Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[love_the_life]

Some would say the bubbles take away their troubles...

Yeah but I don’t think QF Dom J bubbles are top shelf. Suspect bubbly lolly water,

 

[mannej]

Yeah but I don’t think QF Dom J bubbles are top shelf. Suspect bubbly lolly water,

The old Grant Burge sparkling...

 

[suze2000]

The old Grant Burge sparkling...

At least they actually HAD bubbles. If I'm honest, I'm not that fussy as long as it's not sweet.

 

[Flying Fox]

QantasLink Sausage Roll and Pie.

View attachment 236751

At RRP -

Bottle of water - $3
Lindor ball - $1
Party sausage roll - $1
Party pie - $1
Cup of coffee/tea - $4

Total cost of catering = $10.

And how much was the J ticket ???

 

[MEL_Traveller]

At RRP -

Bottle of water - $3
Lindor ball - $1
Party sausage roll - $1
Party pie - $1
Cup of coffee/tea - $4

Total cost of catering = $10.

And how much was the J ticket ???

I have had the view for quite some time that QF averages around $2.50 per passenger for catering in business class domestic, excluding alcohol. I haven't seen much evidence to the contrary lately!

 

[RichardMEL]

yes, and look at how much less you get in the USA on similar stage lengths?

I do not defend QF catering.. you can't.. but also the price charged is what they feel the market will bear (so interesting to see if Rex's entry will bring down prices more to compete - or try to crush them - or not, but I digress).

QF have never suggested their inflight catering was supposed to be a main meal, or even gourmet. Over the past decade or so there's even been a definite push or idea that people eat in lounges (and yes, with some exceptions like the Spice Bar some of the lounge food is poor too but that's a separate argument). QF have usually suggested their meals are more or less a snack specially for a one to two hour flight. That's long been the case in my view - I've never gotten on say MEL-BNE and expected to be filled by a lunch or dinner meal. Sometimes I am surprised, but other times I will also eat after, or usually before in the lounge.

And yes I know if one flies say TG from SIN-BKK (a two-ish hour flight) the food provided and quality is so much more.. but there are multiple reasons for this (long discussed).

I do understand the idea if you pay a lot of money you should expect more - certainly that usually applies to say a hotel room with amenities etc... again paid premium class travel is as much about what the market will pay for it as much as the product. With QF dom J the mix of actual paid v upgrade or staff travel is probably quite low relatively (just like in the USA, europe etc) so there is less incentive to provide better amenity... even the seats I mean how tight are 737 J now in row 2 and 3?

There are many reasons people PAY for J - I doubt many do it for the food....

And remember VA were dishing up two minute noodles so.... a party pie seems pure indulgence?!!

 

[Daver6]

At RRP -

Bottle of water - $3
Lindor ball - $1
Party sausage roll - $1
Party pie - $1
Cup of coffee/tea - $4

Total cost of catering = $10.

And how much was the J ticket ???

You forgot the major expense QF with their catering. Royalty fees to one Neil Perry

 

[MEL_Traveller]

yes, and look at how much less you get in the USA on similar stage lengths?

I do not defend QF catering.. you can't.. but also the price charged is what they feel the market will bear (so interesting to see if Rex's entry will bring down prices more to compete - or try to crush them - or not, but I digress).

QF have never suggested their inflight catering was supposed to be a main meal, or even gourmet. Over the past decade or so there's even been a definite push or idea that people eat in lounges (and yes, with some exceptions like the Spice Bar some of the lounge food is poor too but that's a separate argument). QF have usually suggested their meals are more or less a snack specially for a one to two hour flight. That's long been the case in my view - I've never gotten on say MEL-BNE and expected to be filled by a lunch or dinner meal. Sometimes I am surprised, but other times I will also eat after, or usually before in the lounge.

And yes I know if one flies say TG from SIN-BKK (a two-ish hour flight) the food provided and quality is so much more.. but there are multiple reasons for this (long discussed).

I do understand the idea if you pay a lot of money you should expect more - certainly that usually applies to say a hotel room with amenities etc... again paid premium class travel is as much about what the market will pay for it as much as the product. With QF dom J the mix of actual paid v upgrade or staff travel is probably quite low relatively (just like in the USA, europe etc) so there is less incentive to provide better amenity... even the seats I mean how tight are 737 J now in row 2 and 3?

There are many reasons people PAY for J - I doubt many do it for the food....

And remember VA were dishing up two minute noodles so.... a party pie seems pure indulgence?!!

I dunno! QF says of its domestic dining 'experience':

Collaborating with Neil Perry, Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service since 1997, when travelling in Business we offer a range of meals, snacks and superior wines tailored to each route across our Australian network.​

​

Enjoy an expanded menu with the addition of small bites and more choices of entrée and main. The freedom of flexible dining, with a move away from tray service towards menus and separately plated courses, allow you more personal space.​

​

Our Qantas Rockpool Sommeliers are proud to present an exceptional selection of wine from boutique producers to iconic brands from across Australia and New Zealand along with a range of non-alcoholic options.​

​

The dining experience is delivered by our professional, personable crew and enhanced by stylish tableware designed by David Caon.​

​

That sounds like both 'main meal' and 'gourmet'.

