Is Qantas in flight service slipping?

[SirFlyAlot]

I travel with Qantas on around 40 flights per year and usually I am in Business.

In my opinion the Qantas in flight service standards are slipping in two ways.

Firstly, the food quality seems to be worsening, and this might be due to QANTAS trying to please everyone (kosher, halal, low fat, low salt, vegetarian options etc etc). In doing so we "normal" eaters are being forgotten. Haven't seen the good old lasagne or spaghetti meatballs or similar meal for ages. I flew twice with Qantas today, once Internationally (in business), and then domestically (in economy). Both breakfast services were terrible (in business I chose scrambled eggs on toast with sausages, and in economy it was bacon and eggs) and I couldn't eat either of them, but I noticed it wasn't just me who didn't eat my meal. I didn't see anyone eat all of it. Also, the dinner service last night was barely enjoyable. Braised beef and rice with a stale bun (clearly thawed from frozen).

In the past, I can recall eating some really enjoyable meals with Qantas and which had a consistent standard of quality. I can't say I've eaten anything overly enjoyable for 18 months to 2 years now!!

Secondly, the flight crew have really slowed down the drink service. If you like to put a few away during your flight (without being ridiculous) you seem to be deliberately ignored so that you drink at a pace the flight crew want you to. This seems to have noticeably changed from early this year.

I was astounded when last night the entire business class passenger group were not served their first drink until 1 hour 15 minutes AFTER take off. The seat belt sign went off about 10 to 15 minutes after take off so I can't understand why? The crew were more interested in getting dinner organised and our breakfast order completed. They certainly didn't seem short staffed (B747).

Is it just me being too critical, or has something changed and is this in other peoples opinion too?

 

[kpc]

IMO, QF Business (food, drinks, nuts, service, being addressed by name etc) has never been great cf to MH, EY, TG, SQ, OZ, CX etc. I'm just 5 QF flights away from Lifetime Gold at which time the Golden Handcuffs will be unshackled! They are the only airline, however, to hand out PJs to J pax!

 

[defurax]

I have to agree that other airlines are more proactive in taking drinks orders, even on AA domestic F the single FA has often time to take drinks orders from 16 F PAX before takeoff!

 

[juddles]

.....I travel with Qantas on around 40 flights per year....In the past, I can recall eating some really enjoyable meals .... I can't say I've eaten anything overly enjoyable for 18 months to 2 years now!! ....

SirFlyAlot, perhaps you are sufferring my syndrome? I also used to enjoy the meals but now can barely stomach anything - but what I feel sure it is is simply that I am sick of airline food!!

I agree on the drinks service though - aboard a plane is one of the few times I get to relax, so I want to have a few drinks and watch a movie - and it does indeed seem that it is just too hard to get those drinks.

 

[Daver6]

I travel with Qantas on around 40 flights per year and usually I am in Business.<br>
Firstly, the food quality seems to be worsening, and this might be due to QANTAS trying to please everyone (kosher, halal, low fat, low salt, vegetarian options etc etc). In doing so we "normal" eaters are being forgotten. Haven't seen the good old lasagne or spaghetti meatballs or similar meal for ages. I flew twice with Qantas today, once Internationally (in business), and then domestically (in economy). Both breakfast services were terrible (in business I chose scrambled eggs on toast with sausages, and in economy it was bacon and eggs) and I couldn't eat either of them, but I noticed it wasn't just me who didn't eat my meal. I didn't see anyone eat all of it. Also, the dinner service last night was barely enjoyable. Braised beef and rice with a stale bun (clearly thawed from frozen).<br>

I don't think kosher, low fat, vege etc would make any difference. They are special order meals. How would that impact on the regular meal quality?

IMO, QF Business (food, drinks, nuts, service, being addressed by name etc) has never been great cf to MH, EY, TG, SQ, OZ, CX etc. I'm just 5 QF flights away from Lifetime Gold at which time the Golden Handcuffs will be unshackled! They are the only airline, however, to hand out PJs to J pax!

EY and QR are other airlines that come to mind that hand out PJs to J pax. I recall reading somewhere that AA were going to be doing so too.

I do agree at how slow they are at getting out your first drink after take-off.

 

[opusman]

I've had some nice meals on QF lately, but it it's variable.

<br>

 

[kermatu]

Meals are certainly becoming worse. Domestic flights you are lucky if the 'highlight' is a toasted sandwich -- got to be one of the stupidest choices for a reheated meal, I mean really -- and international there's now very little difference between premium economy, business and first class meals (which is great for PE, but...).

That said, I usually find service to be very good. I have learned to press the call button if I want something and feel service is too slow. But I agree other carriers like AA seem to be able to offer much more in shorter timeframes.

 

[nlagalle]

I travel with Qantas on around 40 flights per year and usually I am in Business.<br>
<br>
In my opinion the Qantas in flight service standards are slipping in two ways.<br>
<br>
Firstly, the food quality seems to be worsening, and this might be due to QANTAS trying to please everyone (kosher, halal, low fat, low salt, vegetarian options etc etc). In doing so we "normal" eaters are being forgotten. Haven't seen the good old lasagne or spaghetti meatballs or similar meal for ages. I flew twice with Qantas today, once Internationally (in business), and then domestically (in economy). Both breakfast services were terrible (in business I chose scrambled eggs on toast with sausages, and in economy it was bacon and eggs) and I couldn't eat either of them, but I noticed it wasn't just me who didn't eat my meal. I didn't see anyone eat all of it. Also, the dinner service last night was barely enjoyable. Braised beef and rice with a stale bun (clearly thawed from frozen).<br>
<br>
In the past, I can recall eating some really enjoyable meals with Qantas and which had a consistent standard of quality. I can't say I've eaten anything overly enjoyable for 18 months to 2 years now!! <br>
<br>
Secondly, the flight crew have really slowed down the drink service. If you like to put a few away during your flight (without being ridiculous) you seem to be deliberately ignored so that you drink at a pace the flight crew want you to. This seems to have noticeably changed from early this year.<br>
<br>
I was astounded when last night the entire business class passenger group were not served their first drink until 1 hour 15 minutes AFTER take off. The seat belt sign went off about 10 to 15 minutes after take off so I can't understand why? The crew were more interested in getting dinner organised and our breakfast order completed. They certainly didn't seem short staffed (B747).<br>
<br>
Is it just me being too critical, or has something changed and is this in other peoples opinion too?<br>
<br><br>

