Special meal quality for QF First

[lurker]

I'm flying with someone else that is lacto-ovo (i.e. VLML) up the front of the plane (QF First) and wondering what the special meal experience is like. On the rare occasion I've seen a special meal in J, it looks like something brought up from Y/Y+ and was not at the same J standard.

Anyone have recent experiences here with special meals in QF First? Are they on par with the rest of the menu in terms of quality?

Wondering whether it's better to just chance it, or alternatively, if you can choose not to eat the special meal when onboard and pick vegetarian off the main menu if you wanted to (which would be the safest bet, but potentially wasteful).

 

[Strikes]

I can't comment for QF first unfortunately, but in the past 12 months I've flown QF Business and EK First as a vegetarian and on one leg requested (lacto-ovo) and didn't on the other. Much better experience just chancing it to be honest with both airlines. The meal quality of the special meal quality was pretty ordinary.

That said, with the QF business special meal, they staff commented it looked average and proactively offered me something vego from the standard menu which was pleasant (although I felt wasteful).

Long story short, I found the special meals average and now prefer to not put a meal request in unless flying economy. If you do put the request in for your travel companion and it looks average, I'm sure they'd be fine to switch it to something on the menu, if available.

 

[fletty]

We didn't have the best special meal experience in F on QF1 last year. MrsFletty is unable to have dairy currently due to our son's CMPA. We put in for the special meal which was dairy (or lactose, can't remember exactly) free.

They loaded it, and it was fine, but then the FA said the caviar creme fraiche was dairy free? (which it clearly isn't), they also couldn't speak to dairy contents in other meals. When her special meal was served, they served the butter from another meal, instead of the nuttelex/margarine one from her special meal.

All over, pretty bizarre, and expected better in F.

The next leg (SIN>LHR) was a completely different story. The FA was very familiar with dairy contents in the meals, was able to provide standard meals that had no dairy (like the steak sandwich which was her favourite of the trip!) and gave a lot more confidence that what she was being served was appropriate. We ended up providing feedback to QF as she was such a great help.

 

[markis10]

There is usually a vegetarian option on the menu that might do the job eg https://delivery-p146463-e1510352.a...17c/original/as/First-dining-menu_AUS-USA.pdf

 

[lurker]

but then the FA said the caviar creme fraiche was dairy free? (which it clearly isn't), they also couldn't speak to dairy contents in other meals. When her special meal was served, they served the butter from another meal, instead of the nuttelex/margarine one from her special meal.

oh dear... lucky you had your wits about you otherwise feeding dairy to a dairy free person usually doesn't end well!

The FA was very familiar with dairy contents in the meals, was able to provide standard meals that had no dairy (like the steak sandwich which was her favourite of the trip!) and gave a lot more confidence that what she was being served was appropriate.

Good to hear that it was a one-off!

Long story short, I found the special meals average and now prefer to not put a meal request in unless flying economy. If you do put the request in for your travel companion and it looks average, I'm sure they'd be fine to switch it to something on the menu, if available.

Great feedback. Seems that the winning move is to request the meal, but once onboard mention that you have the dietary requirement but you'd prefer to choose from the regular menu and not to prep the special meal unless requested.

Thanks all!