In the USA at least you know when you're going to get a meal, and exactly what it will be. Everyone can pre-order on AA, so no worries about elites getting first crack at best food. But... if there's no meal at least you know you're going to get a solid drink - usually a double!

I think a better comparison is BA. Even the shortest flights - 30 minutes from London to Amsterdam - you get a pretty good feed of at least two courses, breads, full bar with champagne, and tea or coffee. And fares about one third that of Qantas. Air France catering is absolutely delicious on ultra short hauls. It can be done, QF just don't have the inspiration. Or want to spend the money.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I think a better comparison is BA. Even the shortest flights - 30 minutes from London to Amsterdam

Ahhh, but the seats! I'd rather comfy seats. And I always associate BA lounges with a big bowl of crisps.

cheers skip

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ahhh, but the seats! I'd rather comfy seats. And I always associate BA lounges with a big bowl of crisps.

cheers skip

Fair point. I actually don't mind the 2+2 euro seating. The only difference for me (tall, not wide) is the couple of inches less legroom. The QF seats however don't account, in terms of real estate, for the massive difference between Club Europe and QFd fares

 

[RichardMEL]

Well sure MEL_Traveller ... but marketing spin is just that. A big fat wank. And I know all about how to write wanky rubbish (ie: every post ) so yeah.. I take little from marketing.

I still believe the "unwritten" belief from QF is that meals, specially on short <3h type sectors and in particular the "golden triangle" are more snacks and quality.. well... I mean VA didn't offer a lot better except for transcon where they wiped the kitchen floor with QF IMO. However that was all in the past.

QF is just as much playing to what it *thinks* (you know, all those times they heard from valued customers how much we want sausage rolls and Shaw + bloody Smith) their pax want as it is about what the alternative is. Rex step up and do any better? Doubt it but you never know. VA is not going to compete seriously there - they've said as much via their "mid market value" type statements.. and that is fine looking at their general J price point is lower but again what incentive does QF have to put effort into higher cost/quality meals?

Don't get me wrong I would appreciate some variety and something better (ok full disclosure right now I would be bloody happy to be flying some place and be able to whine about a party pie ) - we all know they can do much better.. but they won't.. certainly not right now when Covid can be used to cover a variety of "sins" as the saying goes (or is paraphrased)

btw I stills say that meals out of OOL for whatever reasons are (OK were pre-covid) a smidge superior. My best QF dom meals almost always on QF881 or even the QFlink 717's to SYD in the afternoon (usually QF1569). Always puzzled me but routes out of OOL I did actually look forward to what would be offered.. so go figure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dunno what Rex will offer... but at $299 for a business class seat MEL-SYD, and semi-flexible at that, will food even be a factor? A drink will do me!
Marketing spin is one thing, and it has been very carefully worded. But in reality it's what we used to get offered 20 or 30 years ago as standard (save for the awful 'afternoon tea' sarnies on TAA, which were a poor excuse even for a snack). SYD-CBR used to serve a full hot breakfast, lunch and dinner on a flight of around 20 minutes, and to a cabin with as many as 20-24 first class and another 30 in business class. Today QF struggles to serve a cold cheese plate to row 3 on a 737 before the top of descent on a MEL-SYD

 

[milehighclub]

btw I stills say that meals out of OOL for whatever reasons are (OK were pre-covid) a smidge superior. My best QF dom meals almost always on QF881 or even the QFlink 717's to SYD in the afternoon (usually QF1569). Always puzzled me but routes out of OOL I did actually look forward to what would be offered.. so go figure.

OOL was double catered, so it would've been SYD.

 

[kpro]

Got the quiche and pie from CBR to BNE. The quiche was a lot better then the sausage roll, but that's not saying much.

 

[ozflier]

I’m nor sure that the earlier comparison of premium class meals Qantas vs US legacy carriers is a valid one.

I, for one, often do not have time to graze in the lounge pre departure – I rely on the J class food offering as an alternative to a meal – I prefer something substantial and actually enjoy a good meal and good wine sitting up front in an aircraft.

To my point, I travelled a lot on UA and AA pre April 2020 and offer these observations.

Very short north American flights say under 300 km offer little in the way of food or beverage service but once you get above 1000 km, the offerings are far better than QF – bear in mind that the US carriers usually call their premium cabin “First Class”.

QF business class seats are often priced 3 or 4 times higher than the US airlines “First” for a similar difference eg Dulles to Boston AUD 233 vs similar distance Qantas BNE-SYD for AUD 900.

Once the mileage increases in the US, premium class food quality improves at a far faster rate than QF. The gap between say SYD-PER meals and wine service is huge when you compare American’s brilliant offering in their flagship services JFK-LAX or UA’s transcon Polaris business class.

I think that QF, for the price the punter pays, needs to offer something better than party pies or some of the slop pictured earlier in this thread in its premium cabins.

The competition is there waiting round the corner.

