I have always wondered whether the same menu was served in first class and business class on flights. Since you only see one or the other, the airlines could have identical items – plated differently – and nobody would ever know.
Recently, I had the opportunity to fly first class with Qatar Airways and I had the foresight to ask the cabin crew for a copy of the business class menu as well. This allowed me to directly compare the two which also influenced my selections, as I stuck with what was first class only.
Qatar Airways First Class Menu
Below is the first class menu from a flight from Doha to Sydney in February 2024. What I have done is written (J) beside those items which are also on the business class menu.
A la carte
Artisan bread
Soup of the day
Miso and Edamame
Appetisers
Caviar with balik style smoked salmon
Smoked duck spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce
Dill marinated salmon roulade with lemon labneh
Arabic mezze with pita bread (J)
Mains
Grilled Wagyu beef tenderloin with morel jus
Qatari chicken mashkool with daqoos sauce (J)
Stir-fried lobster with spicy curry sauce
Roasted artichoke and mushroom ravioli with truffle panna sauce
Desserts
Balsamic poached peach and roasted nut brownie
AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Golden Chocolate Football (J)
Fresh berries with elederflower syrup
Gourmet ice cream selection (J)
Light Snacks
Selection of crisps, popcorn, chocolates and biscuits (J)
Light Options
Duo quinoa salad with rocket and basil
Char-grilled kofta
Afternoon tea (J)
Crispy chicken schnizel burger with heirloom tomato salad
Breakfast
Fresh orange juice (J)
Mixed fruit smoothie (J)
Starters
Seasonal fresh fruits (J)
Greek yoghurt with blueberry compote and toasted pistachio granola
Choice of breakfast cereals – Kellogg’s Corn Flakes or Fruit ‘n Fibre (J)
Assiette of cold cuts (J)
Mains
Traditional Arabic breakfast with pita bread (J)
Create you own breakfast
(your choice of cheese and herb omelette or chive scrambled eggs, then choose from the following list of sides: grilled chicken or beef sausage, roasted mushrooms, vine tomatoes and sauteed baby spinach)
Belgian waffle with strawberry compote and poached pineapple
Almond milk and chia porridge
Bread
A selection of breakfast bakery (J)
As you can see, just one appetiser, one main, two desserts, one light option and much of the breakfast was also served in business class. Much of the menu was only served in first class, which is as it should be.
Qatar Airways Business Class Menu
By comparison, the food in business class is both less fancy and there are fewer choices. This time I have added (F) to those items also found in first class.
A la carte
Artisan bread
Soup of the day
Appetisers
Arabic mezze with pita bread (F)
Seared yellowfin tuna with lemon vinaigrette
Mains
Grilled Angus beef tenderloin with wild mushroom jus
Qatari spiced chicken machboos with daqoos sauce (F)
Chilli soya glazed Chilean sea bass
Potato and leek mezzelune with heirloom tomato sauce
Cheese Plate
Desserts
AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Chocolate Football (F)
Fresh berries with lavender syrup
Gourmet ice cream selection (F)
Light Snacks
Selection of crisps, popcorn, chocolates and biscuits (F)
Light Options
Qatari-grown garden greens with avocado relish
Red Thai curry with jumbo prawn and scallop
Afternoon tea (F)
Toasted sesame bagel with smoked turkey
Breakfast
Fresh orange juice (F)
Mixed fruit smoothie (F)
Starters
Seasonal fresh fruits (F)
Home-made strawberry yoghurt with toasted pistachio granola
Choice of breakfast cereals – Kellogg’s Corn Flakes or Fruit ‘n Fibre (F)
Assiette of Cold Cuts (F)
Mains
Traditional Arabic breakfast with pita bread (F)
Hand-rolled omelette with tomato cream
Lemon and coconut brioche with mango compote
Chia seed pudding with almond milk
Bread
A selection of breakfast bakery (F)
Again, it’s mainly the breakfast that matches, but how would you really differentiate that? On this flight, the aircraft leaves Doha around dinner time and arrives in Sydney around dinner time, so perhaps not many people select it.
Not The Same Menu By Any Means!
The main reason I wanted to see if it was the same menu was largely due to online comments from people on frequent flyer forums. Various people were of the view that Qatar Airways business class was so good, that first class would be exactly the same apart from the fact you can also get caviar.
Overall Thoughts
It pleases me that it is not the same menu in business class and first class on Qatar Airways. That is the way it should be, since people pay a price premium to go up a class. Whether that is with points, or an upgrade offered at check-in, you are still paying more.
Seems like the rumours from a certain segment of frequent flyers is completely untrue. You will have to keep an eye out for my full review, which will be coming soon.
Have you found any similarities with the food and drink between first class and business class on other airlines? What do you think of the above menus and the crossover? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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