Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[Quickstatus]

lounge dining was great

Was the happy birthday thing edible?

 

[RealtimeY]

Was the happy birthday thing edible?

It was surprisingly good dark chocolate.

 

[Berlin]

Wow, those meatballs look awesome!

 

[RichardMEL]

Not disagreeing but for me there's one other important aspect in addition to this which also comes in as a major trump when forking out money for J vs. Premium eco or Why even: It's the personalised service and that's where Qantas did often shine and more so than the somewhat scripted service on the likes of EK or QR. That's a gamble with the Middle Eastern carriers, I know- it can go both ways but I also had similar inconsistencies with SQ (admittedly J, not F) recently.

I'm digressing, my point: The personal touches and crew interactions is what makes it for me, more than the food and the space but of course ideally they all come nicely together and turn what can be a nightmare experience in the back of the bus into something that I genuinely enjoy. The difference is just so striking from the moment you board: Instead of sitting impatiently squeezed into some nightmare seat with smelly strangers, you get welcomed on board, settle into your comfy seat and enjoy some nice champagne (or even a little Fois Gras tart or two- that was the "standard" amuse buche out of LHR for Qantas First over quite some time).

oh for sure. crews are everything and usually QF F have been very good (at least pre-covid) even with the limited soft product they have to deliver. I can only remember one FA that should probably not have been working that day.. but we all have bad days (and poor crews).

Are EK, SQ and others' more "scripted" (or as some would say about SQ, robotic)? in some ways yes.. I think this is due to either very good, or very ingrained training and high standards (and specially with carriers like QR and SQ and probably EK if you screw something up it's actually quite serious). I would say though for me some crews on these qirlines in F have managed to find a way to be personal (and personable) in interactions to make it at least feel a bit less of a scripted exercise an that everything had rules etc.

The upside of such standards is that you get a far more consistent experience... eg you know pretty much what to expect on any given EK or SQ flight and it will be to a certain level. QF can be more hit and miss as we all know.. but when it comes to F crews and such I find this less annoying and more.. endearing? perhaps not the right word, but I suppose the more relaxed service standard allows for the more personal touch and for crews to reate to pax individually.

A downside of the high standards is thatif things go wrong or go outside of the expected things can get a little weird with some crews while QF, NZ etc seem to be more flexible to go with the flow (or perhaps they experience more "irrops" to be more prepared lol).

All pax are different too and specially in the F (and some J) cabins where expectations can be very different. I am not the sort to expect (or desire) to be fawned upon in F just because it is F. Some expect and demand that kind of thing. It must be hard for any crew to figure out that balance - and to get the feel for a certain passenger expects a certain level of formality(if you will) than others.

For me I know I have been so very fortunate to be able to experience these products - be it EK, QF, SQ or whoever and have a view. I don't take it for granted though. I always try and remember that 99% of travelling public do not get these kinds of chances and while I'm up to criticise an airline I try to keep my entitlement in check

 

[Berlin]

For me I know I have been so very fortunate to be able to experience these products - be it EK, QF, SQ or whoever and have a view. I don't take it for granted though. I always try and remember that 99% of travelling public do not get these kinds of chances and while I'm up to criticise an airline I try to keep my entitlement in check

Very nicely put. Especially after the long dry stretch of Covid, I am more grateful than ever for being able to "turn left". I have an Europe trip coming up combining SQ, QR, AF and EK all in J. Can't wait and certainly don't take any of it for granted even though it's all self-paid.

 

[milehighclub]

What happens to the food if a tray is declined by a passenger as is often the case

Thrown out along with everything else. Nothing can be salvaged from an international flight with the exception of the pretzel/nut mix and the drinks (even if it was the domestic leg, it is treated as International waste).

Pre covid, OZ Harvest would take certain items from domestic flights.

 

[Quickstatus]

Nothing can be salvaged from an international flight

I’ve heard even unopened ice cream tubs are also thrown out.

I wonder what the wastage is annually

 

[JohnM]

I've often asked the CSM or FA to give my cake-in-a-box and the Lindt sugar-ball to a kid down the back.

They have done it very seldom. Mostly 'overlooking' it, but I did have one occasion recently where the CSM said that they were not permitted to do it. No explanation as to why; maybe just Covid-frenzy.

