Qantas upgrading meals on Perth flights "to international standard"

i suggest you find/order or BYO a 'requirement' meal that more suits your 'no pork/cheese' requirements... in my experience, there's at least ONE meal type on J/C trans con  that isnt 'infested' with pork/cheese...ANY airline will do  its best to accommodate MOST palettes..BUT cant please everyone...it seems!!

Al I agree with you sentiments. The primary aim of business class (and especially on a 4+ hr flight) is the ability to have adequate room for ALL J pax to work or rest as required. i.e. the hard product (you or your work pay big $$$$ for) is always the first and primary concern - that's how a company or individual generally justifies the purchase of a business ticket. In other words when traveling J, I first and foremost expect a wide seat and plenty of legroom. The soft products including service, catering, entertainment options and other amenities come second.

In regards to the east-west business, Virgin Australia are winning for now on the fundamental hard product, and by the looks of it will be winning till at least the end of 2014. Unfortunately for Qantas (or really their customers) they can only look forward to improved soft products between now and the end of 2014... or the odd international A330 with MK 1 business seats.

 Look what I found...

Qantas Press Release Nov 2010.

https://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/media-releases/nov-2010/5042/global/en

The line to watch in the article states:

"The introduction of Neil Perry designed menus means our domestic Business Class offering has been aligned to that of international Business Class - it's now one premium standard."

but now in this Ausbt article dated April 2013...

"The ever-passionate Perry described the new menu to Australian Business Traveller as “taking east-west dining up to international standards” and tipped the new service to begin at the end of May."

So was the business menu up to 'international standard' from November 2010, or is it coming in May 2013?

LOL! Nice fine in the QF archive, Skipp! I recall that QF presser - it was one of the first we attended, as it was shortly after AusBT launched - and Qantas did boost its business-class menu with Neil Perry coming on board for domestic meals, but clearly they're going to raise the bar again on east-west, maybe including some elements from the latest international menus such as small plates... But with way, 'international standard' appears to be the go-to catchphrase in any year!

I'm surprised you found the ex-EK bird had more comfortable seats, I felt like a giant in them - what with the headrest being where my neck was (and I'm 5ft 7). Not to mention much narrower seat. 

Although they do recline back much further, it's a bit of a weird seat, so thankfully Virgin's normal seat is much more comfortable. 

I agree Howard !

Qantas J - Chicken Schnitzel sandwich .... (Does Neil have this at Rockpool) ?

Yes I had the Chicken Shnitzel in J from Sydney to Tokyo a few weeks ago. Actually it wasn't bad for what it was, but pretty basic. The  breakfast Tokyo - Sydney was very ordinary for J Class, no real choice and no offers of extra toast etc - more like economy single tray with a napkin thrown in.

Of course we'll see none of this out of Adelaide, which Qantas hates, but I did go to and from Perth in J last week and for the first time ever experienced a hot and quite tasty soup entree.

Best? Survey results suggest its Virgin, not Qantas, for best domestic airline in Australia. 

I'm happy to have Qantas care about re-gaining that title, but I don't think they've earnt it just yet....

Great stuff - but if you only fly QF you can't make a valid conmparison! Enjoy

I couldn't agree, not from my observations anyway, as Qantas Pub food pretty dismal. Business Lounge better (pizzas, etc) but hardly fine dining. Virgin usually has more choice, more frequently refreshed, in their lounge. 

But in both cases, really notable food not so much. Domestic lounges really are just for bites on the run, not meal substitutes. 

I'd pitch Virgin's lounges between the Qantas Club and Qantas Business Lounges when it comes to meals. Qantas Business Lounges consistently seem to have a better choice of hot meals and side dishes.

I love the forum but seriously some of you must be joking. Virgin needs to innovate it doesn't have market share (yet, if ever), however, QANTAS has been an innovator within the airline industry since its inception so really some of you take a breath. I also wonder how many of you who wish to complain actually pay a full fare if any at all? I am unashamedly loyal to QANTAS, however, I have and do fly on other carriers from time to time. I do agree that there is always room for improvement and I have had my share of nightmares, however, overall I like the brand and am satisfied with their strategic direction at present. Like everyone else I love a great deal or fringe benefit, however, I am amazed at how much time is spent by some complaining about aspects of service that in totality aren't big deals in the scheme of things. It's relatively simple, fly with whom you like for whatever reason you like and use your well earned status to access whatever clubs you desire (when international) should you not have the choices you prefer from your host airline. You get what you pay for and at present I believe QANTAS gives me more value for my dollar.

Steady on dazzaredroo - some of your statements don't hold water. Virgin Australia actually eclipsed mainline Qantas for domestic pax in May 2012 (1.442m v 1.371m) so market share wise they seem to be doing pretty well (although I'm unsure how market share actually means much - given that people don't choose airlines based on it). 

