Not sure what flight you are on but for an international long haul departing 10pm, I would suggest eating at the lounge and getting onboard to go straight to sleep. Don't eat just because you can.
Most destinations Qantas depart out of have decent lounges with decent food options so you should have no trouble doing so.
I lean towards lighter inflight meals these days, and would suggest the barramundi, especially as this is for an overnight flight – you don't want anything too heavy sitting on your stomach and trying ti be digested. That said, if the meal service is 10pm then is this a flight departing late evening, say 8pm? I'd also look at taking my dinner in the lounge, and using this as an opportunity to get some fresh greens in the mix, and treating this inflight meal more like a lighter supper, which is where the fish is good or even just the soup.
We don't know what flight you're on, or the departure time, but keep in mind that meal service can sometimes seem to take forever to be delivered to your seat, eating into valuable sleeping time.
I had the Barramundi during lunch service on a recent flight to HK and it was very nice. But considering your're doing an evening departure, I'd agree with the others and eat well in the lounge and just have something light as a supper. Personally I'd go for the soup, but the barra is good too if you want something a bit more substentail but not a large meal.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Looks like I will eat dinner at lounge (based on suggestions here), hopefully something half edible at the Qantas business lounge. Last time I was there the hot options were not too appealing.
Their one cook to order meal was a salad..
I wish they had a similar setup to the Melbourne Domestic Business lounge. The food options there look allot nicer.
Seems right now the barramundi is the winning dish.
The soup is probably the lightest option, but I had this exact menu last week to Tokyo and, despite my general suspicion of fish on planes, I chose the barramundi. It was very good, not too heavy, not too much, and it matched the chilled sake nicely.
I will attempt to provide a summary of meal choices based on my unrefined palate:
- Pumpkin Soup - tried in intl F lounge in May. Tastes very good even though I'm impartial to pumpkin and soup. Serving is sizeable, easy to eat and usually soups are served quickly on QF flights.
- Polenta - never tried, seen on menu many times. Vegetarian option not my cup of tea.
- Japanese Noodles - tried on a flight in May. Good flavours but if you've seen the QF servings you'll realise that the serving size is not that great. Maybe this is a good thing on an evening flight. Took a while to come out of the galley.
- Barramundi - tried many times in flight and in F lounge. From previous experience the fish has always been cooked well. Tamarind sauce a bit like vegemite - you like it or you don't. The portion size of the fish is actually surprisingly big compared to the other meals.
- Beef fillet - tried once in flight a while back. Beef was overdone so never bothered to try again. Would choose the barramundi over it.
May I also suggest that as compared to Asian and Middle Eastern carriers, QF tends to take a while to get their meal service going. I always take QF red-eyes back to Sydney and I've learned to either take a soup or as others suggested eat my fill at a lounge and have a quick breakfast before I land. I've ordered barramundi a few times on overnights from Hong Kong and Manila and I'm sorry to say that by the time I've been served my meal most of the cabin has fallen asleep already.
I will attempt to provide a summary of meal choices based on my unrefined palate:
- Pumpkin Soup - tried in intl F lounge in May. Tastes very good even though I'm impartial to pumpkin and soup. Serving is sizeable, easy to eat and usually soups are served quickly on QF flights.
- Polenta - never tried, seen on menu many times. Vegetarian option not my cup of tea.
- Japanese Noodles - tried on a flight in May. Good flavours but if you've seen the QF servings you'll realise that the serving size is not that great. Maybe this is a good thing on an evening flight. Took a while to come out of the galley.
- Barramundi - tried many times in flight and in F lounge. From previous experience the fish has always been cooked well. Tamarind sauce a bit like vegemite - you like it or you don't. The portion size of the fish is actually surprisingly big compared to the other meals.
- Beef fillet - tried once in flight a while back. Beef was overdone so never bothered to try again. Would choose the barramundi over it.
May I also suggest that as compared to Asian and Middle Eastern carriers, QF tends to take a while to get their meal service going. I always take QF red-eyes back to Sydney and I've learned to either take a soup or as others suggested eat my fill at a lounge and have a quick breakfast before I land. I've ordered barramundi a few times on overnights from Hong Kong and Manila and I'm sorry to say that by the time I've been served my meal most of the cabin has fallen asleep already.
Thank you aeries for taking the time in this comprehensive break down.
I love the detail as it’s very helpful.
