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UK Hotel Complains Air India Staff Taking Away Food Stuffed In Boxes

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UK Hotel Complains Air India Staff Taking Away Food Stuffed In Boxes
NEWS Today, about 2 hours
Mumbai: Air India has dressed down its flight attendants following a complaint by a UK hotel that its crew members are taking away the breakfast buffet packed in their boxes.

"We have received an unfortunate email from the management of hotel in London stating that some AI crew members regularly come down for breakfast with empty boxes into which they fill food items from the buffet, presumably to eat later," said assistant general manager (AGM) of the in-flight service department.

A warning note tiled ''A buffet is not a takeaway' was issued by the AGM, which said that serious action would be taken against the offenders if repeated.

The note read, "This may include, not being scheduled on international sectors, as we have no desire to allow the reputation of Air India to be tarnished by a handful of such individuals."

We have received an unfortunate email from the management of hotel in London stating that some AI crew members regularly come down for breakfast with empty boxes into which they fill food items from the buffet, presumably to eat laterAssistant General Manager
Meanwhile, a cabin crew member ruled out the habit of "takeaway" stating that, "We are dead tired by then as its 14-15 hours from the time we have left home. So we just want to crash. Unlike earlier when the layover was 2 days, it's now only 26 hours and so we have to catch up on sleep before the next flight. Even so, only a couple of us would be bringing boxes to fill and eat later. Most don't do that."

The crew member further said that room service is not provided free in the said hotel discouraging people from ordering meals as the service charge is 10 pounds.

“The menu is limited to sandwiches and with such things so one is not inclined to have that lunch/dinner every time one lands there. Since the hotel is located close to Heathrow airport, one has to take the long trip to the city to have a proper meal," he said, adding, which is why a couple of crew might have started taking some food to eat later.




http://english.sakshi.com/news/2017...india-staff-taking-away-food-stuffed-in-boxes

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-boxes-says-uk-hotel/articleshow/57029371.cms

Air India crew takes away buffet food in boxes, says UK hotel
TNN | Updated: Feb 8, 2017, 11.04 AM IST
HIGHLIGHTS
  • A hotel in London complained that some cabin crew members of Air India would bring boxes to pack and take away food.
  • Titled, 'A buffet is not a takeaway', the warning note was sent on Monday to Air India.


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File photo used for representational purpose
MUMBAI: In a rather embarrassing note, Air India has served a warning to all its flight attendants after a hotel in London complained that some cabin crew members would bring boxes to pack and take away food from the breakfast buffet table to be eaten later.

Titled, 'A buffet is not a takeaway', the warning note was sent on Monday by an assistant general manager (AGM) of the in-flight service department. It said: "We have received an unfortunate email from the management of hotel in London stating that some AI crew members regularly come down for breakfast with empty boxes into which they fill food items from the buffet, presumably to eat later."

The letter warned that AI would be forced to take serious disciplinary action against the offenders, adding that "we are aware that this could be a very small minority indulging in such a behaviour". "This may include, not being scheduled on international sectors, as we have no desire to allow the reputation of Air India to be tarnished by a handful of such individuals," the note warned.

An Air India spokesperson said: "Initially this letter appears to be fake because an AGM-grade officer is not authorised to send a circular that has pan India implications. We are investigating the issue." But cabin crew members of AI confirmed that they had received such a letter. They added that the AGM concerned was promoted to the said post only 15 days ago.

Her decision to issue a general warning to all crew hasn't gone down well. A senior cabin member, requesting anonymity, said, "There are a few rotten apples everywhere, not just among cabin crew members."

Though they decried the practice of takeaways from the buffet table, they pointed to three factors that could have got this practice going. "We land in London either at 7.30am or 6.30pm. We are dead tired by then as it's 14-15 hours from the time we have left home. So we just want to crash. Unlike earlier when the layover was 2 days, it's now only 26 hours and so we have to catch up on sleep before the next flight. Even so, only a couple of us would be bringing boxes to fill and eat later. Most don't do that," the crew member said.

"It's the worst for cabin crew who have been taken on contract as they are paid 60% less than the regular crew. The layover allowance is meagre and ranges from $600-1200 per month during which time we do at least ten layovers," he said.

Then again, room service is not provided for free in the said hotel. "It comes with a service charge of 10 pounds so as to discourage people from ordering meals in their room. So one has to dress up and go to the restaurant downstairs for a meal. The menu is limited to sandwiches and such things so one is not inclined to have that lunch/dinner every time one lands there. Since the hotel is located close to Heathrow airport, one has to take the long trip to the city to have a proper meal," he said adding which is why a couple of crew might have started taking some food to eat later.
 
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Why should Air India take care of the problems of the hotel ?

If the hotel wants, they should ask their guests to not take away food.

Reputation of Air India is hardly affected by such matters, it is affected by their tardy service, delayed flights and rotten attitude to customers.

OTOH the reputation of the hotel is affected if it prevents hungry and tired customers from taking food back to their rooms.
 
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Lets take away all the stuff you could for 150 years that is so royal behaviour, but cry for when those people take food for lunch which they have paid presumably.
 
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Lets take away all the stuff you could for 150 years that is so royal behaviour, but cry for when those people take food for lunch which they have paid presumably.
lol.. you are not seriously thinking its ok to steal food just because of colonialism... should I just enter the neighbor's house and take their stuff then?
on topic: this is actually much widespread, I remember a podcast about this when a celebrity admits about it.. but the trick is to not be too open and bold about it. Also some hotels are ok, and some are not.
 
