Qantas international Economy Class meals

[RealtimeY]

Trays are a privilege reserved for J

In terms of quantity though, it looks exactly the same as what was already being given, just more convenient to handle?

 

[anat0l]

I have no issue at all with trays, they're used in premium cabins on some of the most highly regarded carriers in the world, and I think the anti-tray argument is pretty silly.

I just think Qantas referring to it as an underplate, seemingly to avoid saying the dirty T word, is ridiculous. It is clearly a tray!

I think the idea is a tray is a completely flat object. My impression is these "underplates" have outlines in them which allows specifically sized items to lay in them. I imagine they are not too practical in general terms for holding lots of random items when a normal tray would be fine.

It could also be an attempt to avoid said word too.... "now in Economy, featuring underplate service..."

I know - but it’s not a proper dessert, even BA has better Y catering for long haul, forget SQ, EK etc

Last I looked at BA it was just one of those puddings in a cup (e.g. chocolate mousse in a plastic cuplet covered in foil). Maybe they have improved to something that Club Europe might get (thanks to switching to Do&Co)... but the only Y desserts I mainly see are cakes, and usually damn dry ones or sporting fake cream. MH, I'm sure you still have thousands upon thousands of those sand dry packaged slices of marbled cake......

Mousses are pretty flawless as a dessert, since it just sits in the cup. On one airline, the dessert was fruit... healthy, but probably not impressive to most.

Ice cream is quite common, though I prefer a nice little tub rather than say a Frosty Fruit or Weiss Bar. I suppose Drumsticks are also OK, because they have good flavours. SQ provided a tub of ice-cream to me last time, but it was pretty solid and needed at least 10 minutes before the mini-spoon was able to make a dent in it.

Agree. I’d prefer a tray in premium cabins if it meant we could get served all the courses at once, then be free to relax or sleep!

You're playing right into the management here!

I think AY notably (but there are others) that serve side salad and cheese plate together with the meal tray, the only item rotating being the current course (entree, main then dessert).

I take it QF don't offer Express meal service any more...

 

[milehighclub]

My impression is these "underplates" have outlines in them which allows specifically sized items to lay in them.

They don’t have any groves - it’s a full flat surface

 

[EuroKick]

Another PR shot

 

[AIRwin]

Another PR shot
View attachment 434261

Safety card missing

 

[DC3]

Safety card missing

Maybe was being used as reading material during the meal

 

[jase05]

Safety card missing

Tasted better than the NP leaves?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Tasted better than the NP leaves?

Used to block the glare from pax leaving their window shades up during a day flight!

 

[AIRwin]

Used to block the glare from pax leaving their window shades up during a day flight!

Or fan when aircon malfunctions

 

[anat0l]

Another PR shot
View attachment 434261

Looks like an option available on India flights only, just guessing due to the presence of the type of bread and the pickles

 

[anat0l]

They don’t have any groves - it’s a full flat surface

Well, there goes my only theory as to why it's called an underplate.... that's tray confusing.

I understand an "underplate" in the parlance of a fancy restaurant where there is a plate in place from the start and all courses, in their own dishes, are placed on top of said plate (so, in theory, you never end up using that plate), but that in-place plate tends to be obviously a plate, not a tray or tray look-alike.

 

[anat0l]

Because… you’re using the napkin on your lap, tucked in to your t-shirt, or to wipe your fingers?

I found this picture while watching a Youtube video of someone flying LHR/PER recently. There's an extra serviette that you can set the bread down on, amongst other things. (Remember there is a serviette - larger one - in the cutlery pack).

That's how I remember the service going and never had to place the bread directly onto the tray itself, although honestly I think there's very little chance anything would exist on the tray that would kill me. (Yes, I'm well aware that statistically the most unhygienic part of an aircraft is the tray table)

It is not a tray! It’s a bigger underplate. The crew still have to construct it.

