Qantas domestic Y catering - meal choices no more?

[ChrisFlyer]

I've taken a number of lunch and dinner flights recently (between BNE, SYD, ADL & MEL), and have noticed the recent absence of a second meal choice in Y.

Lunch flights used to offer the choice of a hot item (ie. pie/quiche) and a sandwich, and dinner flights offered a hot meal choice.

Recently, my lunch flights have offered a 'pumpkin and fetta quiche', and my dinner flights have also only provided a single option.

When did they sneak this change in? I've eaten the same chicken masala dinner a few times now... having a choice used to make this a non-issue!

 

[ShaneN]

In 35 plus years of flying Qantas / Australian / TAA domestic, I have no memory of meal choices in Y. I do not think this is recent.
I think you are imagining history.

 

[RickyT84]

I've taken a number of lunch and dinner flights recently (between BNE, SYD, ADL & MEL), and have noticed the recent absence of a second meal choice in Y.

Lunch flights used to offer the choice of a hot item (ie. pie/quiche) and a sandwich, and dinner flights offered a hot meal choice.

Recently, my lunch flights have offered a 'pumpkin and fetta quiche', and my dinner flights have also only provided a single option.

When did they sneak this change in? I've eaten the same chicken masala dinner a few times now... having a choice used to make this a non-issue!

I have travelled on numerous dinner time flights between SYD and MEL over the lat 5 years and there has always been only one option in Y.

From my limited lunch time flights, there were again usually only one option in Y. The only exception was when I travelled on QF81 from SYD to ADL (a year or so ago now ), there was a choice of a cold pasta salad or a hot pie.

Maybe its time to try the special meals to mix things up a bit.

 

[serfty]

I have seen the gamut over the years.

The availability of meal choices in economy have varied, generally in relation to flight length.

At varied periods BNE/MEL segments have had one or two, it may have been back in the 90's if there were indeed two options your MEL/SYD segments.

Certainly coast to coast flights these days have options, but that's down to competition.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

pretty sure there was an option on DRW/SYD and CNS/MEL in the last 12 months but I could be mistaken

 

[Joshua]

The longer segments did/do have better catering but I think the choice in Y has disappeared a good year ago. I can remember flights between ADL-BNE having them a few years back and PER-ADL a choice in breakfasts at least. It has been a while though and I neither fly domestic or Y much anymore. Either certain ports have had catering cuts or they've tightened up on flights 2-3 hours maybe?

 

[medhead]

I recall a hot or cold breakfast option back in the early 90s ROK-BNE. I don't recall meal options in the last 3 or so years. But snack options are usual.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I think you are imagining history.

I'm not, actually. When travelling with SWMBO, we would always alternate our choices so that we could try both. Over the last few months, this hasn't been an option.

I have travelled on numerous dinner time flights between SYD and MEL over the lat 5 years and there has always been only one option in Y.

From my limited lunch time flights, there were again usually only one option in Y. The only exception was when I travelled on QF81 from SYD to ADL (a year or so ago now ), there was a choice of a cold pasta salad or a hot pie.

Maybe its time to try the special meals to mix things up a bit.

That's quite odd! I actually sent feedback in ~April to QF customer care in response to an attentive FA, and specifically mentioned the personalised in-seat greeting, and how he explained the meal options 'a la restaurant menu' as opposed to the abbreviated version I could hear his fellow FA barking out to other passengers. This was on a normal (ie. domestic terminal) MEL-BNE evening flight. My other lunch flights have always had the options I mentioned above (until recently, anyway).

I've thought about ordering the fruit platter, but many of my flights have short same-day connections, and I don't want the same/similar meal on each segment (fully realising that you can change your meal request mid-trip)... and at present, I haven't bothered to split a PNR just to try the special meal!

I have seen the gamut over the years.

The availability of meal choices in economy have varied, generally in relation to flight length.

At varied periods BNE/MEL segments have had one or two, it may have been back in the 90's if there were indeed two options your MEL/SYD segments.

Certainly coast to coast flights these days have options, but that's down to competition.

