No food in MEL lounge or on the aircraft?!
Jul 8, 2022, 4:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: NZ*GE
Posts: 184
No food in MEL lounge or on the aircraft?!
Anyone know what’s going on? A family member had a TT upgrade clear and says there’s no food in the lounge and they’ve said there’s none on the plane, either. Would seem really bizarre not to have business catered. Maybe they mean they’ve run out of food for purchase? Never heard of anything like it!
Jul 8, 2022, 4:49 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
Not the weridist thing I have heard recently. If the catering company has people sick, hard to do things get food. Hearing about all sorts of airport worker shortages. Can't just get temps in as the kitchens are "airside" so need the paperwork and background checks.
Jul 8, 2022, 5:31 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,195
I’m mid-Tasman on NZ274 BNE-WLG (Works Deluxe) and the so-called ‘meal’ is tiny, and the heated ‘tray’ component must surely be 3/4 the size of a long haul Y meal. I’ll create a mini-trip report as the BNE lounge experience was also disappointing…
Jul 10, 2022, 3:13 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,414
Seems very odd, you think if they had time to send an email out.
There would at least, time to load something in AKL. Even if it was something basic from a third party supplier.
You think worse case they could of at least picked up some dry stock snacks in AKL.
There would at least, time to load something in AKL. Even if it was something basic from a third party supplier.
You think worse case they could of at least picked up some dry stock snacks in AKL.
Jul 10, 2022, 5:32 pm
#7
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
That is the new standard shorthaul middle of day menu. There was an article about it recently.
Jul 12, 2022, 6:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,414
The 787/777s have no issues fitting in a return trips meals on the Tasman.
Jul 14, 2022, 5:34 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
Good grief. Departed MEL this morning. Massive queues at security. Only 1 queue to get in, wait in a snaking queue, then only 4 security lines operating out of 10. Most staff weren’t wearing masks (even though legally required to). This all seemed relatively normal till we boarded the plane. Delayed 25 minutes so far, due to waiting for catering for the flight.
Jul 14, 2022, 7:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,984
On what legal basis are MEL airport staff required to wear masks unless on an aircraft?
Jul 14, 2022, 7:34 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
Fair. Seems that this was changed about two weeks ago. We left over 30 minutes late in the end. Bizarrely staff didn’t do the safety briefing till after the food arrived on board which arguably delayed us further. Is there some reason they can’t just do the briefing once everyone’s onboard *then* wait for the food?
Jul 14, 2022, 7:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
Fair. Seems that this was changed about two weeks ago. We left over 30 minutes late in the end. Bizarrely staff didn’t do the safety briefing till after the food arrived on board which arguably delayed us further. Is there some reason they can’t just do the briefing once everyone’s onboard *then* wait for the food?
Most probably checklist says doors need to be shut & cabin secure (no one in toilets, carts secure) before doing safety briefing
Jul 14, 2022, 8:46 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 965
Most kitchens are moving landside as they don't need to have direct airside access. Trucks use a gate to access the ramp. Meals are produced sometimes weeks in advance (premium meals excluded), real estate is cheaper off-airport.
Jul 14, 2022, 8:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
But think staff still need background checks and have to work in an airsidish way as they are dealing with things that end up on planes without x-ray etc.