Consistently poor selection of food in the Qantas club

[BenAlexander]

I am a new SG, flying mostly domestic Y.
The biggest benefit I was looking forward to was of course access to the lounge.

Having visited it about a dozen times over the past week or two, I am very disappointed in the selection of meals provided. The lowlights include a broccoli and mushroom salad one evening, and even a kale and minestrone soup tonight. Infact, the best meal I have had to date is a ham, cheese and tomato toastie.

Has it always been like this? Am I just the unlucky and/or fussy with my meals? Are they doing it as a way to cut costs, knowing that not many people will be coming back for seconds (if they try it in the first place)? How does the food compare to the virgin lounges?

Do you enjoy the meals that they serve?

 

[Isochronous]

The catering is a joke and needs to be seriously upgraded.

 

[mviy]

If you can get to WP (there are status credit promotions from time to time, though usually they are targeted), the domestic J lounges have a slightly better range of food (in my experience) and from what I hear compared with international J lounges the international FLounges in MEL and SYD are a big step up with à la carte dining.

 

[kermatu]

I've mainly eaten in J lounges the past few years - sometimes the toasted sandwich is the best option there too.

But in general both the regular and J lounges have pretty good food in my experience. It is very difficult to keep menus fresh and keep changing things up. I think Qantas does a good job. In comparison with many airlines around the world, QF lounges for domestic travel are excellent. There's a variety of food options at meal times, and even if the particular options on the day don't appeal the fact that you can fall back on a sandwich or cold cuts is still a big plus. And of course drinks are free.

If anything, the lack of much extra for the J lounges (will only get worse as a result of double SC promotion) and especially onboard (some very ordinary meals in J) are what frustrate me. But I have pretty high expectations for the J and status levels. Regular levels - QF is far better than most.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I am a new SG, flying mostly domestic Y.
The biggest benefit I was looking forward to was of course access to the lounge.

Having visited it about a dozen times over the past week or two, I am very disappointed in the selection of meals provided. The lowlights include a broccoli and mushroom salad one evening, and even a kale and minestrone soup tonight. Infact, the best meal I have had to date is a ham, cheese and tomato toastie.

Has it always been like this? Am I just the unlucky and/or fussy with my meals? Are they doing it as a way to cut costs, knowing that not many people will be coming back for seconds (if they try it in the first place)? How does the food compare to the virgin lounges?

Do you enjoy the meals that they serve?

It's been awhile since I visited the Qantas clubs where there is a J lounge alternative so forgive me if this answer is a bit inaccurate.
Prior to obtaining status on QF I paid for Qantas Club, this was to access a quiet, peaceful space away from the main terminal and gates where I could grab a quick bite to eat and drink and surf the net.
In the current iteration of lounges I can still do that. Over the years the catering has waxed and waned, mainly waned really but overall I'd still rather hang out at the lounge than the terminal.
If you are visiting the lounge a dozen times in a week then you'll definitely be significantly underwhelmed by the variety of catering, but overall I think it's still a nicer space to hang out prior to departure.

If you go to the Virgin Lounge you'll be even less impressed. No hot food in the evening, except make your own toasties.

 

[BenAlexander]

If you can get to WP (there are status credit promotions from time to time, though usually they are targeted), the domestic J lounges have a slightly better range of food (in my experience) and from what I hear compared with international J lounges the international FLounges in MEL and SYD are a big step up with à la carte dining.

This is interesting to know. I am on target to hit WP in July (hopefully before a family holiday in August)

It is very difficult to keep menus fresh and keep changing things up.

Is it a case where they are making the written menu fancier than the actual meal? It all feels like they'd rather a posh sounding menu, then one that is enjoyed by the members of the lounge. I am an ex defence force member, whose mess halls are also run by the lowest bidder. Honestly, I wish Qantas would follow their lead, and just provide scalable, tasty and filling meals (which is a very low bar, and saying a lot about the Qantas food for anybody who hasn't spent a significant amount of time in a mess hall!)

Prior to obtaining status on QF I paid for Qantas Club, this was to access a quiet, peaceful space away from the main terminal and gates where I could grab a quick bite to eat and drink and surf the net.

I definitely agree with this, and no matter what, will continue to use the lounge area before a flight.
However, a large part that is promoted is the free food service. At this rate, I am likely to start purchasing a meal from the terminal, and bringing it up to my little quiet corner in the lounge.

If you go to the Virgin Lounge you'll be even less impressed. No hot food in the evening, except make your own toasties.

This is a bit of a shame. Had hoped to find a better option.

 

[NZflygirl]

I definitely agree with this, and no matter what, will continue to use the lounge area before a flight.
However, a large part that is promoted is the free food service. At this rate, I am likely to start purchasing a meal from the terminal, and bringing it up to my little quiet corner in the lounge.

