"New" International Economy Class Dining

[Lowjhg]

they just showed the new meals being served on the news (to a selection of foodies).

the meals themselves looked good! The hot meal was being handed out on a small serving tray, bread roll on top. They didn't show how the dessert was being distributed.

From the menu link posted on AustBT, there is no salad anymore (but is that such a loss? - it was never more than one or two mouthfuls anyway).

Overall the new menu looked good.

Im happy the salad is gone! The slaws and leaves are usually uneatable!

 

[dodgeyhack]

I note the menu lists Aperitifs. As a general rule, I want to have an aperitif before the meal. Does this mean I will be able to get an aperitif before my meal?

My last business flight LHR-SYD involved no pre-dinner drink service. When I requested to be served both an aperitif and wine to have with my meal I was told they can't serve me 2 drinks at once. So this would suggest that I have to wait for the meal service, get my pre-dinner drink, enjoy that, wait for someone to then serve me wine all while the meal goes cold.

All of which makes me wonder why Qantas even bother pretending there is anything that could even remotely be considered an aperitif.

Yes! It's very rare to get the pre dinner drink these days and I miss it.

 

[farstar]

As long as there are alternatives such as water to the Bickfords I will be happy.

 

[Lowjhg]

I'm guessing there will be a lid of sorts to cover the main before it's served? Possibly the mousse would be assembled on the 'plate' then.

one more thing, other than aesthetics and galley cart placement, I don't see how the 'plate' can be useful to store other service items?

 

[blackcat20]

J or Y?

In any case, I certainly haven't had an issue in QF Y (let alone J) requesting two drinks at once.

That said, I hate - or at least feel guilty - having more than one wine en place at a time.

My comment was strictly limited to international Qantas, (as this thread is about meals on international flights). Domestic Qantas on flights of 90 minutes or more seem to have zero,nil,nada,no issue doing a drink then meal service in business. But that makes it all the more annoying that a 7 or 12 flight cannot get the same standard of service.

Im also talking international J, but Virgin, as a comparison...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm guessing there will be a lid of sorts to cover the main before it's served? Possibly the mousse would be assembled on the 'plate' then.

one more thing, other than aesthetics and galley cart placement, I don't see how the 'plate' can be useful to store other service items?

the 'plate' was a couple of centimetres larger than the actual meal container - there didn't look to be much room around it for anything else. The meal had the same tin cover on it that they use now.

 

[anat0l]

they just showed the new meals being served on the news (to a selection of foodies).

the meals themselves looked good! The hot meal was being handed out on a small serving tray, bread roll on top. They didn't show how the dessert was being distributed.

From the menu link posted on AustBT, there is no salad anymore (but is that such a loss? - it was never more than one or two mouthfuls anyway).

Overall the new menu looked good.

Im happy the salad is gone! The slaws and leaves are usually uneatable!

I know some people who will complain for the loss of salad, albeit insipid as they might have been. I guess for some it would have been part of the last bastion meal if the main served (particularly special meals) was disagreeable.

Maybe after some time they may distribute another plate with cheese, crackers and the dessert (usually a plastic pot of pudding). Or, they may just hand these items to you (i.e. the cheese and cracker packs on top of the pudding pot, then hand to you), then you use the serving tray as the "base". If you haven't finished your main yet, you would need to put it aside your serving plate (so table might get a wee bit crowded). Anyway, just a guess.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

cheese and biscuits are now part of the 'snack' menu for 'later in flight'.

 

[blackcat20]

I know some people who will complain for the loss of salad, albeit insipid as they might have been. I guess for some it would have been part of the last bastion meal if the main served (particularly special meals) was disagreeable.

The salad I hd last week was cold peas and corn with some creamy sauce....not edible.

 

[sydstar]

The sample menu on Ausbt (for US services) actually looks quite decent for Y. Curious to know what would happen if you didn't want the Bickford's drink? Is there an alternative available, or a instead a wait for the drink service?

 

[Lowjhg]

The salad I hd last week was cold peas and corn with some creamy sauce....not edible.

even in J, the salad IMHO shouldn't be served. I wouldn't be interested in some salad with some particularly sour vinaigrette when I'm hungering for the starters to be served!

