Qantas economy meal and service better than business class

[bsmith]

So, I thought I'd burn some points and upgrade to business class on my recent trip from Melbourne to Perth and to say I was dissapointed with the meal given would be an understatement.....

I selected the beef terriyaki as an entree which consisted of 2 small slithers of beef and some watercress. I was looking forward to the warm chicken salad but was dissapointed to receive 3 small scraps of chicken, a small mound of cous cous and 2 olives and a piece of cucumber! There was no dessert other than some cheese which I declined

The drinks service was very slow and you had to get someones attention for a refill of red

By contrast, my economy meal and service on the return leg was brilliant

The economy choices were steamed fish and pasta, I chose the steamed fish which was a delicious piece of fish in a mustard type sauce with potatoes and vegetables and was delicious! The red wine was free flowing and the ice cream was also good and the staff very attentive

I wouldn't be in a hurry to upgrade again to business class but wanted to share my experience of the economy meal and service which was fantastic so well done Qantas!

 

[harvyk]

Sounds like you simply got a dud business class flight... They shouldn't happen, but every so often they do...

 

[casanovawa]

Maybe next time you are served up such disappointment, ask if you can have a look at the economy class menu and order something and have it brought forward...

Might make a point...

 

[MartinMemo]

Maybe next time you are served up such disappointment, ask if you can have a look at the economy class menu and order something and have it brought forward...

Might make a point...

VA do this for me quite a bit in J if I am too hungover to deal with real food. They just grab some pringles or cheese & crackers from the pay-trolley and put them on a plate for me. That being said I havent had any issues with their J food when I have actually eaten it.

Could the idea of the Qantas one be less of better ingredients, in smaller amounts because its spread over multiple courses? Or did it really just look like they hadn't bothered?

 

[knightman7]

VA J from east to west coast is far superior to QF both in food/service and hard product. But at the end of the day, the J seat on QF is still nicer than Y. Still, from the sounds of things, the catering company must have had a bad day because I've always had a substantial meal whenever I've been on a SYD-PER QF J flight

 

[ComeGroundWithMe]

I'm not a fan of their new "Express" service. The food is not that great despite the constant Masterchef-esque hype. I know it's cost cutting, but I feel a bit let down having satays, a starter, then a main, then dessert on MH to having a pie (yes, that's right...just a single pie on a plate, nothing else) and a standard tub of ice-cream on Qantas.... (and yes, this was an international flight).

Having said that, the duvets are a nice touch

 

[smit0847]

VA do this for me quite a bit in J if I am too hungover to deal with real food.

Why would you fly J if you are too hungover to eat? I'd get fast-food in the terminal then pass out in Y.

 

[MartinMemo]

Why would you fly J if you are too hungover to eat? I'd get fast-food in the terminal then pass out in Y.

My flights are usually booked way in advance, but there are also only very few times a year I am not hungover...

I more book J when it is xmas, a long flight, a special occation (like mardi gras or something) or my birthday flights just because its a nice present to myself... plus I can start drinking spirits just after we take off, so it saves pre drinking time and money! It's just happens that the return flight is usually J - partially because that's just how I booked it, and partially because I could think of nothing worse than Y with a serious hangover.

 

[bryanjones]

Why would you fly J if you are too hungover to eat? I'd get fast-food in the terminal then pass out in Y.

You haven't been truly hungover if you have to ask this question!

 

[Limewood]

As luck had it Mrs Lime and self had a full on breakfast in the Q 1st lounge Sydney before departing to HKG recently in Y1 exit, the meal served up was gross, a wet mince pork with soggy veggies, simply awful spat it out, if this is what Mr. Perry had in mind please leave us out. Up front in J to serve this, no way.

 

[jetlagger]

Though the catering offerings in Y (DOM & INT) appear to have deteriorated as well.

 

[jetlagger]

As luck had it Mrs Lime and self had a full on breakfast in the Q 1st lounge Sydney before departing to HKG recently in Y1 exit, the meal served up was gross, a wet mince pork with soggy veggies, simply awful spat it out, if this is what Mr. Perry had in mind please leave us out. Up front in J to serve this, no way.

View attachment 20238

I was served a similar type on QF19 SYD/MNL in Y last week.
Absolute rubbish.
Reminder to eat before boarding..

 

[MartinMemo]

I was served a similar type on QF19 SYD/MNL in Y last week.
Absolute rubbish.
Reminder to eat before boarding..

I feel bad for the FA's having to open, look at, and then stand back and say "yep, this is the food we have for you". It has been a while since my last QF flight but are there other food items available for purchase at least?

 

[Ansett]

I feel bad for the FA's having to open, look at, and then stand back and say "yep, this is the food we have for you". It has been a while since my last QF flight but are there other food items available for purchase at least?

Nope once on board thats it you are trapped and no alternatives

Qantas food offerings has deteriorated badly across all cabins of late and all in the name of cost cutting. Can they not see the detrimental effect this has on customer satisfaction and thus the willingness to rebook QF when other options are available.

Fools I tell ya Fools

 

[MartinMemo]

Nope once on board thats it you are trapped and no alternatives

Qantas food offerings has detriated badly across all cabins of late and all in the name of cost cutting. Can they not see the detrimental effect this has on customer satisfaction and thus the willingness to rebook QF when other options are available.

Fools I tell ya Fools

At lest in VA flexi if I havent eaten enough in the lounge and the food of the day is gross I can just get a chicken sandwich or something for a few dollars...

 

[jetlagger]

I feel bad for the FA's having to open, look at, and then stand back and say "yep, this is the food we have for you". It has been a while since my last QF flight but are there other food items available for purchase at least?

To be honest the offering was better on the JQi flight I had the week prior. Even though the presentation was not as appealing on JQ.
I've mentioned it before..
I really believe QF should review & compare their competitors F&B offerings in all classes for the similar sectors.
It may surprise them.. amongst other comparative values..

 

[Ansett]

Wonder how Neil Perry feels about all this given he is the one designing the menus and providing the Food Excellence to Qantas.

Have to say based on current J offering for food I would NOT be eating at a Neil Perry restaurant is QF was my only experience of NP food.

Surely Neil would have to be able to see this and do something or is it just a commercial relationship that provides NP with a good steady income?

 

[MartinMemo]

Wonder how Neil Perry feels about all this given he is the one designing the menus and providing the Food Excellence to Qantas.

Have to say based on current J offering for food I would NOT be eating at a Neil Perry restaurant is QF was my only experience of NP food.

Surely Neil would have to be able to see this and do something or is it just a commercial relationship that provides NP with a good steady income?

Maybe part of the compensation for putting his name on the packaging is QF also paying out any lost revenue atributed to declining bookings post a QF flight?

 

[a330j]

As luck had it Mrs Lime and self had a full on breakfast in the Q 1st lounge Sydney before departing to HKG recently in Y1 exit, the meal served up was gross, a wet mince pork with soggy veggies, simply awful spat it out, if this is what Mr. Perry had in mind please leave us out. Up front in J to serve this, no way.

View attachment 20238

So was the picture taken after you spat it out?

 

[marki]

Looks like my dogs breakfast