Review: Qantas Business Class 787 San Francisco To Melbourne

"The portion was small"

Some constructive criticism, might be better to also take a pic of the plate on the tray as a whole as well, just so we can get an idea of how small the plate is. When you zoom in onto the plate, without a sense of scale, it's harder to get an idea of how small the plate is.

Agree 100%. Flew from LHR to MEL via SIN at Christmas and was absolutely shocked at the state of the catering. On the flight from SIN to MEL there were even fewer options (a pastry and coffee for breakfast?). I won’t rush to fly them again (particularly on the A380 where the hard product is abysmal). I flew QF10 back to LHR via PER, and I must say the catering there was much better though still small plates, and no real drinks service prior to the meal. I think they’ve really declined here despite the excellent hard product on the 787. And I’m an Aussie that has flown them a lot over 20 years in premium cabins. BA gets a lot of flack but I have to say I would fly Club World over Qantas atm.

Ben. It's not a criticism, it's just an observation 😉

"Australia is known for its coffee culture, so I decided to work my way through their menu, starting with a flat white...An hour or so later I had a long macchiato...Then eventually I had a cappuccino…Most passengers seemed to be much better sleepers than I am..."

Ya think?

The happy married you is more fun to read and to tease.

I have never been more hungry than when flying Dallas - Sydney a few years ago on a Qantas A380 in business class. I completely agree, the portions are outrageously small. I would describe their plates as more saucer-like. I usually find my self completely stuffed when flying business class on other airlines (which in-itself is not necessarily a good thing) but flying for 17 hours and being served probably less than 1000 calories is not really acceptable.

@Aaron - how is he going to do that? QF dont serve meals on trays in international business class (as you can tell from the pictures above) so that’s a moot point.

@DC by tray I meant the tray table. We could have compared the size of the plate reative to the glassware, the bread plate, etc. so not that moot a point.

That cabin is beautiful. Interesting that the food disappoints, same as F. I'm hoping to score QF first class next year, and I hope they improve the catering by then.

No wonder seeing BA used as the buttom comparsion…
Also am I the only one actually prefer smaller portion on plane?

@ Ethan -- I don't necessarily take an issue with small portions, but rather I take issue with the lack of selection. It's great to serve small portions, but then let people at least order multiple things (maybe have a few appetizer choices, etc.). Qantas isn't offering choice. That's the problem.

@ DenB -- LOL!

@ Aaron -- Fair point. The main course plate was the same size as the plate underneath the soup.

I am interested that they serve muesli with milk. That doesn't sound particularly good. I've always thought muesli is meant to go with yoghurt.

I had the same feelings after LHR-PER and back. Food portions were disappointingly small, and the choice was poor.

@Ethan
Great that you love smaller portions. But if you get portions that are too large for you, you can just leave some. But if the portion is not enough...

@Laszlo
"And I’m an Aussie " I thought you were Hungarian...

Btw I also would like to mention the amenity kit, which is mediocre at best. Even USB3 have better amenity kits. The real competitors of QF shall be the higher-standard Asian carriers.

On the plus side, if you ever fly QF in Y. They have the best hard product there. Both in A380 and 787. Great recline, huge pitch, and the seats are wider than on any other airline. Especially the shoulder space is wide.

Slow meal service i've noticed is a common theme with Qantas. On late night flights, food should be served and cleared ASAP to maximize sleep time. When you're leaving close to midnight, you probably want to sleep and not spend 3 hours eating a meal. Another reason i always pick AA to australia, they seem to get this.

You didn't eat in the Polaris Lounge before the flight?

I agree that the Qantas portions are small, but I find they have one of the best midflight snack menus in the industry. Several options there and you can have as many of those as you want.

Is the product in first class similarly disappointed?

I have flown QF several times in business from the USA to Australia and back. I usually just order 2-3 small plates (e.g., a soup and 2 of the mains), and the FAs have always been happy to oblige. I do think QF does breakfast better than any other airline I've flown.

Wait... you were hungry but didn’t order anything from the mid flight menu (schnitzel sandwich or the tart) then complained the snack bar was limited?