Nor do I think valuing opinions based on class you travel in is a sound qualifier (but I do travel J at full fare for your info). The person in Y is as much entitled to share their views as I am - snobbery not required. I am glad, however, that Virgin has moved away from its budget beginnings to offer real choice to consumers in this duopoly market (Qantas v Virgin Australia and Jetstar v Tiger and even QantasLink v Skywest v Rex for our regional sectors).

No-one is knocking YOUR choice to fly Qantas, so please don't rubbish others if they have a DIFFERENT choice to yours. Feel free to say what you like and dislike about aviation, but lets leave the trash talk out of the forums, its not needed. 

I've flown extensively on both Qantas (7,000 tier credits worth) and Virgin Australia - neither are 100% perfect but both have areas they do well - in the end which one you fly comes down to personal (or your company's) choice and there ain't nothing wrong with that.

I don't think VA are the 'innovators' they seem to get so much credit for. Virgin has become more like a refreshed Qantas and in turn Qantas is becoming more like Virgin. However, I am grateful for VA as without them QF would have been unlikely to make improvements.

I do get over Australia's double standards though. QF cops it for offshoring some maintenance but no one expects VA to maintain their entire fleet here. I just don't get that!

Anyway, I do dispute your figures for domestic market share in May 2012 - I think they may be inadvertently misleading. I don't believe it includes QF link? Perhaps I am wrong... But whenever I read things from CAPA QF has seems to have the greater market share (excluding Jetstar).

Mainline Qantas and Virgin Australia are like for like - QantasLink, which operates under a seperate AOC, is a *regional* carrier and should be compared like for like ie. vs Skywest and Rex.

If you are going to distort the argument, you might as well include international Qantas pax into the comparison - just to make you feel better!

The "disputed" figures were not only reported by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, but also reported in the SMH, so more truth, less spin please.

Gippsflyer you have misinterpreted what I have said, I never referred to class of travel re-comment substantiation, however each to their own (I note your desire to include reference to lifetime QF silver and the purpose of that is?). Re your PAX comment, like for like, and spin......well marketing and life (in gerneral) is full of it and the art of persuasion defines interpretation what you think counts (re facts, figures etc) can be re-interpreted by someone else .......so please your opinion (like mine) isn't the only point of view, if you want to argue and reason then stick to the conversation and persuade with a reasoned arguement not just your point of view.

Style and tone dazzaredroo - re: "seriously some of you must be joking", "Virgin... doesn't have market share", "I also wonder how many of you who wish to complain actually have paid a full fare, if any at all".

Nothing wrong at all being proud of Qantas - you just don't need to demean others to do it. As I mentioned, I've flown both carriers extensively (as my Qantas and Virgin history shows), and I've worked in the aviation industry most of my life (and no, not Qantas or Virgin, although I did enjoy a couple of years of Cat A Qantas Staff Travel when I was going out with a Qantas employee), and I am glad that we have a choice of carriers to choose from (it is a democracy after all, so choice is to be celebrated!).

You can represent your preferred brand without being comptemptous to others, and if you do make out there claims like "Virgin... doesn't have market share" (clearly they must, because they are in the market) don't be pissy if someone points out the fallacy of your statement. The numbers are what they are - you'd do we'll to follow your own advice and stick to reasoned argument, not "life... is full of it"

Yep, whilst I understand QF Link has a seperate AOC, I would suspect that Virgin's turboprop operations with Skywest do too. If you want a true comparison of market share you need to combine all Kangaroo brands vs Virgin brands otherwise you're only getting half the picture. 

There is no need to include QF International figures.

I don't particulary care who has more market share, so whoever has more is not going to make me feel better and worse. I was just providing my alternate view and disputing yours.  No spin from me.

The figures quoted *are* mainline Virgin Australia vs Qantas mainline - neither QantasLink nor Skywest pax are included (as both operate under different AOC's to mainline). As I said in my original post, in 100% agreement with what you've just posted - market share is irrelevant when it comes to choosing who you fly with. 

The market share figures are not quoted to say one airline is better than the other, just the silliness of stating "it [Virgin] doesn't have market share" - obviously Virgin does have market share, enough to be a serious competitor for Qantas - which I think is just the stating the obvious really.

And - also obvious - is how off-topic this has all gotten, starting with the OP and only gotten worse since, so I'm leaving it here.

BNE CNS J class on QF was $1200 before VA offered competition.

16 months on and VA is $555 and QF around $950.

QF has removed flights on the route to 2 or 3 a day whilst VA has framped up to 6 per day with J class.

As a Platinum on VA you get 10 pts per dollar.

