Qantas Airways Ltd. is revamping business-class services

[Flashback]

Another member of this forum has an ABC rule... Anything But Chardonnay.

I'll drink to that!

 

[NYCguy]

Yes, I feel the same way about Chardonnay in general.

... While making an exception for Chardonnay with French bubbles applied to it

For example...

... The finest expression of the form!

 

[Bob]

Maybe the frogs aren't just on the label :idea:

If you have ever driven a tractor harvesting grapes at night you would know that frogs are the least of the "additions" - I have watched rats, lizards, snakes and countless large spiders drop off the harvester conveyor into the bin. Hasn't put me off the plonk yet.

 

[anat0l]

If you have ever driven a tractor harvesting grapes at night you would know that frogs are the least of the "additions" - I have watched rats, lizards, snakes and countless large spiders drop off the harvester conveyor into the bin. Hasn't put me off the plonk yet.

I was under the impression that wine grapes were handpicked by plebs. How naive am I.

 

[Bob]

I was under the impression that wine grapes were handpicked by plebs. How naive am I.

That takes us back to a very early post - don't believe what the marketing people write on the label.

 

[arrow]

If you have ever driven a tractor harvesting grapes at night you would know that frogs are the least of the "additions" - I have watched rats, lizards, snakes and countless large spiders drop off the harvester conveyor into the bin. Hasn't put me off the plonk yet.

The wine is beautiful...the love complete. If it ever compares to the destination of a QF F flight, let's change it to being ones self.

Its not a flight or an experience... Irs a life.

Don't ever forget it!

 

[NYCguy]

That takes us back to a very early post - don't believe what the marketing people write on the label.

I believe that most botrytis-infected grapes are picked by hand, thus ensuring that only sufficiently mouldy fruit makes it into the press.

 

[medhead]

I believe that most botrytis-infected grapes are picked by hand, thus ensuring that only sufficiently mouldy fruit makes it into the press.

There must be some grapes picked by hand. As I worked with someone who worked through uni by harvesting grapes by hand and also doing the pruning. Maybe not 2 buck chuck. But perhaps some of the more up market wines are picked by hand. Of course, that's wasn't really the point as I was making a joke about why a particular tasted bad

 

[docjames]

There must be some grapes picked by hand. As I worked with someone who worked through uni by harvesting grapes by hand and also doing the pruning. Maybe not 2 buck chuck. But perhaps some of the more up market wines are picked by hand. Of course, that's wasn't really the point as I was making a joke about why a particular tasted bad

Typically large commerical vineyards pick by machine due to the time/labour savings.

Boutique or high-quality grapes remain picked by hand (boutique becuase investment in machinery is > cost savings in labour; high-quality because the quality is better - less contamination).

I say this as someone who has worked in a boutique vineyard.

We're gone off topic again (unless you count this as realted to the quality of wine offered in "Qantas Airways ltd revamped business class")

 

[MrJetset]

I spoke with the manager of the Business Lounge in MEL this morning, in response to a complaint I made recently. She indicated that there are "significant" changes coming to the J lounge product, and she subtly indicated changes to the "menu" to which I envisage means waiter service. I told her that's great, but that the beef pies are a hit on flyertalk and she laughed.

 

[anat0l]

beef pies are a hit on flyertalk and she laughed.

Too bad you can't get a "good 'ol Aussie beef pie" in the QF F Lounges. :mrgreen:

Then again, I think that might be a good thing.

 

[Stealth]

Then again, I think that might be a good thing.

Not if its a 'Four and Twenty'! A wholesome 'Mrs Macs' might be OK, and preferable to some of the lounge and in-flight offerings of late. Who generates the lousy menu items (both J & Y) these days?

 

[Krispy78]

Interesting, it looks like the new business class is finally coming out.

Qantas to launch all-new domestic business class next week - News - Australian Business Traveller

Not a lot of info about what they're actually doing, but the announcement's next week so it shouldn't take long for more details to come out.

