Article: Major Qantas Domestic Catering Problems

[RooFlyer]

I guess it would just be easier to cancel the flight so catering can the play catch up due to their low staffing levels.

Maybe, but perhaps Qantas management could have learned some of the lessons of Easter. Or failing that, just had the courtesy of letting pax boarding at OOL know that there wouldn't be any catering (again, assuming the loading for both legs should have been in MEL). Or even just let their their J or status pax know?

Also, is it Qantas staff that look after catering? I thought it had been outsourced. If so, isn't one of the supposed advantages of using contractors that it gives greater flexibility? Especially when its been happening for weeks? I wonder if Qantas gets paid any penalties from the contractor for failed delivery of services. If so - noice!

So, Qantas pockets the premium fares it charges, and premium on premium for business class, week in and week out while delivering worse than LCC service, perhaps not paying for the foregone catering and, if the pax are lucky, they'll get some points in return. A great business model!

I wonder if Qantas pays for the catering that the contractor doesn't deliver, and/or gets compensated by contractor for non delivery (again, assuming that it is contracted out)? Anyone know?

 

[justinbrett]

Maybe, but perhaps Qantas management could have learned some of the lessons of Easter. Or failing that, just had the courtesy of letting pax boarding at OOL know that there wouldn't be any catering (again, assuming the loading for both legs should have been in MEL). Or even just let their their J or status pax know?

Also, is it Qantas staff that look after catering? I thought it had been outsourced. If so, isn't one of the supposed advantages of using contractors that it gives greater flexibility? Especially when its been happening for weeks? I wonder if Qantas gets paid any penalties from the contractor for failed delivery of services. If so - noice!

So, Qantas pockets the premium fares it charges, and premium on premium for business class, week in and week out while delivering worse than LCC service, perhaps not paying for the foregone catering and, if the pax are lucky, they'll get some points in return. A great business model!

I wonder if Qantas pays for the catering that the contractor doesn't deliver, and/or gets compensated by contractor for non delivery (again, assuming that it is contracted out)? Anyone know?

Qantas sold their catering business to Emirates - it's DNATA catering now.

One would assume they have penalties in the contract for this exact situation.

 

[stm1sydney]

So, Qantas pockets the premium fares it charges, and premium on premium for business class, week in and week out while delivering worse than LCC service, perhaps not paying for the foregone catering and, if the pax are lucky, they'll get some points in return. A great business model!

I wonder if Qantas pays for the catering that the contractor doesn't deliver, and/or gets compensated by contractor for non delivery (again, assuming that it is contracted out)? Anyone know?

Yes, spot on. This and many other "enhancements" QF provides, while continuing to charge well over the odds, do wonders for the executive bonus pool. But while customers seem to continue to enjoy being treated with contempt, who can blame Mr Joyce for employing this strategy? It's rational.

 

[TheInsider]

Yes, spot on. This and many other "enhancements" QF provides, while continuing to charge well over the odds, do wonders for the executive bonus pool. But while customers seem to continue to enjoy being treated with contempt, who can blame Mr Joyce for employing this strategy? It's rational.

Yeah so rational that you think there is a grand conspiracy to not get catering on board and supply what is needed. C'mon.
It's simply a situation of missing catering due to staff shortages within DNATA.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

So, Qantas pockets the premium fares it charges, and premium on premium for business class, week in and week out while delivering worse than LCC service, perhaps not paying for the foregone catering and, if the pax are lucky, they'll get some points in return. A great business model!

I know this statement was meant sarcastically, but given how integral the frequent flyer program is to Qantas's bottom line, one could argue it's actually not far from the truth.

The QFF program is the main reason I'm flying mostly Qantas at the moment, though it's status credits that I'm chasing, not points per se. I put up with Qantas's higher prices and inconsistent customer service while I wade towards Lifetime Gold. Once I hit that milestone it's almost certain that other OneWorld airlines will get most of my international travel business (unless there's a major turnaround in Qantas's pricing and service delivery by then). And I can't be the only one who's doing this.

edit: Just noticed this was the catering problems thread. Apologies for taking the conversation off-topic.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yeah so rational that you think there is a grand conspiracy to not get catering on board and supply what is needed. C'mon.
It's simply a situation of missing catering due to staff shortages within DNATA.

I agree. if its a choice between a conspiracy and a stuff-up, choose the stuff up.

"Spoiler" /"rant"

So lets look at who has been making the stuff-ups. Its not as if all those people turned up unexpectedly at airports at Easter. Vast majority +99.9% had forward reservations. Airports would have (could have/should have) known that. Airlines like Qantas certainly did.

SO: Knowing that staff shortages due to Covid etc were already a well established thing, and knowing that there would be a crush at Easter, I wonder how pro-active Qantas management was in contacting DNATA to ask "Are you SURE you have staff available, and on stand-by to handle Easter? Irrespective, as insurance, can we arrange some decent non-perishable catering to load if there is an immediate problem?" Not just crisps etc.

I don't know, but I'm guessing the answer was probably not. As per other thoughts, if catering not delivered, Qantas probably gets penalty payment from caterer. Damages? Passengers have still paid their premium fare and simply got stiffed.

/rant, but may not be the last.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Former BNE Mexican bar closed on Friday arvo/evening.

Just a dubious looking chicken stew.

Took a stroll to the QP and they had roast spuds and sour cream.

The QP is the new J lounge apparently.

Wines were the same as J lounge.

As best I can tell, spirits and a jar of Fantales seems to be the only premium the J lounge offers over the QP.

Pleased to report there’s been an improvement in BNE dom J lounge catering.

Still no Mexican bar, but today butter chicken actually contained chicken.



Edit: Still party pies in the QP.

Best of both worlds.

 

[Mattg]

Pleased to report there’s been an improvement in BNE dom J lounge catering.

Still no Mexican bar, but today butter chicken actually contained chicken.

View attachment 293575

Edit: Still party pies in the QP.

Best of both worlds.

View attachment 293588

The Mexican bar was available in BNE this afternoon, but I got the last plate - sorry @Captain Halliday!



It was quite nice.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The Mexican bar was available in BNE this afternoon, but I got the last plate - sorry @Captain Halliday!

View attachment 293594

It was quite nice.

Open for afternoon tea, but not dinner?

Yep, makes sense.

Any more delays and I’ll be hear for tomorrow’s Mexican afternoon tea

 

[Nitro6333]

Yeah so rational that you think there is a grand conspiracy to not get catering on board and supply what is needed. C'mon.
It's simply a situation of missing catering due to staff shortages within DNATA.

You tink?

 

[The Flying Schwartz]

You tink?

just a case of QF not being match fit yet