Hmm... I wasn't referring to transcon flights (as I haven't been to PER for a while), but yes, I've been spoilt for choice on BNE-MEL flights (and return). Options on SYD flights have most certainly been given over the past few years (all of my independent travel has been since 2011 (when I switched from VA), after not flying with QF for around 10 years). While I do recall a number of QF flights as a child, the memories (fortunately) weren't of the Y cabin

As a side note, I usually manage to nab row 4, so perhaps I've just been incredibly spoilt then... haha!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

The longer segments did/do have better catering but I think the choice in Y has disappeared a good year ago. I can remember flights between ADL-BNE having them a few years back and PER-ADL a choice in breakfasts at least. It has been a while though and I neither fly domestic or Y much anymore. Either certain ports have had catering cuts or they've tightened up on flights 2-3 hours maybe?

Hmm... I've never noticed a choice of breakfast (in Y), though perhaps their catering changes have taken a while to filter through all ports? Seems odd though!

 

[blackcat20]

When I flew brissie to melb a few months ago there was only one dinner option, and it was vegetarian :shock: (though I do actually like veggo food).

 

[Danger]

Always a (dinner) choice in transcon Y.

 

[boomy]

Sometimes there is a choice for lunch between a cold sandwich or hot pie/wrap.
In the last 6 years I never saw a choice of meal for dinner on east coast flights.

 

[dk4]

If you want choice at lunch, then you fly short haul with an airline that has a BuyOnBoard menu...

If you want all inclusive, you pay the price and get what you're given. (No ice offered with the drink either.)

QF's 'pumpkin and fetta quiche'

... it often leaves me wondering which system is really "full service" :idea:

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I've taken a number of lunch and dinner flights recently (between BNE, SYD, ADL & MEL), and have noticed the recent absence of a second meal choice in Y.

Lunch flights used to offer the choice of a hot item (ie. pie/quiche) and a sandwich, and dinner flights offered a hot meal choice.

Recently, my lunch flights have offered a 'pumpkin and fetta quiche', and my dinner flights have also only provided a single option.

When did they sneak this change in? I've eaten the same chicken masala dinner a few times now... having a choice used to make this a non-issue!

Back in may I few BNE/PER in whY on a 738 QF651 1100 departure and there was nil choice only Salmon pie which would not have been my first choice of meal if there was a choice.

Returning PER/SYD in May on a 332 in whY PER/SYD 1010 departure there was a choice of Teriyaki Beef or Thai green curry chicken. This flight felt much more like a QFi flight with long haul F/A's crewing the flight also.

Maybe it's only on the 332's transcon where there's a choice (not sure about 767's) as whenever I've flown on a 333 or 332 in whY there's always been the choice of two meals.

It's a shame QF don't flying the A330 BNE/PER vv any longer in favour of SYD & MEL to PER being served exclusively by the A330.

Flying VA transcon tomorrow on a 332 so will be an interesting comparison.

 

[mannej]

OBB, the 332 does feature between PER and BNE, but not as prominently as before.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

If you want choice at lunch, then you fly short haul with an airline that has a BuyOnBoard menu...

If you want all inclusive, you pay the price and get what you're given. (No ice offered with the drink either.)

I wouldn't call a buy on board menu 'choice' at lunch - you pay extra for it, as opposed to being 'offered' the choice between items. VA flexi meals don't come with a choice (AFAIK, perhaps excluding vegetarians), so it's a similar case. I just started the topic to find out when things were changed, and it seems from all of the replies here that it depends on the route, the aircraft type, and the mood of the caterers

OT, do you really need ice when the drink is already served ice cold? You can always ask for another if you've been nursing it for too long

 

[ChasingDaylight]

pretty sure there was an option on DRW/SYD and CNS/MEL in the last 12 months but I could be mistaken

From memory, in the last 4 months I've done DRW/SYD 4 times, and DRW/MEL twice. Had an option on most, if not all flights.

 

[markis10]

There was a pretty definitive post here indicating choice on Medium and longer flights:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....detailed-information-qf-21585.html#post297595

Hello,

Most of the information has been provided by our loyal Frequent Flyers, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth from a F/A's perspective.

DISCLAIMER: Long rant from a bored f/a in their hotel room

From our perspective, Flights are classified by their service as either:

- Short (generally flights of <2hrs) eg MEL-SYD, BNE-CBR
- Medium (generally 2hrs-3hrs) eg MEL-BNE, SYD-ADL
- Long (generally 3hrs+) eg MEL-CNS, PER-DRW
- Perth City Flyer (PCF-All flights between PER & CBR/SYD/BNE/MEL/ADL)
- Standalone (services such as CBR-MEL, CBR-SYD and mining flights.

