Passengers served a huge helping of disappointment

PETALING JAYA: The pre-packed meals and flight delays resulting from the catering issues faced by Malaysia Airlines following its decision to stop using an established caterer has left a sour taste with passengers.

Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar managing director Burhan Mohamed, who flew business class to Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Sept 4, said his flight had been delayed by two and a half hours due to the catering issue.

He said he was served an economy class meal which came in an aluminium foil food container alongside items such as pastries and bottled water.

“I was given (single-use) wooden cutlery. When I asked for coffee, it was served in a paper cup.

“As they terminated the previous caterer, they should have prepared earlier.

“The passengers ended up as victims. What’s more, the ticket prices are not reduced, we are paying the same prices,” he said, adding that he felt aggrieved over the latest treatment, especially having been a loyal customer of Malaysia Airlines for over two decades.

Burhan said he was informed that longer routes such as London, Tokyo and Doha were unaffected as the catering service came from another company.

“Why can’t that company provide food for the shorter routes too?” he asked.

However, despite the less-than-ideal experience, Burhan said he would continue flying MAS, but hoped that the catering problem would be resolved soon.

Although passengers have the option to bring their own meals on board, Burhan said he would feel a bit embarrassed to do so.

Social media has also been flooded with irate Malaysia Airlines passengers complaining about the food and beverage offerings lately.

Facebook user Marcus Zeng highlighted the pre-packed meal he was served during his business class flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong, which also experienced a 90-minute delay due to catering issues last week.

“Breakfast choice on business class was basically what they have in economy – cheap bakery goods, a chicken floss-filled roll, a bad looking fruit cake, a tiny cookie and a cinnamon bun. I said I didn’t want it,” he said.

M Hatta Tarmizi, who flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu recently, aired his discontent with the meals.

“The flight cost us thousands of ringgit (economy), and this is what we deserve?

“High sugar content pastries expiring in a couple of days, an apple, a bag of peanuts, a bottle of water, no napkins or wet tissues and no prior warning that you’re going to serve this kind of food before flights,” he wrote.