Deteriorating food and drinks Qantas Business
Jan 8, 18, 5:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Platinum One, NZ*S, Koru, Accor Le Club Plus Platinum, BW Diamond, Marriott GOLD
Posts: 72
Deteriorating food and drinks Qantas Business
Hi,
I have recently noticed that the food offer is getting worse and worse while traveling on qantas business.
I flew with qantas on A380 QF118. The flight was delayed and they were aiming to start serving light supper around midnight. It was nothing special, so I skipped it and went straight to sleep. I thought that I will have good breakfast. It was a tiny dry brioche bun with a small piece of bacon and a layer of scrambled eggs with a drop of signature bbq Rockpool sauce. Thats it. It was provided at 9 am.
Another thing is that they continuously mislead their customers by saying that there are four champagnes to choose from. Only the cheapest brand is loaded. All the other choices are just for fun. I have flown numerous times on trans-Tasman and always it was the case.
in comparison BNE-AKL flight in J with Emirates, was completely different.
Qantas sends some copy paste generic message in line your feedback is important to us, but its getting even worse.
Friend of mine was served a dish with prawns instead of salmon (because they havent loaded salmon), then economy meal instead of business because the oven has been broken. That was on trans Tasman ZQN-SYD.
They dont feel responsible that they should deliver catering and dont take any blame for shortcomings.
I have some flights to the usa to purchase and I am seriously considering Air NZ. Their business is at least a real business class.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Or am I just oversensitive?
I have recently noticed that the food offer is getting worse and worse while traveling on qantas business.
I flew with qantas on A380 QF118. The flight was delayed and they were aiming to start serving light supper around midnight. It was nothing special, so I skipped it and went straight to sleep. I thought that I will have good breakfast. It was a tiny dry brioche bun with a small piece of bacon and a layer of scrambled eggs with a drop of signature bbq Rockpool sauce. Thats it. It was provided at 9 am.
Another thing is that they continuously mislead their customers by saying that there are four champagnes to choose from. Only the cheapest brand is loaded. All the other choices are just for fun. I have flown numerous times on trans-Tasman and always it was the case.
in comparison BNE-AKL flight in J with Emirates, was completely different.
Qantas sends some copy paste generic message in line your feedback is important to us, but its getting even worse.
Friend of mine was served a dish with prawns instead of salmon (because they havent loaded salmon), then economy meal instead of business because the oven has been broken. That was on trans Tasman ZQN-SYD.
They dont feel responsible that they should deliver catering and dont take any blame for shortcomings.
I have some flights to the usa to purchase and I am seriously considering Air NZ. Their business is at least a real business class.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Or am I just oversensitive?
Jan 8, 18, 7:45 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
I would have said that it was about 2 years ago that Qantas business class went rather abruptly from one of the best airlines for catering to below average and it seems to have continued slipping gently from there. That said, I don't think I can recall a time when anything in the breakfast menu beyond fruit and yogurt was fit for consumption.
Jan 8, 18, 8:10 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,469
To be fair, I have had some brilliant meals in QF J and these are usually daylight flights (eg SYD-JNB).
I am more confident of a consistent and predictable flight experience with UA in Business on the Trans Pacs than with QF. I choose flights accordingly.
Jan 8, 18, 11:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,064
In fairnesss, I don't think QF anywhwre suggest that there are 4 champagnes to choose from; they do say that the champagne on offer will be one of the 4 mentioned on the menu.
Jan 9, 18, 12:01 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
As reported in a related thread, I had sub-par food experience on QF 36 the other night. This was designated as a supper flight notwithstanding the clearly dinner time departure of 1930 for a 7 hour flight to Melbourne. The food itself was just *ok*, but the quantity was totally insufficient. No nuts/nibbles were offered with the pre-supper drink and then the one-plate, single course meal, really just a snack and lesser quantity than a domestic J evening meal on Syd-Mel.
I complained about it to the 'chef' at the time of ordering and said that if I had known about the food arrangements prior I would have eaten something in the lounge. He said: " Well, I'll make sure you're not hungry and will come back to you after the meal" ( never saw him again for the duration of the flight).
Breakfast was lamentable: some energiser drink and a Danish and a stone cold muffin thing. I asked for some bread as an alternative. " yes, the chef is just warming some up for you and it will be 5-6 minutes" ( needless to say it never appeared and I gave up at that point).
This in stark contrast to a mid-afternoon flight from BKK-SIN in Y on Thai, 3 course meal on a tray, really quite tasty ( although ironically didn't eat much of it in anticipation of eating on QF in J).
This was the final sector of a longish trip , including J on Emirates, Thai, AF, Austrian and Y on Thai. In comparison Qantas food is a sick joke.
I complained about it to the 'chef' at the time of ordering and said that if I had known about the food arrangements prior I would have eaten something in the lounge. He said: " Well, I'll make sure you're not hungry and will come back to you after the meal" ( never saw him again for the duration of the flight).
