Is business "lunch" no more on short haul? [All day Snack offering?]

[Kieran2274]

i do apologise if my use of caps in the one word of my last post offended you. i would hate to be considered a dykwia, particularly where qf fas in j are concerned. please let me know if punctuation is a problem, too.

No offence taken JessicaTam, just stating why all caps isn't as good as bold or italics for emphasis - all caps can send an unintended message because of its historical use on the interwebs.

I agree with you, QF FAs are usually a very nice lot and no I don't concern myself with punctuation either. Happy New Year to you

 

[serfty]

Been flying to HKG today and missed most of this.

FWIW, when the FA (indistinctly & almost apologetically) advised me of the options, I was completely distracted when I heard 'All Day' (What!) and that's why I can't remember what the soup option was.

Sometime after being served (when I could see she had a little time) I did pleasantly confirm with her that it was not "lunch" but an "all day" offering.

My conversation was reasonable and I did express my disappointment with the obvious cost cutting but made it completely clear I knew from where the real issue was emanating.

Here's the thing - yesterday it would have been far more convenient for me to take a flight after 2pm but I deliberately chose the 1pm due to "lunch".¹


¹(no comments from the peanut gallery please - hey, I like to optimise my travel experience).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Well that's basically what I would have done too. Despite kierans opinion that I should sit there and shut up.

 

[Kieran2274]

Here's what Qantas says on its website about what you pay for when travelling Domestic Business with respect to food:

Onboard Dining. Enjoy our inflight dining options when you travel in the business cabin around Australia. From our award-winning wine list to our seasonal Neil Perry designed menu, we’ve created a fresh menu tailored to your time of travel. New! We’re now offering an international dining service on domestic flights between Perth and the East Coast. With small plates and main plates on offer, you'll be able to choose how you dine.

It doesn't define what is a "snack" nor what Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner entail. It's all pretty vague really, and while Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner certainly have fairly well understood meanings about when during the day you'll encounter them, there is no global definition of what items constitutes them.

Now, it's safe to say that Qantas has cut back on what it used to offer for these meals (not surprising given Qantas' money troubles - it's often the soft product that suffers most during these times) but neither do they seem to be promising much either, at least in terms of quantity.

And, again, it's not the FA who determines what these meals are - they just serve them. Taking out your "irritation", being rude to, or hassling FAs over meals seems pointless (and I suspect they rather agree meals have suffered recently).

One good thing about our domestic market is that there is a choice of carrier, so if you work yourself into a lather where you can't help being rude/narky to FAs about Qantas' meals, you can always fly VA where I have found the J meals quite satisfying. Nothing changes things like losing customer dollars.

Looks to me like Qantas doesn't overly promise much with respect to Domestic Business meals, so it'd be unfair to say they are misleading people. In any case, kicking the FA just because they are there and you can probably get away with it doesn't seem wise, nice or fair - no matter who you think you are.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

<redacted>

At what point have I said I would be rude, abusive, narky, hassling (or any other word you might come up with) towards a flight attendant? I would simply mention I was not satisfied with a meal like that. If you go to a restaurant and you are not happy with the meal you tell the waitress/waiter - you don't generally storm into the kitchen demanding to see the chef. This situation is the same where I would pass feedback to the flight attendant who served the meal and is representing Qantas.

 

[jt1983]

Since the odd dom J flight I've had have been on were SYD or MEL to CBR, the meal is usually a glorified salad with a little cake and a bread roll... I've had a 'more' substantial dinner coming from BNE to CBR. But, frankly, it's better than those bloody chicken tortilla things you get in Y for 'lunch' or 'dinner' - I'll take the J meal thanks.

 

[dk4]

FWIW, when the FA (indistinctly & almost apologetically) advised me of the options, I was completely distracted when I heard 'All Day' (What!) and that's why I can't remember what the soup option was.
...
Here's the thing - yesterday it would have been far more convenient for me to take a flight after 2pm but I deliberately chose the 1pm due to "lunch".¹

The flight was previously marketed on the QF website as "lunch" (same logic used as you when selecting a flight), I note they now market lunch window flights as "refreshment lunch" online. I can't remember what the team leader called the meal on board, but my recollection (middle of December) was the alternate options were as others have experienced; soup or cheese box:shock:.