+1 vote for beef pies in the Qantas Club. I always get so frustrated by the fact that there's just a smattering of salady and sandwich-paste type things available. Bring on the savoury baked goods!

 

[drewbles]

+1 vote for beef pies in the Qantas Club. I always get so frustrated by the fact that there's just a smattering of salady and sandwich-paste type things available. Bring on the savoury baked goods!

The QC's have had hot food at dinner time for quite some time, but it's like feeding time at the zoo (or vultures circling). It always amused me when they were brought out. It was like a ritual. The heating plate at the buffet is turned on and cleared, people get curious, and the circling begins in anticipation for the arrival of the nuked frozen party pies. When they do arrive, they're gone within 30 seconds, with most punters stacking their plate up, and only 5-6 people actually getting any. They await the second (and final) plate, and it's similar to the first plate.

 

[Krispy78]

The QC's have had hot food at dinner time for quite some time, but it's like feeding time at the zoo (or vultures circling). It always amused me when they were brought out. It was like a ritual. The heating plate at the buffet is turned on and cleared, people get curious, and the circling begins in anticipation for the arrival of the nuked frozen party pies. When they do arrive, they're gone within 30 seconds, with most punters stacking their plate up, and only 5-6 people actually getting any. They await the second (and final) plate, and it's similar to the first plate.

I know!!! That is EXACTLY what it is like, isn't it. The thing is, Qantas quite obviously has a very strict limit on how much food it wants to supply to the Qantas Club guests -- even though there is clearly an over-demand on the food.

Admittedly though, Qantas has MUCH better food than many other airline lounges. Some of the American airlines are pathetic -- tiny bits of cheese wrapped in plastic and crackers, and that's about it.

Still, I'd like to see a bit more food availability in Qantas Club...

 

[Krispy78]

Also, the other thing I notice is that the hours during which they serve the hot food are very limited...! It's only between 6 - 7pm or something (just like the extremely limited timeslot during which they serve dinner on their planes now....)

 

[TonyHancock]

Bring on the meat pies, and sausage rolls.

All that fancy food is just not Australian in my book.

/me goes away grumbling about Neil Perry!!!

 

[drewbles]

Also, the other thing I notice is that the hours during which they serve the hot food are very limited...! It's only between 6 - 7pm or something (just like the extremely limited timeslot during which they serve dinner on their planes now....)

This is another reason to want to access the J lounges (obviously not applicable to PER I know) but they have hot selections across most the day (including very nice scones, jam & cream for morning tea). QF have said the J lounge food is to be 'Neil Perry Inspired' (bad thing IMHO) but I'm not sure if this is extending to QP's as well.

 

[samh004]

This is another reason to want to access the J lounges (obviously not applicable to PER I know) but they have hot selections across most the day (including very nice scones, jam & cream for morning tea). QF have said the J lounge food is to be 'Neil Perry Inspired' (bad thing IMHO) but I'm not sure if this is extending to QP's as well.

I’d actually be very happy (in a cruel way) if Neil Perry-inspired meant doing away with the lovely scones, as there’d be even less incentive for me to want to spend that sort of money trying to get there.

He seems very Asian food-oriented, perhaps he should work for CX although they might be a little smarter than QF.

 

[oz_mark]

milehighclub gave some pointers to what was happening on another thread

Not only are the commercials to promote next gen check in but also the revamp of Qantas' domestic and tasman offering

From mid november onwards some of things you can expect to see:

Business
Introduction of entree on Perth cityflyer and Tasman flights
Better food selection in lounges
Energizer offered in the morning as pre take off drink
Rockpool designed menus more frequently changed
Metal Knives!!

Economy
Mixed choice of fruit as opposed to the current offering of a single fruit
Increase in the freshness of food
Four menu changes with increased rotations
Sparkling wine

This new offering will be implemented over a few months, so you might not see all the above changes all at once.