QF and other inflight meals

[Steve_C]

Hi all, I realise this has been discussed before but I can't find anything recent. I have not traveled long haul AUS domestic for a few years but last week I traveled SYD-PER-SYD and was shocked to see meals in cardboard boxes. Although reasonably tasty, I feel this type of presentation is way beneath Qantas. Are all other AUS domestic airlines the same?

Regards,

Steve

 

[mannej]

What is actually wrong with the cardboard boxes if the actual food itself is tasty?

A bit of perspective is that it is economy here and it has never been renowned for the quality of presentation of meals in economy.

 

[drewbles]

Flew QF J the other day and had my headphones on. I heard an announcement so took them off. Heard the meal choices (Chicken and Quinoa salad, or another hot Chicken dish). Both sounded excellent, and I assumed it was the J meals. When the FA got to me and asked what I would like, I was told 'oh that's the Economy meal options'. The J options were stodgy and oversalted. I actually would have preferred the Economy meal on description alone.

 

[marki]

Flew QF J the other day and had my headphones on. I heard an announcement so took them off. Heard the meal choices (Chicken and Quinoa salad, or another hot Chicken dish). Both sounded excellent, and I assumed it was the J meals. When the FA got to me and asked what I would like, I was told 'oh that's the Economy meal options'. The J options were stodgy and oversalted. I actually would have preferred the Economy meal on description alone.

The j option was soup

The economy options can be very tasty at times

 

[Steve_C]

What is actually wrong with the cardboard boxes if the actual food itself is tasty?

A bit of perspective is that it is economy here and it has never been renowned for the quality of presentation of meals in economy.

It is about perception. I am an FF and have been flying with the Red Kangaroo for over 50 years. I have noted the change for the worse over this time.

 

[Steve_C]

Flew QF J the other day and had my headphones on. I heard an announcement so took them off. Heard the meal choices (Chicken and Quinoa salad, or another hot Chicken dish). Both sounded excellent, and I assumed it was the J meals. When the FA got to me and asked what I would like, I was told 'oh that's the Economy meal options'. The J options were stodgy and oversalted. I actually would have preferred the Economy meal on description alone.

Flew QF SYD-MEL and return on business class last Nov, the meal was rubbish. Supposedly gourmet, I would never have selected that muck in a 5 star restaurant.

 

[drewbles]

It is about perception. I am an FF and have been flying with the Red Kangaroo for over 50 years. I have noted the change for the worse over this time.

It's about many things these days. Jet fuel, whilst on a breather from record high prices, continues to be the airlines biggest cost and is highly volatile to wild price fluctuations.

The world is more concious about the environment now too, meaning that airlines scrimp and save weight on aircraft to reduce the fuel required for flying and hence lower their carbon footprint.

Introducing boxed meals satisfies many requirements for both of these. There is far less weight on board than the traditional plastic trays and what not, it provides a highly recyclable box and as a bonus makes meal service much easier for crew.

I would much rather a nice meal in a box, than slop in a foil 'bowl' on a nasty plastic tray.

I eat noodles and what not for lunch out of a box regularly for lunch at work. I don't see any real difference here.

The 'golden' days of flying are long gone. It's now a bus in the air for most people, especially on domestic routes. I'd argue meals are damn good now in economy on Qantas (don't start me on VA though...). Next time we're on a flight together, you can have my Business slop... er meal, and I'll have your boxed lunch

 

[under the radar]

ahhh...love the 'back in the good ol' days' people .

back in the 'good ol' days' I 'got away' with so much more than I can 'today'. (im 50).. Just making a point... THINGS/TIMES CHANGE:shock:

 

[harvyk]

Flew QF SYD-MEL and return on business class last Nov, the meal was rubbish. Supposedly gourmet, I would never have selected that muck in a 5 star restaurant.

Consider us lucky that we still have an airline providing meals for short haul domestic. Many airlines around the world provide little or no food on their flights, and what is provided is for purchase rather than included.

It is about perception. I am an FF and have been flying with the Red Kangaroo for over 50 years. I have noted the change for the worse over this time.

Somethings have gotten worse in the last 50 years, somethings have gotten better. 50 years ago flying really was limited to the extremely well off / lucky, were as these days flying is accessible to most people. These days we have more entertainment options than ever before, more frequent and direct flights than ever before, airlines are safer than ever before, and even now days, on the airlines which still provide meals, they are usually ok despite what a bunch of comedians might tell us.

Yes, some things are worse, but there is a lot which is better.

 

[JohnK]

When the FA got to me and asked what I would like, I was told 'oh that's the Economy meal options'. The J options were stodgy and oversalted. I actually would have preferred the Economy meal on description alone.

Sitting in row 4 at times I have seen FAs bring up the cardboard boxes to be served to business class customers who I guess were not happy with the business class meals and asked for economy class meals instead.

 

[russ]

I often ask for the economy class desserts.

