British Airways trial on removing water bottles in World Traveler and World Traveler Plus

I just don't buy into today's whackadoodle environmental ideology. And then the idiot corporate world decisions using environmentalism as cover.

So now the expectation is that flight attendants are going to run up and down the aisle distributing cups of water that then must to be immediately consumed, rather than held onto and sipped.

Seems the effort would be more effective using their corporate buying power to get bottlers and vendors to switch over to aluminum bottles. Aluminum doesn't degrade with recycling, actually gets recycled, and retains an economic value. On my desk at work is the "single use" aluminum bottle that was the bottle of water I bought at Windsor Castle.

I know what you mean about using greenwashing to cover up cost cutting, but I think the tide of public opinion is moving against single use plastic bottles, especially in Europe. There’s become something slightly grotesque about seeing these bottles being used and discarded quite unnecessarily.

I'm generally against plastic water bottles but knowing how little the cabin crew comes through economy and economy plus, I feel for the passengers. Last flight in PE, to London the FAs came only once or twice between meals and their cups are pretty darn small.

There's going to be a lot of call button pushes. And of course it's only people flying in cattle class that are affected.

I'm sorry, I wont drink from a paper cup. Maybe some stores need to open in the departure halls; stores that sell bottled water.

Or - SHOCKING - bring an empty bottle and fill it from a dispenser?

I actually think this is a good idea. Those tiny bottles airlines give you are just 'waste" I might feel different if they were giving liter bottles but... People needing 10 of those little bottles????? How do they even get them? And yes it's a ton of waste.

(And why won't people drink water out of a paper cup? You see them pour it from the bottled water on their cart?)

I never depend on the carrier for water even when I am flying business. I bring a bottle and fill it at the airport unless I am someplace where water is not potable and then I just buy a bottle in the gift shop. I prefer to bring my personal bottle because apparently I am a whackadoodle who believes that plastic waste is out of control LOL

@VAP not everyone remembers to get an empty reusable bottle. And filling stations are not always as ubiquitous in every airport (although they have added many in LHR in the last 5-10 years or so). It seems to be more the optics not being great for BA. And I'm unsure about how added usage of paper cups as a replacement will be an environmentally friendlier solution.

On a separate note, I wonder how this will impact the water company Harrogate up north in Yorkshire if this trial is carried out on a larger level (if their brunch removal is anything to go by, BA might remove this rather quickly). Could cost jobs.

My question....will the water the flight attendants hand out come from larger plastic bottles or are they going to fill the water tanks in the galley. The latter not being the most hygenic.

I believe that the bosses at BA are trying to make BA the "Ryanair" of the UK. Only Ryanair has their act together.

@Carol it's not that people don't want to drink from a paper cup. But it's just more inconvenient to just be offered just 1 cup and be dependent on the cabin crew to be attentive enough to keep coming around with extra afterward (BA are quite notorious about not doing so these days, especially on the night flights heading to the UK). It might mean far more people heading to the galley for extra water, making it much more inconvenient.

It might make sense to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles when the liquid restrictions go away (in the UK at least) and hence more people can bring water bottles through security. But until that happens, this is a move extremely antithetical to common sense and more in line with the cost cutting mentality plaguing British Airways in the last 8-9 years.

On my last round trip flight to the UK in April, Delta was not providing bottles of water in main cabin where I was -- just cups of water. It didn't really bother me. To be honest, I kind of appreciated the reduced plastic waste. In May, I took a transpacific flight in Delta One -- got a bottle!

Wow, I guess I'm learning people travel differently than I do. I thought pretty much everyone brought their own water bottles on board a flight. Didn't know there were some who relied on the airline to provide them water. But then, I wonder if perhaps it's just the international flights I take from the West Coast which are at least 10 hours long, so bringing a water bottle or two is just the smart thing to do. And talking about dispensers at airports, if you cannot find one, there is always the faucet in the bathroom. Nothing wrong with that water.

And kinda related to this topic, I also bring my own snack food. Not depending on airline food either. But, I'm happy just to get from point a to point b safely. Not too picky about the rest. When I pick an airline, their safety record is more important to me than them providing a bottle of water. But I guess everyone has their own priorities.

@Nick although it could mean WH Smith or Boots will start selling more overpriced water bottles to passengers, no? This could also mean more plastic being used on the aggregate. Another thing is that many people will probably trust mineral bottled water over that provided at the airport in various parts of the world that BA does serve (think South America, Africa, parts of Asia, etc.). I wouldn't want to get sick due to drinking unhygienic water during my travels.

To be sure, this is just a trial, and the final date of the experiment could be the end of this initiative supposedly driven by "customer feedback" if the passenger surveys filled out are overwhelmingly negative.

Thats it no more BA for me .... unless it's the cheapest or most convenient. Another travesty against the working classes of the world. How many will suffer before governments step in!

Another travesty against the working classes of the world. How many will suffer before governments step in!