 

[RichardMEL]

Dunno what Rex will offer... but at $299 for a business class seat MEL-SYD, and semi-flexible at that, will food even be a factor? A drink will do me!

ahah! but this is my point in a way. See for a lower price you're happy to not worry about a meal.

So, if QF "bundled" it's J product with no meal but drinks or something and offered a discount (yes, I know, even a 30% for example discount to their high J fares is still bloody high) would you consider that better value?

Really see it's a MEL-SYD flight.. see for $300 you're saying OK I don't care about a meal, but at $700 (for example) you do which is fine, but it's only an hour for both flights. Is the food REALLY that important? Of course it's not worth any price difference, and QF knows this. They are not pricing on the F&B product here.

And I feel that's the misconception by some. Pricing has nothing to do with food (and as discussed vice-versa).

And a semi serious question... if QF dropped it's cheap "comfort food" options for domestic J and I don't know offered caviar, lobster, sirloin steak etc (god knows how you would eat that on such a short flight but I digress) would you actually WANT that? specially if you (a generic you, not anyone personally) kind of fare on a regular basis if you flew weekly?

I still think QF see these "meals" as more or less a snack or a "I didn't have time for the liunge so here's a toastie" or something deal. Despite the Neil Ponytail spin it is what they offer more or less.. same in the lounges too just with more range and offerings and ability to cater for more needs and wishes, but still more or less your expected comfort foods of one sort of another.

And see the 3-4pm rush in SYD when the party pies come out !!! it's a zoo! If they weren't so popular I doubt QF would keep offering them.

 

[RichardMEL]

I've flown EWR-LAX in the p.s. service on UA a number of times and yes the food is "better" than the usual UA fare.. is it better than QF on SYD-PER? tbh marginal. I mean you don't get a hell of a lot on UA (or I didn't anyway) a main meal of sorts then a snack or just a cookie or whatever closer to landing. Some services would be better but honestly I would say those more or less on par - though I have been disappointed by QF transcon (but not surprised)....

the US majors have incentive on high yield routes like NY-West coast like these as they actually have real paid demand while most "First" services on US domestic flights are full of upgrades, mostly "free" and the like and the quality and offerings vary widely. Though quite a tasty burger came on a DEN-LAX a couple of years back which surprised for the stage length.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ahah! but this is my point in a way. See for a lower price you're happy to not worry about a meal.

So, if QF "bundled" it's J product with no meal but drinks or something and offered a discount (yes, I know, even a 30% for example discount to their high J fares is still bloody high) would you consider that better value?

Really see it's a MEL-SYD flight.. see for $300 you're saying OK I don't care about a meal, but at $700 (for example) you do which is fine, but it's only an hour for both flights. Is the food REALLY that important? Of course it's not worth any price difference, and QF knows this. They are not pricing on the F&B product here.

And I feel that's the misconception by some. Pricing has nothing to do with food (and as discussed vice-versa).

And a semi serious question... if QF dropped it's cheap "comfort food" options for domestic J and I don't know offered caviar, lobster, sirloin steak etc (god knows how you would eat that on such a short flight but I digress) would you actually WANT that? specially if you (a generic you, not anyone personally) kind of fare on a regular basis if you flew weekly?

I still think QF see these "meals" as more or less a snack or a "I didn't have time for the liunge so here's a toastie" or something deal. Despite the Neil Ponytail spin it is what they offer more or less.. same in the lounges too just with more range and offerings and ability to cater for more needs and wishes, but still more or less your expected comfort foods of one sort of another.

And see the 3-4pm rush in SYD when the party pies come out !!! it's a zoo! If they weren't so popular I doubt QF would keep offering them.

I think the '$299' category kind of pitches the offering as an economy or premium economy product, paying for the real estate. That's a little different to the QF offering which is marketed as a 'premium' product, from the seat to the service and yes, food. I guess the problem for QF is that the quality of their offering is falling, and they really don't seem to care. BA and Air France show that food can be done really well on ultra short sectors.

For economy it's a bit different. QF does quite well in offering competitive pricing. While legacy carrier flights in Asia routinely offer a full hot meal even in economy, fares are often quite a bit higher.

 

[ozflier]

Thank you - I agree with your comments re variation in offerings . From my experience however, , I don't agree that US trancons are not better than Aussie ones in terms of catering .
But I also tried to point out that there is a big difference in fares between similar length sectors USA vs Australia.
eg EWR-lax ps service business aud 688 vs SYD-PER on QF aud 2572.
I would accept a reduced level of food and wine quality on an American airline compared with QF if I was paying $1900 less.
We need to compare "apples with apples" and fare needs to be taken into account with meals , wine selection , seat comfort, service etc.
My contention is that passengers may end up rejecting party pies and "slop" if the opposition keeps fares relatively cheap and offers even an incremental improvement over existing QF catering.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Wet meal fan here and I quite like the 'slop'. Been enjoying it wigh a glass of red since AN days. Has come with many official names but I still call it meat lumps. Much preferable to pies that present like they came from a microwave