In flight Food

[Anna]

<<And the coffee in QC is ok , as for the onboard coffee in economy, i have no idea how they make it so bad !>>

I have been told in the past that the reason that onboard coffee is not good is because of the different temperature at which water boils at altitude compared to on the ground. I have no idea if this is true and I don't drink coffee anyway.

 

[Evan]

Yes your right about the boiling point of water at different altitudes, so could well have something to do with it. Never thought of that.

I usually just have tea anyway, or a beer/wine if not driving.

E

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

given the pressurised cabin it doesn't have much effect

 

[serfty]

Actually, while the cabin is pressurized, it is only down to an effective altitude of 8,000'.

Boiling Point is approx 92°C

 

[Flying Fox]

Totally agree that coffee in the sky tastes aweful. As a rule I never have it cos its always so bad.

The one exception that I have is SQ in F have expresso coffee which was really good. I would definately go that again!

 

[spiggy_topes]

I have been told in the past that the reason that onboard coffee is not good is because of the different temperature at which water boils at altitude compared to on the ground. I have no idea if this is true and I don't drink coffee anyway.

I used to believe this until given a flat white the first time in First. It was identical (in texture, temperature, etc) to what you'd get in a cafe on the ground - and very welcome too.

Perhaps the coffee is deliberately kept cooler down the back in case it gets spilt? Might account for the tiny cups too.

 

[NM]

Actually, while the cabin is pressurized, it is only down to an effective altitude of 8,000'.

Boiling Point is approx 92°C

I they manage to serve good coffee in plenty of establishments in mountainous regions such as Italy, Switzerland, and I have even had decent coffee at the Grand Canyon.

Coffee, be it instant, filtered, or pressure expressed (i.e. Espresso) does not require the water to be boiling, nor to be at 100%.

Now tea is a different matter and is the very reason Arthur Dent could not get a decent cup of tea, even with Marvin's help.

 

[oz_mark]

i'd always thought that the woeful economy coffee was simply due to the woeful products it was being made from. I would think it would taste just as bad on the ground.

 

[anat0l]

Irony in motion: Restaurant Quality In-Flight Food

Now I've only had the pleasure of having J food once on QF, which was at least 8 years ago now. The service was good (especially on upper deck), but the food was very, very much average. They had duck with rice or fish steak with vegetables. The duck was about 50% fat (including skin) and the rice - well, it was edible but let's not talk about that. The man next to me had the salmon steak with veggies. The steak looked like it had just been in the freezer and thawed out (not that it was, of course, but it looked like it. You could almost misteak it for a pink brick). I think the man took a few bites and left a lot untouched. Couldn't blame him - I wonder how much taste the dish had altogether anyway.

Fact of the matter is no one is going to get a great feed on board. Food is really just there because if there wasn't, then a lot of people would get irritable indeed. Not only that, a few people might go pale and etc. etc...you get the idea. As someone else said, if I wanted a decent meal, I'd go to a restaurant or cafe. (For me, at least the food on board is better than the food in our university canteen - ugh! - so that's good enough for me!) I'm still surprised at some of the reports here, since if I ordered a "steak", even in J, I'd still be expecting something comparable to the sole of a leather shoe (but that doesn't mean I can't be impressed...)

As for the coffee on board, at least it is brewed. Most of the time they get it right, but sometimes they do burn the mixture so the coffee ends up tasting rather ............ Of course, it isn't as good as a nice espresso (which only the First classes get), but then again many people can't prepare a good espresso either (e.g. by burning the beans, etc.). And at least it isn't instant - that stuff not only kills you slightly faster than eating burnt toast, but (most of the time) it's just plain revolting.

The food I've had in the last twelve months of flights has been decent. I managed to get the same sets of meals on two different flights, which I found disappointingly quaint.

My maxims for in-flight meals:
1) If you're vegetarian and you didn't special preorder, you're screwed. You're especially screwed if you're vegan or fruitarian. (Hence, I am not either )
2) Never take the seafood. It's never prepared well.
3) Lowest common denominators if you really hate the main meal: cheese, crackers, rolls and milk (protein and carbs that'll see you through). If you like, throw in some salted nuts.

P.S. QF J class food > MH J class food

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

anat0l - you really should try flying some other airlines. It is possible to have great food in the air (albeit not as good as the very best restaurants on the ground). Some examples come to mind, SQ in F & J is consistently good and I especially like the meals ex Japan (Hanagoyomi and Kyo Kaiseki). LH in F is very good also.

 

[Yada Yada]

As for the coffee on board, at least it is brewed. Most of the time they get it right, but sometimes they do burn the mixture so the coffee ends up tasting rather ............ Of course, it isn't as good as a nice espresso (which only the First classes get), but then again many people can't prepare a good espresso either (e.g. by burning the beans, etc.). And at least it isn't instant - that stuff not only kills you slightly faster than eating burnt toast, but (most of the time) it's just plain revolting.

I agree - QF's coffee in Y is at least brewed so it's way better than Virgin Blue's on-board instant coffee. It's time DJ fixed this.

OTOH, Virgin Blue's Lounge serves barista-made espresso, and the people making it have been well-trained. This certainly beats the machine-made coffee you get in the Qantas Club (which BTW is still way better than instant coffee!).

