Mohd Azizul Ramli

Agreed. I understand the sentiment most of the forumers here towards MH. It reminds me of how 'patriotic but unresourceful' I was during the first few months I joined Airliners.Net more than a year ago, where issues pertaining MH were being discussed in 'global' level. MH is espected to fully turned arround by 1 January 2008, so it is just matter of time when this confirmed snack box issue will be reviewed again. I am sure once MH got its act together (financially), the hot meals for the effected routes can be reintroduced. As Alex and V Wong mentioned, SQ had undergone the same phase too (cut full meals - introduced snacks - reintroduced full meals). Earlier posts in this thread mentioned about LH's snackbox, if it really true, then LH must have been improving their inflight meals too because when I flew them on 4 segments back in March 2004 (LHR-HAM-FRA-HAM-LHR, LHR-HAM-LHR were international routes, 464 miles each way), I was only given a cup of juice and a bun, which was handed out together with a napkin.

Thank you so much Mahmood for the confirmation. My decision to look for the truth about this rumour here in MalaysianWings forum proved fruitful. I never expect to received such a very detailed information about it (routes effected and even the menu). Now, since you have mentioned it, I hope you'll let us MalaysianWings forumers to have a peep of how the snackbox looks like. I am glad to hear that they are coming up with a 'good' (content and design wise) snackbox, as I suggested in Post #12. Since the beginning, I am actually quite neutral with this snackbox issue taking MH's financial status into consideration (and also because I rarely fly in Economy Class nowadays). Although it is hard for most of us to accept this, I think we have to look on the business side of it. MH is in its final phase of turning around and a lot have to be done to ensure the record profit projected by the management is achieved. I understand the argument about the high management OVERHEAD cost but if those costs are 'untouchable' (being in Malaysia where such policies exist), MH has to find another way to cut cost and hence, the cutting in inflight meals. Regarding the pulling out of one cabin staff in all B734s' Economy class, service efficiencies and safety issues will arise. Reducing the number of cabin staff from 3 to 2 in Economy will increase the ratio of cabin staff to passengers from 1:43 (3 cabin staff for 128 Economy passengers) to 1:64 (2 cabin staff for 128 Economy passengers). Delivery speed will reduce as each cabin staff has to serve more passengers for inflight services and safety concern will increase as each during emergency procedures. However, in my opinion, MH's management still proceed with this idea because: - To improve cabin staff productivities and at the same time to help trimming the number of staff to favourable level as we are all aware that MH is overstaffed. When the number of staff is reduced, more costs can be saved and a proper perks for well performed staff can be laid down. - As for the concern for safety, I think given MH's excellent safety record, this aspect (unfortunately) can be overlooked. Therefore, cutbacks in inflight meals and cabin staff. Now, let bring this discussion (since it is no more a rumour) to the next level. Will be it permanent or just until the so called 'trial' period ends? What I can envisaged in the nearest future right now is that MANY POLITICIANS WILL BE BASHING MH BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND DEMAND THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE. Something I never couldn't accept![

So it is true? But for flights under 3 hours (not 4 as I suggested)? Where do you get the confirmation?

Oppss... my mistake. But according to Chrisrad in Reply 55 in his trip report, Well the dinner roll, is almost the size of the main dish...... there was no slice of cake with the first meal, the entire dessert was a KitKat. Maybe I have grown to used to Business Class meals, but I also exculsively flew MH in Y class 2004 and prior and I remember somewhat better meals than this. Maybe this is the side effect of flying too much in MH's Golden Club.

To spice up this thread, here are some proves of what HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED in MH recently. These photos are from a trip report from a friend of mine in airliners.net, Chrisrad. He was so SHOCKED of being served with the meals. Chrisrad's Outbound Trip: Malaysia Airlines Economy Class MEL-KUL 2 September 2007 1st meal - Seems ok. 2nd meal - the CUTBACK - A SNACK! More proves? Chrisrad's Inbound Trip: Malaysia Airlines Economy Class KUL-MEL 7 September 2007 1st meal - Seems ok too. But the 2nd meal - the CUTBACK - A SNACK again! Chrisrad mentioned that being a hardcore MH fan, he don't know whether to 'laugh' or 'cry' with this recent changes in MH's inflight catering for the Australian routes. He even purchased some foods from KUL's duty free on his inbound trip so that he won't starve during his flight back to MEL. After reading (Capt) Radzi mentioned 'Palpatine is doing wonders within MH', I am sure this is not just an ordinary nonbasis rumour. CUTBACKS IN INFLIGHT CATERING HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED ON MH FLIGHTS. If cutback in inflight catering is evidenced on flights to Melbourne Australia some 4,000 miles away from Kuala Lumpur, where each one way journey takes about 8 hours... imagine the fate of flights under 4 hours. Any thoughts?

