Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[kermatu]

Exact same PER-MEL menu for the red-eye as a fortnight ago. Just to prove the QF inconsistency though (not that further proof is required) the flight couldn't have been more different. While the crew were friendly, it was lights out almost immediately. No tartlet or cookie. No breakfast offered to anyone. Indeed, the crew told people at the start that we were able to go to the Dom J lounge in MEL for a full breakfast on arrival. My response was I'll eat in the F lounge, thanks.

To be fair, the pax in 1K in front of me asked for soup and it was provided happily. The only other pax that seemed to get any attention was a staffer in 2F who had a drink as soon as the seatbelt sign was off. He was as sick as a dog and frankly shouldn't have been travelling.

I had eaten well in town and a bit in the lounge and this time wanted to sleep so none of this phased me but it was pretty disappointing. I did ask for a nightcap and the FA gave me a second bottle (whiskey) in case I needed it - so that was a nice touch.

Still a pathetic menu for a J flight in my opinion.

 

[Berlin]

Really?!?

Yep. One of the flight attendant told me that this particular Captain "does this on almost every flight". I wonder how this would go in terms of safety (or even serving of alcohol- wonder if the Qantas captains have done their RSAs?). It felt like a very nice touch though, both times. All Jetconnect crew btw., not sure if this has something to do with it.

 

[kermatu]

Yet another 2018 menu. MEL-AKL 11:45


Really poor.

 

[kermatu]

Order was taken before departure and I was asked first. FA then went to the other side and asked a couple of pax - so I assume it was status related. I failed to ask for a drink pre-lunch, so after departure and seat-belt sign extinguished I pressed the call button and waited, waited, waited, pressed again and waited, waited, waited. 4 minutes all-up before anyone showed up. Pathetic. After that though service was fine, and in fact a drinks round was offered to everyone. First and only time in my last half-dozen trans-Tasman daytime flights.

Crab starter was nice:

 

[kermatu]

My stupid decision but a horrid pie:

 

[Berlin]

I failed to ask for a drink pre-lunch, so after departure and seat-belt sign extinguished I pressed the call button and waited, waited, waited, pressed again and waited, waited, waited. 4 minutes all-up before anyone showed up. Pathetic.

Agree, that is unacceptable and has happened to me a couple of times too recently. STILL the same old menu! Though I don't mind the pie, it's just not enough for a trans-Tasman. The Laksa on the menu is actually a killer-Laksa, if I end up with it a fourth time (had that same menu three times already ), I'll just get the big bowl of soup and that's it (can't eat seafood so the crab option is out for me).

 

[kermatu]

Agree, that is unacceptable and has happened to me a couple of times too recently. STILL the same old menu! Though I don't mind the pie, it's just not enough for a trans-Tasman. The Laksa on the menu is actually a killer-Laksa, if I end up with it a fourth time (had that same menu three times already ), I'll just get the big bowl of soup and that's it (can't eat seafood so the crab option is out for me).

Laksa and me on a plane is destined for disaster.

 

[Lemon_Party]

First QF J experience, ADL-BNE. Underwhelming tbh. Only offered water as PDB, no menus, offered the chicken glass noodle salad or beef rump and a glass of wine about an hour into a late evening flight - no drinks or service after take off.
Post dinner crew were attentive with refills etc.
Beef was tough, potatoes soggy. Poor choice shown in my poor photo...

 

[Berlin]

First QF J experience, ADL-BNE. Underwhelming tbh. Only offered water as PDB, no menus, offered the chicken glass noodle salad or beef rump and a glass of wine about an hour into a late evening flight - no drinks or service after take off.
Post dinner crew were attentive with refills etc.
Beef was tough, potatoes soggy. Poor choice shown in my poor photo...

Man- you were actually quite lucky. Seen much worse! And Qantas ALWAYS offers the ridiculous selection of water or water as PDB. With an ultra-coughpy “Maggie Beer” non-alcoholic sparkling (overly sweet and sticky so probably more calories than proper champers) thrown in for flights to Perth

 

[I love to travel]

Maggie Beer drink now gone replaced by a vanilla guava drink. I didn't like it

 

[milehighclub]

First and Business International menus changed on April 17th.
Tasman had the change in March.
East/West was scheduled to also change in March, but for a reason unknown to me, the menu cycle has had to be extended with the change coming at a later date.

 

[kermatu]

First and Business International menus changed on April 17th.
Tasman had the change in March.
East/West was scheduled to also change in March, but for a reason unknown to me, the menu cycle has had to be extended with the change coming at a later date.

Tasman definitely didn't change (entirely) in March, based on my flights in April.

 

[Berlin]

First and Business International menus changed on April 17th.
Tasman had the change in March.
East/West was scheduled to also change in March, but for a reason unknown to me, the menu cycle has had to be extended with the change coming at a later date.

Yep, still same old same old out of Aus trans-Tasman. In the other direction, I now had 3 out of the 4 and I must say- even the “change” is more a re-arrangement if the existing meals with a few side changes and an occasional seriously new dish appearing.

 

[milehighclub]

OK, I went and took a look to see what was happening.

Tasman was scheduled to change on 14th March (as was East/West). The menu change only occurred ex NZ. The ex AUS menus have the same issue as the east/west menus with a delay to the change over to commence at a later date.

 

[kermatu]

Menu AKL-SYD A330 15:45 departure.

 

[I love to travel]

OK, I went and took a look to see what was happening.

Tasman was scheduled to change on 14th March (as was East/West). The menu change only occurred ex NZ. The ex AUS menus have the same issue as the east/west menus with a delay to the change over to commence at a later date.

What in earth could be the reason? These things are planned months if not a year in advance. Contractual dispute?

 

[kermatu]

The above is a 'new' menu by the way. Order taken first after takeoff. Knowing the drinks service has all but been canned on these flights I asked for a drink at the same time as the order was taken by the FA. The CSM brought it to me a few minutes later.

When the table was set for the meal I asked for an additional item - a cup sample of the soup. Provided instantly and with minimal fuss. Was quite happy with this - make use of the bread, then a little of the 'salad' to cleanse the palate. Though the soup itself was pretty average.



Then the salmon rillettes starter which I enjoyed.

 

[kermatu]

Having had an absolutely horrid beef fillet on a similar flight previously I was very reluctant to order but it was the only thing that even vaguely appealed. It was better than the last one but still rather poor. As @Berlin previously noted, overcooked and quite tough:



Only reason I didn't send back is there was nothing else I wanted.

 

[kermatu]

Fortunately the cheese out of NZ is usually good.



And melt a bit of chocolate into the coffee to make it somewhat drinkable.

Good service so overall a decent flight. And thankfully the music remains on the Tasman routes.

 

[kermatu]

Dinner SYD-ADL. 19:20 departure. Lamb in some lemon sauce, or a salad.



Sounded awful (lemon sauce with lamb?) but was actually very nice. Plenty of meat.

Good meal and good service, including a pre-dinner drink.