Cairns Dining Reviews

Qantas Domestic Airlines - “Flying into shabbiness”

Airline food has suffered from ridicule and scorn for many years. In fact, the criticism has lingered since the invention of the aeroplane and continues to this day. Up until recently I believed the condemnation was unwarranted. I enjoyed my small hot meal served after take-off and the tasty trinkets hidden beside the plastic dish.

But no longer. The collapse of Ansett Airlines has also resulted in the collapse of airline food quality on the one remaining carrier that offers food as part of its service.

Qantas, what are you doing?

I recently travelled to Brisbane flying in economy class. For lunch I received a lamington, which had the texture and taste of a 1950s house brick. I was also given a small orange juice and a packet of road gravel labelled “Dry Fruit”.

On my flight back to Cairns from Brisbane that evening, I flew Business class. I was excited by the prospect of a high-class dinner like I had seen in flight brochures and TV commercials. But alas. Even in business class the cardboard box was plonked down in front of me. My dinner consisted of cold pesto pasta that tasted like it had visited more airports around the world than I had. A small chocolate bar the size of my thumb was provided for dessert.

It is clear Qantas is caring and is highly concerned for the people most important to it. The problem is those people are not the passengers. Rather, the shareholders are the beneficiaries of the reduction in food quality. I dare say that these shareholders won’t be so excited when they tuck into their reconstituted cardboard meal, despite the slightly increased value of their share returns.

Frankly, I believe the food on Qantas domestic routes is a disgrace. I can’t speak for international flights, but if anyone would like to fund a trip to Vienna then I can give you a detailed report. For the sake of saving a few bucks here and there, Qantas has downgraded the quality of their meals to such an extent that I will bring my own food aboard the aircraft the next time I fly.

Or maybe I'll try Virgin and go hungry.

- Diner Diller