I bought some food in the main terminal area instead and it was a reminder of how good it was outside the lounge! Lots of variety. I think if you're flying through the lounges 12x a week then you definitely need to resort to a bit of airport food!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Its the QFd J lounges, that are separate from the QP that are what makes QF a better choice, ala lounges, over VA.

 

[Deleted member]

The thought of falling to SG and missing out on certain J lounge access does scare me a little. My most recent flights were BNE - RKO - MKY - BNE. Very nice breakfast in BNE , from there it was all down hill. RKO was depressing and access difficult. MKY while less depressing, the. Options on offer were meager and clearly at the low end of quality (wine) So depending where you are flying in and out of, your options may not improve. TSV with no J lounge had often surprised though.

 

[juddles]

I am sick of most airline/lounge food, but I do not blame the airlines.

People these days seem to want to fly SYD-MEL on a $100 ticket, AND enjoy a $100 meal.

 

[basso]

Is it a case where they are making the written menu fancier than the actual meal? It all feels like they'd rather a posh sounding menu, then one that is enjoyed by the members of the lounge. I am an ex defence force member, whose mess halls are also run by the lowest bidder. Honestly, I wish Qantas would follow their lead, and just provide scalable, tasty and filling meals (which is a very low bar, and saying a lot about the Qantas food for anybody who hasn't spent a significant amount of time in a mess hall!)

I think the primary issue is that you think you are going ot get a 'meal' in the Qanats Club. I think that is the wrong mind set. You'll get something to eat, and noiblle on, but don't expect it to be a meal.

 

[TomVexille]

I've found that most times there's some sort of "hot" option that's not terrible. ADL seems to do this best out of the QCs that I've been to.

If you go to the Virgin Lounge you'll be even less impressed. No hot food in the evening, except make your own toasties.

I used to think that, until my last two VA flights where there was a Green Curry and a very decent Sausage Roll the second time. But I will agree it is far more miss than hit.

 

[serfty]

Certainly a curry and rice in the MEL VA lounge after 5pm last week.

It was much better before AN went belly up.

QP catering reached it's nadir between 2001 and 2004 when Qantas perceived there to be no competition.

 

[blackcat20]

I've found that most times there's some sort of "hot" option that's not terrible. ADL seems to do this best out of the QCs that I've been to.



I used to think that, until my last two VA flights where there was a Green Curry and a very decent Sausage Roll the second time. But I will agree it is far more miss than hit.

And the hot dogs. They were good.

The ADL QP seems to do the best hot dishes, but probably because there is no J lounge...

 

[BAM1748]

My opiniion, it went steeply down hill when the sandwich makers came in.

Matt

 

[harvyk]

There has definitely been a decline in the food since the Dom J lounges opened.

It got pretty bad a couple of years ago to the point I would typically get something in the food court outside and then bring it into the QP.
These days I don't mind some of the "comfort food" dishes that they serve, I don't mind a bit of pasta. Plus I'm pretty partial to the pancakes which are served for breakfast, but I agree it's not a patch on Int J or the FLounge.

 

[Mr_Orange]

What's with all the negativity towards the sandwich toasters?

I think they are a great alternative to the pre-prepared food. Yes, I know there are pre-prepared sangers for the toaster but I make my own cheese, ham, tomato and mustard sanger and it tastes good and fills me up.

 

[blackcat20]

What's with all the negativity towards the sandwich toasters?

I think they are a great alternative to the pre-prepared food. Yes, I know there are pre-prepared sangers for the toaster but I make my own cheese, hamt tomato and mustard sanger and it tastes good and fill me up.

Because if you are doing a day trip you can end up eating a sanga for breakfast, lunch and dinner...its gets old fast.

 

[Reeldeel]

Most of the time the options in the lounges are pretty good, however I'm pretty easy to please and I like the pies, sausage rolls and hot dogs. Served with a beer and I'm in heaven!

But once again QF are inconsistent on this and some of the regional lounges need to step up a bit.

 

[Muppet501st]

The thought of falling to SG and missing out on certain J lounge access does scare me a little. My most recent flights were BNE - RKO - MKY - BNE. Very nice breakfast in BNE , from there it was all down hill. RKO was depressing and access difficult. MKY while less depressing, the. Options on offer were meager and clearly at the low end of quality (wine) So depending where you are flying in and out of, your options may not improve. TSV with no J lounge had often surprised though.

Didn't know you could fly to Sipora Airport from BNE
I was in the TSV lounge a couple of weeks ago, and the offerings there were better then what ive had in VA lounges recently. The pizzas were delicious