Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[Ade]

vegetarian meals are usually now available as an option on QF domestic flights even without pre-ordering -- do I have that right?

This is not the case IME. Admittedly, I have only flown Dom QF J twice after the vego meals announcement. And both times I pre-ordered a vego meal.

Now, in Y, in the time that I flew, there were always a muffin (I usually take the early AMflights). Once I took a 6ish PM flight and was given a cheese platter (lavosh etc) and once arancini balls (which burnt everything inside my mouth and there was no cutlery loaded as it was a "snack" service)

Post automatically merged: Mar 7, 2023

international flights

QF International flights nowadays have the "plant-based" vego option, which is really good. I tried the plant-based on board QF68 J BLR-SYD and absolutely loved it

 

[encryptededdy]

QF26 HND-SYD, seems still unchanged from when @sudoer took this route in October, and when I took it back in November. Here's the Japanese option;

Actually, it's slightly different. The rice is now flavoured/fried rice vs. plain steamed rice before.

Also here's a picture of the Teriyaki Salmon option

For pictures of the Soba Noodles, see my previous post: Qantas Domestic & International Business Class meals/menus

 

[sudoer]

Actually, it's slightly different. The rice is now flavoured/fried rice vs. plain steamed rice before.

Must be a new menu, last Friday night it was still the streamed rice and beef:

 

[kpro]

Wonder why the Japanese option is served on a tray vs the western as individual plates.

Does Neil insist on individual plating when consulting for the western menu?

 

[Port Power]

Wonder why the Japanese option is served on a tray vs the western as individual plates.

Does Neil insist on individual plating when consulting for the western menu?

All four items are to be eaten together, adding the amount of condiment as you prefer and adding rice as you prefer, so presented together on a tray. FAs can hardly bring the four dishes along individually or it would take ages.

 

[encryptededdy]

Must be a new menu

Yeah, it's new in terms of what is served but the printed menu remains the same

Was your photo QF25 or QF26? I know QF25 has been beef, but I thought QF26 was always the grilled fish.

 

[kpro]

All four items are to be eaten together, adding the amount of condiment as you prefer and adding rice as you prefer, so presented together on a tray. FAs can hardly bring the four dishes along individually or it would take ages.

Sure, but the western option of bread + butter, side salad, starter and main are all individual plates. Yes you don't necessarily eat them together and the FA takes forever to bring them all out. So from that perspective there's pro's and con's of each.

However, I'm more wondering about the lack of consistency.

 

[encryptededdy]

FWIW my flight on JAL (JL52 SYD HND) also was served on trays for the Japanese menu. I think the western menu was also on trays though.

 

[kermatu]

MEL-AKL 18:55 flight on the 737.

As many have noted, essentially a domestic experience. But with lowered expectations thanks to this thread and recent experience, I was happy enough with the flight.

Warm welcome from CSM Kristie and J attendant Jarrod (both excellent AKL based crew), acknowledging status in an understated way. Small water bottle and pack of pretzels & almonds on centre console at boarding. Just one each as luckily my shadow held. Once everyone was onboard waters plus sparkling wine brought around.

After takeoff Kristie brought arrival cards and explained Jarrod would look after us but was just getting the pilots’ meals ready first. Good communication I thought.

Orders taken by row. No pre-meal drink service but one was provided happily upon request. Two choices, beef ravioli with cheese and kale, or barramundi with veg in red sauce.

Had eaten well in the lounge beforehand and neither option really appealed, but chose the barra.


Was very tasty, well cooked and a generous piece of fish. Better than what I had in the F Lounge! Wine and whiskey good. No other food offered on the flight but not needed by me at least (I didn’t even look at what was in the box). Saw one of the Y attendants having cheese and crackers just before descent so presume that would have been available.

Agree it’s a sad decline from what used to be and what some competitors offer, but a decent and appreciated flight nonetheless.

 

[milehighclub]

Wonder why the Japanese option is served on a tray vs the western as individual plates.

