QF trials new "no tray" meal service in Economy Class

[boomy]

CNS-BNE this morning: yoghurt and granola plus muffin. Drink orders were taken and served from the cart when the box was handed out.

View attachment 21722

View attachment 21723

BNE- SYD was very similar except was a yoghurt with rhubarb sauce plus packet of apple slices.

As someone else noted, the crew highlighted this was the 'summer' menu.

Strange, I remember having a similar menu in the winter, just in a tray and with a small orange juice on the side.
I guess no one uses trays and drinks orange juice in the summer...

 

[Fruitcake]

Perry's one-way ticket to hungry forces Qantas to think outside the box

Travellers have reacted so badly to Qantas's US-style snack-box sized meals, which feature the signature of acclaimed Sydney chef and Qantas consultant Neil Perry, that it has moved to stop their grumbling - much of it coming from the stomach area.


John Borghetti, Qantas's executive general manager for sales and marketing, said months of complaints meant the airline had little choice but to change the meals, launched last July.

The circle of life .

 

[kevrosmith]

Actually, I remembered I had a photo from last Summer. This was a dinner service last January.



Sounds like the chicken pie mentioned above is in a similar vein to this style meal.

 

[jpk]

Actually, I remembered I had a photo from last Summer. This was a dinner service last January.

View attachment 21724

Sounds like the chicken pie mentioned above is in a similar vein to this style meal.

I had a "beef curry pie" very similar to that last week on a MEL-SYD lunchtime service. I wasn't sure if it was a pie, toasted wrap, or a tortilla. It was very ordinary. Strange to offer a heated meal at lunchtime and a cold meal at dinnertime!

 

[chooms]

Actually, I remembered I had a photo from last Summer. This was a dinner service last January.

View attachment 21724

Sounds like the chicken pie mentioned above is in a similar vein to this style meal.

Oh I remember those things. Absolutely horrible.

The pie, was actually a pie (not a tortilla) and wasn't soggy like those things.

The crust was actually crispy.

It was a flight that departed 11:35am EDST, so I assume lunch service?

 

[milehighclub]

The summer menu for domestic will last until early March.

East/West flights remain the same.

Fridays flight to Dubai was simply a trial and is completely different to what you are seeing on domestic flights. There will still be hot meals. The idea behind removing the tray is to use the money that is spent making the tray, disassembling it, cleaning and transporting it (because even if the flight isn't full you always have to carry a full set of trays) and reinvesting that money into the food.

 

[JohnK]

hmmm - trayless multi-course meal? Easy!!

Easy if you like muesli.

For those that cant stand it? Tough luck?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The summer menu for domestic will last until early March.

East/West flights remain the same.

Fridays flight to Dubai was simply a trial and is completely different to what you are seeing on domestic flights. There will still be hot meals. The idea behind removing the tray is to use the money that is spent making the tray, disassembling it, cleaning and transporting it (because even if the flight isn't full you always have to carry a full set of trays) and reinvesting that money into the food.

Ok but how are they giving all the elements? In a box?

 

[Awesom Andy]

all economy meals (international) are served on Marc newson tableware.

Could've been a Marc Newson designed cardboard box.

 

[jojen]

We recently flew ADL - SYD on a lunch time flight. Were served the chicken pie in a wrapper with a serviette. Maybe I am getting fussy in my old age, but no plate or cutlery to eat with is not what I expect when I am served lunch !!! The pie filling was just ok but the pastry was not enjoyable. This was in late November, when I thought a salad or sandwich would have been much better, and healthier.

I do not like the look of the chicken & pasta salad posted earlier, the chicken looks very processed and would be full of preservatives and salt.

The passenger sitting next to me had ordered a vegetarian meal and was given a delicious looking salad sandwich, which makes me think on domestic flights I should become a vegetarian !!!

jojen

 

[kevrosmith]

Breakfast this morning on SYD-OOL was the Yoghurt tub (with passionfruit) and a muffin, though today it was served on the half-size tray, with an orange juice and usual red coffee cup. I'm a bit confused now where and when you do/don't get a tray.