The value paradigm is so clearly in VA's favour!

Competition is definately a boon! 

In my assessment, Virgin does benefit from being a newer entrant to the domestic market. Less older aircraft (and hard product), less quirky internal rivalry and artificial "cliques" than Qantas (have you ever seen the looks mainline give regional or Jetstar or even international when transversing the terminal), more freedom to change things to deliver better outcomes for both the airline and its customers.

Qantas, however, benefits from long standing relationships through its Frequent Flyer program and corporate links (not to mention an established international operation).

I find customer service more friendly and genuine with Virgin, especially in Business, so that's why I changed carriers. It helps that the hard and soft product is pretty good too. And good pricing is an added bonus.

Qantas does some things well too (you only have to look at the Qantas First lounges in Sydney and Melbourne to demonstrate that)

Gippsflyer You don't work for Virgin or have a commercial agreement with them by any chance do you? I do agree with you that aspects of QANTAS' staff training could address areas of customer service, however, this is an older institution therefore the exisiting ideologies of long term staff (like any large organisation)take some time to change. I do agree with your assessment of long standing partnerships, agreements and FF links etc, however, some people tend to become "stuck" and actually resist change. QF Cabin crew are on conditions that most carriers across the globe can't sustain nor offer. Virgin is a newer organisation which could and did target an employee base that would move and change with the times and would join them knowling exactly what their service "mantra" and conditions of employment were. QANTAS is being stymied by union forces (working conditions) and unfair PR campaigns, Joyce is trying to move QANTAS into the 22nd Century yet all he faces is constant criticism. Virgin isn't and never will be an Australian Icon, QANTAS is, yet we seem to want to destroy those things that are a fabric of our culture. Watch the decline of QANTAS and you'll say the same things about Virgin in the future should they be in a similar position, however, what would we have lost in cultural capital in the meantime?

Well said.

I agree David, and I snapped on a previous thread which I regret and apologise again for.

These are two fantastic airlines everyone. I'll never forget my first business trip away from my young family, after two weeks get back to LAX airport, looking up and seeing that red tail with our Kangaroo on it thinking, with a tear in my eye, "your taking me home!"

And then you have Virgin, which don't forget was a budget start up airline only just over a decade ago, now taking on the business market with success, and in my opinion doing a great job.

The fact is, the Qantas business product became a little tired but now is fighting back thanks to some good and worthy competition. Stories like this prove that.

We all have preferences, some more passionate than others, but if you want better service, better pricing and better rewards and a better all round product then be thankful for both airlines. I would hate Virgin or Qantas to fall over  because we would all be worse off.

Daniell, I've left plenty of spelling issues jus for you.

Daniell, thanks for your lengthy reply  specifically in relation to QR. Their fares in general are great and as you I fund my travel myself so price is a major factor when choosing which flights I book (although I am waiting for QR to join OW so I can eatrn sc's).

Regarding (perceived) negativity on QF anouncements, I think the negativity on this particular post was specifically aimed at the introduction of new Business Class meals for Coast to Coast. On this leg VA has been superior in my opinion, but I am looking forward to see how QF will match (and hopefully surpass) the quality and also presentation.

Must admit that on other flights VA is pretty standard in busienss, if you are not flying at designated breakfast, lunch or dinner flights you indeed end up with a snack plate (quiche or some cheese) which is hardly something to get excited abt.

And my last QF flight in J was a pork pie!!! The flight left at 2005 and apparently that negated it as a dinner flight. Qf is $10 per minute for J class!

That said, I much enjoyed the Yering red...!!!

Absolutely, Can't beat Yarra Yering nor the Torbreck they sometimes have.... In general the QF wine list is fantastic, hence it often wins at Cellar in the Sky awards event.

Love the Torbreck - discovered it at the Qantas first lounge, then found it on sale at a local bottle shop and grabbed a half-dozen!

Please mail me your local bottle shop! Which Torbreck was it? I am guessing "The Steading"? Another good one is the Rockford Basket Press (although I might have had that one on an EK flight in F)

It was the Torbreck 2010 Woodcutter's Shiraz - snared it from Vintage Cellars on Atchison Street, Crows Nest.

I've discovered quite a few great drops courtesy of the Qantas first lounge!

Forgot the woodcutters, great drop as well! I will drop by my local Vintage Cellars to see if I can snag some on special.

Best discovery courtesy of QF for me is Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc des Blanc ;)

Thanks for the tip, I am as fortunate as you ;)

I actually always originate in AMS (or sometimes ex anywhere in Europe where airlines have specials, I happily take a feeder flight). AMS has great EK specials, so that has been my carrier (unfortunately not able to book under QF codeshare as yet as when I try it triples the price of the flight).