Economy Refresh

[milehighclub]

Starting next month, you'll see a change to the economy service on some international flights.

Currently there is a one service fits all model on international flights. Meal - Snack on Q/Fruit - Meal is the general service delivered. From September 1st all international flights (excluding tasman where the service will be the same) will be categorised into long/short and day/night sectors.

On night sectors, the service won't change much from what is is now. The service offered is appropriate to those flights where passengers generally sleep.

The big change will be mostly on day sectors (SYD-JNB/DFW, LHR-SIN QF32, AUS-LAX to name a few). The Snack on Q bag will no longer be handed out. Instead more substantial refreshments will be handed out in intervals throughout the flight. These include cheese and crackers, ice creams, and pizzas.

In order to load more substantial refreshments, on some flights the tray will be smaller, however the contents are the same. In fact we are adding more to it! A dessert will be preset on the tray (in addition to ice creams later in the flight)

 

[anat0l]

Thanks for the heads up milehighclub.

From your opinion, do you think these are good or bad changes for passengers? Do you think this will make your job as a FA more or less difficult?

I can imagine it will be difficult to both (a) find the extra space to load the new refreshments, and (b) preparing these refreshments (i.e. cooking the pizzas, cf. just handing out a bag).

Now for a lot of questions...

Will pax have a choice which refreshment they would like, or will they be random (i.e. today's refreshment will be pizza, or the refreshment for this interval will be pizza, and the next interval it will be ice cream)? Also, can they be requested at any time (e.g. I just woke up and missed the last round of pizzas; can I ask for one now, possibly without annoying the crew)? Would the handing out of these snacks correspond to the regular water/juice runs? Can you still get some other snacks on request, e.g. bag of nuts, fresh fruit or hot cup noodles?

In circumspect, the real need for Snack on Q was on 747 operated flights, which lack a self-serve snack bar. Although if the self-serve selection on my QF10 flights a couple of months ago was anything to go by, they could definitely use some improvement.



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This anat0l content, if it must be known,
Was sent via Aust Freq Fly app, but not from an iPhone.

 

[anat0l]

Also I thought all meals already had a dessert on the tray. Sure, it's usually some small cake (on less substantial meals, like supper, I think all you get is a chocolate or a muffin for dessert), but it was there.



----------
This anat0l content, if it must be known,
Was sent via Aust Freq Fly app, but not from an iPhone.

 

[nlagalle]

Starting next month, you'll see a change to the economy service on some international flights.

Currently there is a one service fits all model on international flights. Meal - Snack on Q/Fruit - Meal is the general service delivered. From September 1st all international flights (excluding tasman where the service will be the same) will be categorised into long/short and day/night sectors.

On night sectors, the service won't change much from what is is now. The service offered is appropriate to those flights where passengers generally sleep.

The big change will be mostly on day sectors (SYD-JNB/DFW, LHR-SIN QF32, AUS-LAX to name a few). The Snack on Q bag will no longer be handed out. Instead more substantial refreshments will be handed out in intervals throughout the flight. These include cheese and crackers, ice creams, and pizzas.

In order to load more substantial refreshments, on some flights the tray will be smaller, however the contents are the same. In fact we are adding more to it! A dessert will be preset on the tray (in addition to ice creams later in the flight)

sounds interesting!

 

[milehighclub]

Thanks for the heads up milehighclub.

From your opinion, do you think these are good or bad changes for passengers? Do you think this will make your job as a FA more or less difficult?

I can imagine it will be difficult to both (a) find the extra space to load the new refreshments, and (b) preparing these refreshments (i.e. cooking the pizzas, cf. just handing out a bag).

Good changes - offering more is certainly better than some other "enhancements" as they are referred to here.

Space is not a major problem, just using different trays to accommodate the same thing, to allow for additional food. There is little preparation, and heating pizzas or whatever the snack maybe is very easy - they are all in little boxes so can just be handed out when cooked. Some flights will still have the bag though. From a crew perspective it will be easier as they have made some other changes for us.


Will pax have a choice which refreshment they would like, or will they be random (i.e. today's refreshment will be pizza, or the refreshment for this interval will be pizza, and the next interval it will be ice cream)?
You will get more refreshments the longer the flight. So on a AUS-LAX you will get ice cream, pizza, and cheese. The order will be predetermined. So first round ice cream, second pizza, third cheese (as an example - the order may be different)

Also, can they be requested at any time (e.g. I just woke up and missed the last round of pizzas; can I ask for one now, possibly without annoying the crew)?

If you missed a past refreshment, you would be able to have it as there will no doubt be leftovers, however depending on what it was you might not be able too (pizzas go cold and won't be reheated again) There will still be other snacks that are loaded today to enjoy until the next refreshment is offered.

Would the handing out of these snacks correspond to the regular water/juice runs? Can you still get some other snacks on request, e.g. bag of nuts, fresh fruit or hot cup noodles?
Yes, yes and yes (on flights where cup noodles are currently offered)

 

[milehighclub]

Also I thought all meals already had a dessert on the tray. Sure, it's usually some small cake (on less substantial meals, like supper, I think all you get is a chocolate or a muffin for dessert), but it was there.

On supper services the dessert was on the tray. Lunch/Dinner it was an ice cream delivered after tray collection. Now all services will have a dessert on the tray. Where an ice cream was delivered, this will be an additional service later.

 

[docjames]

Will this impact the breakfast (close to arrival)?

 

[LiamR]

Sounds interesting!

Good to see Qantas taking steps to improve their product, as well as making the Flight Attendant's job easier.

