When is the tasting menu served on QF11?

[wafliron]

Sooo... my upgrade to F on QF11 tomorrow just cleared Seems I'm completely skipping int J and going straight to F - I've never managed better than Y on an international flight before. Very excited, but I'm now concerned that I'll never be happy with anything less than F ever again! ;-)

Before I ask my question, a quick thank you to the collective AFF community: two years ago I would never, ever have imagined I'd fly int F so soon, if ever! It would not have been possible without everything I've learned from AFF: so, thank you.

Now, on to the point of this post. I'm looking forward to trying the tasting menu, which from what I've read you can just ask for on board - no need to "pre-order". If I've got that wrong please do let me know though.

Re this tasting menu, I assume it's served as a lunch / dinner on QF11, so not too long after takeoff? Approx how far into the flight do they start serving it? If it's shortly after take-off I want to make sure I don't stuff myself in the F Lounge so that I can enjoy it!

Thanks.

 

[zachary.august]

Here is a picture from a week or so ago (I think). Get to First lounge early.

 

[serfty]

It's actually served as "Dinner" - menus are given out with/after your pre-dinner drinks order and dinaing can start 30 to 45 minutes after seat belt signs off.

When QF11 departs it's around 8pm in California.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sooo... my upgrade to F on QF11 tomorrow just cleared Seems I'm completely skipping int J and going straight to F - I've never managed better than Y on an international flight before. Very excited,

but I'm now concerned that I'll never be happy with anything less than F ever again! ;-)

Before I ask my question, a quick thank you to the collective AFF community: two years ago I would never, ever have imagined I'd fly int F so soon, if ever! It would not have been possible without everything I've learned from AFF: so, thank you.
Re this tasting menu, I assume it's served as a lunch / dinner on QF11, so not too long after takeoff? Approx how far into the flight do they start serving it? I want to make sure I don't stuff myself in the F Lounge so that I can enjoy it!

Thanks.

The weight of huge expectations is always the constant elephant in the room!!

 

[dfcatch]

DO NOT overindulge in the lounge.

I regret it each time.

From memory it starts only about an hour into the flight.

My last QF 11 tasting lasted 2.5 hours and I skipped the final dessert cause I was too full.

 

[MH_fan]

Here is a picture from a week or so ago (I think)View attachment 7639. Get to First lounge early.

Is there a vegetarian alternative of the tasting menu? If so, can it be pre-ordered?

 

[Maca44]

DO NOT overindulge in the lounge.

I regret it each time.

From memory it starts only about an hour into the flight.

My last QF 11 tasting lasted 2.5 hours and I skipped the final dessert cause I was too full.

Even though the OP will have ample time to relax in the FL prior to boarding to have a nice breakfast/brunch etc, especially if they are arriving about 9am. But, I agree with dfcatch in taking your time with the tasting meals, and ask them to bring them out slowly if you wish. I managed to nibble at the cheese dish, but I think the last serving was the chocolate desert, and although extremely rich and nice, I was completely full and unable to even nibble it at. Above all, enjoy the experience, especially the kobe beef.

 

[wafliron]

Just returned from the USA this morning - wow, F really was quite special Very glad I had the chance to experience it.

I now completely understand the comments I've read about F being all about the food and the service - both were out-of-this-world. It was good to have the contrast to J on the way home too - the J food and service was "like Y, but better", whereas F was in an entirely different league.

The tasting menu and matching wines were terrific - I resisted overindulging on the F lounge food as per everyone's advice, so I managed to get through all of the courses. And the Tattinger Comte Blanc de Blancs... well, let's just say that I drank a lot of it, and enjoyed it very much - I think I was still drunk when I got off the plane in LAX! We were delayed at the gate in Sydney for about 45 minutes, and the F cabin had polished off 5+ bottles of it before we were even in the air.

Great service from our "A row" FA, Craig (?), as well - as opposed to the surly CSM (who we only saw once - during the pre-flight greetings), who couldn't have been less enthusiastic about her job

 

[dfcatch]

I had Craig as my FA recently on QF11, he's excellent.

 

[robd]

Sooo... my upgrade to F on QF11 tomorrow just cleared Seems I'm completely skipping int J and going straight to F - I've never managed better than Y on an international flight before. Very excited, but I'm now concerned that I'll never be happy with anything less than F ever again! ;-)

Thanks.

Over in F & back in J, will you ever do (be happy in) Y again?

