What irritates you most while flying?

[the naked truth]

I do think so. Although QF has risen to 18yo Glenlivet in F, I do not rate the Chivas 18yo as a scotch worth of the F cabin. Compare it with the high quality wines and they could do a lot better than Chivas. The Glenlivit 18yo is is reasonable scotch for its price. But if they want a quality highland malt, they would be better with the Macallan 18yo.

And Chivas Regal is certainly not a decent scotch. It, and JW Black, are very much over-rated and in my opinion they are mixing scotches (i.e. to be mixed with Ginger Ale or Coke). Compare those to say BA J (Glenfiddich Solera Reserve) and CX J (JW Gold) and there is a major step up from a mixing scotch to a drinking scotch. Then there is JW Blue in F with both BA and CX.

But I would really like to see QF offer two more different styles. Yes, they have one blended and one single malt, but they are still similar and boring styles. Keep either of the Chivas 18 or Glenlivit 18 (my vote goes to Glenlivet) and add a Speyside or Islay style as well, such as Talisker 18yo or Laphroaig 15yo. And in J they could offer JW Gold and Laphroaig 10yo or Bowmores 17yo, again giving a choice of style and not just blended vs single malt.

Agree that there are some fantastic malts, including those you mention, but the proportion of people who would notice the condierable extra spend that would be required would be very samll, indeed like artisanal Chamoagens which can also be fantastic and better than the mainstream names such as Dom Perignon and Krug, yet very few pwople are aware of these and are simply not convinced in the glass. Glenlivet is a no second tier malt by any means, it is a finer style that also importantly appeals to a broader range of tastes.

It is ludicrous to suggest that an airline could hope to offer that sort of range to satsify that array of tastes and the additional and signficant costs to feature those artisan scotchs you mention

would not be worth the investment.

 

[the naked truth]

And Chivas Regal is certainly not a decent scotch. It, and JW Black, are very much over-rated and in my opinion they are mixing scotches (i.e. to be mixed with Ginger Ale or Coke). quote]

Am I missing something - are we still talking about airline travel, or a restaurant? When I travel first, or business, whatever scotch they've served me has been fine. JW Black, Chives, Glenlivit etc. I can enjoy them all. You can't please everyone, and I don't expect them to try. If it's 12 or 18 years old, I couldn't care less. I might prefer 2yo JW Red - but I don't complain if they serve JW black. It's personal taste. If the experts say something tastes better, I don't care - it's what my taste buds tell me that counts. But on an airplane, I am more concerned with how comfortable the seats are, and how well the movies work to worry about the age of my scotch.

Thank you for a voice of sanity.

 

[the naked truth]

Perhaps if you were sittin in the Champagen bar next to the Ritz in London or at a bar in Edinburgh that specialised in a range of fine and rare malt whiskeys, but the view that an airline could possibly cater for those who appreciate artisan scotch/malt as well as those who might appreciate artisan Champagne (yes Dom is relatively commercial at some 300,000 dozen produced each year), Vodka, or even water is a little 'unrealistic'. Perhaps on the A380, though they might have to carry some passenegers as well!!!

Good grief Charlie brown.

 

[NM]

It is ludicrous to suggest that an airline could hope to offer that sort of range to satsify that array of tastes and the additional and signficant costs to feature those artisan scotchs you mention

would not be worth the investment.

I agree that it is not practical nor viable to carry a wide range of scotch styles on an aircraft. However, I do believe the J cabin should have something better than Chivas Regal and the F cabin something better than Chivas 18yo. Fair enough to stick to the highland styles, but there are a lot better available than QF serves, such as my examples from BA and CX.

You won't find Chivas Regal or JW Black on my shelf. I have bought Chivas 18yo in the past. At home I have a reasonable selection available to me. Current stock is as follows:
JW Blue
JW Gold
JW Swing
Glenfiddich 21yo
Macallan 18yo
Glenlivet 18yo
Talisker 18yo
Bowmore 17yo
So you can see I am seriously short of Islay whiskeys presently. It seems that they are the ones that get consumed first at my place. The others have plenty of dust on the boxes.