Instant coffee should be outlawed. :mrgreen:

 

[Tooner]

1) If you're vegetarian and you didn't special preorder, you're screwed. You're especially screwed if you're vegan or fruitarian. (Hence, I am not either )
2) Never take the seafood. It's never prepared well.
3) Lowest common denominators if you really hate the main meal: cheese, crackers, rolls and milk (protein and carbs that'll see you through). If you like, throw in some salted nuts.

I remember a SYD - PER flight in Y where my special Breakfast was white fish, tomato and mushroom.

 

[skorat]

3) Lowest common denominators if you really hate the main meal: cheese, crackers, rolls and milk (protein and carbs that'll see you through). If you like, throw in some salted nuts.

Unless you're wheat and dairy allergic -- and on Qantas you are screwed if you are as cheese and bread/crackers seems to be a constant.

::Reminds me to pre-order my meal for next week.::


I've been reasonably lucky with in-flight food; it's been fairly edible. Either that or I'm not too fussy when flying.

Essentially, it takes up a bit of time and calms the brain, which isn't all bad.

 

[Tooner]

Unless you're wheat and dairy allergic -- and on Qantas you are screwed if you are as cheese and bread/crackers seems to be a constant.

Actually QF is fine for Gluten Intolerance meals, and I don't really bother with refreshments (unless upgraded to J ).

the main thing is to ensure it's in your profile on QF website and with TMC.

 

[QF WP]

I've had a low fat meal request in my profile since joining in 1989 - not because I am fat, but rather I don't enjoy fatty foods and I like to look after my health. In the majority of times I've flown Y (which is by far the usual class of travel for me), I have received a decent meal or snack. I'm partial to fish (generally what I have received in Y) or a lean cut of meat (in whichever way it has been prepared, generally what I have received in J) for lunch or dinner. Add to that a red wine after 4pm (in Y) or a couple in J and I'm well sated. [Of course, that not to say I haven't inbibed some previous to the flight in the QP ].

Breakfast is a lot more hit and miss, depending on whether in Y or J as well as domestic or international. I'm a huge fan of yogurt and fruit (what I generally get in Y domestically) however I rarely fly in the mornings so probably not a sufficient representative sample.

Plus, as an added benefit, the crew generally feed me first, which allows me to finish quickly - sometimes they'll clear my tray when they are going through feeding the rest of the pax. This allows me more time for work or rest. YMMV

 

[Flying Fox]

With all this discussion of food on QF services, I am suddenly reminded of how lucky we are in AUS to get anything at all.

If you have ever flown domestically in the USA with 'full service carriers' like AA or US Airways or America West or Alaska Airlines (the only US Domestic carriers that I have used) you only get drinks.

Its now even rare to get nuts or pretzels.

Often you will get offered only two rounds of drinks. This includes the 5.5hr flights from Seattle to NY and the 6.5hr flights LAX to Hawaii (here you get the option to purchase a snack box).

I was initially shocked at how bad this service was but I guess you can't complain about the meals if they don't offer any . For me it would have been totally different if I was travelling on SouthWest Airlines that promote themselves as a LCC.

I promised myself that I wouldn't complain about the QF domestic service from then onwards.

In my mind, we still live in the 'lucky country' and the privilege of travelling o/seas reminds me of that constantly.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Fortunately NZ doesnt have great distances but the longest non-stop domestic flights are about 1:40-1:50 and many direct flights with a transit stop exceed 2 hours. There is no food on NZ services (just a tiny biscuit) and not much better on QF/Jetconnect services (small muffin/pastry/cheese & cracker). However on main routes after 4:30pm there is buy on board snacks (not real food, chips, biscuits etc).

 

[skorat]

Actually QF is fine for Gluten Intolerance meals, and I don't really bother with refreshments (unless upgraded to J ).

the main thing is to ensure it's in your profile on QF website and with TMC.

OK, thanks. I haven't seen gluten as as option on the food, and truthfully I've never worried that much about it. I'm pretty tolerant of most things when flying. This might require a phone call to Qantas-mort. blech. It's not in the online options...


Flying Fox, I agree with you. Something is better than nothing. Well, in the US, you carry-on your own food.

I do eat in the air, because I hate flying!! It occupies me. I'm the one with the book, the movie, the computer, and eating... yep, I know. But it helps.

Oh, and the chardonnay.

 

[QF WP]

Flying Fox, yes it is a good reminder that those of us that have experienced both have also noticed the difference between the carriers' "full service" standards.

skorat, you'll fit in just nicely here with that last comment .

 

[anat0l]

you really should try flying some other airlines. It is possible to have great food in the air (albeit not as good as the very best restaurants on the ground). Some examples come to mind, SQ in F & J is consistently good and I especially like the meals ex Japan (Hanagoyomi and Kyo Kaiseki). LH in F is very good also.

Point taken, although I must say I am yet to be impressed. Last non-QF flight with food was MH and, as expected, it was edible - and we'll leave it at that folks. Seems I need to fly a bit more (when there's money of course).

I've only got good memories of SQ only because I flew with them more than 10 years ago now. At that time, all food was a little higher standards-wise.

Admittedly, as well, I'm usually travelling in Economy. Only two J experiences and no F experience.

I could probably guess why the ex-Japan fare would be good.

If you have ever flown domestically in the USA with 'full service carriers' like AA or US Airways or America West or Alaska Airlines (the only US Domestic carriers that I have used) you only get drinks.

I thought that was because they were low cost carriers! Well, not really 'low cost' as such; what I mean is that America started the whole cheap no-frills revolution without actually calling it LCC.

Oh, and the chardonnay.

Agreed.