Complimentary meal on flights over 3 hours

[Deleted member 29185]

Much like the roll out of a new menu in the lounges. I haven't seen or heard anything on that front in months.

Surely your eyes are wide shut, from overindulging in VA lounge, premium goodies?

Of late I've done a number of short haul int flights and they've been QF. A complementary meal for 3+ hours is necessary IMHO, (or a considerably reduced fare, which VA don't provide anymore), but mind you, that's not a gripe....simply a statement of fact.

 

[DirkDiggler]

I opted for the bacon and scrambled eggs and it was horrifying. The scrambled eggs were a congealed, flavourless blob and the bacon was basically a one inch wide strip of fat. I should have taken a photo.

And what is that pale semi opaque white sauce on the eggs, for a second I thought the male chef had got over excited, I tasted it and it had zero taste/salt what so ever and I then knew it was safe.

 

[carwashhair]

And what is that pale semi opaque white sauce on the eggs, for a second I thought the male chef had got over excited, I tasted it and it had zero taste/salt what so ever and I then knew it was safe.

Cheezus, Dirk!

 

[plspoon]

Flew back to per from Bne yesterday morning on 737 and definitely got free feed in Y. Breakfast scrambled eggs and bacon or potato something or other. I had the potato thingy and it was ok, came with baked beans and asparagus. Also the usual fruit mix of pineapple water melon and rock melon, plus a muffin which I didnt eat. Free tea or coffee and soft drinks. They did come round again later and I got another tea but others were buying wine and beer.
also, fyi wireless entertainment system worked well but selection of movies was pretty average.

 

[Saab34]

Do they still offer the Buy on board services in addition to the free meal?

 

[Bofter]

On coast to coast I think they offer buy on board for drink and snack items only. However this seems to be more in theory than in practice at least on MEL-PER and vv. I have seen it done but less than 50% of the time

 

[DGW]

On coast to coast I think they offer buy on board for drink and snack items only. However this seems to be more in theory than in practice at least on MEL-PER and vv. I have seen it done but less than 50% of the time

You're right, it's drinks and snacks only (menu here: http://images.cdn.realviewdigital.c...00193.jpg?type=1&quality=100&width=500&v=v353).

On my flight on Friday night the crew didn't do a retail cart run and I didn't really expect them to given there was a drink service prior to dinner, then the dinner run, then the garbage run, all on a 3hr flight. However for those that wanted something from the buy on board menu it was definitely available.

 

[bubblyguy]

On the coast to coast flights all beverages except for spirits are available complimentary. You can even have a beer with your scrambled eggs if you really want.

You will usually find the "retail" service (snacks for purchase on the cart) happen on flights to Perth... Heading to the east coast there is not enough service time to do this on top of the pre-meal bar, meal plus bar, clear in and the water runs that should also be taking place along with all the crew needing to have a break at some point.

Even if the cart doesn't come through the cabin a simple press of the call bell and requesting it from the crew will work as it is loaded on all flights if you really want to buy the morish nuts, pringles or whatever else you fancy.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

On the coast to coast flights all beverages except for spirits are available complimentary...You will usually find the "retail" service (snacks for purchase on the cart) happen on flights to Perth... Heading to the east coast there is not enough service time to do this on top of the pre-meal bar, meal plus bar, clear in and the water runs that should also be taking place along with all the crew needing to have a break at some point.

I realise you speak of the C2C runs, but to be fair, I find some of your comments to be a bit apologetic for 2nd rate attitudes which seem to be creeping in on VA.

My recent BNE-POM flights (though not C2C) are a bit over 3 hours and VA offer very little. Air Niugini (codeshare QF) offer all Y pax a hot meal (basically a VA J meal without a nice purple tray and dinky salt and pepper shakers) as well as ALL drinks including spirits, wine, beer, soft drinks or tea and coffee and not just one glass either! To cap it off, they provide in-flight entertainment from seat back touch screens that support FA call, and USB charging of devices.

All round given a nice roomy (even in zoo) 767, it really shows up all the inferiorities of VAs 738s (of which they're quite a few). To cap this off, VA were AU$500 dearer on a flexi fare recently, over both QF and PX. Even as a QF NB and a VA WP, there was no dispute in which proved the better value (and it wasn't VA). As for not enough "service time"......rubbish! My last PX flight was chockers and they still had lots of time for a meal, rubbish collections, two cart runs and individual drinks attention and the PX crew did so with a smile and courteous demeanour. (and I didn't once see them disappear behind the iron curtain).