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lol.. you are not seriously thinking its ok to steal food just because of colonialism... should I just enter the neighbor's house and take their stuff then?
on topic: this is actually much widespread, I remember a podcast about this when a celebrity admits about it.. but the trick is to not be too open and bold about it. Also some hotels are ok, and some are not.

There is no need for Air India staff to be sneaky about taking food to their room. They do not have to pretend to steal food.

If the hotel don't like it, they can charge the customer for taking away food. Or let them put up a board saying that taking away food is not permitted.

If the Hotel do not have the guts to be open about it, why should the Air India staff do what the hotel wants them to do ?
 
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There is no need for Air India staff to be sneaky about taking food to their room. They do not have to pretend to steal food.

If the hotel don't like it, they can charge the customer for taking away food. Or let them put up a board saying that taking away food is not permitted.

If the Hotel do not have the guts to be open about it, why should the Air India staff do what the hotel wants them to do ?
hotel staff do not want to be rude, and am sure its not only air india staff doing it.. the problem probably is, the staff are doing it brazenly. I think its correct for hotel to be discreet about it and complain to the company(which is probably booking and paying for it)..
 
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lol.. you are not seriously thinking its ok to steal food just because of colonialism... should I just enter the neighbor's house and take their stuff then?

What if the neighbor entered your house before and took your stuff? surely you must be entitled to some sort of redress.
 
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hotel staff do not want to be rude, and am sure its not only air india staff doing it.. the problem probably is, the staff are doing it brazenly. I think its correct for hotel to be discreet about it and complain to the company(which is probably booking and paying for it)..

Its not rude to point out to the rules or explain the rules to the customer.

But to go behind their back and complain is rude and sneaky and in bad faith.

There is nothing discreet about making this fact public.

Finally its not brazen if there is no rule that the food cannot be taking back to their rooms. If tehre is such a rule then let the hotel make it clear for everybody to know.

You can't have the cake and eat it too.....(for the hotel)
 
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Its not rude to point out to the rules or explain the rules to the customer.

But to go behind their back and complain is rude and sneaky and in bad faith.

There is nothing discreet about making this fact public.

Finally its not brazen if there is no rule that the food cannot be taking back to their rooms. If tehre is such a rule then let the hotel make it clear for everybody to know.

You can't have the cake and eat it too.....(for the hotel)
the hotel did not make it public, they had simply shot an email... its rude to other customers who might not be doing much, not everything need to be written like a hostel, especially in a good establishment..
its not a rule as such, its common knowledge that buffet is for eating there only not using it as lunch later. If you start writing rules everywhere( not peeing on flowerpots, no spitting on corners) you are a low grade back packer hostel. You dont want to annoy your regular patrons by writing such rules.
in fact it becomes that big a problem they will probably re-negotiate the deal with air india so that everybody is happy.

What if the neighbor entered your house before and took your stuff? surely you must be entitled to some sort of redress.
I would go to police than start an infinite loop of stealing each other's goods...
in this case India can approach world bodies for reparation... from uk, mongolia, saudi, greek, turkey, iran(did i miss anybody?)... instead of Indians stealing food...
 
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I would go to police than start an infinite loop of stealing each other's goods...
in this case India can approach world bodies for reparation... from uk, mongolia, saudi, greek, turkey, iran(did i miss anybody?)... instead of Indians stealing food...

Your right India shouldn't be stealing food, once it grows a little bigger by say 2100, it should invade the UK, stay for there for a while, apologise for the delay in reciprocation and then go back. :coffee:
 
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Your right India shouldn't be stealing food, once it grows a little bigger by say 2100, it should invade the UK, stay for there for a while, apologise for the delay in reciprocation and then go back. :coffee:
we have a lot of invading to do in that case... will lanka invade india for what lord ram and his monkey army did? :)
 
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we have a lot of invading to do in that case... will lanka invade india for what lord ram and his monkey army did? :)
:o: wasn't even aware of that? you just wait right there I'm sharpening my sword. :sniper::-)

is this like story time myth in hindu? like Noah's ark and such in the bible.
Ravana (IAST: Rāvaṇa; /ˈrɑːvənə/;[1] Sanskrit: रावण) is the primary antagonist in the Hindu mythological tale as told in the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana where he is depicted as Rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka.[a][2][3]

Myths dont count :yes4: * Puts sword away*
 
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OTOH the reputation of the hotel is affected if it prevents hungry and tired customers from taking food back to their rooms.

Lets take away all the stuff you could for 150 years that is so royal behaviour, but cry for when those people take food for lunch which they have paid presumably.

I must say im appalled. :eek:

are all these the mindset of Indians? These kind of thinking just reinforced the topic at hand

It is the standard norm internationally(not just in the UK, but also here in SG) that buffet food are meant to be consumed in the restaurant's premises and are not meant to be taken away- regardless of any reason.

Doing so makes you look bad and you will be labelled an outright cheapskate.

IMO, the hotel is already being diplomatic by not telling off the Air india patrons right in the face.
 
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Finally its not brazen if there is no rule that the food cannot be taking back to their rooms. If tehre is such a rule then let the hotel make it clear for everybody to know.

Dunno how it is in India but anywhere else if it's buffet you cannot take your food out of the dinning hall but you can serve as much as you want

It amounts to stealing.. They're lucky that the hotel didn't press charges of thieving food

Maybe Indian airlines need to teach it's staff globally accepted etiquette
 
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