OVERVIEW
Qantas provides complimentary meals and snacks based on the time and destination of your flight.
Outside standard meal hours, passengers in economy can expect a selection of basic snacks and beverages.
During dining times, a more robust offering is presented, including hot meals and a variety of salads.
Business class passengers enjoy an enhanced menu, reflective of Qantas’s commitment to quality and service.
QANTAS LOUNGES
Melbourne
Over the past year, my frequent journeys with Qantas have given me the opportunity to experience various cabins, inflight service and lounges.
The Melbourne business lounge distinguishes itself with its stylish ambiance and superior food and beverage selections, setting a high standard for lounge experiences.
Sydney
Over in Sydney, the lounge is poised for a transformation set to rival Melbourne’s charm.
Until then, enjoy the self-service buffet that sings with variety—sandwiches, salads, toasties, and desserts tailored to the time of day.
Cairns
Cairns may play it more casual but still delights with good offerings, a buzzing coffee and snack station, and the added spectacle of runway vistas.
DOMESTIC BUSINESS CLASS
On a flight where culinary expectations were sky-high, my business-class seat from Melbourne to Sydney seemed the perfect setting for a decent inflight meal.
Anticipation turned to surprise, however, when the captain announced a catering hiccup — no meals today.
Instead, we were offered an impromptu minimalist tasting of water paired with a side of pretzels.
Regarding the cabin’s cleanliness, it seemed to have been overlooked in favor of a more ‘lived-in’ aesthetic.
Redemption came on the return leg to Melbourne.
The salad option may have vanished quickly but the butter chicken emerged as the hero of the hour.
Rich, flavorful, and perfectly portioned for this quick domestic hop.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY CLASS
In economy class Qantas adjusts its service offering snacks such as cheese and crackers outside meal times, and full hot meals during breakfast and dinner service.
However, on the three-hour stretch from Melbourne to Cairns, the offerings from Qantas become unexpectedly modest.
A mere snack and a constrained assortment of drinks stand in stark contrast to the airline’s premium stature.
The contrast with airlines like Aegean Airlines is stark.
Aegean Airlines, among the few in Europe still providing free meals, highlights an opportunity for Qantas to elevate its domestic in-flight dining experience.
CONCLUSION
While Qantas endeavors to align its catering service with its premium branding, there remains room for improvement, particularly when compared to other leading airlines.
As the curtain rises on a more budget-oriented experience, the call for Qantas to elevate its in-flight dining service becomes ever clearer.