Short and Medium Services

Essentially these are the same services, however on "Medium" flights on what we call Tandem Services (a 'drop' service instead of a tray), there will usually be two choices of refreshment. Short services always one choice.

Economy Class

0500-0830: Breakfast = Tray + Hot Beverages
0831-1159: AM Refreshment = Sweet Refreshment Item + Hot/Cold Drinks
1200-1330: Lunch = Usually a Sandwich of sorts + Hot/Cold Drinks
1331-1559: PM Refreshment = Sweet Refreshment Item + Hot Cold Drinks
1600-1759: PM Ref'ment = Savoury Item + Free or Paid Wine/Beer/Soft Drink
1800-2000: Dinner = Tray w/. Hot Dinner + Free or Paid Wine/Beer/Soft Drink
2001-0459: Supper = Savoury Refreshment or Icecream + Free/Paid Drinks

*Beer and Wine is complimentary on all City Flyer services (service between BNE/CBR/ADL/SYD/MEL) that are scheduled to depart after 4pm on weekdays.

A tray will usually include juice/muffin/yoghurt or cheese/crackers, depending on the service.

Business Class

Meal times are classified the same as Economy class, but are much easier to follow (for crew anyway).

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner - Served a meal with all the trimmings of course (complimentary everything) - Choice of Meal or Cereal/Salad

Refreshments/Supper - Food item usually something lighter (eg Panini) - Choice of lighter option or Salad, again with all the trimmings (hot bev/wine/bakery/salad/etc.)

Long Sectors and Perth City Flyer

These services will always include a Tray service, with choice of two meals in economy class (and three in Business).

Economy Class

0500-0930: Breakfast = Tray with Hot Brekkie or Cereal + extras. Second service is a water/biscuit towards end of the flight.
0931-1400: Lunch = Tray with choice of 2 hot meals + extras. Second service is an icecream/icypole (mostly frosty fruits atm) during the flight.
1401-2159: Dinner = Tray with choice of 2 hot meals + extras. Second service is an icecream/icypole during the flight.
2200-0459: Supper = Tray with choice of two hot meals + extras. Second service is a juice upon waking up into arrival city.

* On all Lunch/Dinner/Supper services EVERYDAY on all Perth CityFlyer services, Beer and Wine is complimentary. $6 during brekkie services.

Business Class

Meal times reflect that of economy class, with enhanced offering of course, with a full meal service on every flights.

Breakfast: Choice of 2 hot/1 cereal. 2nd Service = Hot Bev's/Buscuits
Lunch/Dinner: Choice of 2 hot/1 salad. 2nd Service = Cheese/Fruit/Icecream
Supper: Choice of 2 hot/1 salad. 2nd Service = Juice upon arrival.

*Of course, all alcohol is complimentary, during Lunch/Dinner Desert and Fortified wines are served alongside our premium beers and wines. All services have a hot beverage included with them after the main meal service.

The second service on NON-Perth City Flyer services is an icecream, the cheese/fruit/desert wines are an enhanced product on PCF services.

------------

Perth City Flyers are an enhanced product offering in all classes, with larger trays in economy and more side items, and an enhanced service in Business class, especially the desert and hot beverage service.

Standalone

SYD-CBR-SYD - Usually a choice of refreshment (snack) plus Juice in the morning and Water in the afternoon (drop service)

SYD-MEL-SYD - Similar to a 'Short' service, but lunch is a tray service instead of a drop service. Drinks service may vary and have a limited option.

Mining flights (eg, PER-KTA-PER, BNE-ISA-BNE) - Due to contracts with the mining companies, a tray serivce is provided on all services. For breakfast this will include one option (hot or cold) and a yoghurt/juice/muffin. For all other services, this will include one option (sandwhich or hot meal) and cheese/crackers/chocolate). Whether or not you get a hot meal will depend on what time of the day you fly, and whether you are heading to, or from the main capital city.

------------------------------

 

[dk4]

For visual reference, the difference between a short haul tray service and short haul drop service, for lunch in Economy on Qantas.


QF Short Haul Tray Service at Lunch


QF Short Haul Drop Service at Lunch

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Thanks for sharing. I hadn't found that when I was searching - an interesting read!