Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[1022]

QF26 HND-SYD. I’m pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve done a rare QF day flight from Asia to Australia. Two full meal services. Breakfast and “Lunch” served at dinner time prior to landing.



I opted for all Japanese options on this flight. Starting with the yellowtail main for breakfast. The rolled omelette was great, the fish ok-to-not-bad



After breakfast the crew became totally invisible and all lights turned. One f/a did almost constant water runs and checked in on pax for a couple of hours mid flight. It must have been her time to be on duty while others rested. She was the only one on this flight who really offered any modicum of decent service. I wasn’t keen on the tone set by the CSM nor his flippant service manner.

Dinner starter - bento. Pretty good, but not the same quality as you’d get ex-Japan on JL or NH.


Dinner main. Chicken teriyaki with incongruous sultanas in the sauce. Again, ok-to-not-bad. The chicken meat itself was flavoursome - as is usually the case with chicken in Japan compared to the bland stuff we get in supermarkets here.



Edited to add - in response to Batterytraveller - that Ozeki was the sake on the menu.

 

[The-Aviator]

28/03/24 | QF291 | SYD to SIN

A highly anticipated opportunity to try the combined Finnair/Qantas experience. For this flight I was seated in 1A, which I would have to say is one of the better seats given the deeper footwell. Quite interesting to have the Qantas amenities / dining / entertainment content etc. combined with the Finnair AirLounge / safety video / IFE interface. Started with a glass of champagne on the ground.



Menu for the flight.





As mentioned on the upgrade thread I did secure this seat as a classic points upgrade, I am not sure if the crew were aware but interestingly, when the FA first went down the aisle to take orders she took a couple of rows behind me before returning to me then completing the final rows, not sure if it was done by status or what. For my choice of main she said she had run out and would check if the other side had any and asked for a second preference, but she returned soon after to confirm my first choice was available.

The 'aperitivo' service started shortly after take-off and I went with the Sky Spritz, which to be honest I have always been a fan of. As you can see they've replaced the old Tommy's Margarita and arancini with a simple choice of drink and some warmed nuts. I know the singular arancini used to cop a lot of ridicule from AFFers (myself included!) but replacing it with warmed nuts still seems a bit of a downgrade at a time when, if anything, Qantas should be looking to elevate their service.



For the starter I went with the Korean-style glazed pork belly skewers with marinated cucumbers and daikon pickles. These were really good and full of flavour, the fatty pork belly held up well to the reheating in the air. It was certainly one of the more unique dishes I've had in the air given how uncommon pork dishes are on flights. To drink I had the Dandelion Shiraz, which the FA kept topped up throughout the meal service.



For the main I got the Barrington Hinterland beef fillet with roast pumpkin, snap peas and wasabi butter. As others who have had the same dish recently have indicated, this was poor. Fillet was small, near grey on the inside and tough as a hockey puck. That said, none of the other options sound particularly impressive either. I'd be pretty disappointed if this was my meal on a cash fare.



Was pretty full by this stage so for dessert I just got the ice-cream sandwich. This was actually really nice, so nice in fact I stopped by Woolies today to pick up a box! Accompanying the ice-cream sandwich is a cognac.



Service during the flight from the Finnair crew was really good, they were all friendly and attentive. It is an Asian-based crew and in addition to the Australian flights being operated for Qantas they still operate trips to Helsinki, which must be interesting for them having to be trained in two separate types of service! There are three bathrooms for Business Class which were all kept spotless and there were plenty of snacks available, which the crew regularly brought around in a snack basket as well as having available at the galley. Snacks included Red Rock Deli chips, Luken & May biscuits, Tim Tams, Snowy Mountain cookies and Santos roasted almonds and pretzels.

Had a glass of Glenlivet shortly after departing the WA coastline.



For the pre-arrival snack I went with the egg fried rice, which as you can see below was tiny. The taste was OK but nothing special. I have to admit I was a bit envious of the gentleman across the aisle from me who had ordered the Hindu meal and received a curry and chapatis for his snack, the aroma was delightful! Coffee and tea were being offered but crew were happy to bring me a wine instead.



Overall while I don't want to come across as particularly negative because I've had some great experiences with QF over the years, I would have to say the better aspects of this journey were the Finnair parts and the Qantas parts were lacklustre. I love the AirLounge, of the J products I've been fortunate enough to try I would have to say it is one of my favourites. If your choice is between this flight and a standard Qantas flight I'd take this one, but I'd much prefer to be on a regular Finnair flight!



My return flight to SYD was on Singapore Airlines, will share that experience over on the SQ forum shortly!

 

[Daver6]

QF70 DEL-MEL

Mains really didn't appeal to me at all. After time in India I knew any Indian food would be a disappointment and I've never had edible fish from QF. So skipped a main and asked for cheese straight after my prawns. Service all round on the flight was brilliant.

In what world is a bowl of shredded lettuce a salad though?! Food on QF J is really letting down what is a fairly decent product.

 

[1022]

QF70 DEL-MEL

Mains really didn't appeal to me at all. After time in India I knew any Indian food would be a disappointment and I've never had edible fish from QF. So skipped a main and asked for cheese straight after my prawns. Service all round on the flight was brilliant.

In what world is a bowl of shredded lettuce a salad though?! Food on QF J is really letting down what is a fairly decent product.

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The lettuce must be the closest approximation the DEL catering firm can manage to Neil’s leaves!

I beg to differ on fish on QF. I’ve had some excellent fish dishes in the past. Usually barramundi with a variation on either Cantonese ginger and shallot or something like black bean sauce. They can manage to do it well sometimes!

 

[anat0l]

In what world is a bowl of shredded lettuce a salad though?! Food on QF J is really letting down what is a fairly decent product.

It isn't. Doesn't QF do any quality control in its catering from particular ports?

Some of the stuff from other ports would be grounds to ask for either a reduction in contract prices or termination of contract without penalty.

It's amazing the menu you have presented is the first one where small subtext is provided to explain some of the more exotic (shall we say) items on the menu.

 

[kermatu]

SYD-AKL QF3 9:45 flight. Once again good to be on the 787 and to get a printed menu.

Underwhelming, but having had 2 breakfasts already (on QF2 and in the lounge) was happy it wasn't a breakfast menu. And not that hungry anyway. Boarded last and there was only water on the FA's tray when she came to me, but that's all I wanted so didn't test if sparkling was available.

In 3A but my meal order taken first. Initially chose the chicken but then asked for pasta.

Salmon salad was very good. Generous serve of pasta but pretty bland so only a small amount consumed. Lack of appetite didn't help.

Don't recall ice cream being offered but I probably nodded off having not slept on QF2. Crew was good and attentive. Don't recall CSM's name (flights blurring) but she was nice. Anna and Georgie looked after me well and we had good chats.

 

[RooFlyer]

28/03/24 | QF291 | SYD to SIN

A super overview - thank-you.

 

[Choosethedrew]

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QF36, had the dumplings in broth which was…edible. Cheese was nice!
Service was very friendly just so slow, even BA had a faster service on their red eye to SYD, took an hour to get a drink, another hour for dinner…I don’t know why was taking so long, short staffed maybe

QF CC have never been fast out of the traps with the service in my experience, whereas perhaps because of all the US short-ish redeyes, the BA CC seem to get it more.

 

[60165636]

QF875 OOL-MEL

Told that as it was an 11:45am departure it was a morning tea service! Choice of scrambled eggs or a frittata and pork sausage.

Sparkling wine only, no red or white available. No pre departure drink.

Pathetic really.

 

[Steady]

QF63 SYD-JNB 9th April



Salad of buffalo mozzarella was nice

Herb crusted fish was very firm but I really enjoyed all of the flavours

Cheese was ok but nothing special

Ploughmans filled in time

This was offered around, tasted good

Second meal service the steak was extremely chewy - I guess it also filled in time…. Served about an hour after the premium economy cabin carts had started going back and forth from the galley about 1h 20 before touch down. Service was rushed and cold

panna cotta was good

 

[JimmyJ]

QF156 AKL-MEL

Delayed departure. No pre departure drink (rushed boarding).

No menu. 3 choices for dinner vegetarian curry, chicken salad or beef with rice (selected). Shiraz (no mention of label), greek salad, cheap cheese and nice coconut chocolate slab. The food was ok but could be much improved.

The AKL lounge was “at capacity” for a good hour or so. I had to sit on the bookshelf and wait for a seat.

 

[Daver6]

QF63 SYD-JNB 9th April
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View attachment 378169
Salad of buffalo mozzarella was nice
View attachment 378170
Herb crusted fish was very firm but I really enjoyed all of the flavours
View attachment 378171
Cheese was ok but nothing special
View attachment 378172
Ploughmans filled in time
View attachment 378173
This was offered around, tasted good
View attachment 378174
Second meal service the steak was extremely chewy - I guess it also filled in time…. Served about an hour after the premium economy cabin carts had started going back and forth from the galley about 1h 20 before touch down. Service was rushed and cold
View attachment 378175
panna cotta was good
View attachment 378176

Looks like NP's dog must have eaten some of his leaves and was sick on your plate next to the fish.

 

[sww199]

QF875 OOL-MEL

Told that as it was an 11:45am departure it was a morning tea service! Choice of scrambled eggs or a frittata and pork sausage.

Sparkling wine only, no red or white available. No pre departure drink.

Pathetic really.

Pathetic indeed. This happened to me last year QF791 ASP-SYD. 11.55am departure. The response from the FA to half a dozen J passengers bemoaning the inappropriateness of these options on what is effectively a lunchtime flight was "I know, it is ridiculous, please write in to the airline". Gobsmacking

 

[kermatu]

AKL-MEL 09:50 flight, earlier this month. Usual PDBs offered. As per JimmyJ above, I chose the braised beef with rice and veg. My recollection is other options were chicken salad or veg pasta (but could be wrong).

Looks terrible but I actually quite enjoyed it. Beef pieces were tender and there were slices of red and green chilli which gave some flavour. Bit stingy on the beef. Agree the cheese and crackers are poor, and everything on the tray at once is frustrating (especially on the 737 table). Wine was decent and was definitely shown the bottle first.

Good service from the CSM (unfortunately can't recall her name) and in particular from the delightful Lara who looked after the J cabin. Proactively came around with waters shortly after finishing the service, and then again just before descent along with a cookie.

A decent enough flight, but I do miss the old Trans-Tasman dining.

 

[Steady]

Looks like NP's dog must have eaten some of his leaves and was sick on your plate next to the fish.

Thankfully the corn stuff next to the fish tasted nothing like it looked….. the NP leaves with dinner (no photo) were a number of levels below the first round

 

[encryptededdy]

QF2 SIN-SYD overnight First Class



Canapes

The Garoupa w/bok choy main (I skipped starters)

and the Brioche Roll breakfast

 

[kermatu]

QF2 SIN-SYD overnight First Class

Looks a bit better than my recent experience as posted HERE
Interested to know how the service and speed was.

 

[sudoer]

QF59 SYD-HND 1110 dep 2010 arr



Grilled tiger prawns with chickpeas, chorizo, green olives and parseley dressing


Barrington Hinterland beef fillet with roast pumpkin, snap peas and wasabi butter


Selection of cheese


Egg fried rice with prawns, shiitake mushrooms, ginger and sesame oil - this was inedibly salty according to my MIL

 

[ozflier]

QF 532 SYD-BNE dinner flight.
Good service .
Cabinet savauvignon quite drinkable - forgot the name
Choices were
mushroom soup
mediterranean pizza or
cheese plate
I went for the pizza which was just acceptable but underwhelming .
Somehow it reminded me of the offerings in qantas economy a decade or so ago.

 

[Daver6]

QF2 SIN-SYD overnight First Class
View attachment 378542
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Canapes
View attachment 378555
The Garoupa w/bok choy main (I skipped starters)
View attachment 378553
and the Brioche Roll breakfast
View attachment 378554

That menu seems like a fail for multiple reasons. QR J menus are miles ahead of that both in what's offered and presentation!

Canape of prawn with potentially a prawn starter. Or perhaps a steak sandwich is now a starter?! Follow by perhaps a main of steak? Or two different ways of having the same fish.

Most of that menu looks like the J menu too.