 

[NM]

Am I missing something - are we still talking about airline travel, or a restaurant? When I travel first, or business, whatever scotch they've served me has been fine. JW Black, Chives, Glenlivit etc. I can enjoy them all. You can't please everyone, and I don't expect them to try. If it's 12 or 18 years old, I couldn't care less. I might prefer 2yo JW Red - but I don't complain if they serve JW black. It's personal taste. If the experts say something tastes better, I don't care - it's what my taste buds tell me that counts. But on an airplane, I am more concerned with how comfortable the seats are, and how well the movies work to worry about the age of my scotch.

I could care less. If JW Black or Chivas Regal is all that is available, I may ask for a scotch and dry, but only one. Then I would move on to something else. If a decent scotch is available, I will likely only drink that and plenty of water on the side. I rarely drink wine and would struggle to tell you the difference between a Merlot and a Shiraz. For me to drink wine, it has to either be super sweet (as in a dessert wine) or fortified, or a reasonable champagne.

I suppose I would not care less if the champagne is Krug or Moet (or anything else served in J or F). But I do care about what scotch I am offered. Each to their own.

 

[rhjames]

I could care less. If JW Black or Chivas Regal is all that is available, I may ask for a scotch and dry, but only one. Then I would move on to something else. If a decent scotch is available, I will likely only drink that and plenty of water on the side. I rarely drink wine and would struggle to tell you the difference between a Merlot and a Shiraz. For me to drink wine, it has to either be super sweet (as in a dessert wine) or fortified, or a reasonable champagne.

I suppose I would not care less if the champagne is Krug or Moet (or anything else served in J or F). But I do care about what scotch I am offered. Each to their own.

I guess when I'm on a plane, these aren't very significant priorities to me. We're talking about an airplane, not a home cellar.

 

[straitman]

Best solution is not have any scotch :!:

(ducking for cover) :mrgreen:

 

[the naked truth]

I agree that it is not practical nor viable to carry a wide range of scotch styles on an aircraft. However, I do believe the J cabin should have something better than Chivas Regal and the F cabin something better than Chivas 18yo. Fair enough to stick to the highland styles, but there are a lot better available than QF serves, such as my examples from BA and CX.

You won't find Chivas Regal or JW Black on my shelf. I have bought Chivas 18yo in the past. At home I have a reasonable selection available to me. Current stock is as follows:
JW Blue
JW Gold
JW Swing
Glenfiddich 21yo
Macallan 18yo
Glenlivet 18yo
Talisker 18yo
Bowmore 17yo
So you can see I am seriously short of Islay whiskeys presently. It seems that they are the ones that get consumed first at my place. The others have plenty of dust on the boxes.

Most of those scotches are unheard of to most customers. Chivas regal and JW Black are the most successful 'premium scotches' because they appeal to a broad range of customer tastes. When loadings dictate one choice then this is important. My father used to take outstanding bottles of Islay malt to his clients in Japan, however when they looked at them in horror he pretty soon realised that it was Chivas Regal or J Walker black or nothing at all. This isnt about convincing in the glass, it is about prestige in anarea of limtied knowledge. J Walker gold and blue are both stupidly priced 'Luxury' whiskeys designed for the less-infomed duty free market. They are not better than either standard Chiva Regal or 18YO Chivas Regal, just expensive.

talisker, bowmore and macallan are all fantastic, and fairly prices but dont lose sight of the fact that your (wise) tastes dont necessarily reflect the very largest majority.

 

[wallacej]

To get BOT about what irritates me most.....

1/ People that know more than me about scotch....

2/ People that ask "how was your flight" on arrival. If there was something eventful I would tell them. If I was on a bus, would they have asked how was my bus ride.....


struth...must be too early on a Sunday morning...got the grumps.

​

 

[tscharke]

i'll admit that I have no appreciation for scotch or any spirit actually! Im a simple guy and love my beer

Having flown QF in whY & J, both dom & inter - I am appalled at their selection of beer!!! What is it these days.....New, Fosters, sometimes Crown and then the Hahn light..........pathetic! Can someone please restore a little faith for me back into the 'australian' iconic airline and tell me that QF F actually offers better beers?!?!?

One of the first things that impressed me the first time I flew BA Club was the selection of beer....heineken, london pride, stella, carlsberg!!! We are still not talking the caliber of Czech beers, but the selection was sooo much better than QF!

