Qatar Airways Is Improving First & Business Class Catering

Flew QR business last week and already had the himalayan salt grinder and afternoon tea. Also Kabsa and biryani have been on the menu for years. Seems like mostly a PR change rather than an upgrade?

On my recent BC flights the food was absolutely OK.

I haven't noticed any deterioration in food quality (but, as DC-PHLyer said, the afternoon tea was already an option a couple of weeks back).

I have noticed a reduction in *quantity* - the menu boasts that you can choose what you want, when you want it, but it turns out that if you don't grab it at the first opportunity it will often be gone later in the flight.

I guess this is a consequence of their "pre-ordering" system where they are trying to reduce food waste / match more precisely their food quantity to customer demand. But when you have a greedy bugger like me on board, who wants to eat maybe later in a flight, it can be a bit irritating when only the snack stuff is left.

How can they run out of Arabic mezze? *How*? (First World Problems...)

PS: I don't think you understand what GDPR is (or maybe you're labouring with Stone Age IT?) - that checkbox every time is not a GDPR requirement, despite the label describing it as that.

I flew last week and the changes are subtle but really noticeable (partly as I was connecting Europe to Asia, and changes were mainly on Europe flights) and appreciated. Small, but thoughtful and high quality stuff - new salt & pepper grinders, new crockery and glasses, offering olive oil and individual condiment bottles, the hot chocolate cake, etc. Oh, and the food does run out, so the sooner they roll out preordering the better!

@The Nice Paul - Remember my points!!!

Most of these changes were made months ago (the new crockery, caviar service etc. started back in March as I reported on Flyertalk at the time). Having said that, they are beautiful and somewhat shame the plates used in F on many other carriers, so no complaints there. I haven't noticed any material change in food quality, really. The menus could definitely use more variety and it's easy to get bored if you fly from Europe to Asia even just a couple of times in a month.

The pre-order meals have been around for quite some time on ex-DOH legs only, but the crew rarely seem to receive the pre-orders (I'm something like 1/10 for crew actually being aware of my pre-order this year). Wonder if they might make an effort to change this now they've made a PR fuss over it.

The catering change was in effect on my flights yesterday... They ran out of the afternoon tea snack option when I wanted it 2 hours before arrival. They also ran out of my first entree choice when I ordered before takeoff (I was seated in row 1 and the first of the second half to place my order) and the crew had to work some magic to get me my choice.

The fresh pressed juice option on both flights were carrot juice (barf) so hopefully there are some freshly pressed fruit juice besides carrot or orange.

Salt/Pepper grinders and the new bread basket are the real deal - not what is shown in your picture. The grinders were actually very heavy and of high quality. Bread basket is a spiral wire basket not a ceramic bowl.

The purple beverage glass is still there. Pommery brut is an improvement (minor) but not sure about the rose wine.

All in all, very positive change. Concerned about how much food they are loading though - I would recommend booking seats closer to the front of the plane to ensure you get your first choice.

Looks disgusting.

Recently we fly BKK-DOH in First Class (issued by Gol Smiles mileage program). Only two passengers in First Class Cabin: me and my wife. She choosed the main course before me, and I choosed the same option, but the flight attendant said they had only one choice of each on board!

I have noticed during the past few years a reduction in the food available on board, specially long haul flights , mostly Asia and NA. Often your choice of preference in Business class is not available, shortage of bread, no pita bread with the Arabic mezze, missing blinitz for caviar in first class to LHR. Food menu is descent but no as good as it was a few years ago, in general terms they offer a good soft product and service is always impeccable.

QR catering is overrated.

Flew with them on QSuite CDG-DOH.
Those snack platter ran out and only catered 40% of the passengers occupancy.

The 'fake candle' basically copying Turkish Airlines.

The new set up of black plate, and fancy glass copying Garuda Indonesia.

There are trying very hard for the Pre-Select dining option to be able to do the cost cutting of their catering.

My recent flight, BKK-DOH. They ran out of caviar even the passenger load were only 5 in first class A380.

The canapes display at the A380 on board lounge are just meh. Only one type of nuts now.

Not impressed!

Emirates are way better when it comes variety and quantity of catering on board.

It is really inexcusable to be told in First that they ran out of pretty much anything.

I flew recently HKG-DOH-LHR and back. Catering was mostly excellent, with much of the new features reported here, and at least the dishes I ordered were all available. My only gripe was that on DOH-HKG, a 7.5-hour flight which takes off at 8AM (DOH time) and lands at 8:30PM (HKG time), the only meal service on offer was breakfast and then snacks, which were not that great. So I ordered the delicious Arabic breakfast twice.

Best thing on QR Business class? Wine list. And champagne cocktail. Seriously, try it! Camus XO Elegance + Lanson = Heaven!