While the meal plates are small, as noted above, most qantas crew are obliging in bringing you another plate.

Nice review. Wow your first nonstop from USA to Oz. Eager to hear your impression of service out of LAX, done that twice. And where were the Tim Tams on the snack bar? What, no Tim Tams?

@Lucky - if you didn't opt to include Vegemite on a flight offering it, then you have committed an egregious act against the people of Australia and will be subjected to drinking Victoria Bitter and Fosters by the nearest bogan who finds out.

Please tell us you had the Vegemite?

Totally agree, just did QF9 - Melbourne to London and the food was dreadful. Poor choice and quality is just not there. Amenity kits are a total waste....pity they can’t get that sorted because the crew are always outstanding.

A lot of the issues of food on this flight can be noticed due to multiple reasons
A) Qantas has much better catering when flying outbound from Australia, as they have a large catering hub at all their airports
B) it is a relatively new route so perhaps they are still working on the service flow and other things
C) Americans often consume larger portion sizes than Australians, and since Qantas is more about transporting Australians than Americans the problem may lie there

One interesting thing about the Qantas amenity kit designs. The artwork on the bag and eyeshades changes each month. Each item of artwork is commissioned from local Australian artists and each design is exclusive to Qantas, so will see it nowhere else. That makes their amenity kits wonderful to collect. It’s an idea similar to KLM’s canal houses.

Based on the pictures, I would say that SAS‘ version of the Vantage XL seat is better ...

We flew Australia to USA six times last year in Business, and across UA, NZ, and VA, QF rates a distant last. While the crew are generally good, NZ and VA crew are generally EXCELLENT. But the food and beverages on QF set it apart. In a negative way. Everything you said we experienced. Waiting 75 minutes for a drink after takeoff is approximately twice as long as the others. Slow service - normal. Our LAX - Sydney flight featured a wide difference in service times between aisles - like they were two teams that didn't talk. It meant my wife and I ate at different times. Mingy little dishes, dreary choices, no choice of starter, and usually no choice of bread types. On our LAX - JFK the choice was soup or chicken salad and the salad was super dreary. Even UA food is better! Overall, I slept well on all of them, but prefer VA or NZ.

I too have taken QF49/50 and found the meal service disappointing. QF is well known for considering a drink run too much trouble before meal service...this has been going on for years now and it's incredibly lazy, but this is what the crew service manual instructs them to do. Regarding the meals themselves, yes they are deliberately branded as 'small plates' but I also found that the meals are just not that tasty...a subjective opinion obviously. Their focus on healthy is really just an unimaginative mish mash of what is on trend. Quinoa...check. Kale...check. Pomegranate...check. Virgin Australia does the celebrity chef menu so much better than this as well as the frequency of service you would expect in business class.

@e30st Hungarian make sure, but I was born and grew up in Australia!!

What is done with the bedding that is on the seats from when you sit to when you make the bed? Is it all just stuffed wherever?

I'm a big guy and my food intake is proportional. BMI still 24.5 so no worries yet.
I'm on QF LHRPER next month and just spent my own money to upgrade to business. Company only pays for PE.
This sounded a little concerning. I thought most Aussies were fairly large in stature also.

I agree with most of the comments here. Recent A330 business suite red eye from asia to Sydney. No proper drinks service after takeoff. A request for nuts was met with a horrible little pretzel and almond (more pretzles) packet. Flight was delayed 1.5 hours before takeoff at the gate - no second round pre flight drinks were offered. When I requested a champagne refill it was met with a brash huff and puff. Compared to a recent Singapore airlines business experience to Asia - night and day.

Americans eat larger portion sizes. Probably for Europeans and Australians the Qantas portion size is normal.

Not surprised. We flew AA J to SYD and QF J back home a few years ago, and AA was actually better in every aspect. Our QF crew was also quite friendly (compared to AA) but QF's J seat on the A380 is horribly outdated, and the catering for us also left a bit to be desired.

Just FYI: As I walked back I also had a look at Qantas’ premium (cabin) cabin, consisting of 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration——“economy.

