Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[QF WP]

No, that's probably QF "enhancing" (away) the need to advise people that there was a problem (wasn't loaded). The CSM and FA may have been embarrassed if they had been asked the question (about the missing bread rolls).

 

[RichardMEL]

Well it was a young QFLink crew. The CSM (Lachlan I think his name was) was great, well trained, nothing was too much trouble etc... I don't know about if they were instructed to say nothing or what but it just seemed weird.

I mean what if someone either didn't want that stuff on their tray, or worse, may have been alergic to the 2.5 nuts there?

Anyway was an interesting experience. Still love flying on the 717 pocket rocket (though I think on the slightly longer sector of MEL-BNE it was no near as zippy on takeoff)

 

[DrJ]

I requested champagne which wasn't available so was given Grant Burge Pinot noir Chardonnay sparkling
View attachment 106118

Is Champagne ever served in Dom J? I've only ever been offered the Grant Burge ( which is admittedly passable, better than the Drives bubbles they serve in the J lounge)

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I mean what if someone either didn't want that stuff on their tray, or worse, may have been alergic to the 2.5 nuts there?

Off topic but I was on an trans Atlantic BA flight a few weeks ago and the CSM announced no nuts would be served in any cabin due to a passenger with a severe nut allergy.

 

[danielt25]

Is Champagne ever served in Dom J? I've only ever been offered the Grant Burge ( which is admittedly passable, better than the Drives bubbles they serve in the J lounge)

I am not sure about domestic J in general. I knew virgin apparently upped their "catering" game so I wanted to see what Qantas offered in this regard.

 

[JessicaTam]

Is Champagne ever served in Dom J? I've only ever been offered the Grant Burge ( which is admittedly passable, better than the Drives bubbles they serve in the J lounge)


I am not sure about domestic J in general. I knew virgin apparently upped their "catering" game so I wanted to see what Qantas offered in this regard.

Domestically it is either Grant Burge or Yarra Burn (blech - sorry, I don't know the technical term for 'yuk'). Never champagne.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Domestically it is either Grant Burge or Yarra Burn (blech - sorry, I don't know the technical term for 'yuk'). Never champagne.

'Blech' is better than 'yuk' when it comes to either of these.

 

[DrJ]

'Blech' is better than 'yuk' when it comes to either of these.

Grant's is definitely better than Yarra Burn ( so should be glad it is what is always offered on PER - BNE/SYD flights) but champagne it aint.

With the disproportionate cost of dom J travel ( my recent PER-SYD-ZQN trip in J was over a grand cheaper than a PER-SYD would have been - go figure!), surely serving a low end Champagne is possible? There are plenty of acceptable of sub $50 champagnes at Dan's these days, and QF would get a better deal on a bulk order. I find the quality of the wines is the biggest let down of dom J. The J lounge for that matter also- hardly any differentiation from the QP

 

[kermatu]

Well it was a young QFLink crew. The CSM (Lachlan I think his name was) was great, well trained, nothing was too much trouble etc... I don't know about if they were instructed to say nothing or what but it just seemed weird.

I mean what if someone either didn't want that stuff on their tray, or worse, may have been alergic to the 2.5 nuts there?

Anyway was an interesting experience. Still love flying on the 717 pocket rocket (though I think on the slightly longer sector of MEL-BNE it was no near as zippy on takeoff)

I don't recall being served bread on a 717 flight - though mine are usually CBR-SYD or maybe CBR-MEL where there isn't much time and the 'meals' are generally woeful anyway.

For MEL-BNE it's really poor.

 

[Berlin]

Just seemed odd. Think they could have either asked or at least apologised for the lack of bread.
so that added to the overly cheap feel to the whole thing

Maybe someone thought to be really clever? "I wonder if anyone notices that this is actually NOT bread?"

