competition and designed to strike a fancy with passengers=3D92 stomachs. B= WIA=3D > =3D20 > is confident it will keep longtime passengers and generate revenues from=3D= 20 > new ones. It is literally the first taste of BWIA=3D92s Caribbean warmth,=3D2= 0 > corporate communications director Clint Williams says. It=3D92s BWIA=3D92s fu= ll=3D > =3D20 > course meals, an offer the airline has been emphasising from the beginnin= g=3D > =3D20 > of this year. The airline is using what is probably as direct a marketing= =3D20 > ploy as it gets to take a swipe at competitor American Airlines. After=3D20 > September 11, American cancelled in-flight meals on its flights, even the= =3D20 > long ones, in an effort to save costs and tighten security. >=20 > For BWIA, AA=3D92s move presented a marketing opportunity toe emphasise the= =3D20 > airline=3D92s natural Caribbean appeal, Williams says. On its two-or-more-h= our=3D > =3D20 > flights to New York, Miami, Washington DC and London, BWIA passengers get= =3D20 > full course meals with a decidedly Caribbean flavour. The menu is=3D20 > impressive. For instance, breakfast to Miami can include buljol, accra an= d=3D > =3D20 > vegetable omelette while lunch consists of choices of saut=3DE9ed chicken=3D2= 0 > thighs in yogurt sauce, fruity saffron rice and a vegetable medley. There= =3D92=3D > s=3D20 > also West Indian style beef stew with pigeon peas and macaroni pie as wel= l=3D > =3D20 > as poached salmon, stuffed sole and baked potatoes. For the vegans, there= =3D20 > is tofu kebabs, brown rice, and mushroom peppers. Breakfast to New York=3D2= 0 > includes poached eggs, rolled turkey breasts and potatoes O=3D92Brien. Lunc= h=3D > is=3D20 > saut=3DE9ed chicken, beef stir fry in garlic sauce. >=20 > There=3D92s also grouper filet and diced salads as well as chicken breasts = in=3D > =3D20 > curry sauce, basmati rice. For the real eaters, there=3D92s also grilled=3D20 > strip-loin, potatoes, baby corn and mushrooms. The industry has seen a=3D20 > pendulum swing from full service to drastic, panicked attempts to cut cos= ts=3D > =3D20 > post 9/11. =3D93But people also want the full package,=3D94 Williams tells=3D > Express=3D20 > Business. =3D93They want the meal, they want the in-flight entertainment, t= hey=3D > =3D20 > want the movie.=3D94 BWIA believes part of the West Indian service is the=3D > meal.=3D20 > =3D93In our daily lives, that is how we consummate friendship,=3D94 explains=3D= 20 > Williams. =3D93We also recognise that=3D92s why people choose us.=3D94 BWIA did= =3D > not cut=3D20 > back on what it considered important. Meals are part of the integral=3D20 > quality of an in-flight service, Williams says. It=3D92s all part of a serv= ice=3D > =3D20 > that includes an in-flight movie, a video magazine and BWIA=3D92s Bwee Beat= =3D20 > reading material. >=20 > =3D93We feel passengers have to be as comfortable as possible,=3D94 Williams=3D > says.=3D20 > =3D93We re also going after more leisure travellers and this is a part of t= he=3D > =3D20 > Caribbean warmth they will feel.=3D94 The move may have already started pay= ing=3D > off. > Williams says customers have complimented the airline on its meals and=3D20 > longtime passengers have said it=3D92s one of the reasons they=3D92ve kept=3D > flying=3D20 > BWIA. For competitor American Airlines, it=3D92s not as simple a propositio= n=3D > as=3D20 > that. > Country manager Nisha Maharaj says not serving meals on flights in not an= =3D20 > unprecedented thing and it saves costs, especially important these days=3D2= 0 > when so many airlines are floundering. AMR Corporation which owns America= n,=3D > =3D20 > is said to still be losing between US$3 million to US$4 million a month.=3D= 20 > Tough times call for strong measures so the airline has to save. Maharaj=3D= 20 > points out that it=3D92s not just the meal but the handling charges that go= =3D20 > into the service. But the airline recognises the inconvenience and is doi= ng=3D > =3D20 > what it can to make traveling easier. Maharaj says American offers discou= nt=3D > =3D20 > coupons to passengers which allow them to pick up food at the airport. Sh= e=3D > =3D20 > says the airline will continue to look at reintroducing in-flight meals. >=20 > there is a pictue of a meal at the below link if interested..... > http://www.trinidadexpress.com/expressbusiness/story.asp?mylink=3D3Dshared/= New=3D > s/Bwees%20way%20to%20the%20travellers%20heart.htm&mygroup=3D3DNews&mydate=3D3= D06=3D > /11/2002%2011:16:34%20PM >=20 >=20 > The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: > Roj (Roger James) >=20 > *************************************************** > escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca > Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com > CBC Website > http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ > The Trinbago Site of the Week: > (Robbie Greenidge) http://www.steeldrumband.net/greenidge/ > (Robert Greenidge - Pan Arranger/Composer/Player) > courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory > Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com > TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt > ********************************************************* >=20