Article: Major Qantas Domestic Catering Problems

[Peasant]

The QF dom J lounge at MEL at 11.45am on Sunday had even fewer offerings than the ADL QP had had on Friday (which were sparse). The Spice Bar was empty and deserted, and the staff described it as 'finished' and 'it doesn't open any more' but whether they meant just for Easter or forever I'm not sure. There was nothing hot available other than soup. There was no bread to make a sandwich with, unless you like your ham and cheese sandwich made with fruit bread. There was loads of salad but the bowls to put it in were the size that I would use to put nuts in - maybe 5 cm diameter? Tiny, anyway. I ended up walking out and bought a ciabatta in the terminal. Glad I did because for a 12.50pm departure ADL MEL, Y got served a teeny pack of a square of cheese with 2 or 3 crackers, and the choice in J was described as 'afternoon tea' and was a salad or a toasted croque monsieur sandwich. I don't know whether this is normal for 12.50pm flights or not. My stomach definitely thought it was lunchtime even if QF didn't agree.

That's very disappointing to hear, @Anna. I'd be surprised if they're closing Spice Bar, but then again nothing should surprise me at the moment. The failure to plan for the (predictable) Easter weekend demand seems to have manifested itself across the entire organisation.

I flew VA for the Easter weekend and was very impressed with the experience. Flights departed early, catering loaded, premium exit open in MEL, priority boarding and baggage worked. The MEL lounge is nothing to write home about, but food was reasonable and I'd rate the wines ahead of what we've had in the domestic J lounges this year. And all for half the price!

Hope Steph is having a lovely holiday.

 

[AIRwin]

I flew VA for the Easter weekend and was very impressed with the experience. Flights departed early, catering loaded, premium exit open in MEL, priority boarding and baggage worked.

And exclusive lavatory in Business class? But no WiFi...

 

[clifford]

And exclusive lavatory in Business class? But no WiFi...

I can live without it for an hour or two. It's not a deal breaker.

 

[siri]

Giving people advance notice might cause panic eating at the lounge and the lounge then running out of food?

lol

 

[bjm76]

I am flying from MEL to SYD on Monday 18 April in J at midday so will be interesting if we get lunch or just biscuits from Y...

It was biscuits from Y. As an added bonus the pretzel and almond mix also handed out was stale. Once again, crew very apologetic.

 

[AIRwin]

As an added bonus the pretzel and almond mix also handed out was stale.

Was it the original batch from 1956?

 

[bjm76]

Was it the original batch from 1956?

They did taste that old yes haha. Im sure pretzels age well just like fine wine.

 

[AIRwin]

Even QFantastic noodles would be QFantastic to me...

 

[justinbrett]

I wonder if they’re prioritising J catering at the expense of Y?

 

[PineappleSkip]

QF528 SYD-BNE live. Again 34 minutes late, announcement at the gate that they were late because they were still loading the catering which made us hopeful.

Alas, no. They seemed to have found a better snack, but no J catering again. At least they came up with a nice cab sauv to go with the salsa, and had the right glassware.

 

[Peasant]

It was biscuits from Y. As an added bonus the pretzel and almond mix also handed out was stale. Once again, crew very apologetic.

I feel very sorry for the crew having to front this flight after flight. And here's my question: if they're unable to provide the advertised product (premium lounge experience, hot meal, checked bag), should they be withdrawing the J cabin from sale until they're confident they're able to reliably deliver?

Tongue in cheek obviously as we all know that won't happen.

 

[aikman]

QF528 SYD-BNE live. Again 34 minutes late, announcement at the gate that they were late because they were still loading the catering which made us hopeful.

Alas, no. They seemed to have found a better snack, but no J catering again. At least they came up with a nice cab sauv to go with the salsa, and had the right glassware.

View attachment 274938

Wow. I had to double check the fares for this route and yes, VA charges $299 and QF charges $914. I have no words.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wow. I had to double check the fares for this route and yes, VA charges $299 and QF charges $914. I have no words.

Yup. Again… on paper Qantas defies all the rules of competition. People continue to pay $914 when better products are out there. #DSC

 

[stm1sydney]

.

I flew VA for the Easter weekend and was very impressed with the experience. Flights departed early, catering loaded, premium exit open in MEL, priority boarding and baggage worked. The MEL lounge is nothing to write home about, but food was reasonable and I'd rate the wines ahead of what we've had in the domestic J lounges this year. And all for half the price!

Wow. I had to double check the fares for this route and yes, VA charges $299 and QF charges $914. I have no words.

Yup. Again… on paper Qantas defies all the rules of competition. People continue to pay $914 when better products are out there. #DSC

Yeah, I find it so weird that QF customers are prepared to put up with so much, pay extra for an inferior product, be treated with contempt, but keep coming back for more notwithstanding that the independent judgment of people like @Peasant is compelling. There is material for several psychology PhDs in this.

 

[justinbrett]

Hate to interrupt the generic ranting, but back to the topic of catering…

Offering in the BNE J lounge is sub par this afternoon. Only hot option is a vegetable curry with rice. There was soup but they ran out. They have some nibblies (olives, coughtail onions, gerkins etc) and the standard toastie bar.

I ventured out into the QP (leaving my luggage in the J Lounge) to see what they had, and they had party pies and chicken wings! I brought a plate back, and I think I saw a look of shame in the eyes of the lounge attendant I showed my WP card to for re-entry.

 

[Peasant]

Hate to interrupt the generic ranting, but back to the topic of catering…

Offering in the BNE J lounge is sub par this afternoon. Only hot option is a vegetable curry with rice. There was soup but they ran out. They have some nibblies (olives, coughtail onions, gerkins etc) and the standard toastie bar.

Unless it's your generic rant?

 

[jboy90]

Just flew in business from Adelaide to Brisbane and only offer was some of those cheap Asian bar snacks. Was told by the csm that no meals were loaded for business. Not acceptable in my books.

I would like to contact qantas to ask for compensation. If I bought economy and upgraded to business I’d have paid 19,000 points to do so. In my view that’s all I received as I already had lounge access and the onboard experience was totally economy in nature.

Has anyone had any luck with such a claim and know the best method / email address to lodge it? Should I pair back my request for 19,000 points?

 

[aikman]

Just flew in business from Adelaide to Brisbane and only offer was some of those cheap Asian bar snacks. Was told by the csm that no meals were loaded for business. Not acceptable in my books.

I would like to contact qantas to ask for compensation. If I bought economy and upgraded to business I’d have paid 19,000 points to do so. In my view that’s all I received as I already had lounge access and the onboard experience was totally economy in nature.

Has anyone had any luck with such a claim and know the best method / email address to lodge it? Should I pair back my request for 19,000 points?

Someone in another forum reported that after complaining to the Airline Customer Advocate, Qantas agreed to give them 3,000 points for not being served a business class meal. They mentioned they had to fight long and hard for it. Good luck.

 

[justinbrett]

Data point. Full J catering on QF1947 BNE-NTL, including a hot option despite not being a mealtime flight (1635 departure). I think Y got cheese and crackers which is pretty standard for a QLK flight of this length.

Actually quite a delightful flight, my first Alliance operated - love the 1-2 config in J, very much reminded me of flying American Eagle.

 

[pippen_2k]

Data point. Full J catering on QF1947 BNE-NTL, including a hot option despite not being a mealtime flight (1635 departure). I think Y got cheese and crackers which is pretty standard for a QLK flight of this length.

Actually quite a delightful flight, my first Alliance operated - love the 1-2 config in J, very much reminded me of flying American Eagle.

View attachment 274946

Full J catering on QF1947 BNE-NTL

By the look of your pic, that's questionable