Qantas to introduce hot meals and hot snacks on most domestic flights, extends tea and coffee service

[RSVKanga]

Do Qantas’ upgraded meals hit the spot?

For many flyers, inflight meals remain a lowlight rather than a highlight of the trip.

www.executivetraveller.com

Those slim packs of cheese and crackers served on most domestic Qantas flights are on the way out, as the airline reintroduces more substantial hot snacks and meals for economy passengers on flights of more than two hours.

The new menu boasts the likes of scrambled egg brioche, Portuguese chicken ciabatta rolls, pumpkin fritters and classic beef sausage rolls, alongside “gourmet brekkie burgers” and slabs of Mediterranean pizza.

A welcome move. The introduction of hot meals and hot snacks on more flights combined with existing fast-free wifi and complimentary seatback/BYO IFE content is unheard of on short-haul flights in the UK, US and EU. This new move certainly places the QF short haul soft product equivalent or even better than that of Asian and ME carriers on their short haul flights.

 

[drron]

The proof sill come with the eating of said snacks.

 

[mbell1510]

Bring back the actual hot dinner (with a chocolate if you were lucky) too that you'd get on QF golden triangle services pre-Covid I say. Would be a winner in my books

 

[encryptededdy]

This new move certainly places the QF short haul soft product equivalent or even better than that of Asian and ME carriers on their short haul flights.

I agree with this, although unfortunately I wish the A320s would come sooner and upgrade the hard product (well, assuming QF actually has a meaningfully nicer Economy hard product installed in those aircraft).

I do hope they do start offering two options instead of just one on these longer flights (although I understand that contributes to both cost and food waste).

 

[jrfsp]

So returning to pre Covid offering then?

 

[Doctore1003]

Yes but what will the quality of these meals be? It’s gone downhill in recent years. My dinner on PER-MEL a fortnight ago was borderline inedible.

 

[justinbrett]

I had the Mediterranean pizza on a flight recently and it was so soggy you needed to eat it with a spoon.

 

[RooFlyer]

The new menu boasts the likes of scrambled egg brioche, Portuguese chicken ciabatta rolls, pumpkin fritters and classic beef sausage rolls, alongside “gourmet brekkie burgers” and slabs of Mediterranean pizza.

The introduction of hot meals and hot snacks

But hot meals in Economy isn't new. You really shouldn't be sucked in by Qantas publicity and a puff-piece so easily. Have a look at the Qantas Economy meals thread (if you dare ). Fittters, sausage rolls, pies and the rest. Served without cutlery, in a sweaty cardboard box. and I dare say there won't be any cutlery with the present menu. Like eating these with your fingers @RSVKanga ?

The introduction of hot meals and hot snacks combined with existing fast-free wifi and complimentary seatback/BYO IFE content is unheard of on short-haul flights in the UK, US and EU.

Ya reckon? Unheard of on Qantas short-haul (2 hours and less) too. Still cheese & crackers for SYD<->MEL, SYD<->BNE, ADL<->MEL, ADL<->SYD, HBA<->MEL etc etc.

This new move certainly places the QF short haul soft product equivalent or even better than that of Asian and ME carriers on their short haul flights.

Beyond parody. Well done, again.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Do Qantas’ upgraded meals hit the spot?

For many flyers, inflight meals remain a lowlight rather than a highlight of the trip.

www.executivetraveller.com

A welcome move. The introduction of hot meals and hot snacks combined with existing fast-free wifi and complimentary seatback/BYO IFE content is unheard of on short-haul flights in the UK, US and EU. This new move certainly places the QF short haul soft product equivalent or even better than that of Asian and ME carriers on their short haul flights.

No not really. Who’s touting to be an Influencer now?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I had the Mediterranean pizza on a flight recently and it was so soggy you needed to eat it with a spoon.

Not suggesting this, but some airlines use macdonalds or kfc. Some would see this as a better proposition than a plate of warmed stodgy food?

 

[marks]

Recent flight SYD/BNE, when they were handing out sausage rolls on a ~20:00pm flight.

Didn't want anything to eat but asked for a tea...
"Sorry sir, but we don't have time on this short flight"

Pardon, it's always been 90 mins flight and I can always get a tea, but now no tea & coffee available.
Now back to my list of first world problems.

 

[henrus]

But hot meals in Economy isn't new.

I agree, I’ve had hot “meals” on domestic flights recently in the form of sausage rolls.

Realistically at the very least I’d expect the current stuff offered trans Tasman to be offered on domestic flights if they want to call it a meal.

This is what I was served on Emirates from Christchurch to Sydney, a 3 hour flight. It’s better than anything served in Y on Qantas even long haul. They have a long way to go!

 

[SYD]

This is what I was served on Emirates from Christchurch to Sydney, a 3 hour flight. It’s better than anything served in Y on Qantas even long haul. They have a long way to go!

View attachment 384049

Once upon a time we used to get a tray of food, including a hot dish - breakfast, lunch and dinner on most QF and AN flights (including triangle routes). Gradually the food disappeared and then more recently, so did the trays!

Ya reckon? Unheard of on Qantas short-haul (2 hours and less) too. Still cheese & crackers for SYD<->MEL, SYD<->BNE, ADL<->MEL, ADL<->SYD, HBA<->MEL etc etc.

Actually, we had the “hot meal” this week on BNE-SYD (the vego pizza). Fortunately it didn’t require a spoon to eat! Not unpleasant but nothing like the tray of days gone by (salad, “chicken or beef” and a desert).

 

[Rangalad]

I agree, I’ve had hot “meals” on domestic flights recently in the form of sausage rolls.

Realistically at the very least I’d expect the current stuff offered trans Tasman to be offered on domestic flights if they want to call it a meal.

This is what I was served on Emirates from Christchurch to Sydney, a 3 hour flight. It’s better than anything served in Y on Qantas even long haul. They have a long way to go!

View attachment 384049

Raised this issue with the CSM on a recent AKL/BNE flight where I was advised no spirits served
trans Tasman. Was advised QF's benchmark is the NZ LCC model T/T.
EK, as a commercial partner, was not included.

 

[encryptededdy]

Dare I say I think the Qantas Econ TT food/main dish itself is fine... the issue is the presentation and lack of side dishes

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Sorry but that Emirates economy meal pictured above looks horrendous.

 

[henrus]

Dare I say I think the Qantas Econ TT food/main dish itself is fine... the issue is the presentation and lack of side dishes

Yes I've had nicer meals including the cold smoked salmon salad on trans tasman Y compared to many QF J meals domestically.

 

[elanshin]

I thought it was quite common to have hot food for a while now. Outside of mid afternoon flights morning and evening generally always had something.

Quiche this morning, but as we were heading to QF F lounge, we skipped it.

Last night i had butter chicken puff. I've had quite a few different hot snacks on the golden routes. They're ok as a $5-$10 hot snack but it's definitely not a meal.

For longer flights you get a "meal" at the right times, but I'd still struggle at valuing it more than $15-$20 at best.

 

[TomVexille]

Raised this issue with the CSM on a recent AKL/BNE flight where I was advised no spirits served
trans Tasman. Was advised QF's benchmark is the NZ LCC model T/T.
EK, as a commercial partner, was not included.

At least NZ has spirits. I can usually get an NZ "Works" fare for less than QF which provides a superior service. Also NZ's kids meals are actually kid friendly unlike QF.

 

[ozflier]

I have experienced sausage rolls as part of a domestic business class meal in the past - at least , we, up the front get cutlery !