Qantas stops vegetarian meals on shorter domestic flights

[Seat0B]

Seems like a poor decision to me….

‘Chicken or chicken?’ Qantas ditches vegetarian meals on some domestic flights

Airline says it changed menu during Covid but critics say ‘one size fits all’ alienates passengers and is a sign of decline

www.theguardian.com

 

[offshore171]

Seems like a poor decision to me….

Easily worked around though. Just bring a sandwich or something similar.

 

[Pushka]

I can't remember the last time I accepted any of the domestic meals. Just a warm drink if offered.

 

[VPS]

Annoying if you’re in J with fish allergies

 

[jpp42]

Even for international flights where you can order a special meal, Qantas has also stopped offering the choice of VLML which is Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian, and only offers Vegan (VGML). This means no more pasta meals with cheese, or quiches, or anything else like that - it's lowest common denominator, regular meat or fully vegan. I haven't done a full survey but it seems most other international airlines flying into Australia still offer both types - Australia has a lot of vegetarians so you'd think they would cater to this.

I will note that on International flights, Qantas tends to offer an Ovo-lacto vegetarian meal as one of the choices (unlike say, Singapore Airlines), but you can't guarantee this by requesting it in advance, as you'll only get the bland vegan one as per above. Kind of annoying.

 

[SYD]

Annoying if you’re in J with fish allergies

Does J ticket let you preorder a special meal?

 

[Cognac]

You can order a special meal on any ticket.

For international flights they offer a "Plant-based dining" option in all classes. Which suits me, I no longer have to order a special meal that is 9/10 some goop that just isn't suitable for consumption. Domestic flights are short enough that I'm not bothered, if I'm flying around a meal time I'll make sure to either eat in the lounge or just get something after I've arrived.

But yes, I have also noticed that the "Vegetarian" instead of "Vegan" option is no longer available. They have simplified the choices so that they (or whoever is managing their catering) have less to manage.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Seems like a poor decision to me….

‘Chicken or chicken?’ Qantas ditches vegetarian meals on some domestic flights

Airline says it changed menu during Covid but critics say ‘one size fits all’ alienates passengers and is a sign of decline

www.theguardian.com

I guess chicken must be cheaper than vegetables? That would be the only reason.

 

[jpp42]

For international flights they offer a "Plant-based dining" option in all classes. Which suits me, I no longer have to order a special meal that is 9/10 some goop that just isn't suitable for consumption.

My problem as I mentioned above, is that you have to take a gamble on that choice still being available when they come to your row - even having status doesn't help with this (in economy, at least). Generally these options are less popular than the meated ones, so it might be okay, but my partner refuses to take the chance and ends up with the bland "goop" as you aptly refer to it.

Post automatically merged: Sep 20, 2022

I guess chicken must be cheaper than vegetables? That would be the only reason.

The reason isn't about the cost of ingredients per se, it's about reducing choices so they have less complexity and waste.

 

[Pushka]

Annoying if you’re in J with fish allergies

They should never serve fish on a plane. Smell.

 

[Cognac]

My problem as I mentioned above, is that you have to take a gamble on that choice still being available when they come to your row - even having status doesn't help with this (in economy, at least). Generally these options are less popular than the meated ones, so it might be okay, but my partner refuses to take the chance and ends up with the bland "goop" as you aptly refer to it.

That's fair. I had not considered the option running out, I'm generally in the first couple of rows of Y so it's not an issue.

 

[jpp42]

They should never serve fish on a plane. Smell.

I guess the airline industry learned that after a certain Captain Oveur's ill-fated flight...

 

[tdimdad]

The move from vegetarian to vegan meals makes things simpler from the procurement and supply viewpoint. Plus less options to manage onboard. Sometimes I need to mind the catering at work and by ordering a few 'GF vegan' serves we can take care of the perhaps most common items in one go: gluten, dairy, egg, vegan. Simple and leaves then more room for those cases where we need to tweak things further.

However, chicken pie would be an inconsiderate choice from Qantas. With that they are serving gluten and meat, most likely also dairy and egg. That would exclude a number of passengers. You can get good alternate options, too, these days but it's more about being thoughtful with procurement than lack of options.

I try to eat every time there's a chance. But sometimes in the lounge it's reduced to some salad and veggies only. Often the onboard offering is unsuitable, too, or just soy snacks. And there are only so many soy snacks and muesli bars one can eat before having had too many of them.

 

[Cognac]

I try to eat every time there's a chance. But sometimes in the lounge it's reduced to some salad and veggies only. Often the onboard offering is unsuitable, too, or just soy snacks. And there are only so many soy snacks and muesli bars one can eat before having had too many of them.

I feel this. We had an irrops a couple of months ago for where the meal choice didn't carry over to the new flight. Ms Cognac was on a diabetic meal choice. The crew were great in trying to scramble something together, but she wasn't interested in having any soy snacks for a while

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The reason isn't about the cost of ingredients per se, it's about reducing choices so they have less complexity and waste.

I don’t understand the complexity bit, nor the ‘waste’ bit. Just about everyone can eat vegan, not everyone eats meat. Having a vegetarian meal would surely have less waste?

If you’re going to reduce complexity and waste, did qantas really not take the opportunity to also consider cost?

 

[Cognac]

I think this is more referring to the list of special meals rather than what's served as part of the regular service.

By reducing the number of special meal options available to select they avoid having options that are only selected every now and then, but still need to have ingredients/portions available at the point of loading. I have no idea how many people were selecting the various vegetarian options when they were available, but it would make sense if consolidate if the numbers were low.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think this is more referring to the list of special meals rather than what's served as part of the regular service.

By reducing the number of special meal options available to select they avoid having options that are only selected every now and then, but still need to have ingredients/portions available at the point of loading. I have no idea how many people were selecting the various vegetarian options when they were available, but it would make sense if consolidate if the numbers were low.

Even so.. a mate who flies QF regularly gets served with the chicken panini or three pies in Y for short hops. Not everyone eats meat… presumably the leftovers go to waste. Would there be less waste if the options were just vegetarian?

 

[Seat0B]

Easily worked around though. Just bring a sandwich or something similar.

Which is fine on a low cost carrier…

 

[Milefest]

I don’t understand the complexity bit, nor the ‘waste’ bit. Just about everyone can eat vegan, not everyone eats meat. Having a vegetarian meal would surely have less waste?

If you’re going to reduce complexity and waste, did qantas really not take the opportunity to also consider cost?

Maybe the hope is that they can cut costs by loading less catering knowing a certain % of pax can't eat meat? That cost saving might be cheaper than offering everyone a veggo option.

 

[RooFlyer]

Given Qantas is already more expensive than its opposition, and they've just jacked fares up, the notion of them cutting meals as a 'cost saving measure' is a bit of a