Complimentary meal on flights over 3 hours

[MH_fan]

What has happened to this? There was a bit of fanfare about introducing complimentary meals on flights over 3 hours. It started with the transcon flights, then I believe it's been introduced on the international flights (not trans-tasman), then nothing...
Has this plan fallen by the wayside or is it still happening?

 

[Fruitcake]

Has this plan fallen by the wayside or is it still happening?

It's being rolled out very slowly and if there is a "plan" it isn't, to my knowledge, public. Flights to NAN add inclusive meals to all fares from 11 December; beyond that I personally don't know what the plan is.

 

[MartinMemo]

I saw it written under "perth" on the flight specials page the other day, but its gone now?

 

[UP4014]

It's being rolled out very slowly and if there is a "plan" it isn't, to my knowledge, public. Flights to NAN add inclusive meals to all fares from 11 December; beyond that I personally don't know what the plan is.

The word "glacial" comes to mind, didn't I read about this a year ago.

Either do it or don't do it, but they seem to want to half do it!

 

[markis10]

I saw it written under "perth" on the flight specials page the other day, but its gone now?

Funny that:

Flights from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Perth (and return)


Guests travelling on direct transcontinental services, from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Perth (and return), receive a complimentary hot meal and beverage offering. Beverages include a selection of soft drinks, juice, water, tea and coffee. Beer and wine is available after midday.

 

[MH_fan]

Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't end up happening and they just leave the included catering to just the transcon and international flights. That can be quite annoying if you're on a domestic flight that lasts over 4 hours. Oh well, it just means I may have to eat a bit more than I need to at the lounge (if there is one) prior to that flight or buy on board if I'm desperate.

 

[samas]

What's interesting is when they introduced this they started flying faster between Perth and Adelaide as to not have to provide the complimentary meal service on that sector.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

They don't (and haven't) done this on any short haul int flights I've been on this year (BNE-AKL, BNE POM)

 

[day_mee]

I had a meal on my SYD - PER flights, mind you the food coming back was a pretty poor vegetable ravioli. Other than that I thought the new rule was that flights over 2h45m had complimentary meals? Are any of the eastern seaboard flights over 3 hours?

 

[Qld4101]

I also thought it was 2h45m - both sectors I travel are over this time CNS/SYD and CNS/MEL and nothing ...........

 

[under the radar]

VA website has info on when/where..quite easy to look up

 

[candyflip]

You'll get a meal on PER-MEL and back, every time.

Hope you like Chocolate Mousse? Same dessert, every, single, f l i g h t.......

 

[DGW]

You'll get a meal on PER-MEL and back, every time.

Hope you like Chocolate Mousse? Same dessert, every, single, f l i g h t.......

I flew to PER in Y for the first time in a while on Monday and the breakfast options haven't changed in months (perhaps not even since the comp. meal was introduced). 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.

 

[Bofter]

I am sitting at around 40-50 of the Virgin coast to coast economy dinners in a year, which yes is a lot of those chocolate mousses. I find them generally OK, including that pumpkin ravioli variant. The bread roll is normally pretty aweful in the round form, although there is a squareish variant which is much better. The mains are usually OK but never fantastic (then again it is economy). All in all, I am glad that I get to eat in the lounge beforehand also, but have found these meals OK and certainly never anything that has driven me to want to photograph it for a complaint (but I haven't had anything but the dinners).

 

[eastwest101]

Anyone been on a CNS-SYD or CNS-MEL or even a BNE-DRW or SYD-DRW lately to confirm that meals are still only offered on VA flights to and from PER?

 

[ishkaban]

Anyone been on a CNS-SYD or CNS-MEL or even a BNE-DRW or SYD-DRW lately to confirm that meals are still only offered on VA flights to and from PER?

Was on CNS-SYD last week and it was the normal retail offering as well as pies for purchase

 

[dfcatch]

Anyone been on a CNS-SYD or CNS-MEL or even a BNE-DRW or SYD-DRW lately to confirm that meals are still only offered on VA flights to and from PER?

CNS-SYD/SYD-CNS is not complimentary.

 

[cavemanzk]

They don't (and haven't) done this on any short haul int flights I've been on this year (BNE-AKL, BNE POM)

Tasman services we're excluded from free meals, under the deal with NZ that has just re-signed for 5 years.

With the ever increasing NZ shareholding in VA, I don't think we will see it ever get fully rolled out

 

[MH_fan]

I think we'll see this roll-out of complimentary catering die a quiet death...

 

[DGW]

I think we'll see this roll-out of complimentary catering die a quiet death...

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