Hard to make the argument to fly VA (much easier to rack up QF status though.......counting down to QF silver at the moment , bring on a QF status match!)

 

[Markmat]

I flew Brisbane to Perth three weeks ago and did not receive meal, not sure why not. I also find it strange that trans-Tasman flights get nothing (I believe it is a deal with Air New Zealand) I flew Wellington to Brisbane and flight time is 3 and a half hours, long time to go without food and they only do one drinks run. Also flew Hobart to Brisbane, flight time is just under 3 hours and got nothing. I think the promise by JB was hollow. I think on flights of this length and on low fares the only option is QF as you always receive a meal.

 

[quick_dry]

I also find it strange that trans-Tasman flights get nothing (I believe it is a deal with Air New Zealand)

That is what i was told on an NZ flight, that both NZ and VA made changes to bring their offerings into exact alignment for the Trans-Trasman alliance

 

[bullerdude]

That is what i was told on an NZ flight, that both NZ and VA made changes to bring their offerings into exact alignment for the Trans-Trasman alliance

Correct. They have aligned everything to be the same.

Saver Lite / Saver = Seat / Seat + Bag = Can buy snacks
Flexi = Works = Included Food
PE = Works Deluxe = Included Food plus Row 1+2 and special treatment etc

The NZ food offering, however, are much better than the VA ones.

 

[bubblyguy]

I realise you speak of the C2C runs, but to be fair, I find some of your comments to be a bit apologetic for 2nd rate attitudes which seem to be creeping in on VA.

Here's hoping one day there will be some consistency on the service and hard product available on every flight! I know VA think they are so consistent but they are so far from it!

 

[DGW]

On my SYD-MEL flight on Thursday (1200 dep) all passengers received a "snack" (in this case a Carman's muesli bar) and tea/coffee/water/juice. Apparently this is a trial and it presumably has only just kicked off.

Inching towards "fully inclusive" one muesli bar at a time..

 

[KCMil]

Food fight escalates for Qantas and Virgin | Travel Weekly

Interestingly this article makes reference to VA's offerings, though it is not clear in what it is saying, it eludes to a statment made by comm's mgr Jacqui Abbott states again that
they intend to roll out their meal services to flts over 3hrs. I was told this a little while back on board as well. And from friends on the inside it was said that the capital connect snack
style service is expected to roll out on shorter routes, with the removal of the old "flexi" meal food product.

Sounds like a move in the right direction to me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Sounds like a move in the right direction to me.

I'd agree, but only if they do it well.

Removing the flexi meal whilst handing flexi pax a muesli bar and a half cup of water is a backward step IMHO regardless of the flexi meal being sometimes very ordinary.

I'm wondering if this also spells the end of the buy off the cart option as well?

 

[esquire]

I'd agree, but only if they do it well.

Removing the flexi meal whilst handing flexi pax a muesli bar and a half cup of water is a backward step IMHO regardless of the flexi meal being sometimes very ordinary.

I'm wondering if this also spells the end of the buy off the cart option as well?

After a recent flight (Darwin -Perth) on VA I can tell you it was also the last - I had my bosses with me (visiting from the UK) and all our flights previously were QF around Australia and they were horrified that for a flight of nearly 4 hours there was only tea coffee or water AND the food for purchase consisted of chips, chocolates, soft drinks and sandwiches- at 7AM! Not that the flexi meal I was on was any better -I got given a frozen banana which defrosted into muck - "opps sorry" with no alternative available.

Now I understand why the QF flight was sold out and the VA one <50% full.

a proper (breakfast) meal service on this flight is well over due.

 

[Noob]

After a recent flight (Darwin -Perth) on VA I can tell you it was also the last - I had my bosses with me (visiting from the UK) and all our flights previously were QF around Australia and they were horrified that for a flight of nearly 4 hours there was only tea coffee or water AND the food for purchase consisted of chips, chocolates, soft drinks and sandwiches- at 7AM! Not that the flexi meal I was on was any better -I got given a frozen banana which defrosted into muck - "opps sorry" with no alternative available.

Now I understand why the QF flight was sold out and the VA one <50% full.

a proper (breakfast) meal service on this flight is well over due.

This is a pretty key observation. It's okay (for me) on short flights as I stick to coffee - but on such a long domestic leg, breakfast must be at the very least offered for purchase - Either as a sign for things to come or just as a streamlining excercise, breakfast options on the BOB menu are once again, slim.

Possibly catering for the Virgin Australia Fashion Festival? "Would you like water with your coffee, Sir?"