I've asked for the economy class meal once, and was disappointed to find that it was worse than the J meal, so the crew offered me the pilots' meals. It was quite nice!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

ahhh...love the 'back in the good ol' days' .............. Just making a point... THINGS/TIMES CHANGE:shock:

Yes but they don't have to serve inferior meals. I would love Neil Perry to sit next to me on a few of my flights. I would tell him a thing or two ! First up, green leaves and balsamic DO NOT MAKE A SALAD ! second NOT EVERYBODY can eat chilli/spicy food. I remember on our last flight from NRT to BNE the FA had to search the economy meals for something to serve me as all the business meals were spicy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Consider us lucky that we still have an airline providing meals for short haul domestic. Many airlines around the world provide little or no food on their flights, and what is provided is for purchase rather than included.

I dunno why the race for the bottom though? Save for LCCs, all of asia serves hot meals in economy on everything but the very shortest of flights. Flights less than an hour will get you an open bar and a sarnie.

As for europe - the shortest of flights have an open bar and usually a snack. No open bar in Australia.

Yes but they don't have to serve inferior meals. I would love Neil Perry to sit next to me on a few of my flights. I would tell him a thing or two ! First up, green leaves and balsamic DO NOT MAKE A SALAD ! second NOT EVERYBODY can eat chilli/spicy food. I remember on our last flight from NRT to BNE the FA had to search the economy meals for something to serve me as all the business meals were spicy.

More importantly... 'where's the sauce?????' (as Manu would say).

 

[mannej]

It is about perception. I am an FF and have been flying with the Red Kangaroo for over 50 years. I have noted the change for the worse over this time.

Perception? There is enough evidence on this forum to suggest the perception of these these meals is fairly positive. If you want some perspective, check the VA Cost cutting thread out.

A lot has changed since the "golden days" of air travel. Reminiscing over it won't bring them back.

Yes but they don't have to serve inferior meals. I would love Neil Perry to sit next to me on a few of my flights. I would tell him a thing or two ! First up, green leaves and balsamic DO NOT MAKE A SALAD ! second NOT EVERYBODY can eat chilli/spicy food. I remember on our last flight from NRT to BNE the FA had to search the economy meals for something to serve me as all the business meals were spicy.

O/T - I would love for the spicy food to stay on the menu, means more for me!

 

[bsb]

I really like the box. Its contemporary and environmentally sensible. I rarely eat the food domestically because the Biz lounge fills me up, but when I do, I think it's interesting. I'm 50 - things change and food fashion is definitely different to 10 years ago and I think QANTAS have got it right, albeit a little stingy on proportion.

Fly in America or Europe and then compare notes...we get it good.

 

[ajmillen]

The qty of the food in the boxes does seem to be more than when in the trays. I flew Perth to Sydney in Economy a few months ago and had the chicken and Quinoa salad, it was quite nice. I flew from Townsville to Brisbane a couple of weeks ago in Business and had the exact same meal (on a plate not in a box). I think the quality of the food in the boxes is an improvement, and not so long ago there were no salad options in Economy.

Someone also mentioned they wanted to sit next to Neil Perry, I sat one seat away from him about a year ago from Sydney to Perth, and he did not eat anything at all!

 

[Mattg]

I actually like the boxes. It without a doubt beats the complimentary economy meal offering of all other Australian domestic airlines!

 

[lx2004]

I actually like the boxes. It without a doubt beats the complimentary economy meal offering of all other Australian domestic airlines!

I like the boxes too - somehow feels less tacky than the plastic! I've also found QF to be much better than any other domestic - Virgin's claim to now be providing meals on all domestic flights is a farce. I know the route from MEL-HBA is short, but a single Tim Tam doesn't quite cut it Virgin...particularly when QF does a full hot meal with beverages!

QF SYD-MEL the other night though provided no dinner - this was strange...

 

[harvyk]

I dunno why the race for the bottom though? Save for LCCs, all of asia serves hot meals in economy on everything but the very shortest of flights. Flights less than an hour will get you an open bar and a sarnie.

As for europe - the shortest of flights have an open bar and usually a snack. No open bar in Australia.

It's a race to the bottom as that's what investors want.

I know that in Asia the full service carriers provide meals, however even there, there is cost cutting. For example the meal that CX provided me on HKG-TPE last year was effectively the noodle version of QF's boxed dinners. A far cry from the proper asian or western choices that I've had on other flights with them (eg HKG-PVG and HKG-SIN).

I can't comment on short haul Europe (but again I am hearing an LCC style service is the norm), but in the US there is no longer full service Y. If you don't fly F, you're getting the LCC treatment, even on traditional full service carriers (eg AA).

 

[marki]

It's a race to the bottom as that's what investors want.

I know that in Asia the full service carriers provide meals, however even there, there is cost cutting. For example the meal that CX provided me on HKG-TPE last year was effectively the noodle version of QF's boxed dinners. A far cry from the proper asian or western choices that I've had on other flights with them (eg HKG-PVG and HKG-SIN).

I can't comment on short haul Europe (but again I am hearing an LCC style service is the norm), but in the US there is no longer full service Y. If you don't fly F, you're getting the LCC treatment, even on traditional full service carriers (eg AA).

Totally agree