This is generally how Japanese meals are delivered. Go look at JAL or ANA first class and you'll see they also deliver the Japanese menu on trays, whilst the western options are without.

 

[RealtimeY]

This is generally how Japanese meals are delivered. Go look at JAL or ANA first class and you'll see they also deliver the Japanese menu on trays, whilst the western options are without.

Agreed. It’s not just an airline thing either, Japanese set meals just tend to come on trays.

 

[RichardMEL]

I recently flew MEL-SYD-DFW and then DFW-MEL (a truly LONG flight, even in J).

Anyway.. this is the most underwhealmed I have been with QF in a long time. Flights were on time, equipment and deat (787) fine and crews were reasonable to good.

Th food ex-SYD was generally good though I entered food coma in the Flounge trying just about evetything from the Korean fried chicken to the Dan Dan noodles, cake and ice cream and other things, so I was not too interested in a lot of food at least initially on SYD-DFWE. I had pea/mint soup (fine) and creme caramel (good) but skipped main. Brekky with the Neil Perry version of a bacon & egg Muffin with BBQ sauce was pretty good tbh. No real complaints. (and no pics).

On the return sector though. Honestly....

I'm not sure if I can blame DFW catering or what, but there were some issues. First no amenity kit seemingly. odd, but ok. Lucky I had some mouth wash in my carry on! I could have used the toothbrush/paste!

First, and tiny issue, but should have prepared me.. not even any plated almonds as usual with pre meal drink.. just the pretzel snack mix. I thought I was on domestic!

Then.. menu listed carrot soup which I wanted and ordered. Nope I'm told, it's been subbed out and off the bench is an Arabic Mezze plate. OK. A bit odd for the route, but maybe they're going back to the future as wen EK/QF originally launched seemed most int flights I was on had a Mezze plate as a nod to the alliance. Anyway what I got, while a sub for the apperiser so was never going to be a big plate, was the saddest effort I've seen in some times. EK would disown this thing. It was quite tasty for what it was (though I am not a usual Mezze guy, so I can't claim real knowledge here)



Next, the "main", a chicken schnitzel sandwich. Simple. Basic. And this was a HUGE serve tbh. A bit dry though and frankly I miss the old steak sanga.


Oh, did I mention this whole meal service was listed as "Supper" - for a 7:10pm departure?

And dessert, well... I chose the IC.. and really I knew this would be the result, but couldn't they even bother to plate IC or something? yeah more work for the crew, but this just comes across as cheap and no care to me.


for @Lynda2475 - both long hails did have a Rose option - it was presented as a "white" wine (the only other option was a Chardy, which I did not care for). Rose (I forget the label) was okay, though a bit sad that there wasn't a second white option (CSM on DFW-MEL apologised even on both counts).

I skipped any midflight snacks, so can't comment.


Breakfast. oh boy. I had scrambled eggs, bacon and kale. Now I know eggs are always difficult on a plane, and scrambled well.. you get only so much. That part was OK. The Bacon though, let me tell you it was hard, greasy and just gross.. and kale well bleh....

I didn't bother with a picture. it was a sad meal.

And the toast was hard and cold so a bit hard to enjoy my vegeimite with.

Coffee went missing for a bit but eventually showed up.

I don't blame the crew... and well the food was all edible but I felt quite let down - specially for a flight blocked at 17.5 hours (actual flight time was 16:48, so it was a quick flight) I was left thinking a QR, SQ or other carrier would do much better.. and while I'm a veteran of QF ex west coast routes and the "suppers" they've long offered in J and F, this seemed even a new low imo. Maybe it was my poor choices

This flight requalified me for P1, so I'm off to other carriers for a bit.

 

[RooFlyer]

Anyway what I got, while a sub for the apperiser so was never going to be a big plate, was the saddest effort I've seen in some times. EK would disown this thing. It was quite tasty for what it was (though I am not a usual Mezze guy, so I can't claim real knowledge here)

Being a frequenter of ME airlines, I would opine that that was a Mezze plate, just a bit unconventional. Neil's' take on it?

