INTRODUCTION
Thereโs nothing quite like flying with one of your home-based carriers, especially when youโve been living away from the country. Thereโs always that sense of familiarity and friendliness when stepping on board; this is especially the case when flying with Qantas.
MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY
I hopped on QF 458 from Melbourne to Sydney, a short but significant 1-hour trip along one of the worldโs busiest air routes.
Shortly after departure, a crew member walked through the cabin offering headsets.
Just minutes later, an announcement detailed our dinner choices: a Falafel Salad or Penne Pasta.
The cabin crew began serving meals merely twelve minutes after takeoff, with seven crew members efficiently managing the economy class service.
Opting for the Penne Pasta, I received my meal box 20 minutes into the flight.
The meal box was thoughtfully designed, offering a generous portion of decently tasting food.
Compared to similar European flights, Qantasโ meal offerings stood out as more substantial and satisfying.
Here’s how it stacks up against what you might get on similar 1-hour flights in other parts of the world.
About 30 minutes into the trip, the crew distributed Allenโs Fantales, a small but delightful treat, and quickly followed up by collecting the rubbish.
The efficiency of the service was impressive, and before I knew it, we were descending into Sydney Airport.
SYDNEY TO PERTH
My second journey was a lunchtime business class service from Sydney to Perth aboard the A330.
As I presented my boarding pass for QF 581, the reader rejected it. Unbeknownst to me, a problem with one of the aircraft doors in the forward cabin led to the offloading or downgrading of 12 business class passengers.
Unfortunately, I drew the short straw and faced a 9-hour wait at Sydney Airport.
The gate agents and ground staff could have handled the situation better, especially given that my ticket was booked with another airline.
I retreated to the lounge, where the staff were accommodating, though unable to secure an earlier flight.
My dayโs plans in Perth were ruined, but I tried to make the best of it.
During the delay, I visited the Qantas Heritage Collection near Gate 13 on the Mezzanine level.
This intriguing space, filled with memorabilia and information about Qantas, kept me engaged for an hour.
Finally, I boarded the flight to Perth, a journey of about 5 hours.
The inflight menu, attractively designed, caught my eye immediately.
The cabin crew offered a welcome drink of water or a Pear and Spiced Fig juice from Batch & Co. I chose the juice, which was both zesty and luscious.
INFLIGHT DINING
Ten minutes after takeoff, the crew began taking meal orders.
Thirty minutes into the flight, the service commenced. I ordered the roasted pumpkin soup and the feta, cucumber, chickpea, and lentil salad.
The trayless meal service, with linen placed on my tray table, mimicked a restaurant dining experience.
The elegant cutlery, designed by Caon in Surrey Hills, Sydney, and the fine bone china from Noritake, added a touch of sophistication to the meal.
A selection of drinks and bread from Sydneyโs Brasserie Bread was offered.
The bread, paired with Pepe Sayaโs European-style butter, was crunchy, flavorful, and among the best Iโve tasted inflight.
The piping hot soup was delicious, and the small side salad, drizzled with Birch & Waite Balsamic and Olive Oil Vinaigrette, was enjoyable.
My main meal, however, was a mixed experience. While the chunks of feta were delightful, the rest of the salad felt bland.
Dessert was a banana pudding with butterscotch sauce, which I savored thoroughly.
Not overly sweet, it left me wanting more, though the portion was sufficient.
The crew completed the service two hours after takeoff, leaving me with three hours to relax and watch movies.
Although there was no further service, the crew regularly checked on passengers.
CONCLUSION
Overall, my experiences on Qantas flights showcased the airline’s commitment to efficiency and quality service.
Despite a few hiccups, particularly with the unexpected delay in Sydney, Qantas’ attentive crew and well-thought-out meal offerings left a positive impression.
Whether flying economy or business class, Qantas delivers a reliable and enjoyable journey, reinforcing the comfort of traveling with a familiar, home-based carrier.