I dare say that Qantas are looking at making inprovements to the international product.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come!

 

[TheInsider]

Sounds interesting!

Good to see Qantas taking steps to improve their product, as well as making the Flight Attendant's job easier.

I dare say that Qantas are looking at making inprovements to the international product.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come!

Would be good to know more about the Qantasia thing. Seems like a very stupid idea to not give out any information on this part of the company, atleast create a buzz about it and where they will be going to!

 

[harvyk]

This is excellent news and a proper enhancement from QF...

The best fed I've ever been on a flight was from SYD to HKG, there was the proper meal service, a noodle cup a couple of hours later, followed by a pasta bake a couple of hours later, not bad for 9 hours of flying, I certainly didn't leave that flight feeling hungry, nor did I feel the need to find a place for dinner on arrival in HKG.

When I did LAX-BNE a few months later that was the most hungry I've ever felt on a plane. On a 14 hour flight, 2 meals and a snack on Q bag oftan left me a little wanting.

On night flights will these extra options be loaded, but just not offered around as a matter of course? Or will the snack on Q bags remain as the option for night flights (eg US-AU flights)?

 

[tuppaware]

I think its a good change.

Although its a hard stretch on the SYD-DFW flights... not enough food on that one.

 

[lsmi4126]

Great news - good riddance to the dreaded Q bag!

 

[VHOEJ]

Good changes but I still think the Q Bag is a winner - maybe keep it with less snacks and a bottle of water.

 

[anat0l]

Good changes but I still think the Q Bag is a winner - maybe keep it with less snacks and a bottle of water.

Judging from the last Snack on Q bag I got, I don't think they could put any less snacks in the bag as it is! (Perhaps I wasn't on a long enough sector)

 

[harvyk]

Judging from the last Snack on Q bag I got, I don't think they could put any less snacks in the bag as it is! (Perhaps I wasn't on a long enough sector)

No, the Q bag is pretty much empty, last one I got had some chocolate (m&m's I think) some apple pieces (which I don't eat) a biscuit and a small bag of pretzels... The bottle of water was the thing which filled the bag, take that out and it really was empty.

 

[anat0l]

Dare I say it albeit being cynical, I hope additional weight is not being obtained via shaving off a few grams of the already light main meals.



----------
This anat0l content, if it must be known,
Was sent via Aust Freq Fly app, but not from an iPhone.

 

[milehighclub]

Some more information regarding the new service:

-On lunch and dinner services a third meal choice will be introduced. This will also be a cold option

-Snack on Q bags (on flights where applicable) will now be called a Refresh Bag

-On long day sectors, passengers who have a special meal, will now get their own refresh bag with snacks appropriate to their dietary requirement

-Different refreshment items will be handed out throughout the flight. These items will be available anytime if you miss out because you are asleep, except for the more substantial snack if it requires heating or if the ice cream has melted - but there are many other snacks to enjoy.

-New amenity pack design. About half the size of the ziplock currently in use, red and white in colour, with the same contents (dental kit and eye shades). Socks are available on request, as they are today.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Thanks for sharing this news with us milehigh!

Great to see QF making changes that truly incorporate designing for the customer and tailoring the service for day v night. I like the Q snack bags, so can't wait for more snack choices and 3 main meal choices.

 

[frankxinyu]

thank you for sharing!

i have to say QF does offer excellent Y service..even comparing to CX or SQ...

 

[anat0l]

-On lunch and dinner services a third meal choice will be introduced. This will also be a cold option

Not so sure if this is a hot move (no pun intended). How many people like rabbit food, much more Y rabbit food? Even if it were equivalent to a J quality salad, that'd still be a stretch. A warm salad might be an idea, but still... or even a Charcuterie selection with antipasto.... Can anyone else think of something more creative than salad which is 'cold' and constitutes a meal?

You're essentially subjecting 10 - 33% of people to have a cold meal. I don't know if that many people in Y would want that.

Besides, if they really wanted a healthy option, they could always order a diabetic, low fat or fruit meal. Or trade side salads with main dishes with someone else.

Where did they get the feedback for this idea, I wonder...

-Snack on Q bags (on flights where applicable) will now be called a Refresh Bag

Apart from that, it will be no more refreshing than the name change, right?

-On long day sectors, passengers who have a special meal, will now get their own refresh bag with snacks appropriate to their dietary requirement

Goodbye chocolate and chips; hello carrot and celery sticks. :-|

Or, if at first you don't succeed (main meal), try again (snacks). :-| :-|

I wonder really where the failing was here. And does anyone know what would make good snacks for diabetics / low fat eaters / etc....?

-New amenity pack design. About half the size of the ziplock currently in use, red and white in colour, with the same contents (dental kit and eye shades). Socks are available on request, as they are today.

I didn't know socks were available on request. It would be good if some of these things were printed in the leaflet given to Y pax with the menu etc. Plenty of real estate left on the paper to make that fact known (and you won't save much $$$ in ink by not printing it).

Ironically, I've used a couple of these zip lock amenity packs (which I've derided plenty of times) and they are actually useful in some situations. For example, I put my receipts and previous boarding passes in it whilst travelling. It also makes a makeshift pencil case (most pens couldn't fit in the old passport pouch). My main gripe with the zip lock bags is that they often would have weak seams. Sometimes the seams would already be broken when I got the pack! Overall it's a lemonade from lemons situation I'm describing, but it's a pretty useless case.

Now they are going to halve the size of it again? Not sure how these will be practical at all (well, probably no more practical than the current iteration). I suppose you might be able to ziplock your passport in there (woo hoo...)