Qantas first class gets Bollinger, ‘dine on demand’
The Flying Kangaroo is giving its first class service an overdue overhaul.
By David Flynn, December 2 2025
Qantas aims to make its first class flying more competitive against international rivals with a suite of upgrades to food, drinks and creature comforts.
Some of these are already in place, such as the swish Aesop amenity kits now being handed out on the Airbus A380.
This premium partnership between Qantas and the luxury Australian skincare brand includes Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm, Aesop Rinse-Free Hand Wash, Aesop Cedar & Citrus Lip Salve, Aesop Toothpaste and a spritz-friendly sampler of Aesop Eau de Parfum.
Also coming over the next six months will be a fresh ‘dine on demand’ menu.
This will allow first class passengers to choose what they want to eat when they want to eat, rather than following the airline’s typically regimented timetable.
Highlights of a revamped Neil Perry menu include:
- tartare of yellowfin tuna with gochujang, toasted sesame and baby cos
- roasted Wollemi duck with orange caramel, crisp Chinese greens, golden sesame and jasmine rice
- crumbed Margra lamb cutlets with shaved fennel, pine nuts, rocket, salsa verde and lemon
- Torta Di Verona with Amaretto and toasted almonds
There’ll also be a ‘signature pour’ of Bollinger La Grande Année 2015, alongside Pommery Cuvée Louise 2006.
Rounding out the soft product side of the equation are redesigned pyjamas.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the updates reflect the airline's ongoing investment in delivering a premium experience across its international network.
“Our customers fly First because they value the quality in every detail. On longer flights, a fine dining experience, premium amenities and complete comfort really matter, so we've focused on improving each of these areas."
The Qantas Airbus A380 superjumbos currently fly from Sydney to Singapore, London, Los Angeles, Dallas Fort Worth and Johannesburg, as well as Melbourne-Los Angeles.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
11 May 2018
Total posts 7
Maybe I'm a cretin, but I'd probably take Pommery over Bollinger. Then again, I tend to prefer Tattinger over nearly any other Champagne, which probably marks me as something. Just a personal taste preference, I guess!
24 Jul 2017
Total posts 10
It's a vintage Bollinger - as a first pour only. Its one of the few still family owned houses. Well worth the difficulty of getting a booking to the vineyard tours btw!
11 Apr 2024
Total posts 1
Tattinger! All day, every day
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2014
Total posts 148
My friend once said Aesop toothpaste was the worst thing he ever tasted lol
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 31
How about new seats with doors not 2005 A380 seats. How about a new salad not seven leaves. How about great service even other airlines talk about…oops wrong airline. Qantas first class…one of the best business class in the skies.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 606
I don't have any bones to pick with QF F service. Agree that the whole menu needs a rethink. Yes, Neil Perry could do a lot more if Qantas opened the purse strings and was prepared to increase the F & B budget, anybody who has dined at Rockpool in the 'glory days' or Margaret knows NP can do great stuff, but he can only work to the budget he is given. At the same time I do agree it's time for a new chef or even a new approach, SQ has a panel of chefs and that works great. Too many Qantas business and first meals just seem obvious and try-hard
As for First seats with doors, look, sure it'd be nice if the refit included all-new First suites, the problem is the massive cost. Unlike business class where there are so many designs ready, with first class you don't really get any first class suite 'off the rack', so it has to be designed from the ground up, then tested and approved, then manufactured, and with such a small fleet of just 12 aircraft this simply wouldn't have the economy of scale to make sense, especially not when the A380s will be gone in, what, 5-6 years? And it's not as if the current F 'open suite' product is that bad at all. Yes it could be a lot better but my 2c is that it's "good enough", a lot like Cathay's current 777 First.
29 Mar 2017
Total posts 32
Aesop is now foreign owned.
25 Jun 2019
Total posts 10
What do you mean by “now”? They’ve been foreign owned since 2010. Just changed hands recently from Brazil to France.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
09 Jun 2019
Total posts 14
I agree about their choice of champagne -- Bolly is too dry. Tattinger would be much better.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 133
Dine on demand is an amazing new First Class feathre? Air Canada has had dine on demand on intnernational Business flights for years. Especially valuable when crossing the Pacific.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2013
Total posts 72
Used to be the exquisite Taittinger Comtes in first class. Bollinger is another great wine, but we are talking about first class, and other airlines serve true "prestige cuvée" champagnes to their first class passengers. What about Bollinger R.D.? OK with Cuvée Louise, and it's probably pearls before swine given the tastes of many of our first class brethren, but details like this are important.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2016
Total posts 10
Lipstick on a pig!
Even with these, QF First and Busineas not even in the conversation for top 10 products in the market... Though their price point suggests otherwise!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Mar 2013
Total posts 175
...oh can't we be snobs on Champers?
I'm not keen on Pommeroy at all, and I do prefer Bolli. But, Tattinger Comtes is brilliant, as is Piper's 'Rare' (now it's own brand). I'll pump QF as much as I can, but it's still behind, and my trips in QF F this year haven't been mind-blowing. 'Dine on Demand'? Yes, just a decade behind.
(Don't get me started on QF Business Champagne choice)
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 221
Qantas - Really!!
New PJ's, dine on demand, new menu offerings, Bollinger 2015 (wholesales for $120). These are offering 10 yrs too late given the competition you are flying against. For goodness sake, SQ has had book the cook for over a decade now - even in PE.
QF maybe stick with your J Class product and give up on your First Class legacy - your now a mainstream international carrier, nothing more, so perhaps try not to rise above your station. If you wish to impress, look at your competition and make some professional moves to make the grade.
15 Feb 2023
Total posts 11
Is QF taking the "P" out of us with their latest "F" offering?
48 hrs. ago I was seated in my QR J seat having just boarded a flt CPT/DOH. I was on my 2nd pre flt "Bolly" served in a full size stemmed flute glass. Having already perused the menu for the flt, the very attentive FA asked if would prefer my lunch to be served after take-off or at my leisure?
PS. Love the QR mini-individual salt & pepper grinders. QF still using those horrible paper sachets in J.
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