My last flight in business long haul was with Qatar and when my wife and I saw the Qantas menu, we laughed and thought it was comical in comparison to the excessive 3 course meals Qatar offers.
Will definitely be loading up at the lounge as you and others recommended. That way we can optimise sleep and might go straight to dessert and a cup of tea.
Wish I had some Qantas first lounge passes so I could have that lovely pav dessert and a spectacular view 😊.
I don’t fly often as many in this forum so I like to optimise my experiences. I’m really appreciative of the feedback on something many will see as trivial.
Flying in any class as a child was a luxury for my family, so even when in economy I don’t take the experience for granted.
It's still plane food. Reheated food. No better than average cafe food. Get something freshly cooked at the lounge / airport then sleep on the plane.
I agree with this - The best part of flying in a premium cabin is the fact that you can sleep. The food, generally, isn't thaaat much better than economy. And its definitely no where near anything you'll get on the ground.
Every time I have had the barramundi it has been totally over cooked and had to be sent back. Qantas is really lacking in business class food choices compared to some of the other airlines. The lounge option is far better, although even there if you compare to other lounges such as Cathay Pacific it looses again
Aidan
Aidan
Member since 05 Dec 2018
Total posts 93
Hi There,
Doing a leg soon and below are my choices.
What like to hear what your opinions are on these food choices, seeing meal service will be around 10pm.
Please wait...
djtech
djtech
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Sep 2018
Total posts 375
Not sure what flight you are on but for an international long haul departing 10pm, I would suggest eating at the lounge and getting onboard to go straight to sleep. Don't eat just because you can.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,016
I lean towards lighter inflight meals these days, and would suggest the barramundi, especially as this is for an overnight flight – you don't want anything too heavy sitting on your stomach and trying ti be digested. That said, if the meal service is 10pm then is this a flight departing late evening, say 8pm? I'd also look at taking my dinner in the lounge, and using this as an opportunity to get some fresh greens in the mix, and treating this inflight meal more like a lighter supper, which is where the fish is good or even just the soup.
Phil Young
Phil Young
Qantas
Member since 22 Oct 2012
Total posts 253
We don't know what flight you're on, or the departure time, but keep in mind that meal service can sometimes seem to take forever to be delivered to your seat, eating into valuable sleeping time.
jianga
jianga
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Feb 2015
Total posts 144
I had the Barramundi during lunch service on a recent flight to HK and it was very nice. But considering your're doing an evening departure, I'd agree with the others and eat well in the lounge and just have something light as a supper. Personally I'd go for the soup, but the barra is good too if you want something a bit more substentail but not a large meal.
watson374
watson374
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Aug 2012
Total posts 1,285
Barramundi, hands down.
Aidan
Aidan
Member since 05 Dec 2018
Total posts 93
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Looks like I will eat dinner at lounge (based on suggestions here), hopefully something half edible at the Qantas business lounge. Last time I was there the hot options were not too appealing.
Scotth
Scotth
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 31 May 2019
Total posts 2
The soup is probably the lightest option, but I had this exact menu last week to Tokyo and, despite my general suspicion of fish on planes, I chose the barramundi. It was very good, not too heavy, not too much, and it matched the chilled sake nicely.
aeries
aeries
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 18 Mar 2018
Total posts 21
I will attempt to provide a summary of meal choices based on my unrefined palate:
Aidan
Aidan
Member since 05 Dec 2018
Total posts 93
Thank you aeries for taking the time in this comprehensive break down.
traveller99
traveller99
Member since 18 Nov 2015
Total posts 114
It's still plane food. Reheated food. No better than average cafe food. Get something freshly cooked at the lounge / airport then sleep on the plane.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,016
You’re not wrong about Qatar’s inflight meals, Aidan - it’s an extensive and high quality selection, and the ‘dine on demand’ approach is wonderful.
Aidan
Aidan
Member since 05 Dec 2018
Total posts 93
Yeah I loved the experience, I never felt anything was lacking. Had to order less food on the way back.
346
346
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2017
Total posts 55
I agree with this - The best part of flying in a premium cabin is the fact that you can sleep.
The food, generally, isn't thaaat much better than economy. And its definitely no where near anything you'll get on the ground.
Strauts
Strauts
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 26 Jul 2018
Total posts 2
Every time I have had the barramundi it has been totally over cooked and had to be sent back. Qantas is really lacking in business class food choices compared to some of the other airlines. The lounge option is far better, although even there if you compare to other lounges such as Cathay Pacific it looses again