@Lucky - Regarding your comment about Qantas and turbulence. Qantas has a MASSIVE turbulence incident in 2008 which injured 74 people. After that, Qantas introduced strict seatbelt procedures. They turned the seatbelt sign on for the entire flight and passengers were checked by the crew multiple times during the flight. They discouraged people from walking around around and people had to return to their seats the second the sign was turned on. They have now relaxed those rules but the pilots are very cautious when it comes to using the seatbelt sign.
Great review

I too questioned why you didn't order something from mid-flight menu.

But to be fair, I just experienced the same thing on UA Polaris IAH-SYD. I finally asked the FA about mid-flight choices other than packaged snacks, and she sent me back to the menu. UA's menu, unlike QF's, tells you to ask the FA, so we were in a bit of a catch-22 like FF programs and CC companies for your points. At least yours had defined choices. Our FA said we have tomato soup. When asked about sandwiches, she said "oh yeah, we have grilled cheese." So I guess that's it.

Did the amenity kits include the same brand as the lavs? They often highlight national producers.

@ colleen -- The only substantial midflight snacks where a chicken schnitzel sandwich and a bacon tart. I don't eat pork products. I guess I could have had the chicken schnitzel, but I went with the veggies instead. And yep, the amenity kit had ASPAR products.

@ Stanley -- Fixed, thanks!

@ CM -- Personally I like to use the blanket and pillow even when not sleeping, so the only thing I had to put anywhere is the mattress pad, which I placed next to the seat on the floor.

@ Alex -- I don't eat pork, though could have ordered the chicken schnitzel. A total of two options just seems like a really limited midflight menu.

Even if you paid cash (which idk if you did for this flight), it would be helpful to talk about the best way to book this flight with miles.

Lucky, I am a QF elite and also fly a lot between MEL and LHR (usually via PER). I have spoken to the Platinum One team (top tier status you can earn via flying) and the complaint/criticism they most receive about the QF9/10 is the very limited catering options. The reasons for the smaller plates are that they intend for J class Pax to eat in the lounge before the flight.

As for the amuse buche/ nuts they usually serve a pack of pretzels & almonds and/or a amuse buche with the drink cart so strange that it didn't happen on your flight.

Overall I usually disagree with your reviews of Australian based airlines/ airports as you seem to compare it to the US, this I do agree with. The crews are normally incredibly friendly however the food on the long flights are terrible, there is the same meal for the 12 hour flight SIN-LHR as the 17 hour flight PER-LHR

Just flew QF from JFK-SYD in Business and MEL-JFK in First (with LAX-JFK on the 787 Business top class).

I am not a fan of the 787-900, compared to the A380. I sat in seat 2A on the 787 and 2A on the A380 in F, and 12B on the A380 in J.

1. The 787 is much noisier in J than the A380 J upper deck or F lower deck.

2. The 787 J seat is too confining. Too much of your body in the hole. On the old A380 J - no hole and entire body is open - just seems roomier. If fine if you are traveling with a companion. If traveling alone then get on the two middle seats.

3. Agree - meals are minimal - but I guess QF feels they server food in the lounges so you don't need as much on the flight. But in F - you can get the sampler which gives you about 7 courses.

4. The wines are good on QF. Great Champagne in F. Comtes de Champangne Blanc de Blances 2006 (Taittinger).

5. Food is served on the JFK-LAX flight - both directions. So with dinner in the AA Flagship lounge in JFK, then dinner on the JFK-LAX, you really don't need much food on the LAX-SYD.

I still like QF - great friendly staff. But A380 if by far the best and quietest aircraft out there.

@Oliver - on 4 recent flights - the seat belt sign went off almost right after takeoff. And remained off for most of the flight. HOWEVER, when there was some more significant turbulence - the pilot turn on the seat belt and everyone (crew included) was required to remain seated. If you tried to get up to go to the bathroom - they made you go back - no mater.

QF seems real serious now when they turn on the seat belt sign. No exceptions.