A recent browse at AK's website showed that it features a flash animation about AirAsia X's service to Australia, which will becoming a reality in the next 30 days. Will AirAsia X meet the dateline this time around (after failing to do so despite had widely announcing its inaugural service to Australia will be a day a head of JQ)? Can the almost 400 seats on 9M-XAA being sold within a period of less than a month? AirAsia X still did not have its online booking system operating yet. Last question, will AirAsia X comes up with a frequent flyer program, like Virgin's Velocity? Personally, I am very enthusiast about AirAsia X and even had planning to take on their inaugural flight where ever it will be, but one issue keeps bothering me - airline loyalty. Being an active Enricher, it is such a waste (miles wise) to travel to OOL, some 8,000 miles away (with return trip) just to get the maybe 'slightly' cheaper fares, unless AirAsia X launches its own FFP. That way, I can switch between MH and AirAsia X without having to lose any miles. How about the rest of MalaysianWingers? Azizul

Based on the replies so far, I think some of us may have an idea that "a snack" is not filling (I am referring to those who quote 'going to be hungry during flights/no food during flights'. I think if MH goes for a generous size of snacks (for example 4 slices of thick turkey and egg sandwitches, a small KitKat, some (packed) crackers and peanuts and a small size 'Joy' orange/mango juice with a bottle of mini mineral water packed in a KFC's value meal size boxes) would be filling enough for flights under 4 hours. Also, I think this snackbox idea will be only implemented in Economy class. So for those who travel on Golden Club Class, I think MH will still offer the usual 3 choices of full meals served in porcelain. Given the envisaged scenario, I think MH is heading towards the inflight catering like in the US domestic market (fellow MalaysianWingers Seth has affirmed this). Regarding MH being a 5 star status airline, remember that the award was given by Skytrax, a passengers' poll-based survey. From what I gather, the previous surveys (which garnered MH's multiple awards) were contributed almost entirely on MH's long haul flights, which are of course, more than 4 hours. I think it wouldn't effect MH's 5 star status as MH can always claim that they still provide full service meals onboard Economy class (despite not per se). Another point to note is that, Skytrax is like the 'People Choice Award', not 'Academy Awards'. That is why SQ didn't even bother to point out that they were Skytrax's Airline of the Year 2007. SQ regards Skytrax as a weightless award, as compared to Conde Nast for instance. MalaysianWingers who will fly on 1 October 2007 onwards (including myself for Hari Raya) can help to confirm whether this rumour is true or not. Maybe it is true, but perhaps somewhere later.

So far no one from the carrier has confirms this matter. I personally think, if MH were to proceed with the plan, they are going to go all out to maintain their 5 star status by emphasizing more on cabin staff's inflight services. The snackboxes that they may use, will not be of some cheap looking materials, which contain some cheap foods (like what I get here in almost all Indonesian carriers). MH may comes out with good snacks, which may be packed nicely inside the boxes, with generous size or quantity. But it is still a snack, so MH can saves a lot on inflight catering cost. On the other hand, MH still need to consider what their competitors (especially SQ) offer on the same market segment (in this case, flights under 4 hours). If SQ is adding more quantity or size (and overall quality) to its inflight meals, then I guess MH will be on the losing hand if they were to proceed with this snackbox idea. I believe MH should keeps its product offerings on par with SQ to sustain in the industry.

The title itself screams its intention! I received a text message from an aquintance who is a MH fan (as well), telling me that there is a rumour that our flag carrier, Malaysia Airlines is not going to provide inflight meals (hot meals in trays) anymore beginning 1 October 2007 for flights of less than 4 hours. He mentioned that the inflight meals will be changed to only 'snackboxes' like those in TG. Reason being is of course, to cut cost in line with MH's new vision of becoming A 5 Star Carrier With LCCs Cost. Is this rumour true? Can someone from the carrier confirms? By the way, this is my first post in MalaysianWings. Azizul