sad day. finally realised that I should have no expectations when flying Qantas :(
Dec 13, 2009, 8:58 pm
#91
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 11
From the perspective of someone who actually manages and operates the galleys, I can tell you that the catering out of BKK to Europe is the best there is! On a somewhat unrelated point, I just love the Thais and it's so tragic that we've closed our Thai crew base. It's such a joy to operate those sectors as you know the catering will be spot on. As for you being quite comfortable with beds not being turned down proactively and the toilet door not being opened for you, well you'd best never fly with me!
Dec 13, 2009, 10:24 pm
#92
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Jersey, CI
Posts: 1,094
From the perspective of someone who actually manages and operates the galleys, I can tell you that the catering out of BKK to Europe is the best there is! On a somewhat unrelated point, I just love the Thais and it's so tragic that we've closed our Thai crew base. It's such a joy to operate those sectors as you know the catering will be spot on. As for you being quite comfortable with beds not being turned down proactively and the toilet door not being opened for you, well you'd best never fly with me!
As has been pointed out, this is an older thread and the people who have posted their concerns are very frequent flyers. They're not whinging at Qantas for the sake of it, they're voicing their concerns, be they valid or otherwise.
If someone dislikes catering on a route and flies it frequently, i'd tend to believe their stance.
Don't get me wrong, people do whinge about little things often, but I think you may want to be more objective in your responses to our complaints. We're not a hostile bunch and always love to have insiders around here (and welcome to FT as well
)
Last edited by drewbles; Dec 13, 2009 at 10:26 pm Reason: does not like me using the 'ing' of a female dog to describe a complaint ;)
Dec 14, 2009, 12:33 am
#93
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 11
With reference to your catering point, I actually manage the galleys, so I am giving a very considered point of view. It has nothing to do with bitterness. It's just fact. The catering out of Bangkok, from an organisational point of view, is great!
Once again, it really is a shame we've lost our Thai colleagues on board. They were so efficient and a delight to work with
They brought something to the customer experience.
Last edited by QFcrew; Dec 14, 2009 at 12:39 am
Dec 14, 2009, 1:01 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
I guess I want to understand why before being too critical.
But it does seem like us pax in economy sit for a good hour (and more) waiting for food, then for trays to be cleared.
Compare to AA where they do two carts per aisle, with two crew on each. The first cart dishes out food (very quick), the follow-up does drinks (again very quick). All over red rover in about 20 mins.
Collection is much the same. (One thing I dislike is having to sit for so long with an empty tray - and I know from checking that everyone has finished eating... but still no tray collection... (usually sitting at the exit I go for a wander and can see the whole plane has finished)).
I'm also interested by the seeming 'trolley dance' where the carts do a bit of one aisle, then come out again and seem to swing and do another bit.
Is this all in my imagination??
Anyways - not so much complaining here as genuinely interested on the meal service logistics from your point of view. This certainly isn't a complaint against you personally or other crews - eoinz said you are busy (and there aren't many of you anymore) - but perhaps knowing why things are done the way they are would help explain.
Regards
lme ff
Last edited by LHR/MEL/Europe FF; Dec 14, 2009 at 1:08 am
Dec 14, 2009, 1:11 am
#95
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LON
Programs: QF Plat & LTG, VA Plat
Posts: 1,435
Or compared to QF domestic where they manage to get meals out, eaten, and collected on a SYD-MEL all within 45 mins. Very efficient.
Dec 14, 2009, 1:26 am
#96
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
I've only flown eastbound out of BKK; while it seems QFCrew only flies westbound (presumably LHR based). There is a difference in the flight distance, maybe BKK-LHR is catered differently than BKK-SYD. All I know is that I have flown QF F 3 or 4 times out of BKK and it was a far worse meal than ex-SIN or ex-HKG. Most of the time I fly CX via HKG instead, avoiding these problems, and the majority of my QF F experience is trans-Pacific.