Great review Ben. I travel very frequently on the 787 in J and agree completely with your sentiments. I’m also confused why it always takes QF so long to get the first drink service started as I’m now flying a lot on SQ and the champagne bottle usually arrives at my seat within 5 minutes of the seatbelt sign being switched off. Magic.

I don’t know what’s happened to the catering in the last couple of years - it’s disgusting - and consistently so. I’ve written in more times than I care to remember, but no improvement. One CSM told me it had deteriorated after Qantas sold their catering arm to dnata but I’m not sure that’s a good enough excuse frankly.

It’s a shame really, because overall Qantas is still one of my favourites. The 787 J is supremely comfortable, IFE is great, crews are generally very good, wine is always excellent. And the First lounges are of course a highlight. But on the long hauls, the lousy catering really takes the shine off the experience in a big way.

I was served warm nuts in a ramekin on a recent A330 J flight from PER - SYD

Agree. I flew from SYD-PEK last month. The meal service was terrible. They ran out of everything when came to me. I'm in the middle of the cabin and the flight was not even full. It was such a shame. More surprisingly, the meal quality is inferior. I had the worst meal on business class. The presentation is way off and the taste is really bad. I ordered chicken rice for my dinner. It was bland and dry.

I concur with the observations, especially flying QF straight after a QR flight. There is nothing on QF that I like more than QR, everything including the service pales in comparison. I feel they are even behind BA in that aspect. Rank them pretty near MH if not slightly better.

I know you prefer the inner window seats in the Vantage XL configuration. I flew a similar product on SAA A330-300 from IAD to JNB and followed your advice when selecting a seat. I got to my seat and noticed it felt like a coffin in bed mode. It really is confined and I think you should mention that as a caveat when recommending the seats closer to the window in this configuration. I ended up switching to a seat closer to the aisle because of the claustrophobic feel of the window seat.

On my few trips to the U.S, Being Australian I find there is a huge difference in portion sizes, as in an entree in America is probably bigger than a main in Australia.
Most Australians and Americans who have visited vice versa probably have observed this??

We flew YVR-SYD in December upper deck 747. Had heard good things about QA

I have to agree with everything you said and more. Unfortunately the entertainment on 747 is ancient with crappy display and limited selection.

Food was abysmal and quantity measly. For a 15 hour flight it was inadequate.

In Australia meals are gigantic so I just don't understand how they think this is OK.

Flew MEL-AKL and they switched planes on us. The RedEye was supposed to be an A330 with beds but morphed into a 737 with piss-poor tiny recliners. And even worse crap for food.

First and probably last flights on QA.

MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE ON CONDOR even with 767 tilt beds. Food and beverage superior in all respects.

This is exactly why I have a full meal at the LAX first lounge before boarding. Once on board, I like many just go to sleep and wake up to a full breakfast (including vegemite). I prefer to eat BEFORE boarding anyway.

I flew Qantas A330-300 from SYD-PEK last month. The meal was terrible. The worst meal I've ever had in business class. They ran out of everything went the flight attendant came to me. And I sat in the middle of the cabin, and the flight was not full. What a shame! I ordered a chicken rice for dinner. It tastes bland and dry. The service is friendly but not exceptional. I'm really disappointed by Qantas given it has a nice cabin.

QF are notorious for cutting costs on things, giving you the bare minimum, then putting excellent marketing spin on it to make it sound like they're meeting customer demand. Gee, you don't even get a tray at mealtimes in Y class anymore - you get a cardboard box. No salad, no dessert. J Class meals are generally not great and very small. I know QF would like us to eat in the lounge, but if I'm paying big money for J Class in particular, I should be able to have choices that don't discriminate either way.

This review made me want to try Quantas premium economy. Seats look nice, and they get J FA and J lavs. All looks pretty good to me there.

@LB You still get a tray on international economy. It’s only domestically they got rid of it. You also still get the full 3 courses as well.

