First-class customers would previously have been offered a range of main course options for the post-take-off meal, including grilled lamb rack, chicken wellington, grilled halibut and shrimp sauce or vegetarian kofta in korma sauce.
Instead, flyers will choose from dishes such as prawn salad, poached egg on sourdough, or pancakes. This will be preceded by an amuse bouche and starters, and followed by dessert and a cheeseboard.
At the same time, British Airways has sharply cut back its evening meal service on flights departing after 9pm.
While Club World passengers were previously offered a three-course meal, they will instead have to settle for a main course and dessert.
BA has said the “one-tray” meal service will allow passengers on late-night flights to get to sleep more quickly. However, the airline already offered this quicker option for people who did not want the standard full menu.
Rob Burgess, editor of Head for Points, a blog that helps flyers maximise their air miles, said the changes were most likely a cost-cutting measure.
He said: “The biggest structural issue with the airline business is that most of your costs are fixed. Fuel costs are fixed. Aircraft leasing costs (or debt repayments) are fixed. Staff numbers are set by law and pay scales are fixed in the medium term.
“Whilst it seems petty to start attacking the in-flight food budget, it is one of very few levers to pull.”