 

[milehighclub]

I’ve heard even unopened ice cream tubs are also thrown out.

I wonder what the wastage is annually

Well on most international flights, it wouldn't be ice cream anymore as aircraft don't have freezers, they use dry ice to keep the ice cream frozen but it wouldn't last that long on most flights.

Airlines have a huge amount of waste. Qantas says they deal with 30,000 tons a year (pre covid).

 

[Economy_Gold]

Well on most international flights, it wouldn't be ice cream anymore as aircraft don't have freezers, they use dry ice to keep the ice cream frozen but it wouldn't last that long on most flights.

Airlines have a huge amount of waste. Qantas says they deal with 30,000 tons a year (pre covid).

Yes, all airlines have a significant amount of waste. On the other hand - should passengers not have a choice? No airline can ever know for sure how much food will be consumed on a flight, so as long as you want to offer every passenger food and drink you will always have waste, especially on the international flights with Australia’s biosecurity rules.

 

[Quickstatus]

should passengers not have a choice?

It is a sobering thought though.
A lot of FF eat up in the lounge and then don’t touch a thing on board.

 

[Berlin]

It is a sobering thought though.
A lot of FF eat up in the lounge and then don’t touch a thing on board.

Given how dismal the meals often are in Qantas lounges (Domestic, I am talking), I’m actually always a bit surprised about that.

But then again, I’m not one of those daily Sydney-Melbourne commuters and thoroughly enjoy the service on an airplane. Nothing further for me than having a nap on a short flight- no way, even just the clouds from above are way too beautiful for that. Each to their own, of course.

 

[**TBA**]

What a cough QF F menu. Both food and drink. QR J is miles ahead of that.

On a recent DOH-SIN QR J service arriving into SIN at 9am, I was offered chips and popcorn for breakfast prior to arrival. No breakfast menu.

 

[Quickstatus]

What happened to the fish and chips in QF J DOM. When I had it no cutlery came with it.

(PreCovid)

 

[Berlin]

On a recent DOH-SIN QR J service arriving into SIN at 9am, I was offered chips and popcorn for breakfast prior to arrival. No breakfast menu.

Same thing on a recent SQ flight Singapore-Sydney, cup noodles or chips was the only options prior to landing.

And while we're at it- I am very well aware that this is a QF thread but the occasional comparison with the competition helps putting it into perspective. Especially as there's so much negativity about Qantas recently, often rightfully so.

This was the cheese plate option on a recent SQ flight from Sydney. I wanted to spare you all but just had to show it as this is worse than what Qantas does, way worse actually. Outright shameful I'd call this, especially on Singapore Airlines. This was literally it and the cheese tasted as dry, cheap and awful as it looks:

 

[eminere]

This was the cheese plate option on a recent SQ flight from Sydney. I wanted to spare you all but just had to show it as this is worse than what Qantas does, way worse actually. Outright shameful I'd call this, especially on Singapore Airlines. This was literally it and the cheese tasted as dry, cheap and awful as it looks:

View attachment 286438

Cheese has never been one of SQ's strong suits when it comes to inflight dining, but this is almost a case of "why bother".

 

[JasonK]

Sorry I know this is a QF thread, but related to the SQ menu above, I did check the menu's online for the overnight SIN-SYD services (SQ221 and SQ231) and seems they are serving the Delactibles menu for the 2nd meal service (basically noodles and chips), which is a shame.

 

[drron]

As far as F cabin staff I have had on flights the best were AA. Second JAL.
But then telling an American you have been to all 50 States puts you in their good books as does being an Australian with LTP on AA.
As for JAL a few Japanese words and saying that you have over 50 trips to Japan sort of gets you onside. I still remember being tucked into bed on JAL F flight from LAX.

 

[mviy]

What happens to the food if a tray is declined by a passenger as is often the case

I think, especially on longer flights the flight attendants often have leftover J meals or if not enough of those leftovers from Y. With international food having to be thrown out the crew may as well have some rather than have it go to waste.

 

[rcn]

AKL - SYD QF140

Omelette with tomato chutney. Was ok. Trans-tasman J in a 737 does feel identical to domestic J, no pillows/blankets/paper menus.