Originally Posted by
justin_krusty
This has come up before, about 2 years ago. I couldn't find the thread so it may have been on AFF. Anyway Dave Noble pointed out (I disagreed with him at the time, but have since come around to his way of thinking) that to be truly fair, pax should be asked by fare class (flex to non-flex), then redemptions/awards, then op-ups, then staff. At each stage, pax sub-ranked by status.
So yes it can get rather complicated if one wants to be totally fair about it. I think what is more important is:
1) sufficient catering loaded
2) choice allocation done discretely and out of sight
Having recently had the pleasure of flying QF again for the first time around 8 years, this time on a staff travel companion ticket, I can confirm staff do get left to the end, but it does seem to depend on the flight and probably how well catered the flight was.
I did 6 sectors, 4 international and 2 domestic and it was only the dinner domestic flight I was left till last. A little bit conspicuous in 1A! The FA was very good about it, serving the other side first, then 1C, then saying to me "Mr dddc, I'll be right back to you if that's ok". Well handled. (and obviously I was not going to complain!). I ended up having a choice as it was. Which was good as I didn't want the fish option! The other domestic was a breakfast flight so they seemed to have plenty of everything.
The international flights were unsocial ones and I think on the out bound there was only about 12 people in the lower J cabin. There didn't seem to be an issue. On the inbound it was slightly more crowded and I had been asked to move from the upper cabin after settling in for a medical pax so the definately knew I was on staff travel. I had the bulkhead centre section aisle seat and it was better than upper deck seat as I didn't have me feet wedged in the back of the seat infront! Each meal service this time I said any of the mains, bar the fish. The FA there adivised to take the local port dish as they often don't do western dishes well!
On the subject of the food, the dinner domestic flight (BNE-MEL) had the tastiest meal of the 6 sectors. When I was flying back regularly I used to look forward to my QF sectors for the food (and the BA sectors for the new flat bed!). I don't know that as I've gotten older my palate has changed, but I didn't rate the Neil Perry/Rockpool menus. Chicken Schnitzel was a whole breast crumbed not a thin slice. It was fine, but not what I was expecting. The beef out of Australia was good. But the chicken in sause on the domestic leg was better. More satisfying.
Yes, I do like my airline food! As soon as airlinemeals.net comes back to life you'll see some of these there!!
Also, I would agree that for the FA's to go around and take orders before serving would be the best way to avoid situations. No one needs to know if there was or wasn't a dish left that way.