Next, the "main", a chicken schnitzel sandwich. Simple. Basic.

That is just so pathetic for the main course in a J flight TransPac. It looks like something I might whip up at half time watching the footy on the tele, in amongst a million beers.

I was left thinking a QR, SQ or other carrier would do much better..

QR and SQ DO do much better; flight in, flight out. I'm sure you've peeked at the Qatar business and first class meals thread. Any QR kitchen that trotted out what you got on that flight would be ... well, I dunno what you do to a kitchen, but 'fired' perhaps.

Yeah, yeah, I'm a "Qantas hater" but honestly ... honestly, you pay top dollar and get that tripe - its hard to love. I honestly don't know why people persist with it.

 

[Lynda2475]

for @Lynda2475 - both long hails did have a Rose option - it was presented as a "white" wine (the only other option was a Chardy, which I did not care for). Rose (I forget the label) was okay, though a bit sad that there wasn't a second white option (CSM on DFW-MEL apologised even on both counts).

Thanks for the update, some hope for those who prefer pink.

IME the meals ex Aus are always better than ex USA; but you do seem to have experienced a particularly bad selection. Note to self, eat well in the first lounges in SYD and LAX, so can sleep through and pack a toothbrush/toothpaste!

The worst meal I ever had was on an AA flight from DFW to SJC - a chicken salad - shredded iceberg lettuce and cubed still frozen chicken breast no dressing. Ive yet to ever be impressed with catering out of USA, but the flagship first lounges do have some decent grub.

 

[RichardMEL]

I was glad I had extra tacos and these chocolate banana pudding things in the flagship lounge at DFW before the flight

as for why persist? 1.. reward seat and 2. the DFW-MEL, while a horrendously long sector, is a winner to get to/from that part of the USA and avoiding SYD. It's exactly why the 787 was developed imo.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was glad I had extra tacos and these chocolate banana pudding things in the flagship lounge at DFW before the flight

as for why persist? 1.. reward seat and 2. the DFW-MEL, while a horrendously long sector, is a winner to get to/from that part of the USA and avoiding SYD. It's exactly why the 787 was developed imo.

Start crediting to QR PC or BA EC and you can redeem on QR, like my upcoming trip to Istanbul (Admittedly, DFW would be tough, though ... you would have to take the long way round )

 

[RichardMEL]

Start crediting to QR PC or BA EC and you can redeem on QR, like my upcoming trip to Istanbul (Admittedly, DFW would be tough, though ... you would have to take the long way round )

sure. there are options out there. QFF is my primary (for now) program but not the only one I am active in.

anyway that is OT to this thread. QF mostly suits my needs, specially domestic, and I rarely actually fly them intl, so it's a case of each to their own and everyone's circumstances are different.

And sure this was a couple of flights so not melting down over a couple of meals or whatever.. just sharing an experience.

 

[Bugalugz]

The other day I decided I can't be bothered sitting in economy KTA-PER so upgraded......0900 Departure and the choices were Kung Pao chicken or Pasta with mushroom sauce.

To be fair the chicken and fried rice were actually really good but a weird meal for that time of the morning. Woulda thought 0900 was something like a sandwich or even breakfast

 

[Peso]

QF26 HND-SYD...

I flew QF62 HND-BNE the day before :O The Japanese course I chose is the exact same bar the white rice instead of fried rice, and the normal dinner menu is almost verbatim to your November's.






Though for my first time having this menu, it is real good. Appreciate the CSM for satisfying my kitkat cravings in the middle of the night. Got the frittata and energiser drink for breakfast and those were also nice.

 

[zig]

Menu for QF27 SYD - SCL


Food was pretty bad. I didn’t think you could make many mistakes with bread, but it was hard and dry!
And when did Qantas shrink the portion sizes?? Every main meal was served on a bread / side plate. The soup bowl was tiny!