Intro
Flying Qantas domestically is a mixed bag – sometimes they nail it, sometimes you get water and pretzels instead of a meal.
Over the past year, frequent journeys across their network provided me with numerous opportunities to experience their domestic food program, from Melbourne to Sydney to Cairns.
Qantas Lounges
Melbourne sets the standard with a business lounge that impresses.
The stylish space offers food that surpasses typical airport fare, featuring high quality ingredients and a presentation that reflects modern Australian dining.
Fresh salads with decent ingredients instead of sad lettuce, and hot food that’s actually cooked rather than just reheated.
The coffee program deserves special mention – proper barista-made drinks that rival what you’d get at Melbourne’s famous cafรฉ culture.
This attention to beverage quality shows Qantas understands what Australians expect from their coffee experience.
Sydney is currently transforming, but it still offers solid self-service options.
The buffet includes fresh sandwiches, decent salads, and made-to-order toasties rather than those sitting under heat lamps.
The variety changes throughout the day, with breakfast items giving way to lunch options that include both light and substantial choices.
Cairns takes a more relaxed approach that fits the tropical setting.
Good coffee and snack stations provide the essentials, while runway views add entertainment value.
The food offerings are simpler but fresh, acknowledging that many passengers are either starting or ending holiday trips rather than conducting business.
Domestic Business Class
Flying Melbourne to Sydney in business class, I had high expectations for what should be Qantas’s premium domestic experience.
However, the captain announced no meals available today. Instead, we got water and pretzels.
While amusing in retrospect, this reflected the kind of operational challenges that airlines face on a daily basis.
To Qantas’s credit, passenger surveys show that most travellers prefer on-time departures over waiting for catering delays on short domestic sectors, so the decision to proceed made practical sense.
The cabin was also pretty grubby
Redemption came on the return flight to Melbourne.
While the salad option disappeared quickly, the butter chicken emerged as the star of the service.
This wasn’t your typical airline curry.
The chicken pieces were tender and absorbed the spice blend rather than just sitting in generic sauce.
The curry base was rich in coconut milk and warming spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala, which built flavour complexity rather than heat.
The portion was perfectly sized for a domestic hop, substantial enough to satisfy without being too heavy for a short flight.
Domestic Economy Class
Qantas adjusts their economy service based on flight timing, offering snacks like cheese and crackers outside meal periods and complete hot meals during traditional dining hours.
On many routes and at meal times, Qantas offers more substantial options.
Their various branded meal boxes offer proper hot food options, including breakfast items, fresh baked goods, and hearty snacks that go well beyond basic airline fare.
These show Qantas can do decent economy food when they want to.
However, the three-hour Melbourne to Cairns route revealed some limitations.
For a flight that duration, passengers received modest snack service with a constrained drink selection that felt surprisingly basic for Australia’s premium carrier, especially compared to the more generous offerings available on other domestic routes.
The contrast with what you’d get on equivalent routes with international carriers is stark.
While European airlines like Aegean still provide complimentary hot meals on similar flight lengths, Qantas has embraced the low-cost carrier approach of minimal service.
This creates an interesting contradiction for an airline that positions itself as premium but delivers budget style service on some routes while providing proper meal service on others.
Conclusion
Qantas works when they try – the Melbourne lounge is great, the butter chicken was actually good.
But paying premium prices for budget service on some routes is frustrating.
European airlines still serve proper meals on similar flight lengths while Qantas serves snacks and calls it premium.