In general QF is slower at meal service in all classes than most airlines, and often has simpler meals (easier plating, fewer ingredients, etc.). Also QF crew are much grumpier about serving meals at the times that I want rather than the time when they want, and some have deliberately "run out" of ingredients to "punish" me for insisting to eat my meal at the time of my choosing and not theirs. This doesn't happen on CX, SQ, EK or even LH (in F; obvoiusly this is strictly an F service perk, and doesn't apply to J). Galley management is a definite weak point in QF's service procedures. Partly it is the airline's fault: just take a look at how CX galleys are configured, for example. But much of it is staff training and ability (hence my dislike of the A380 F service which really fails on this point on QF, while it shines on SQ and EK).
In general QF is slower at meal service in all classes than most airlines, and often has simpler meals (easier plating, fewer ingredients, etc.). Also QF crew are much grumpier about serving meals at the times that I want rather than the time when they want, and some have deliberately "run out" of ingredients to "punish" me for insisting to eat my meal at the time of my choosing and not theirs. This doesn't happen on CX, SQ, EK or even LH (in F; obvoiusly this is strictly an F service perk, and doesn't apply to J). Galley management is a definite weak point in QF's service procedures. Partly it is the airline's fault: just take a look at how CX galleys are configured, for example. But much of it is staff training and ability (hence my dislike of the A380 F service which really fails on this point on QF, while it shines on SQ and EK).
Dec 14, 2009, 2:02 am
#97
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,114
I really can't explain why - from my perspective (and I'm not justifying that our service isn't slow - if that's how you perceive it) once onboard the aircraft to the lights go out - we do not stop!!
And I can assure you number_6 dishing out those meals is not as easy as you may think. They may look so when they come out (which means the galley operator has done a good job) but you should see how F and J catering arrives on the aircraft - nothing is prepared except the entree in J. I'm not saying it's rocket science but it certainly requires some skill.
Here is an example of a First Class salad before and after
And I can assure you number_6 dishing out those meals is not as easy as you may think. They may look so when they come out (which means the galley operator has done a good job) but you should see how F and J catering arrives on the aircraft - nothing is prepared except the entree in J. I'm not saying it's rocket science but it certainly requires some skill.
Here is an example of a First Class salad before and after
Dec 14, 2009, 2:41 am
#101
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,114
As requested here are some more before and after photos - Again these are from First Class however the same applies for business (however in business class there are two meals to every foil)
Like I said it's not rocket science but plating for up to 72 passengers in such a small area does require patience and a little skill.
Like I said it's not rocket science but plating for up to 72 passengers in such a small area does require patience and a little skill.
Dec 14, 2009, 10:08 am
#103
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 549
Don't know about you...???
2) There were certainly LESS than 500 pax on those flights, let me assure you. Maybe your getting mixed up with the new A380's?
3) There were atleast 10 (maybe 15) rows from the start of the second whY cabin before the service trolley got to me. QF566 (on the 11/11/09, departed PER at 15:15)
All l'm saying is that lately, when l've had a meal, it has taken far to long for the crew to come and clear it.
Dec 14, 2009, 11:43 am
#104
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
As always, you are a true star eoinnz! ^
Perhaps QF need to find a better way to let you guys dish up?
FWIW I have never really had much of a problem in F or J in respect to speed of dishing up. The cabin with the big issue is almost always Y although fortunately I have been in a position to avoid the cabin long haul for the last couple of years. I can't even comment on W as I have only used the BA product thus far.
My own issues with F and J don't relate to speed of service. A word beginning with C comes to mind (and no, I am not being rude).
Perhaps QF need to find a better way to let you guys dish up?
FWIW I have never really had much of a problem in F or J in respect to speed of dishing up. The cabin with the big issue is almost always Y although fortunately I have been in a position to avoid the cabin long haul for the last couple of years. I can't even comment on W as I have only used the BA product thus far.
My own issues with F and J don't relate to speed of service. A word beginning with C comes to mind (and no, I am not being rude).
Last edited by Traveloguy; Dec 14, 2009 at 4:29 pm Reason: typo
Dec 14, 2009, 12:10 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 11
To answer your question, the answer is NO, I don't consider that to be ultra long-haul. I don't know what you're on about though frankly, because as I specified I can only speak from my experience of operating ultra long haul flights, which are between London and south-east Asia. If a 14 hour sector isn't ultra long-haul, then I don't know what is. I said nothing at all about AKL, PER or SYD...