I will soon take my first flight with CX in J and am hoping for some nice beers.....please!

with reference to reclining the seat, during our last trip from SIN-SYD in whY, my wife was tapped on the head after reclining her seat (post meals) and was arrogantly told by a young German fella that he was writing his book and how dare she take up his space.....:evil:......amongst other colourful words I clearly pointed out the front of the plane and told him to write his book in business!!!! IMHO seats are made to recline and recline they will!

 

[rhjames]

IMHO seats are made to recline and recline they will!

I tend to agree. On the rare occasion that I suffer economy, I believe the comfort I gain with my seat reclined far outweighs the discomfort to the passenger behind. I've never objected to the person in front reclining, even during meals. However, during meal times, I'm normally happy to go upright for this period. I also agree - if you don't like the economy seat, there's only two options - don't fly or pay for a better seat.

 

[the naked truth]

i'll admit that I have no appreciation for scotch or any spirit actually! Im a simple guy and love my beer

!! We are still not talking the caliber of Czech beers

If you like your Czech beer and haven't tried Trumer Pils you are in for a BIG treat. Hand crafted for well over a century. If you like Pilsner Urquell et all this is even better!!! They have a distributor in Australia who can probably tell you where to get some of the slinky glassware featured on their site. Is it relaly only 11am???!!!

Trumer Pilsner

 

[serfty]

... Can someone please restore a little faith for me back into the 'australian' iconic airline and tell me that QF F actually offers better beers?!?!? ...

Sorry to disappoint:

Crown Larger
Hahn Premium

While I quite like HP's, Crownies are a bit passé

Source - FT trip Report: New QF F LHR-MEL for OzFest - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[rhjames]

Sorry to disappoint:While I quite like HP's, Crownies are a bit passé

Source - FT trip Report: New QF F LHR-MEL for OzFest - FlyerTalk Forums

As I said before, we all have our own likes, and they can't please everyone. Probably what they now have is fine for most people.

 

[Hvr]

What really annoys me is that as a non-drinker I can have a soft drink, but never two! Why? It is the biggest drag for some staff to get one while they are plying beer etc on passengers.

Went to Perth recently and as usual all the beer you want to drink (full size cans) but want a soft drink it is one very small can and be very thankful you get that.

Why? I won't get drunk and cause all sorts of problems which I'm sure we've all seen drunks on planes do.

There must be a reason that I just cannot see.

 

[oz_mark]

What really annoys me is that as a non-drinker I can have a soft drink, but never two! Why? It is the biggest drag for some staff to get one while they are plying beer etc on passengers.

Went to Perth recently and as usual all the beer you want to drink (full size cans) but want a soft drink it is one very small can and be very thankful you get that.

Why? I won't get drunk and cause all sorts of problems which I'm sure we've all seen drunks on planes do.

There must be a reason that I just cannot see.

I can't say I have ever had a problem getting additional softdrinks (although once or twice there has been an astonished look on the FA's face, as in they weren't expecting a request for Diet Coke). If anything I wish they would ditch diet coke, and put that coke zero on board!

 

[rhjames]

If anything I wish they would ditch diet coke, and put that coke zero on board!

You can't be serious - diet coke is the only way to drink Bundy!!!

Ever sat next to someone for 12 hours with really bad BO? Not good, even in Business.

 

[Maca44]

MN, if you like scotch like myself and thats all I drink as I can't stand beer, so if you get a chance try some "Dal Whinney" (I think that is how its spelt)

 

[Reggie]

But I would really like to see QF offer two more different styles. Yes, they have one blended and one single malt, but they are still similar and boring styles. Keep either of the Chivas 18 or Glenlivit 18 (my vote goes to Glenlivet) and add a Speyside or Islay style as well, such as Talisker 18yo or Laphroaig 15yo. And in J they could offer JW Gold and Laphroaig 10yo or Bowmores 17yo, again giving a choice of style and not just blended vs single malt.

There are several options of scotch on most flights. I however dont drink the stuff. Try asking for a southern comfort on a QF flight and get laughed at, however on BA no problems sir. I'd rather they they, (take a seat scotch and wine drinkers you will need it), reduced the apparent large range of wines and scotch and stock other spirts and liquers for pax with other tastes .

 

[oz_mark]

You can't be serious - diet coke is the only way to drink Bundy!!!

Ever sat next to someone for 12 hours with really bad BO? Not good, even in Business.

Hmm, I am going to have to pay more attention and see just how many people use diet coke as a mixer. My hypothesis is very few.