 

[RooFlyer]

Interesting thread, which caught my eye as I have been posting about QF's business meal options, mostly in the positive (especially QFi). Completely agree with Aussie-flyer's comments and the other QF WPs similar comments. We have quite a lot of Qantas tucker under our collective belts (unfortunately for me, a lot of it has stuck there ) and the approach of giving feedback to the FAs is quite appropriate and I don't know where your protagonist (non WP) is coming from. Maybe a little New Year's stir of the soup-pot?

For me, I don't give at rat's behind what they call it, lunch in J is lunch - the middle meal of the day, which should satisfy one until dinner - the meal at the end of the day (or at least a reasonable attempt). But if I'm served tripe for lunch, then I will call tripe.

(ps no CAPITALS were harmed in the making of this post)

 

[Robbi]

Interesting thread, which caught my eye as I have been posting about QF's business meal options, mostly in the positive (especially QFi). Completely agree with Aussie-flyer's comments and the other QF WPs similar comments. We have quite a lot of Qantas tucker under our collective belts (unfortunately for me, a lot of it has stuck there ) and the approach of giving feedback to the FAs is quite appropriate and I don't know where your protagonist (non WP) is coming from. Maybe a little New Year's stir of the soup-pot?

For me, I don't give at rat's behind what they call it, lunch in J is lunch - the middle meal of the day, which should satisfy one until dinner - the meal at the end of the day (or at least a reasonable attempt). But if I'm served tripe for lunch, then I will call tripe.

(ps no CAPITALS were harmed in the making of this post)

I agree, the first people to receive customer feedback about any aspect of the flight should be the FA's or CSM. In any other business this is exactly what happens and is expected.

 

[drewbles]

I recall expressing disappointment in 2013 to a Jetconnect crew about the removal of proper Champagne from the trans tasman run (used to be Taittinger or Billiecart). Upon expressing said disappointment, the CSM said "you're not the only one to complain sir!" and urged me to contact customer service and voice my displeasure (she handed me a business card with the contact details on it).

The crew are often just as disappointed to be offering something sub-par as the pax are of receiving it. The only way to voice your concern is to the people who make the selections. I know the person who works with Neil Perry, whom is permanently based at QF in Mascot (but works for NP's company) and they're always glad to receive feedback about an offering too (but in this case, I think QF would be the first port of call).

 

[nlagalle]

Telling me what to think about you to boot - No, I definitely wouldn't enjoy being stuck next to you and if you get this worked up about a short-haul meal, methinks the only raw nerve here is you lol

And giving *ahem* feedback (you call it?) in customer service is pretty pointless when the grief/feedback doesn't relate to the person involved. If you were talking about who the FA served you "LUNCH" lol you might have a point, but Qantas Catering decided the meal and provided the meal - the FA just hands it too you (as I'm sure you are aware).

As this thread is about meals served, rather than about the way you raise your "feedback", I think you've gone way off-topic so I'll leave you to your choices in life with the hope you'll reflect one day on them.

If it's any salve to you, I reflected on your original post in consideration of the often hard and sometimes thankless job FAs have, rather than to your attitude. FAs are human beings too, and it doesn't hurt to treat them with fairness and kindness. If you missed that in the original post, it was my key message.

There is nothing wrong with talking to the cabin crew about a disappointing experience. They will note it on their reports and you can lodge a complaint online. Every FA I've spoken to welcomes all feedback and I don't recall Aussie_flyer saying he'd be abusive or over the top. I think you have read it totally the wrong way.

 

[DC3]

I would not complain to the FAs about the meal offerings/options. They have no control over it and they may or may not pass on the feedback.

