Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[JIMMYTHEJET]

Another example of domestic business class catering that puts Qantas to shame. (Intra Europe is basically domestic.) This was a 1hr 50 min flight from OSL to AMS. The meal is cold, but beautifully boxed for service. A diced sweet potato salad with a serve of walnuts, and two macarons for dessert. Two fresh bread rolls added. Plenty of decent wine as well.

The next flight from AMS to HAM was 1hr 5 mins and had the same presentation, but an Asian rice noodle and prawn salad, cashews and macarons. Great service, especially as the aircraft sat on the tarmac both ends due to a massive storm. At AMS, the Captain brought interested passengers up to view the coughpit. Great crew!

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food looks good for 1hr flight hopefully enough time to eat
I’m doing club Europe on ba soon I feel like I might need to eat quickly haha

However I reckon qantas pretty good for domestic business don’t have to struggle with taking of packaging

 

[Flyfrequently]

Another example of domestic business class catering that puts Qantas to shame. (Intra Europe is basically domestic.) This was a 1hr 50 min flight from OSL to AMS. The meal is cold, but beautifully boxed for service. A diced sweet potato salad with a serve of walnuts, and two macarons for dessert. Two fresh bread rolls added. Plenty of decent wine as well.

The next flight from AMS to HAM was 1hr 5 mins and had the same presentation, but an Asian rice noodle and prawn salad, cashews and macarons. Great service, especially as the aircraft sat on the tarmac both ends due to a massive storm. At AMS, the Captain brought interested passengers up to view the coughpit. Great crew!

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Will second your views on KLM @Port Power - excellent service and crews both short and long haul.

 

[muppet]

…
However I reckon qantas pretty good for domestic business don’t have to struggle with taking of packaging

Agreed. I prefer to be served on a plate. The random bread rolls sitting on the plastic box reminds me of QF economy.

 

[ozflier]

Travelling Quebec to Montreal by train for a change of scenery. A choice of 3 mains, a side salad and a side cake desert for lunch. Choice of wines and spirits. . Can we sponsor Neil Perry on to a similar journey and show him how it can be done.

I had hoped with the end of Joyce would see the end of N.Perry!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

food looks good for 1hr flight hopefully enough time to eat
I’m doing club Europe on ba soon I feel like I might need to eat quickly haha

However I reckon qantas pretty good for domestic business don’t have to struggle with taking of packaging

An hour is actually quite a long time!

BA serves a cold meal even on Paris and Amsterdam flights. They have extra crew, so there’s always time for the meal, drinks, drink top ups and coffee or tea. Sometimes the business cabin can be 36 to 40 people, or more! The meal is catered specifically for the length of flight, so never feels rushed.

Back in the old days we used to get a full hot breakfast on TAA and Ansett between canberra and sydney… 21 mins. And that was for 24 pax plus another 30 in business. It can be done!

 

[anat0l]

Back in the old days we used to get a full hot breakfast on TAA and Ansett between canberra and sydney… 21 mins. And that was for 24 pax plus another 30 in business. It can be done!

I'm curious - how did they do it?

This is not a dig... I'm not old enough to have ever experienced that kind of service for that many people. How did they do it?

Things that I imagine may help:

• All the elements were warmed on a single tray / all in one go (bread separate)
• Two or more FAs working J cabin at the same time
• Only one option (lots of Euro carriers do this for J meals - there's only one choice, unless SPML)
• Ovens started with heating food on the ground before take off
• Only one drinks run
• Cabin secured much later (much closer to touch down) compared to now

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm curious - how did they do it?

This is not a dig... I'm not old enough to have ever experienced that kind of service for that many people. How did they do it?

Things that I imagine may help:

• All the elements were warmed on a single tray / all in one go (bread separate)
• Two or more FAs working J cabin at the same time
• Only one option (lots of Euro carriers do this for J meals - there's only one choice, unless SPML)
• Ovens started with heating food on the ground before take off
• Only one drinks run
• Cabin secured much later (much closer to touch down) compared to now

For sure, the meals would have been on ‘cook’ prior to takeoff. But otherwise meals were actually more comorehensive back then. You got at least two courses… IIRC it was fruit bowl plus the hot breakfast, hot croissant and jam. And yea and coffee.

For evening flights it would have been a salad, hot main and dessert of some description.

Crew worked hard, but there was no fussing around with plating meals, or adding accompaniments like dressings or sauces at the seat. I think they also staffed their 727s with maybe 5 or 6 in the cabin? At least 3 doing the service up front.