 

[JessicaTam]

We recently flew ADL - SYD on a lunch time flight. Were served the chicken pie in a wrapper with a serviette. Maybe I am getting fussy in my old age, but no plate or cutlery to eat with is not what I expect when I am served lunch !!! The pie filling was just ok but the pastry was not enjoyable. This was in late November, when I thought a salad or sandwich would have been much better, and healthier.

I do not like the look of the chicken & pasta salad posted earlier, the chicken looks very processed and would be full of preservatives and salt.

The passenger sitting next to me had ordered a vegetarian meal and was given a delicious looking salad sandwich, which makes me think on domestic flights I should become a vegetarian !!!

jojen

No you don't - trust me!

 

[boomy]

I noticed they don't offer apples anymore. It used to be my choice of snack on mid day flights.
I don't eat many fruits and flying a lot of QF Dom helped me maintain a reasonable vitamin balance

 

[kevrosmith]

The Pie. Beef of some sort.



Lunch, OOL-SYD.

 

[under the radar]

domestic wise....why should QF provide FREE soft drinks/juices..fresh apples/hot meals/snacks and OMG trays!!! lol... on flights under 2.5hrs to ALL pax...when the 'premium full service' VA doesnt.. it's the typical australian tall poppy syndrome..when someone is on the top...we must beat them down and support the underdog...then..be careful what you wish for...as the underdog raises to the top...hmmmmm...the same cycle begins and VA will become the 'bad guy'!!! (currently my 'meal' options throughout the day/night on VA comprise of 'lollies/chips/maybe a sanger...if you pay!!!

 

[under the radar]

The Pie. Beef of some sort.

View attachment 21737

Lunch, OOL-SYD.

arent ALL beef pies....'beef of some sort'

 

[Jmrocky]

As well as the meal being fairly lacklustre, it removes any sense of 'service' from the experience - rather than having a tray prepped and placed in front of you, you're handed a box and some plastic cutlery with the drinks following on a 2nd cart. Not to mention the lack of the cheese/crackers and the chocolate which were a nice finisher to the usual meal.

Being one of those fortunate enough to have lounge access and usually using it to eat before flights this isn't a massive issue for me but if I was paying the premium for a QF fare on the basis of better service and the inclusion of a meal I'd be feeling very disappointed by this.

QLink have only been operating like this for years, not too mention Virgin Regional as well. No one is rioting in the aisles over it (or if they are, it's because they ran out of complimentary beer on the FIFO runs). Perhaps people living in regional areas are more accustomed to hardships such as lack of food on trays on a 1.5hr flight, considering there isn't exactly a J lounge in many airports to visit and feed oneself prior either.

 

[Markmat]

Last night Adelaide to Brisbane, they gave us cold chicken and vegetables in a box, without a tray and didn't have the small cup of water or cheese and biscuits. Drinks were distributed seperately and included wine, beer, soft drinks, juices, and water with tea/coffee coming later. The meal was tasty and healthy. The FAs collected the boxes later on, which seemed a much simpler process than the old one, still had the same number of FAs on the flight so the saving to QF will be in heating costs, packaging, and handing and disposal costs. The whole experience was quite good, but did feel slightly "cheapened". I am happy for Qantas to continue this service if it keep the brand "alive" and was better than the experience I had on my flight from Brisbane to Adelaide the previous night on Virgin in which I got a cup of coffee.

 

[under the radar]

QLink have only been operating like this for years, not too mention Virgin Regional as well. No one is rioting in the aisles over it (or if they are, it's because they ran out of complimentary beer on the FIFO runs). Perhaps people living in regional areas are more accustomed to hardships such as lack of food on trays on a 1.5hr flight, considering there isn't exactly a J lounge in many airports to visit and feed oneself prior either.

you hit the nail on the head...bunch of 'cough' in suits complaining.....aka a 'cough riot'!! lol (only a select few will get this reference)

 

[JessicaTam]

Here is an example of a tray less QF Link service from yesterday's MQL-MEL flight.

Not bad for a 50 minute flight. The only trouble with no tray is that recycling is harder if not non-existent.