Is Qantas in flight service slipping?

[MickC32]

I really only fly domestic in Y so I can only give my opinion on that.....

Firstly I think the food is way better than it used to be. While I don't like the concept of the box meal personally, I see that it makes sense logistically and to be fair the food is better IMHO. Having said that, I will never have the hot breakfast, it just looks unappetizing to me as well as the fact I am worried I'll spill some on my business shirt and I have meetings all day once I land!

As for the service, well I really think that has improved out of sight in the last few years. When I first started flying regularly it must have been when Qantas staff were at an all time low on the moral front. I remember always thinking which grumpy old steward/stewardess (I really thought a much more derogatory term but will keep it clean!!) will throw my food at me and looked pissed off if I need something today. The tide has definitely turned and while there are the odd few grumble bums still around, by and large they are much friendlier and offer great service.

 

[v1nce007]

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>

In another example of QF's consistent inconsistency, I had a great drink service on a recent flight to Asia in J; the FA took the first drink orders prior to take-off as she was taking the lunch orders. Had my post take-off drink about 3 minutes after the seatbelt sign went off

 

[JohnK]

Just wish they did a better job on the bacon.

Or just remove bacon as an option?

 

[njba]

Ah, well I certainly agree that QF makes some poor decisions around meal times and menu structure.

The whole 'supper menu' concept is shameful, and the changing and inconsistent dinner times of QF domestic Y flights is always a pain.

And certainly the 'consistently inconsistent' element of QF's service simply must be stamped out. Staff who aren't willing to demonstrate a commitment to professional and warm service should be reassigned to Jetstar.

 

[medhead]

I'm sorry, is bacon and eggs offered in domestic Y, now? I haven't seen such a breakfast in Economy since 1994.

 

[MickC32]

I'm sorry, is bacon and eggs offered in domestic Y, now? I haven't seen such a breakfast in Economy since 1994.

Sure is, and I'm sure some of it is surplus from 1994!

 

[njba]

I'm sure I had eggs and bacon in transcon domestic Y earlier this year. Wasn't bad. I'll see if I have a photo to share.

 

[medhead]

Sure is, and I'm sure some of it is surplus from 1994!

I'm sure I had eggs and bacon in transcon domestic Y earlier this year. Wasn't bad. I'll see if I have a photo to share.

Maybe Transcon only. Not seen that on shorter flights in economy.

 

[Lendav Orav]

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.

Heh good point. It wasn't the most professional of responses!

 

[RichardMEL]

IMHO this stuff can be so subjective. One man's horrible breakfast can be another's lovely breky. Some of the domestic Y box meals are a lot better than you find elsewhere (a hot meal, or any meal for "free" on a US carrier??? LOL). QF int J food has its hits and misses I do agree, but some other competition is not sensational either.

I feel many standards have slipped all over as costs come more and more into it. Consider some domestic J meals are what one would have got in Y in the 90's - absolutely for sure. And even a carrier like EK some of the catering is very very plain to my thinking.

I do think also though that there is a change in emphasis, specially for premium cabins... and that is to dine on more fresh food in the lounges (here I think of the offerings at say HKG or SIN as example) and then maximise rest on the actual aircraft. Certainly I'd prefer to eat some more real freshly produced food in the F lounge (yes I know this doesn't apply to everyone) then in flight catering due to the issues with food on planes, taste, availability of fresh stuff, etc.

I've also seen reports that VA is even worse than QF on domestic routes with cutbacks and poor offerings, but again it can vary a lot.

This year alone on QF domestic J I've had some terrible meals and some ripper ones - including a stir fry ex-OOL that knocked my socks off, some really tasty soup options and a roast veggie dish on a SYD-MEL dinner flight that was fantastic. They're not all horrible, but there's always room for improvement

I'd also note as an aside, that your inflight dining experience is so dependent on a) the airline catering budget and choices and b) the crew's delivery (this is where slow drink service, and meal prep and presentation come into it). for example, visiting the QF Catering facility in BNE at the start of the year it was fascinating that they do TG and EY (including F) catering. I flew TG J out of oz some months later and the standard of food was actually really really good and I would say better than what one might get on a QF flight say SYD-BKK. One presumes TG in that instance either picked better menu choices or spent a little more than QF. and EY have a fantastic rep for inflight food but again it all comes out of the same kitchens (ex AU anyway)

Some flights I have been on hve had slow drink service, but in general it has been very very prompt

of course none of them beat my bizarre experience on UA in March on MEL-LAX, when I asked for a glass of white wine with the (post departre) lunch, which never arrived, yet 13 hours later on descent into LAX a glass magically appeared after *breakfast* (I kid you not!) now that's a new record for slow drink service!!! (that flight was something else, due to one FA in particular, but that's a whole other story not relevant to this thread).

Really though I think YMMV is key, and again specific to QF the I word (inconsistent) is key

 

[OATEK]

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.

The difference between say CX and QF on the overnight from HKG is dramatic!! Supper and breakfast were streets ahead on CX last month compared to QF the previous year (and the BKK-SYD flight last year) , and SWMBO has now developed a real phobia towards the "Cafe breakfast" or whatever they call it on QF from Asia.

 

[serfty]

Last time I had bacon and egg for breakfast in economy on a Qantas domestic flight it was served in a muffin and wrapped in foil.

That with a paper serviette was it!

It was several years ago on one of the old ZX 763's ...

 

[serfty]

... They are the only airline, however, to hand out PJs to J pax!

Not strictly true - VA do hand them out on their longhaul flights.

 

[Comoman]

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!

QR definitely hand out PJ's in J (I have quite a collection). I think EY did too but can't remember perfectly.....

 

[eastwest101]

via Imgflip Meme Generator





(with apologies to Serfty - just couldn't think of an appropriate name)

 

[medhead]

Last time I had bacon and egg for breakfast in economy on a Qantas domestic flight it was served in a muffin and wrapped in foil.

That with a paper serviette was it!

It was several years ago on one of the old ZX 763's ...

They rotate a bacon(it's really ham) and egg muffin on my Monday morning flights, a la a maccas McMuffin. But I don't count that as a bacon and eggs meal. At best it's a snack.

 

[Princess Fiona]

QR definitely hand out PJ's in J (I have quite a collection). I think EY did too but can't remember perfectly.....

Get them on AA on long hauls as well.

 

[Daver6]

Get them on AA on long hauls as well.

And VA too I believe.

 

[nlagalle]

I'm sorry, is bacon and eggs offered in domestic Y, now? I haven't seen such a breakfast in Economy since 1994.

I had it on a MEL-CNS flight a couple of years back but never on a golden triangle flight in Y.

 

[nlagalle]

My J breakfast SYD-MEL the other week