Rex Business Class meals

[snoophound]

AFF already has threads where people can post photos and discuss the Business Class meals on Qantas & Virgin Australia.

Since Rex now has a Business Class cabin on its Boeing 737 flights, I thought we could have a thread to discuss Rex Business class catering.

I'll start...

I flew on ZL102 (MEL-SYD 12pm departure) this week, and the business class meal choices were described as "braised beef with polenta" or an "artisan cheese plate". By the time they got to my seat (in row 2), only the cheese plate was left as everyone before me chose the hot option... which actually turned out to be a quiche.

This was the cheese plate:

View attachment 242648

This came with a warm bread roll, butter, crackers, a cupcake and a bottle of water.

It was served on a disposable cardboard tray with cardboard cutlery and the drinks were served in plastic cups. Every food/service item was individually wrapped.

The drinks available were water, soft drinks, juice, beer (Furphy or One Fifty Lashes), wine (a GSM, rosé or sauvignon blanc), tea and coffee.

Yes I had an ex OOL flight and breakfast was awesome scrambled eggs bacon first time had a decent breakfast on a domestic flight for years..i think they are missing big ops with no frequent flyer programme .

 

[dk4]

Damn it, I didn't make it onto a Rex flight before the first page of business class meal posts filled up!


As served


After opening - it's a pastrami toasted sandwich!


Bonus pic #1 - free wifi in business class on Rex



Bonus poc #2 - rex does tag checked luggage as "priority"

 

[Saab34]

I reckon they could up the ante a bit now in the presentation side of things, ie using fine china and a more polished tray presentation. Well the galleys are all Virgin so if they could do it can’t see why Rex couldn’t. Especially if they are going to venture into transon.

 

[dk4]

I reckon they could up the ante a bit now in the presentation side of things, ie using fine china and a more polished tray presentation...

I don't know, if their composting cost-saving system allows them to deliver an extra menu item onto the tray, compared to others, then I would rather the extra food over the china YMMV. (QF & VA don't serve a dessert on short flights, just a chocolate. ZL does the chocolate plus dessert box. Although, VA has pantry of course, and they have a nice enough small chocolate cookie available this menu rotation.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As I mentioned in another thread Rex does win out in the catering department… hot bread roll with butter, a pudding, and a sizeable chunk of chocolate (Mr Porter 70% dark). My most recent flight *also* offered a snack basket after the main meal service…not bad in 1 hour.

You don’t leave a Rex flight hungry.

But compared to VA the whole experience on the latter is just a bit more polished. Glassware for drinks, spirits, etc. While Rex’s coffee is undrinkable… and that’s being kind… at least it is hot when served in a paper cup. The VA one could just about be swallowed but with the cup being cold to start with the contents were barely lukewarm.

Once I get to platinum I might get the courage to ask them to heat the cup up first

Picking up on an old post, Rex lounges in MEL and SYD have free food and beverages. Understand the CBR lounge is/was different.

The whole recycling thing is OK, but it’s same same with QF and VA… the crockery is sent to be washed rather than everything else ending up in the recycling depot. VA’s cheese packaging is a bit annoying. Too much plastic on that.

 

[cavemanzk]

ZL390 SYD-BNE last night was chicken schnitzel with veg. Was an pretty good main, would rate it over some meals I’ve had on VA.

 

[Ade]

ZL390 SYD-BNE last night was chicken schnitzel with veg. Was an pretty good main, would rate it over some meals I’ve had on VA.

That bread role is whoa!

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL390 SYD-BNE last night was chicken schnitzel with veg. Was an pretty good main, would rate it over some meals I’ve had on VA.

Looks quite impressive for a short flight.

 

[dk4]

When Virgin isn't keeping an eye on keen prices, then I do fly Rex. (Qantas has lost the plot price and service-wise IMO, so complete reduction in amount of flying with them.)

As delivered.


Once opened and unpacked.

 

[antycbr]

ZL152 MEL-SYD upgrade (connecting from KNX)

Lamb Navarin main course:



Cake: lemon cake - delicious.



Found out about ZLs catering that it is prepared at the Branksome Hotel in Robey St Mascot and shipped all over the mainline network. The desserts are from a bakery in Surry Hills.

The hotel is owned by the Singaporean owner of ZL so the meals are prepared there rather than the usual suspects dnata or GateGourmet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the info! The meals are a step above the usual airline meal providers! I havent been able to share your enthusiasm for the cakes though… they’ve always been on the dry side Maybe because i’ve been flying in the evenings?

 

[ThatMrBlake]

Live from ZL352 - Syd - Bne. The meal below was the hot option of a pastrami sandwich. The cold option was a selection of cheese.

 

[Lynda2475]

Why do airline serve bread/bread roll with a main that is already bread based (i.e. a sandwich)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why do airline serve bread/bread roll with a main that is already bread based (i.e. a sandwich)?

I think it’s because they just ‘don’t think’. Still, I’d prefer that to VA’s complete lack of interest in serving a bread roll. It must be cheaper and more environmentally friendly to serve a roll than three crackers in plastic that cannot be recycled (according to the cracker pack).

 

[simmomelb]

Pinot Noir is a real red

Probably meant a full-bodied red, with heavy notes, such as good a shiraz (just a guess).

 

[dk4]

Breakfast. Cheese, leek (and other things I can't remember) on (soggy) toast.


As presented.


Once opened.

 

[milehighclub]

Why do airline serve bread/bread roll with a main that is already bread based (i.e. a sandwich)?

Easier logistics. If the airline changes the main option they don't have to make adjustments to any other load scales if bread is always loaded. Much easier to change and rotate a single dish rather than multiple components.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Breakfast. Cheese, leek (and other things I can't remember) on (soggy) toast.

View attachment 332020
As presented.

View attachment 332021
Once opened.

That looks soooooooo delicious!! VA does a rueben which is equally cheesy and delicious. I don’t mind soggy bread!

 

[edgecrusher]

Breakfast. Cheese, leek (and other things I can't remember) on (soggy) toast.

View attachment 332020
As presented.

View attachment 332021
Once opened.

Would have preferred that to my breakfast today, cold option poached egg and mushroom with buckwheat salad. Small blueberry muffin and a yogurt/granola bowl.

Hot option was sweet corn frittata w/ chorizo

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I miss Rex! Might change up the schedule and take a couple flights with them