Breakfast was lamentable: some energiser drink and a Danish and a stone cold muffin thing. I asked for some bread as an alternative. " yes, the chef is just warming some up for you and it will be 5-6 minutes" ( needless to say it never appeared and I gave up at that point).
This in stark contrast to a mid-afternoon flight from BKK-SIN in Y on Thai, 3 course meal on a tray, really quite tasty ( although ironically didn't eat much of it in anticipation of eating on QF in J).
This was the final sector of a longish trip , including J on Emirates, Thai, AF, Austrian and Y on Thai. In comparison Qantas food is a sick joke.
Last edited by paolo64; Jan 9, 18 at 12:12 am Reason: Typo
Jan 9, 18, 4:55 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/BNE
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,051
i beg to differ. i find J main meal food good both in presentation and taste. obviously late departure might not compare to day flight but i would rank QF meals pretty good.
i agree though breakfast on hkg-aus flight is rather lame but thats function.of short flight and most wish to be maximizing sleep. i myself typically slept thru breakfast. it was not end of the world as i paid for bed and not for breakky.
i agree though breakfast on hkg-aus flight is rather lame but thats function.of short flight and most wish to be maximizing sleep. i myself typically slept thru breakfast. it was not end of the world as i paid for bed and not for breakky.
Jan 9, 18, 7:26 am
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,791
Jan 9, 18, 8:41 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/BNE
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,051
qf118 OP was on departs around 930pm. factorig departure delays gear up around 10 ish. meal service commence good 45min later so 1045pm ish. i think that is late category. not to mention to switch to sydney time its like 130am
thus i say i rather maximize sleep...
thus i say i rather maximize sleep...
Jan 9, 18, 6:03 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,791
Perhaps it wasn't obvious as I didn't quote it, but in mentioning 1930, I was referring to paolo64's post, not the OP. Still not sure what CX do out of HKG, but out of SIN at a similar time, SQ provide a full meal, with entree, main, dessert and cheese on their 21:20 departure to MEL out of SIN. Those who want to sleep don their eyemask's, make their bed and let the flight attendants know not to disturb them, those who want a meal partake in it (but they do provide only a light breakfast of fruit and pastries). Contrast to their 23:30 departures which provide a choice of supper or hot (or cold) breakfast.
Jan 10, 18, 4:52 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Platinum One, NZ*S, Koru, Accor Le Club Plus Platinum, BW Diamond, Marriott GOLD
Posts: 72
The problem is that they dont care. I have provided my feedback to customer care and they couldnt care less. They did the same to my mate - almost identical reply. Qantas is probably the worst customer centric airline. They dont take any responsibility whatsoever for any shortcomings and they dont take any corrective actions either.
I guess I am with qantas because I like an option of redeeming flights to Emirates flights and collecting qantas points is quite easy.
They occasionally have good meal, sometimes in their lower cabin class even. I had yummy sandwiches with kimchi for instance. But, in business food should be good quality as thats the part of the service. Its not only a bed.
Does qantas publish somewhere full menu in advance like Emirates?
I guess I am with qantas because I like an option of redeeming flights to Emirates flights and collecting qantas points is quite easy.
They occasionally have good meal, sometimes in their lower cabin class even. I had yummy sandwiches with kimchi for instance. But, in business food should be good quality as thats the part of the service. Its not only a bed.
Does qantas publish somewhere full menu in advance like Emirates?
Jan 11, 18, 2:53 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Qantas Sapphire - Accor Plus Gold
Posts: 1
You aren't being over-sensitive.
Recently on my flight from Queenstown to Sydney I had several issues with the business meal presented by Qantas.
First of all the salmon listed on the menu as starter was actually not salmon, but shrimp!
Oven wasn't even functional so they couldn't heat our meals.
My main meal which was supposed to be chicken, was actually duck!,
Eventually they gave me a cold dysfunctional meal from the economy cabin which was at least chicken but was disgusting.
I don't understand the point of the "Rockpool inspired menu" promised to provide a personalized experience when the options listed aren't even available. You'd hope this was just bad luck, but based on the way the cabin crew reacted to the situation this seemed like normal situation.
Also only one champagne was offered and of course it was the cheapest on the list.
Recently on my flight from Queenstown to Sydney I had several issues with the business meal presented by Qantas.
First of all the salmon listed on the menu as starter was actually not salmon, but shrimp!
Oven wasn't even functional so they couldn't heat our meals.
My main meal which was supposed to be chicken, was actually duck!,
Eventually they gave me a cold dysfunctional meal from the economy cabin which was at least chicken but was disgusting.
I don't understand the point of the "Rockpool inspired menu" promised to provide a personalized experience when the options listed aren't even available. You'd hope this was just bad luck, but based on the way the cabin crew reacted to the situation this seemed like normal situation.
Also only one champagne was offered and of course it was the cheapest on the list.
Jan 11, 18, 6:01 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,064