For example, for the last 2 rotations of Y starters, they have been:
Rocket and Parmesan salad for Jun-Aug 14
Salad of Coleslaw and baby spinach Sep-Dec 14

clearly these starters are inedible for most and scrapping them would be a good choice for a much more larger main.

 

[dajop]

Prima facie, this looks like a very positive development.

I guess a lot of AFF'ers are probably a little wary about these sorts of improvements (enhancements?), as there is a strong history of QF giving with one hand and taking with the other. The cynic in me sees an eventual "right sizing" of the meals, a reduction over time of the grazing options during flight and extra effort put into trials that ensured record satisfaction levels. Also when I read comments like "our crew will be able to serve and clear meals up to 30 minutes faster giving them more time to interact and assist passengers", makes me think ".... giving them more time to gossip in the galley ..... ".

Would be impressed if QF were to prove the cynic in me wrong!

 

[anat0l]

The salad I hd last week was cold peas and corn with some creamy sauce....not edible.

See normally I wouldn't mind that kind of salad... basically Russian salad without any meat on the poverty line.

Seriously, it would be alright - probably should throw some diced carrots in it.

even in J, the salad IMHO shouldn't be served. I wouldn't be interested in some salad with some particularly sour vinaigrette when I'm hungering for the starters to be served!

Bring on the sour vinaigrette! I must be in the minority here.

They don't do a lot of justice to the side salad in J anyway. Basically a handful of green leaves - would it be so hard to offer a tailored salad service (greens, cherry tomatoes, red onions, grated carrot, olives)...... hey, there's an idea - someone tell QF...

For example, for the last 2 rotations of Y starters, they have been:
Rocket and Parmesan salad for Jun-Aug 14
Salad of Coleslaw and baby spinach Sep-Dec 14

clearly these starters are inedible for most and scrapping them would be a good choice for a much more larger main.

That's a shame because I like rocket and parmesan. In many cases, the rocket has lost its pepper quality (no idea why) so it doesn't sting, but when it does I can see it is polarising.

Not sure why coleslaw and baby spinach go together.

The sample menu on Ausbt (for US services) actually looks quite decent for Y. Curious to know what would happen if you didn't want the Bickford's drink? Is there an alternative available, or a instead a wait for the drink service?

I would hope they would put on the tray some water. Otherwise, I wonder what lemon and elderflower tastes like. I'd probably be wrong here, but whilst I know that Bickfords make cordials, surely at least one of the offerings would be more subtle in the sweet department than the other...

 

[Lowjhg]

I would hope they would put on the tray some water. Otherwise, I wonder what lemon and elderflower tastes like. I'd probably be wrong here, but whilst I know that Bickfords make cordials, surely at least one of the offerings would be more subtle in the sweet department than the other...

Im sure the 'lemon and elderflower' drink will most probably taste like a cold sparkling honey lemon meets camomile tea kind of beverage

 

[RooFlyer]

This is so true with QF. I find AF and BA to be two airlines which really understand the concept of aperitif before meal.
The other thing I don't understand with J and F service on most airlines is that the cabin crew rarely asks if one would like to drink a different wine with the appetizer or main.

Count Air Canada as another one who does a good pre dinner drink service (in J at least), domestic and international. And they also assume that the G&T I have pre dinner is going to do me right through.

 

[BD1959]

"Butter infused bread" sees the demise of the placing the solid butter pack on the hot meal. Sounds quite disgusting ... cue another "Lurpack" onslaught!!

Regards,

BD

 

[opusman]

Looking forward to your first hand feedback.

But that would mean going Y ?!!? :shock:

 

[yohy?!]

re: the portion size returning back to its former glory

we may need a new term for something QF has "enhanced" and then relented on later...

 

[defurax]

re: the portion size returning back to its former glory

we may need a new term for something QF has "enhanced" and then relented on later...

A cyclical evolution

 

[RooFlyer]

re: the portion size returning back to its former glory

we may need a new term for something QF has "enhanced" and then relented on later...

How about

"Qantas is pleased to announce a retro de-enhancement ..." Would make as much spin sense as some that comes out these days ...