I had the choice of salad, soup or cheese in business class recently on a 12.30pm departure. It didn't measure up as a full meal. I had always thought that the QF meals were superior to their competitors.

Since the flight I've sent an on-line comment to QF.

 

[drewbles]

I would not complain to the FAs about the meal offerings/options. They have no control over it and they may or may not pass on the feedback.

I had the choice of salad, soup or cheese in business class recently on a 12.30pm departure. It didn't measure up as a full meal. I had always thought that the QF meals were superior to their competitors.

Since the flight I've sent an on-line comment to QF.

Definitely politely raise it with the FA. The CSM's will note it and pass the feedback back to management.

Chances are, we're not the only ones who think that, and feedback is always appreciated by the CSM's i've spoken to about incidents, good or bad.

 

[opusman]

QF used to have feedback forms onboard, have these disappeared?

 

[serfty]

QF used to have feedback forms onboard, have these disappeared?

Not obvious to get at because the web pages try to direct you to the FAQ or other static online resources.

Here's a direct URL (only found after clicking through several less obvious links:

Customer Care Feedback Form

 

[roncritch]

On a short 2 hr flight on Wednesday with Mrs roncritch in J. Flight was full and at least 6 people waiting at gate for an op-up. Guess they had to use all seats because of Cyclone Christine. In the end J had all 12 seats taken.
Anyhow, we had chosen row 2 as our preferred seat. When I did the OLCI we were only passengers in J. When meals were served the CSM leant over and placed a fish pie meal in front of wife who had to ask what it was. Upon hearing, she does not like fish, she asked for an alternative. The CSM stated that the 4 people in row 1 had taken the only 4 chicken salad meals that catering had placed onboard. She tole him she did not want it and to take it away.
Now the questions I pose are: Seeing how we were the only paying passengers in J, wouldn't it have been prudent to ask us first with a choice? or the fact that the 4 op-ups in row 1 were probably platinums and therefore of a higher status negate our expected choice of meal? (we were also in U class having taken advantage of a JASA!)

The CSM checked the economy cabin and asked the wife if she would prefer the pizza they were being served in order to try and placate. She settled for a stiff G&T instead. Just prior to landing the CSM handed the wife a handwritten card apologizing for the lack of meals onboard and gave her 2 lounge passes and a 5,000 frequent flyer points credit! (Very impressive gesture)

I had mentioned to him that I had read several complaints on AFF recently about meal choices running out for people in row 2 and that catering had to make more meal choices available.

 

[DC3]

At least that CSM made an attempt to placate. Probably just as embarrassed as the passengers. Also, I saw the chicken salad on a flight last weekend and it looked pretty limp.

I wonder if the cabin crew would even know if there were any queue jumpers and that you could have been offered your choice of meal before them? Does the passenger manifest show that sort of detail?

 

[under the radar]

gotta love the 'ol "I don't like fish " thing....I bet if they offered prawns/smoked salmon/caviar/lobster...they would partake!!! this is why very few airlines offer a 'special seafood' meal..pax think they will receive something 'posh'!! and are disappointed when they receive fish!! lol

 

[Robbi]

gotta love the 'ol "I don't like fish " thing....I bet if they offered prawns/smoked salmon/caviar/lobster...they would partake!!! this is why very few airlines offer a 'special seafood' meal..pax think they will receive something 'posh'!! and are disappointed when they receive fish!! lol

I would reject the fish pie, prawns, lobster and caviar. I'd give the smoked salmon a go.

Fish fingers I'd eat or salmon fillet or KG Whiting.

People are allowed to be choosy, if they choose not to eat, that's a fair choice as well.

 

[DC3]

gotta love the 'ol "I don't like fish " thing....I bet if they offered prawns/smoked salmon/caviar/lobster...they would partake!!! this is why very few airlines offer a 'special seafood' meal..pax think they will receive something 'posh'!! and are disappointed when they receive fish!! lol

But prawns/smoked salmon/caviar/lobster wasn't offered, from what I understand. Just some sort of fish pie with a chicken salad option.