The working class brings their own empty water bottles to fill. I wasn't even aware that I should be upset. But thanks to this thread, I can now add this to my list of the many wrongs I have suffered. It might even beat out having to sit in the middle seat in front of the toilets. Us working class do have a habit of buying basic economy. But wait, if water bottles are brought back, will I be able to afford that cheap seat? I think I will stick to filling up my water bottle at the airport.

@Lynn "And talking about dispensers at airports, if you cannot find one, there is always the faucet in the bathroom. Nothing wrong with that water."

Huh? And what if the water is not filtered properly? Not every country has the privilege of clean water, and I'd rather not spend a long flight ill due to dodgy water quality, thank you.

Oh, I suppose if you travel to 3rd world countries, that might be an issue. But in that case, I doubt if the flights are direct and then you can fill up the water bottle before boarding the final flight.

I have been flying long-haul flights with a refillable water bottle for the past two decades. My routine is to fill it up after security; and ask the flight attendant to refill it twice during the flight. This way I keep myself hydrated regularly without the use of many plastic cups or bottle. No one force me to do it; I just think it's a convenient way to have access to water anytime I want. And I do care about the environment.

So is there a difference between the plastic water bottles and plastic cups? The plastic bottles hold more water.

I do bring an empty water bottle and fill it after security. But one water bottle will not get me through a 12 hour flight. Sure, I could bring 2 or 3 water bottles, but will the airline allow me the additional carry on bag to carry my water bottles?

I'm someone that works on reducing my use of single use plastics. Right now I'm giving detergent sheets a try. But sometimes, a plastic bottle makes sense, and I would argue being on a flight is one. I specifically do not drink the coffee, and anything else that might have originated from a tank.

My husband just piped in that he saves his water bottle from the flight, and refills it until he loses it.

Generally speaking, there's no problem with those bringing their own bottles to refill with water. But probably encouraging it instead of mandating the idea through a one size fits all approach is a better approach. Part of the job airlines have is to provide a quality passenger experience, and looking after their well being through ensuring proper hydration is of paramount importance.

It seems more a cost cutting move where the only thing benefiting is BA's bottomline and that of its shareholders (hard not to be cynical given their pattern of making silly changes in the name of "customer feedback"). Maybe it would have been better if they at least communicated this in advance for those affected by the trial to prepare. It's an issue that their level of communication, or lack thereof, was noticeable here. I'm definitely in favor of traveling more sustainably, and have done my best to reduce plastic, paper, etc.

But if a certain policy ends up hurting the very people you are trying to help, it could burn the support necessary for protecting the environment. Instead, why not work more to remove existing liquid rules that result in so much wastage through disposed items going to the landfill and plastic bags (the UK is currently working on doing this by moving away from its ridiculously strict enforcement, but at a very delayed timing)? That would be a nice place to start in making air travel more sustainable.

Maybe the airlines will standardize carry on water bottle size or will Ryan still be more restrictive?

I blame the consumer. If you demand competition and lower prices then the business is going to look at ways to lower those costs. Apparently bottled water is the latest casualty on BA. I wasn't aware it provided it so it won't reduce my thoughts of the company. In fact KLM is the only airline I've been on that I recall bottled water, but it wasn't for me because by the time I wanted a drink, it was warm. Why don't airlines have ice machine like hotels?

I just don't buy into today's whackadoodle environmental ideology. And
then the idiot corporate world decisions using environmentalism as
cover.

I do agree with this. Hotels also hide behind it now that daily maid service isn't automatic.

I thought everyone had one of these by now?

https://hidratespark.com/products/21-oz-hidratespark-pro-2

We began the practice of bringing an empty bottle through security and then filling before boarding the plane. This became standard after a flight that had the beverage service delayed by at least an hour because of bumpy weather and the cabin crew were belted into their seats. Fortunately we found a pop can in the seat back pocket that had been left behind, (and happily not found by the cleaning crew.)

The public at large has signaled that price is VERY important factor, and that they are willing to forgo some 'frills' for a better price. Thus the birth of low cost airlines and 'basic' economy on the legacy carriers. A segment of the population has signaled they will pay a bit more, so 'premium' economy was created.

"You get what you pay for" and "there is no free lunch" may be cliches but that does not mean they do not convey the truth.

Sorry, when flying premium economy in BA World Traveler Plus, which can be double the economy fare in BA World Traveler, you should get a large bottle of water.

And like jules M's husband, that bottle is usually with me throughout my trip.

Some airline was serving water that comes in paper cartons a while back.

Aluminum doesn't degrade with recycling, actually gets recycled, and retains an economic value.

And the value may now be even more, with tariffs driving up the underlying cost.

Every transatlantic flight I've been on recently - ITA, KLM and Lufthansa - has had a snack and beverage service set up in the galley during the long gap between meal services. Isn't it common knowledge that you're supposed to get up every few hours to stretch and walk the aisles - for health reasons? So stop at the galley and have a drink - or two.

And more and more water fountains in terminals airside now have bottle-filling capability.

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.