Remember when Qantas business class meant steak, not soggy greens? Times have changed

A Qantas business class passenger sparked a heated debate after sharing a photo of their lunch online.

The traveller described their meal as disappointing, calling the airline's premium service a 'joke'.

Not everyone agreed, with fellow passengers weighing in on whether the criticism was fair or overblown.

The passenger had flown on QF 35 from Melbourne to Singapore, departing at 12:05 pm last month.

After upgrading to business class, they were served a vegetarian dish of pan fried parmesan polenta with braised greens, wild mushroom ragout and salsa verde.

They criticised the dish further, noting: 'Midday flight from Melbourne to Singapore, and this was the business class lunch on offer.'

'Premium cabin, budget vibes. And if you're in the last row, don't bother choosing—most of the menu's already run out.'

The passenger also commented: 'Vegetables were salty as hell.'

Qantas promotes its international business class as offering 'a contemporary selection of locally sourced dishes with a focus on choice'.

Menus may include options such as 'red wine braised beef short rib with potato puree, green beans, balsamic glazed eschallots and salsa verde, or Humpty Doo barramundi with ginger, chilli, snake beans and jasmine rice'.

Responses to the complaint were divided.

Some travellers agreed, with one noting: 'You don't fly Qantas for the food.'

Another described the dish as: 'Looks like something out of my compost bin.'

However, others criticised the passenger for overreacting.

'I always find it amusing when grown adults with the capacity to fly business class throw a tantrum about how vegetables look,' one wrote.

'As usual, no description of the dish, the alternatives, the issues or how you attempted to address this on the flight. Literally just 'EWWW THE VEGETABLES ARE GREEN!''

The original passenger defended their post, saying their complaint was 'not about how vegetables look in general' but how the airline had presented the dish.

They argued it appeared as if they had 'raided a buffet blindfolded'.

Another customer, who had eaten the same meal the week prior, described it as 'very tasty' but admitted theirs 'looked a lot more appetising'.

Qantas has been contacted for comment.

Have you ever judged a meal on presentation alone—or is taste the only thing that matters?