Why does QF penny-pinch so much on domestic J catering?

[opusman]

17:55, MEL-ADL.

Main cabin: Lamb pasta (i.e. dinner)
Business cabin: Cheese box, soup or mezze (i.e. refreshments)

J fares are higher than ever, and yet the catering seems to be cheaper and worse than ever. If Y pax can be given dinner at 17:55 why does J (whose fares are often 3-4 times those of Y) get stuck with a cheap refreshment?

 

[Blackswan]

Don't get me started about the pathetic "dessert" they serve in J between PER-MEL-PER. I always ask for an icecream from Y.

 

[yohy?!]

was contemplating this earlier in the week - a number of factors i think are causing QF to reposition domestic J as a PE style product (eventually PE catering with a J seat like CX does on Regional Asia services with long haul aircraft).

-VA entering dom J market and pushing down fares
-end of mining boom/economic downturn, less companies approving J travel
-more and more points upgrades being approved to fill dom J cabin reducing yield

the last dom j flight i took offered a roast lamb greek salad (might as well have been from the lounge) or an international PE-style baked fish dish

 

[bullerdude]

was contemplating this earlier in the week - a number of factors i think are causing QF to reposition domestic J as a PE style product (eventually PE catering with a J seat like CX does on Regional Asia services with long haul aircraft).

-VA entering dom J market and pushing down fares
-end of mining boom/economic downturn, less companies approving J travel
-more and more points upgrades being approved to fill dom J cabin reducing yield

the last dom j flight i took offered a roast lamb greek salad (might as well have been from the lounge) or an international PE-style baked fish dish

Some flights are better than others so i'm not sure on how they decide what each flight gets.

The VA business meals now seem to be pretty hearty and nice on the 1-2hr flights but i still tend to find that QF has more options on a J flight and better trained cabin crew.

 

[opusman]

was contemplating this earlier in the week - a number of factors i think are causing QF to reposition domestic J as a PE style product (eventually PE catering with a J seat like CX does on Regional Asia services with long haul aircraft).

I wouldn't have a problem with that - if they dropped their prices. Charging $700 for a one hour flight and offering food/beverage worth maybe $20 pp at the most is just outrageous.

(And if they dropped their J prices they might find people would actually pay them, instead of using points.)

 

[russ]

There is more competition for Y. They know that many J passengers are rusted-on QF flyers and will keep flying QF regardless of service, price, etc. So they can squeeze that market harder than the other markets.

 

[RickyT84]

The VA business meals now seem to be pretty hearty and nice on the 1-2hr flights but i still tend to find that QF has more options on a J flight and better trained cabin crew.

On my last VA J flight from SYD to MEL (which departed at 8pm), I received a vegetarian quiche which is neither hearty or nice. On a comparable QF flight (i.e. dinner service), one would receive a soup or something more substantial with rice/pasta.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

This is one of the reasons I personally think the domestic market could support a reintroduction of 3 class aircraft.
But by way of a new domestic premium economy product not a reintroduction of the old domestic first class product.
Could also reuse some of the massive numbers of recliner seats which have been removed from business cabins lately.

 

[love_the_life]

QF seems to have made the assumption that J passengers will have eaten in the lounge so do not require a meal - incorrect, cheap and nasty IMO. And don't get me started on supper services in international J :evil:

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I wouldn't have a problem with that - if they dropped their prices. Charging $700 for a one hour flight and offering food/beverage worth maybe $20 pp at the most is just outrageous.

(And if they dropped their J prices they might find people would actually pay them, instead of using points.)

I'll agree with this. If a bne/syd/mel has been $400 or less one way in biz, I pay. Otherwise it's a cheap $100 econ ticket.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

QF seems to have made the assumption that J passengers will have eaten in the lounge so do not require a meal - incorrect, cheap and nasty IMO. And don't get me started on super services in international J :evil:

I want to get you started .. what are "super services in international J"?

 

[Happy Trails]

I want to get you started .. what are "super services in international J"?

I supose they meant 'supper' services.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I supose they meant 'supper' services.

Oh! Silly me!
But I agree. Full meal should be de rigeur. Whatever the departure time.

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh! Silly me!
But I agree. Full meal should be de rigeur. Whatever the departure time.

But can please we NOT have a full cart based dinner service on international flights that depart, say 10:30pm local or later? Noisy meal service starts an hour later and finishes an hour after that. Sure, serve a meal for those that want it, but take orders before take-off and bring them out one at a time. Will save money AND will be a lot less disruptive to those who want to sleep.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

But can please we NOT have a full cart based dinner service on international flights that depart, say 10:30pm local or later? Noisy meal service starts an hour later and finishes an hour after that. Sure, serve a meal for those that want it, but take orders before take-off and bring them out one at a time. Will save money AND will be a lot less disruptive to those who want to sleep.

Carts? Who said anything about carts?

 

[opusman]

Normally I am the one happily dragging threads off-topic, but may I remind you this is about domestic catering

 

[RooFlyer]

Carts? Who said anything about carts?

Qantas did. Its what they serve bulk meals and drinks from (as well as many other airlines).

Normally I am the one happily dragging threads off-topic, but may I remind you this is about domestic catering

Oops, sorry, too fast off the key board! Just pretend I'm not here.

 

[Abdul_A350]

On a short flight on Wednesday the fellow looking after the Business cabin came up to myself and the other passenger before take-off and asked if we wanted anything to eat during the flight. His tone suggested he hoped we did not.

 

[trixydoza]

On a short flight on Wednesday the fellow looking after the Business cabin came up to myself and the other passenger before take-off and asked if we wanted anything to eat during the flight. His tone suggested he hoped we did not.

To be fair, he might have just been sheepish about what he had to offer you.

 

[njba]

The whole concept of the refreshment is stupid. Give people the option to get an actual meal at all time of the day. It's odd to pay the same price for the ticket and either get a full meal or three crackers and maybe a room temperature soda depending on which side of the clock you fall on.