Qantas Business Class meals & menus

[milehighclub]

There's a few 737 international flights that apparently can't be double catered properly (according to a fairly recent AFF article), so I wonder how much extra catering could have been put into the 737's galleys.

The issue isn't that it can't be double catered, the problem is that 737 don't have chilled stowages.

 

[anat0l]

The issue isn't that it can't be double catered, the problem is that 737 don't have chilled stowages.

Well, that just compounds a problem like HBA, as it means any catering that could possibly be left on an aircraft overnight in order to service the first flights of the next morning cannot be chilled or refrigerated (unless somehow the terminal has such a facility to chill carts overnight).

Kind of begs belief how QF thought it was operationally sound to consider these routes when something like catering couldn't be very well planned out. Perhaps it's more important to offer the connection / service than to do so at optimum quality (i.e. people would rather have the flight operating than none at all).

Sounds silly but I'm so tempted to make a sortie to HBA and try these early morning flights to see what they offer up.

 

[RooFlyer]

I thought they would put out some eggs (scrambled or boiled), and/or some baked beans.

Ha ha, very droll. Its HBA.

As to all the other about the lack of catering - hey, I'm not defending it, just giving the explanations I think apply

VA made so much noise about a new lounge at HBA (and yes I realise this was pre-pandemic) to no avail.... without realising that there's no space?

There was a previous expansion 'master plan' that got started and then abandoned. There's another one underway now, but I'm sceptical that much of the new space will be devoted to anything but retail. VA would then have to compete for floor space rental against that, when the thinking might be .. we've not had a lounge up to now, so why should we indulge the peasants now?

Kind of begs belief how QF thought it was operationally sound to consider these routes when something like catering couldn't be very well planned out. Perhaps it's more important to offer the connection / service than to do so at optimum quality (i.e. people would rather have the flight operating than none at all).

Yes, I think so. There was a while where there wasn't an early flight out (no local engineers, or they were moved out for cost, IIRC) and that was hugely unpopular - couldn't get to Sydney or Melbourne in time for a good business (or recreation) day. Personally, I think the supposed lack of catering (as I said above, its been a while since I did an OMG O'clock flight out, so don't know for sure) is a small thing satisfaction-wise.

Sounds silly but I'm so tempted to make a sortie to HBA and try these early morning flights to see what they offer up.

A very selfless act. Personally, I think it should be @Mattg so he can share the experience officially with AFF

EDIT: Air NZ does a seasonal weekly flight to AKL out of HBA; wonder what they do? Its all economy, though.

 

[kevrosmith]

With Norris Carter in charge of HBA, don’t expect too much which looks after the ppl. He’s reportedly an Ivory-Tower kind of leader (so was reported when he was in CNS).

 

[kermatu]

I've been in the QF HBA lounge multiple times when Air NZ pax on the AKL flight are allowed in to the lounge at least, but catering I don't know. Not many in the lounge though, so it might be you need a particularly high status or to have done the booking through QF. It is also very prone to cancellation so I have my doubts catering is a feature.

I used to do all-nighters regularly, but prefer not to anymore, so 6am flights are out for me. I knew incoming flights were catered from MEL or SYD but had no idea the 6am flights are not catered. Terrible. It wouldn't be Neil Perry approved, but the flight crew could probably bring a dozen ham and cheese croissants from their hotel if QF wasn't so stingy.

 

[anat0l]

EDIT: Air NZ does a seasonal weekly flight to AKL out of HBA; wonder what they do? Its all economy, though.

NZ use A320s, I wonder if their onboard galley facilities differ to B737s, so they might be able to double cater properly. Much easier since the flight leaves HBA at a "civil" time, rather than early in the morning.

All meals on NZ are not included in a basic fare, and as you say there is no Business, so it probably helps a lot in terms of how much they can pack in.

...the flight crew could probably bring a dozen ham and cheese croissants from their hotel if QF wasn't so stingy.

Probably not. Almost all hotels start breakfast at 6.00am if lucky (both buffet and room service), not even close to the time they would have to leave the property in time for airport and briefing. Hotel might do up breakfast boxes if lucky; suffice to say, I'm not sure what crew do in situations like this (assuming they just don't go without breakfast).

 

[RooFlyer]

but the flight crew could probably bring a dozen ham and cheese croissants from their hotel if QF wasn't so stingy.

Hotel might do up breakfast boxes if lucky; suffice to say, I'm not sure what crew do in situations like this (assuming they just don't go without breakfast).

OK then, QF could have a standing order of X packets of fresh mixed sandwiches or whatever from the Live Eat shop in the terminal. Something could easily be done if the will was there.

I still have a suspicion of whether there is absolutely nothing supplied in business, although mile high club above didn’t correct this notion so I guess it’s the case.

 

[milehighclub]

NZ use A320s, I wonder if their onboard galley facilities differ to B737s, so they might be able to double cater properly.

A320 have chilled cart stowages, so you could easily double cater.

Hypothetically though, say QF used a new A321 for that flight, even with chilled stowages, the problem would be it wouldn’t run overnight. The aircraft would be shut down so the carts would need to be offloaded into catering. This does sometimes happen but can’t in HBA.

During COVID this was how QF catered its International repat flights. It was double catered and food was offloaded into the local catering, kept cold to be reloaded for the return flight.