Having had a re-read of this, I'm imagining there is a stack of "underplates", of which the crew take one from the stack, place it on top of the trolley, place a main course, a side dish, a piece of bread and a cutlery pack and then hand to customer.

When the meal is collected, the same components on the underplate are thrown in the bins and the underplate is collected in a stack.

When the catering is loaded, the underplates aren't packed like the previous trays would be, with one or a few components already in place on top, so then you would just add a main course and a piece of bread. Similarly, they aren't collected like normal trays would, i.e. slide into a shelved trolley.

Anyway, just guessing...

 

[fletty]

Had the "underplate" for lunch today on QF37. It was quick and easy but easily slipped off the tray table which was annoying. They need proper rubber feet.

 

[blackcat20]

No new trays or plates on the NZ flights, just the same little white one

 

[anat0l]

Had the "underplate" for lunch today on QF37. It was quick and easy but easily slipped off the tray table which was annoying. They need proper rubber feet.

I never seem to recall the Y trays (previous to when QF changed their service "without trays") having any sort of aversion to slipping, such as rubber feet.

In fact, I don't recall Y trays even having a coating on the top side which stops the things on top of them from rolling around the place (J trays did, but not the Y trays... and around the world, there aren't a lot of anti-slip Y trays).

 

[anat0l]

Operated

No new trays or plates on the NZ flights, just the same little white one View attachment 434687

...and there is the roast chicken dish.

Operated by a 737?

I see some cheese and crackers have also been provided; I'm hoping that's not in place of the dessert (whether it be an ice cream or a single Lindt ball).


Must be a different service style for Trans-Tasman vs across the country, as I seem to recall that PER flights were given the food boxes that did not involve a tray/underplate at all. I naively thought Trans-Tasman flights would be the same.

 

[blackcat20]

Operated

...and there is the roast chicken dish.

Operated by a 737?

I see some cheese and crackers have also been provided; I'm hoping that's not in place of the dessert (whether it be an ice cream or a single Lindt ball).


Must be a different service style for Trans-Tasman vs across the country, as I seem to recall that PER flights were given the food boxes that did not involve a tray/underplate at all. I naively thought Trans-Tasman flights would be the same.

Lindt ball came at the end of the flight.

Post automatically merged: Friday at 8:47 PM

I never seem to recall the Y trays (previous to when QF changed their service "without trays") having any sort of aversion to slipping, such as rubber feet.

In fact, I don't recall Y trays even having a coating on the top side which stops the things on top of them from rolling around the place (J trays did, but not the Y trays... and around the world, there aren't a lot of anti-slip Y trays).

The little white tray was grippy, wasn't able to slide it across the tray table.

 

[Neil64]

25/04/23 | QF91 | SYD to NOU

Great idea for a thread! Here's breakfast on a flight to Nouméa, New Caledonia last month. The flight departs Sydney at 7am and the lounge doesn't put hot breakfast items out until around 6:15am which is a bit late when you need to go and board, so I was looking forward to eating something on the flight.

Hot breakfast box consisting of sausage, spinach, scrambled eggs and beans.

View attachment 331140

To be brutally honest, this only thing I could taste in this was regret. The Lindor ball was the saving grace.

Thankfully the return journey in Aircalin Business Hibiscus class was much, MUCH better!

I’ll continue to take my own meal to eat on board Qantas flights.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

A few years ago I did a OWA in Y.
Right from the outset I had requested kosher meals on all segments - just as a laugh to see how different the meals were to the regular Y offering.

I'd definitely recommend it! Not only did they come out first, but they were absolutely delicious and plentiful.

Amusing side story...LHR to JFK a seriously religious Jewish family were seated in the row in front. Along comes the hostie with the kosher meals - clearly destined for the most obvious recipients! Nope, I needed to raise my hand "they're mine", the token Aussie bogan clearly experimenting with meal choices.
The family in front hadn't ordered any meal at all so wasn't as if I was stealing their meals