 

[wafliron]

I had Craig as my FA recently on QF11, he's excellent.

Yeah, I was super-impressed by him. Happy to help with every little request, kept the champagne flowing, etc, etc. At one point a couple of hours into the flight I was standing at the edge of my suite stretching and after a couple of seconds he bolted (literally) out of the galley and down to me - as it turned out he thought I was trying to convert my seat into a bed, and appeared to be genuinely panicked at the thought that I would try to do this on my own (or maybe that I'd hit the call button and he'd missed it)

I don't have experience with any other F flights / F FAs to contrast him to so I don't know how much was him specifically delivering excellent service vs the generally improved / excellent service experience in F, but I don't see how he could have been much better.

Actually, on this note, I really should send QF some feedback about how good he was - what's the best way to do this? Just e-mail QF Customer Care? I tried to give feedback to the CSM after the flight, but she was more interested in getting me off the plane than listening to what I had to say :-|

Over in F & back in J, will you ever do (be happy in) Y again?

No But thanks to the ATO and my credit card providers, hopefully I won't have to worry about this problem for a while

 

[dfcatch]

Yeah, I was super-impressed by him. Happy to help with every little request, kept the champagne flowing, etc, etc. At one point a couple of hours into the flight I was standing at the edge of my suite stretching and after a couple of seconds he bolted (literally) out of the galley and down to me - as it turned out he thought I was trying to convert my seat into a bed, and appeared to be genuinely panicked at the thought that I would try to do this on my own (or maybe that I'd hit the call button and he'd missed it)

I don't have experience with any other F flights / F FAs to contrast him to so I don't know how much was him specifically delivering excellent service vs the generally improved / excellent service experience in F, but I don't see how he could have been much better.

Actually, on this note, I really should send QF some feedback about how good he was - what's the best way to do this? Just e-mail QF Customer Care? I tried to give feedback to the CSM after the flight, but she was more interested in getting me off the plane than listening to what I had to say :-|



No But thanks to the ATO and my credit card providers, hopefully I won't have to worry about this problem for a while

I emailed QF Customer Care with feedback.

I expect excellent service in F. But I also felt his performance was worthy of feedback.

 

[zachary.august]

I have had Craig before and he was fantastic. The older lady Deb is also amazing. She anticipated my every need. I love it when the F FAs aren't in your face but are around if you have any issues

 

[dfcatch]

Craig was very concerned that perhaps I had found the beef too rare as I had left a third of it.

I had to explain that I had over-indulged in the F lounge and Hilton breakfasts

 

[wafliron]

I emailed QF Customer Care with feedback.

Thanks for the tip - have just done the same.

Since returning from my trip I've tried to explain to several (non-FF) friends just how good the service was in F, and how much it contributes to the overall "F experience", but keep getting funny looks in return - I think they think I've developed a man-crush on Craig . All they want to know about is the suite and the champagne. I guess maybe you have to experience it to understand

Also, somewhat OT for this thread, but does anyone know if QF FAs get paid more for working in the "higher" cabin classes (so F more than J, J more than Y)? Or do they just get the benefit of dealing with less pax?

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm on QF 11 now using the On-Air Wi-fi and will try to post some pics if it works, fingers crossed

 

[wafliron]

I'm on QF 11 now using the On-Air Wi-fi and will try to post some pics if it works, fingers crossed

Nice - in F? Unfortunately I got one of the older, non-OnAir-equipped A380s for my flight - would've liked to have tried it out.

 

[amaroo]

Also, somewhat OT for this thread, but does anyone know if QF FAs get paid more for working in the "higher" cabin classes (so F more than J, J more than Y)? Or do they just get the benefit of dealing with less pax?

Don't know how accurate this is. I was told FA's working 747 are on different contracts - better conditions & salary than the ones that work the A380:?:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Nice - in F? Unfortunately I got one of the older, non-OnAir-equipped A380s for my flight - would've liked to have tried it out.

Yes I'm in F, sadly the Wi-fi doesn't extend to uploading photos so that will have to wait until I'm in LAX
It's great fun being able to post though.
Like previous occasions I doubt that I will be able to finish all 8 courses but I'll give it a go

 

[power71]

Yes this is correct

An easy google search for the Qantas Union agreements I did some months ago outline their pay scales and conditions etc etc, and those on different operating aircraft get paid differently.

Don't know how accurate this is. I was told FA's working 747 are on different contracts - better conditions & salary than the ones that work the A380:?: