In the world of air travel, where the skies are supposed to be friendly and the service top-notch, passengers often have high expectations, especially when it comes to in-flight meals and airport lounge offerings. After all, the price of a ticket, particularly for those who fly frequently and hold status with an airline, should guarantee a certain level of quality.
However, a recent incident involving a Qantas frequent flyer has left many questioning whether the standards of airline hospitality are slipping, particularly when it comes to meals.
The incident in question unfolded in the Qantas Club lounge at Perth Airport, where a gold status frequent flyer, accustomed to the perks of his loyalty, was taken aback by what he was served.
Expecting a nourishing start to his day before boarding a flight to Melbourne, he was instead greeted with what he described as an ‘embarrassing’ bowl of tinned spaghetti. The man’s dismay was such that he felt compelled to document the meal, which he criticised for its lack of effort and substance, noting that it was mostly sauce with very little spaghetti.
Qantas Club stoops to new low
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‘It’s literally the cheapest thing you could possibly find. And there’s no effort in creating that. They’ve clearly just opened a tin and poured it in, and that’s it,’ he told Yahoo News Australia.
This wasn’t an isolated experience for the seasoned traveller, who recounted that the decline in the quality of food offered by Qantas had been a gradual process over the last five years. From lounge snacks to in-flight meals, he observed a noticeable drop in standards, with some dishes being passable while others were downright unacceptable.
One such example was a vegetable pasta served on a previous flight, which he referred to as an ‘ungodly horror,’ unworthy of consumption.
‘So I’ve seen some pretty shabby things… and I just can’t believe they’re putting it out there,’ he said.
The Qantas Club lounge in Perth does offer a variety of dishes, including muesli, muffins, frittatas, and a sandwich bar during breakfast service. Spaghetti, while perhaps a hit with younger travellers, may not meet the expectations of all lounge guests.
Qantas, when approached for comment, chose to remain silent on the matter, per Yahoo.
Meal I was survived in Qantas steerage!
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Qantas also became a hot topic on an online forum last year for the same reason. One traveller posted a photo of the in-flight meal they were served. Some commented the meal looked like ‘a toddler’s nappy,’ ‘gastro in a box,’ and ‘prison food.’
Meanwhile, others argued that ‘looks don’t matter as long as it tastes great’ as appearance does not matter when it comes to in-flight meals.
At the time, a Qantas spokeswoman stated that the airline was ‘incredibly disappointed’ with the presentation of the meal.
‘We pride ourselves on delivering enjoyable dining experiences and this falls well short of our high standards,’ she added.
Vanessa Hudson, Qantas’ chief executive, also apologised at the time, saying, ‘I know that we have let you down in many ways, and for that, I am sorry. We haven’t delivered the way we should have. And we’ve often been hard to deal with.’
For our YourLifeChoices readers who are frequent flyers, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Have you experienced a decline in the quality of airline food and service? What do you expect from an in-flight or airline lounge meal? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Remember, if you’re ever dissatisfied with your airline meal or lounge experience, don’t hesitate to provide feedback directly to the airline. Your comments can help improve the service for everyone.
Also read: Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme to face major change—what it means for you
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