I flew them the other week 4 times in the space of a few days both Domestic and business and I actually thought the food had improved. Domestic I had poached eggs and to my surprise the yolks were runny.. would happily eat that again.. INT business i had Spatchcock for lunch on the way over and herb crusted trout on the return. Both were also excellent. i'll see how I go next weekend on my next trip..

I do agree they can be slow taking drink orders after take off.

 

[Lendav Orav]

Definitely agree about the unacceptably slow service after takeoff. Flew SFO-SYD in J in June and was not offered a drink before the meal service, which only started about 1.5hrs into the flight. Ended up asking for a drink after about an hour. I did ask if it was normal that it takes them so long and the FA said they had to spend that time "making 40 beds". I thought that was a bit of a lousy excuse: it's just a seat cover and I'm sure plenty of people are happy to do it themselves as I am. I thought about writing to customer services to let them know my feedback but never did. Hopefully RedRoo will pass on our thoughts from this thread.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF SirFlyAlot!

I don't fly business that often but did so BNE-HKG a couple of weeks ago. The spatchcock was quite nice even though chicken is not one of my favourite inflight meals.

As for domestic economy the meals are quite ok although if I had to complain I'd wish they didn't have some sort of curry so often.

 

[TonyHancock]

The domestic breakfasts in J seem to have been pretty good recently, but I really am not a fan of the "supper menu" out of Asia. I know the real frequent flyers like this, they have told me so on social media, but for me it is neither one thing or another. Perhaps I need to fly more to appreciate it.

 

[Anna]

I did ask if it was normal that it takes them so long and the FA said they had to spend that time "making 40 beds".

Call me cynical but that sounds like a response designed to get pax to complain in the hope that management then removes the crew requirement for bedmaking.

 

[bsb]

Sadly getting worse, but they are making (lots) more money.

 

[samh004]

Sadly getting worse, but they are making (lots) more money.

I hope they invest some of it in the future (they're going to have to if they want to compete, realistically).

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don't think QF in flight service is getting worse.
Night flights don't have a separate drinks service before the meal, haven't had for years IIRC. (They should IMO, other airlines can manage this perfectly well).
Food is the same as its always been varying from good to awful (the pasta with the artichokes being inedible).
The new Business suites are amazing and the crew are great most of the time. These are the things that matter to me along with safety.

 

[defurax]

Night flights don't have a separate drinks service before the meal, haven't had for years IIRC. (They should IMO, other airlines can manage this perfectly well).

True, but on my last SYD-DFW flight in J the drinks service started almost 90 minutes after take off and I was seated in row 12. I typically get a drink faster when flying Y and the CSS or CSM stops by to say hello. I've finally decided to stop waiting and now I just use the call button if I want a drink 30 minutes after takeoff.

 

[Princess Fiona]

True, but on my last SYD-DFW flight in J the drinks service started almost 90 minutes after take off and I was seated in row 12. I typically get a drink faster when flying Y and the CSS or CSM stops by to say hello. I've finally decided to stop waiting and now I just use the call button if I want a drink 30 minutes after takeoff.

Good idea, never thought of that

 

[njba]

Firstly, the food quality seems to be worsening, and this might be due to QANTAS trying to please everyone (kosher, halal, low fat, low salt, vegetarian options etc etc). In doing so we "normal" eaters are being forgotten. Haven't seen the good old lasagne or spaghetti meatballs or similar meal for ages.

That's an interesting view, however I think it's a mistake to suggest the food you prefer is 'normal' and everyone else is therefore not normal.

QF has made the assessment that a lot of its passengers have palates that veer away from nursery food and towards more modern, international options (be in Indian, Japanese, Chinese or Mexican inspired, to name some recent options.)

At this risk of trying to inflict my own preferences on others, I certainly don't want us to return to the ' RSL bain marie in the sky' approach.

 

[TonyHancock]

That's an interesting view, however I think it's a mistake to suggest the food you prefer is 'normal' and everyone else is therefore not normal.

QF has made the assessment that a lot of its passengers have palates that veer away from nursery food and towards more modern, international options (be in Indian, Japanese, Chinese or Mexican inspired, to name some recent options.)

At this risk of trying to inflict my own preferences on others, I certainly don't want us to return to the ' RSL bain marie in the sky' approach.

All I have to say is Fred Perry "Supper Menu" ( ), followed by a limited breakfast service. I fear this is what the OP was subjected to.

My experiences this year have been from SIN and it is poor, so poor that I have attempted to rearrange my travel to avoid it. (I find myself on QF flights as BA code shares.)

As for onboard service I prefer QF inflight crews above others, and have come to appreciate them more as I fly QF less.

 

[v1nce007]

I had a poached egg in domestic J last month that was pretty good; nice runny yoke. Just wish they did a better job on the bacon.