Should Qantas follow BA and move to 'buy on board' meals in economy on short flights?

24 replies

MKS11

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 05 Oct 2016

Total posts 58

does anyone else question that a 5 hour flight is consdered short haul?

Exactly - short haul = 1-1/2 hours maybe...

krisdude

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

Member since 21 Jan 2016

Total posts 28

NZ considers international short haul up to 5 hours.

krisdude

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

Member since 21 Jan 2016

Total posts 28

does anyone else question that a 5 hour flight is consdered short haul?

Exactly - short haul = 1-1/2 hours maybe...


NZ considers international short haul up to 5 hours.

sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

Member since 30 Nov 2015

Total posts 419

Only if we had M&S Food Halls in Australia, selling high quality, good value  cold sandwiches and ready meals. There are presently no retailers in Australia with similar offerings. The sandwiches at Coles and Woolies are overpriced and substandard. 


Oh but they are about to open David Jones stand alone food stores again in Sydney and Melbourne, (remember Foodchain), DJ's sinking 100M in next three years, in relationship with Neil Perry. They should do a good sandwich for $10.00.

I'm not convinced. M&S is an institution. David Jones isn't - it's a Selfridges wannabe. Having a 'celebrity' chef inspired sandwich range does not even come close to the consistent and non-flashy offerings of M&S.

Consistent and non flashy sounds pedestrian, I've been in those M&S stores, nothing to write home about.  Australia's DJ's are about as good as it gets here, owned by Woolworth South Africa I don't see it anywhere near Selfridges elite level owned by the Weston family of Canada.

krisdude

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

Member since 21 Jan 2016

Total posts 28

QF should adopt NZ's 'fare/seat to suit' model which works very well for NZ and the passengers, for domestic with Australia and international flights from Australia that are 2 to 5 hours in duration. International flights over 5 hours complimentary food services in all classes.

The 'Fare/Seat to Suit' model actually saves NZ money.

Domestic flights within Australia 45 minutes to 2 hours offer tea/coffee/water and light snack.

Yeah and NZ internal flights are generally a lot more expensive than internal AU flights, sometimes at least double...


The reason NZ domestic fares are expensive, New Zealand population is 4.7 million compared to Australia's population of 24 millon.

TheRealBabushka

Member since 21 Apr 2012

Total posts 2,058

Only if we had M&S Food Halls in Australia, selling high quality, good value  cold sandwiches and ready meals. There are presently no retailers in Australia with similar offerings. The sandwiches at Coles and Woolies are overpriced and substandard. 


Oh but they are about to open David Jones stand alone food stores again in Sydney and Melbourne, (remember Foodchain), DJ's sinking 100M in next three years, in relationship with Neil Perry. They should do a good sandwich for $10.00.

I'm not convinced. M&S is an institution. David Jones isn't - it's a Selfridges wannabe. Having a 'celebrity' chef inspired sandwich range does not even come close to the consistent and non-flashy offerings of M&S.

Consistent and non flashy sounds pedestrian, I've been in those M&S stores, nothing to write home about.  Australia's DJ's are about as good as it gets here, owned by Woolworth South Africa I don't see it anywhere near Selfridges elite level owned by the Weston family of Canada.

It's a matter of taste and perspective. But I will fly Qantas even if they charged for food and drink. I probably won't consume anything on board, especially if it's a David Jones sandwich. I fly Qantas because of the lounge access, FF points and the alternatives are simply not worth considering. Get a flask and fill it up with a hot beverage from the lounge and nick some biscuits. That's me sorted. 

lorks

Member since 08 Apr 2011

Total posts 7

does anyone else question that a 5 hour flight is consdered short haul?

Exactly - short haul = 1-1/2 hours maybe...
However, that's not really the issue. It's more down to, should the food be free, or would you like to pay for a higher quality meal. Seeing some of the meals I've had from SYD to PER, and how dire they have been, I wouldn't mind the option of paying for a better quality sandwich.

GLAaussie

British Airways Executive Club Gold

Member since 25 Jun 2015

Total posts 1

Only if we had M&S Food Halls in Australia, selling high quality, good value  cold sandwiches and ready meals. There are presently no retailers in Australia with similar offerings. The sandwiches at Coles and Woolies are overpriced and substandard. 


It's all dependent on the sandwich supplier, not the retailer. Here in the UK the company that produces sandwiches for M&S is the same company that supplies Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's and ASDA with their sandwiches. I've had sandwiches from all of them and they are all perfectly fine.

AJW

Member since 16 Nov 2011

Total posts 55

I don't really see the point of the question. What BA does is irrelevant. Totally different market, totally different operating positions. I meant to say BA doesn't even have a real business class on it's short haul these days, yet look what we have, fully flat beds on 5 hour domestic flights! Any BA is like most (not all of course) European short haul carriers who are their oppoisiton if you will. Plus of course they have competition from a heap of LCC's that, despite the Jetstars and Tigers of this world are just not seen in this part of the world.

So horse for courses.

rowwdy

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 21 Mar 2013

Total posts 11

I thought the SAS model with their Plus Fares worked well.  Meal, lounge access, cancellation, priority baggage, security fast-track, and seat selection all included in their higher fare. I guess this enables them to also offer a no-frills ticket to still compete with Norwegian, without setting up a LCC. Probably no need for Aussie airlines to do this while they have their budget offshoots. 

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