The Spirits Are Back on Qantas

Matt Graham
Qantas A330-300 Business Class
Qantas will finally resume offering spirits in domestic Business Class. Photo: Qantas.

Spirits are finally back on the spirit of Australia, with Qantas bringing back spirits in Business Class on domestic flights from today.

Australian Frequent Flyer understands that Qantas will also resume hanging passengers’ jackets in domestic Business Class from today. In addition, on longer domestic flights, Business Class passengers will once again be offered a drink and nibbles from the bar before the main meal service commences. This will see Qantas’ domestic Business offering return almost exactly to how it was before the pandemic.

After removing catering from domestic flights during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020, Qantas resumed offering meals and alcoholic drinks including beer and wine on its flights in July 2020. But since then, spirits have been notably absent from Qantas’ domestic Business Class offering – despite being one of the most requested items.

Qantas initially used “COVID” as an excuse not to provide drinks like gin, rum, whisky or vodka in Business Class. But this excuse started to wear a bit thin when Virgin Australia reintroduced spirits in its Business Class in March 2021 and even Jetstar (which is owned by Qantas) resumed selling spirits on board in Economy.

Qantas has been offering spirits in its premium cabins on international flights since they relaunched in November 2021. But they are only just now being reintroduced on Qantas domestic flights until now.

This is good news for Qantas frequent flyers who can now look forward to a gin & tonic, vodka & ginger beer or Bloody Mary once again when flying in domestic Business.

It also now makes Qantas’ domestic Business Class a little more competitive against Virgin Australia, which is typically offering much lower airfares.

 

Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: No More Spirits (in J) Masquerading as COVID?

Matt Graham
The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
Matt Graham
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Danger Dec 06, 2020 #1

That's poor. I wonder, though, if it's a case of catering having not done its job. You would think the FAs would know about a change in service such as this. It reads as though the FAs went looking, couldn't find the spirits, thought they'd blame it on the pandemic rather than acknowledge their colleagues' lack of performance and hope you bought the line. Shame on you for not remembering that, along with wearing a mask and washing your hands, WHO has also been saying for months now, 'Serve only beers. Spirits spread the disease.'

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d dk4 Dec 06, 2020 #2

I know they weren't provisioning spirits on either airlines' business class last time I flew them. And a report from someone on VA last week, was that it was beer or wine, and they didn't want to be booked on VA again (I doubt the new VA will reintroduce spirits). I agree though it is poor form from QF not to have recommenced provisioning of spirits, especially when their business fares can go up to2-3 times more than some of the same sectors on Virgin.

So much for the spirit of Australia... haha

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samh004 Dec 06, 2020 #3

I didn't have a chance to ask for the same on this mornings National Jet service CBR-SYD, but I shall try my lucky on a mainline service this afternoon to OOL and report back.

Shame on you for not remembering that, along with wearing a mask and washing your hands, WHO has also been saying for months now, 'Serve only beers. Spirits spread the disease.'

I am not sure if you're speaking tongue in cheek or not, but that seems daft! :p

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samh004 Dec 06, 2020 #4

The final flight of the afternoon was mainline and the options also did not include spirits.

Guess that answers that.

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Austman Dec 06, 2020 #5

and the options also did not include spirits.

I thought they disappeared ages (some years) ago from Qantas mainline J? Except for trans-con flights?

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samh004 Dec 06, 2020 #6

I thought they disappeared ages (some years) ago from Qantas mainline J? Except for trans-con flights?

Last August (2019) I had several spirits on a flight OOL-SYD(-MEL) when they ran out of one of them. No photos I'm afraid, but it was for an AFF gathering. Flew back the next day.

View image at the forums

You'll have to take my word for it, but this was April 2019 QF881 OOL-MEL, on my way to a wine tour in ADL.

Reply 4 Likes

justinbrett Dec 06, 2020 #7

I thought they disappeared ages (some years) ago from Qantas mainline J? Except for trans-con flights?

No, they disappeared from Y (paid or free) but remained in J. I had a couple on BNE-SYD in Jan this year before Covid.

JQ are serving spirits - with the mini bottles. If QF is worried about handling spirits maybe move to this model. BA J give you mini bottles so you can get the perfect mix. I actually don't mind it, I don't like my spirits drowned.

Although, I'm fairly certain I had some G&Ts on a QLK 717 BNE-CNS in October, so this might not be a national policy.

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A Atcom Dec 07, 2020 #8

I just flew Qantaslink Kalgoorlie to Perth (9:55am) and coffee and tea were not even offered. A small bottle of water and a wrapped "muffin". That was it. QAN is now offering less than a budget airline service on full fare flights under the excuse of covid.

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j jakeseven7 Dec 07, 2020 #9

I just flew Qantaslink Kalgoorlie to Perth (9:55am) and coffee and tea were not even offered. A small bottle of water and a wrapped "muffin". That was it. QAN is now offering less than a budget airline service on full fare flights under the excuse of covid.

I flew QFLink twice on the weekend and coffee, tea, refreshments were all available per normal......

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justinbrett Dec 07, 2020 #10

I just flew Qantaslink Kalgoorlie to Perth (9:55am) and coffee and tea were not even offered. A small bottle of water and a wrapped "muffin". That was it. QAN is now offering less than a budget airline service on full fare flights under the excuse of covid.

Not sure that's completely objective, as you would have to pay for both the water and the muffin on a budget airline.

But I do agree with the criticism in general. I think they could get away with it whilst they stopped selling F&B on JQ, but they resumed doing this a month ago, so if they are prepared to sell it on JQ they should go back to serving it on QF.

Also keep in mind Qantaslink is a brand, that is made up of several airlines with a certain level of autonomy.

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