Perth flights we used to get two services. The meal after takeoff (single tray), but then an additional pre-arrival service of hot canapés with drinks. The red eye back used to have canapés on departure, and then a hot breakfast before arrival. Or you could use your boarding pass to get breakfast in the airport after arrival. Business class used to get cold canapés with the drink service before dinner on MEL/SYD- PER.

BA crews do a similar level of service on their ultra short flights. And asian carriers to the same. A friend flew HKG-CAN on CX and was given a meal (albeit a snack box, but it’s full bar)

 

[Auzzieflyer]

QF1562 LST/SYD. Was expecting an average meal, but ended up with a Prawn Paella which I thought was quite tasty.

 

[Thhhza]

Hey folks, my wife and I are flying in J on QF68 next week and have a dumb question which I'm struggling to find the answer for. My wife is a basic vegetarian (eats eggs) and I'm not sure if we should select one of the special meal options (vegan, veg hindu, strict indian veg all of which don't contain eggs) or if the onboard menu will have a vegetarian option?

 

[RichardMEL]

Hey folks, my wife and I are flying in J on QF68 next week and have a dumb question which I'm struggling to find the answer for. My wife is a basic vegetarian (eats eggs) and I'm not sure if we should select one of the special meal options (vegan, veg hindu, strict indian veg all of which don't contain eggs) or if the onboard menu will have a vegetarian option?

While QF usually have the plant based option(s) on the menu,, and likely to be more appropriate options for a flight from India as being culturally appropriate... who knows what may be available when your wife's turn comes.

If it were me I'd put in for a special meal to be sure if an appropriate option for her - potentially to be supplemented from onboard menu.

Better than then a chance nothing substantial she can eat on the flight.

My thought anyway.

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

Hey folks, my wife and I are flying in J on QF68 next week and have a dumb question which I'm struggling to find the answer for. My wife is a basic vegetarian (eats eggs) and I'm not sure if we should select one of the special meal options (vegan, veg hindu, strict indian veg all of which don't contain eggs) or if the onboard menu will have a vegetarian option?

If passenger needs a special meal because of there diet or health concern request one in the booking .

 

[sudoer]

While QF usually have the plant based option(s) on the menu,, and likely to be more appropriate options for a flight from India as being culturally appropriate... who knows what may be available when your wife's turn comes.

Yep, there should be some decent options on the menu BUT there's likely also much higher demand.

I think seat selection is quite relevant here. Row 1/2 I'd feel more comfortable suggesting to order off the menu, Rows 7/8 definitely request a special meal.

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

They should request special meal . Because they may possibly get 3 courses of special meal . Rather than just the entree or mains .

Yep, there should be some decent options on the menu BUT there's likely also much higher demand.

I think seat selection is quite relevant here. Row 1/2 I'd feel more comfortable suggesting to order off the menu, Rows 7/8 definitely request a special meal.

 

[sudoer]

Rather than just the entree or mains .

There is a guaranteed plant based dining option for both courses now?

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

There is a guaranteed plant based dining option for both courses now?

I think the plant based item is generally a soup or something in entree .
Don’t think they offer one for mains .

But all the carnivores could choose the plant based meal. Then there would be none for her left .


But yeah requesting in special meal in the booking is good for them . At least there business class they don’t need to worry about loosing upgrade over a meal .

 

[Cloud9]

I think the plant based item is generally a soup or something in entree .
Don’t think they offer one for mains .

But all the carnivores could choose the plant based meal. Then there would be none for her left .


But yeah requesting in special meal in the booking is good for them . At least there business class they don’t need to worry about loosing upgrade over a meal .

Bit narrow minded. Could be pescatarians and vegans in the fold, too.

 

[SYD]

There is a guaranteed plant based dining option for both courses now?

That’s the Pumpkin based dining sub-option.

 

[sudoer]

Don’t think they offer one for mains .

They do, look at any of the international menus posted in this thread in the last 6 months.

 

[RichardMEL]

Bit narrow minded. Could be pescatarians and vegans in the fold, too.

Indeed. Given the flight is ex-India, the chances of vegetarian/vegan pax I would think to be higher tbh.

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

They do, look at any of the international menus posted in this thread in the last 6 months.

I can’t remember my last flight in Jan from Japan on business . But that’s cool if they offer two plant based options now for starter and mains .

I wonder if dessert is more substantial on special requested meal rather than fruit plate .