Qantas catering – why I’d rather fly Virgin

July 16, 2007 in General by brnathan | 2 comments

What’s the difference between Qantas, Jet Star and Virgin Blue – you can get decent service and meals on Jet Star and Virgin. As a Qantas frequent flyer I’m appalled at the continual decline of service and catering standards of our supposed national airline. It seems that short cuts and cost cutting is not only taking place in the maintenance of our flying kangaroo but so too are the standards of service and catering, thankfully the later does not jeopardise our life. On a two and a half hour flight from Cairns to Brisbane during what is usually someones dinner time the best our airline could come up with was three small oat biscuits no bigger than a 50c piece and the tinniest tub of “cream cheese”; served with not a lot of smile. At least on Virgin the staff always seem happy to be there and you can get a decent sandwich even if you do have to pay a little for it. Many years ago my uncle was long standing Qantas caterer. When the catering was moved out of Qantas kitchens and outsourced he said that would be the decline of the quality of Qantas catering, no words have been so prophetic. The food is taking a dive, the staff no longer look like they are happy to be serving you, and the planes look like they have not been cleaned in ages. Come on Qantas, get your act together. What sort of image is our flying kangaroo giving to our visitors.

  1. Sheena’s avatar

    Sheena on July 17, 2007 at 10:12 am

    I think the best solution is one favoured by my sister and a German friend of mine – take your own. Pack a sandwich and some fruit, and a small container of biscuits or nuts or trail mix or whatever. Just get the drinks they provide. Of course you’re at a disadvantage if the flight goes over 2 different mealtimes and is overnight or includes breakfast or whatever, but at least you eat proper food. I agree, it shouldn’t be necessary, but sometimes you have to work around inadequacies.

  2. Nathan James’s avatar

    Nathan James on July 17, 2007 at 10:38 am

    Yes, taking one’s own food seems to be a functional way of dealing with the inadequacies of airlines to meet the needs of people. This is my point about flying Virgin, because you either take your own or buy theirs (their chicken and salad wraps are delicious by the way). You don’t begrudge brining your own or buying their’s in such cases – one only becomes annoyed when you choose to patronise and airline the purports to still have the ‘comforts and service’ that others don’t.