 

[MEL_Traveller]

With the disproportionate cost of dom J travel ( my recent PER-SYD-ZQN trip in J was over a grand cheaper than a PER-SYD would have been - go figure!), surely serving a low end Champagne is possible? There are plenty of acceptable of sub $50 champagnes at Dan's these days, and QF would get a better deal on a bulk order. I find the quality of the wines is the biggest let down of dom J. The J lounge for that matter also- hardly any differentiation from the QP

Catering is one of those areas QF has chosen to cuts costs by the look of it. Judging by the 'meals' shown here - they'd be budgeting for an average of $2-$3 per passenger (sarnies would be 50c, some of the other dishes maybe a fraction more than a couple of dollars). Beverages might bump that up to $5 per person (based on a couple glasses of wine). Just saving $1 per passenger, multiplied by the number of seats would see a huge cost benefit. Save $5 and it mounts up (AA cutting olives in half!). Champagne would blow that budget out of the water.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As far as I'm aware the crew have been told it's due to liquor licensing differences around Australia, despite VA being able to offer it, I'm guessing QF have some different licensing agreement/arrangement. On QFs version of coast to coast there will be an option other than water, and on breakfast flights I believe the juice is still offered.

Thanks for your perspective!

Just on this though... QF is not shy of lobbying the government for hand outs. *If* it is the case that VA and QF have different licensing arrangements, QF would be all over it like a rash if they wanted it changed. I don't think there's any incentive.

 

[I love to travel]

I think with the exception of coast to coast flights QF flights food offerings are on par with 90s food offerings in economy

 

[RichardMEL]

Appros of nothing... GB Sparking is not Vegan.... (I came across this when looking up Vegan acceptable Champagnes for a family thing)

 

[Mattg]

QF1734 (B717) MEL-BNE

REALLY downmarket effort on this one. Choices were the "Carrot and Thyme" soup and a "Korean Beef Salad".. had soup. The pretzel mix was already plated - I guess they had no bread loaded(?!). Wine was a non S+S Sauv Blanc

but really.. no bread with soup? Just seemed so ... downmarketView attachment 106237

Are you sure you didn't mean to post this in the Virgin catering thread?

 

[Pleb Status]

Are you sure you didn't mean to post this in the Virgin catering thread?

Agree. It is always good to demonstrate how superior the VA J product has become...

 

[DrJ]

Catering is one of those areas QF has chosen to cuts costs by the look of it. Judging by the 'meals' shown here - they'd be budgeting for an average of $2-$3 per passenger (sarnies would be 50c, some of the other dishes maybe a fraction more than a couple of dollars). Beverages might bump that up to $5 per person (based on a couple glasses of wine). Just saving $1 per passenger, multiplied by the number of seats would see a huge cost benefit. Save $5 and it mounts up (AA cutting olives in half!). Champagne would blow that budget out of the water.

I guess that's the sad truth - the supply/demand situation re dom J must be so in QF's favour that they see no need to either - 1. make the cost of dom J more reasonable, or 2. enhance (in the non ironic sense!) the service with better food, real champagne and wines in the 40-60 range.

As someone who likes to travel J whenever possible, I had really hoped that the price would come down with the corporate belt tightening of the last decade, and (more so) the competition from VA whereas previously QF had had a monopoly through most of the 2000s. If anything though, the fares have only gone up!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If anything though, the fares have only gone up!

yeah... it's $1000 more to fly return MEL-SYD J at peak times than a return QF economy from Sydney to London. And the London flight is 44 hours more flying, gets you at least 6 full hot meals, and an open bar. Go figure.

 

[RichardMEL]

yeah... it's $1000 more to fly return MEL-SYD J at peak times than a return QF economy from Sydney to London. And the London flight is 44 hours more flying, gets you at least 6 full hot meals, and an open bar. Go figure.

Not really relevant in my view. Apples and oranges. Totally different markets and demand.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not really relevant in my view. Apples and oranges. Totally different markets and demand.

The comparison wasn't about the market and demand, it was about the cost to the airline. QF can deliver a 20,000 mile roundtrip, with at least 6 hot meals and open bar for $1500. But for $2500 delivers a toasted sandwich costing a dollar.