@HiAperture I recommend you read the reviews of the 787 seat first. They don’t leave much legroom when the person in front has reclined knees touching the back of the seat in front)

I must say I flew United economy last year LA to Melbourne, wine in plastic cups (half full no refill) miserable portions and the half way snack on a 14 hour flight was half a sandwich (a bit like Oliver Twist please can I have more). Qantas know how to do long distance and the smaller portions reflect you have eaten in the lounge and the mid-flight options are very good indeed. No wi-fi is due to long ocean routes with no ground stations.

Hmmm, my experience with food portions in the US is that one would feed two Aussies or a small African tribe. You guys are overeaters and I suspect this is why QF meals look small. I have never felt underfed and I’m not a bird-like eater. Besides that, you’re doing virtually nothing on a 14 hour flight to utilise the excess calories.

Callum, ahh I see, good point. From the design I had assumed it was a fixed shell design like JAL, which I prefer for just that reason, maintaining space when the passenger in front is reclined.

Ben. I just flew Qatar old hard product on the 777, great pyjamas from the white company and spectacular food, however I would have killed for that mattress pad. Also I was in the rear business cabin and also felt the displeasure of my first choice food being unavailable. Wonder if airlines should start at the back of J sometimes to mix it up.

It has been half a year since my last flight on Qantas on HKG-BNE QF98. I have to admit that Qantas offers quite a decent and solid hard product in terms of their A330s fleet, while the meal is well below the average offering among multiple providers on Chinese - Australian routes, especially when I was served a plate of tasteless water-cooked-like and thick beef slices with quite plain rice as a Chinese dish option on that flight.

Even if portions are larger in the U.S. than Australia, Qantas should be more culturally aware and offer larger portions on its U.S. flights. No different, IMO, than being culturally aware enough to offer Halal meals on ME flights and Indian vegetarian options on South Asia flights.

I flew on Qantas LHR to Perth in February this year in the same seat you had-not because I wanted that seat,but because I am only a bottom tier Frequent Flyer- and Qantas block most of the available seats until 80 hours before take off-by which time other seats are full. the plane was noisy, the food not impressive-funnily enough the salmon had run out" it is always popular!". So why not put more of the popular food onboard? Also, the over head locker is not available-thus you have to share with other pax[ first world problems-I realize] , and despite the kind crew-I won,t pay the premium for Qantas again-I flew with emirates home,on the a380- and felt more comfortable at all times.

I have been flying QANTAS for about 30 years now and these days in business more often than not. Last international trip was HK to MEL on the 787. I agree a drinks run prior to taking meal orders would relax the punters and reduce the frustration of the wait. However I find the quality of the meals to be excellent and if the smaller portions aren't sufficient the FAs are always more than happy to offer seconds of food and drinks ( don't sleep well on planes so I drink a fair bit). I am 120kg and never been left hungry on a QF flight. By the way I look real cool in the QANTAS PJs.

I know your review is three years old. but I just flew business from Australia to LAX with Qantas on their A330 and, I have to say, it was the most disappointing business-class experience of my life. Granted, the seats/beds are great, very comfortable. The rest of the experience may as well be economy, from the lounge (in Brisbane), which was so terrible I actually left and bought a coffee somewhere else. On the plane, there was basically nothing. No one set the table beyond dumping a napkin and cutlery on it. The food was terrible. I had to ask for some wine with dinner, and that was terrible, too. Mid-flight snacks was a tray at the back with some chips and an apple. Very, very poor.

Just flew back to LAX from MEL in Business Class (7A). The crew, food, and beverages were all world class. Particularly love breakfast and the snacks on Qantas. They seem to do it right. The seat, however, disappointed in a few key areas. The gap to get in an out of the seat was ridiculously tight. People with mobility issues will undoubtedly struggle. The seat controls were clunky. I couldn't ever get to the position I wanted. Storage is very limited and exposed to people passing. It would be very easy for someone to lift your phone or iPad while you are sleeping if they were so inclined. Also note there is nowhere to put your bag if you want to open it up during the flight. You would have to balance it on the wall of your seat...good luck with that. Overall I felt like I was stuffed in a coffin for 14 hours. I much prefer the space afforded by AA's existing 777-300 offering.