Feeling ripped off by Virgin advertising - we now serve food and beverage

[Catovandiemen]

I'd like to pitch in and say even though I feel deceived by the advertising, for someone like me that flys BNE-SYD on a regular basis, the food is not that much of an issue for me as the flight is so short.

The saving you make on the flight, comparing to qantas fares, justifies buying a meal at the airport beforehand and still have some cash left over, and if you have lounge access, you get free food from the lounge anyway.

Well I have just booked Launceston to Perth with Qantas $345 and VA was $385 so QA won hands down lol

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Have recently flown on VA ticketed flight from Syd to Zqn which was operated by ANZ. Was told in no uncertain terms by the FA that we were not entitled to any food and only tea, coffee or water.

Without checking, I believe all VA short haul int is the same. That's why I fly QF or PX rather than VA to POM. Their loss is the oppositions gain.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yes its not really much of an argument now saying virgin is cheaper because they frequently are not.

 

[Milefest]

Well I have just booked Launceston to Perth with Qantas $345 and VA was $385 so QA won hands down lol

I don't disagree with you, as I said, I frequent the BNE-SYD route and the only time Qantas is cheaper is when they're on sale

 

[petercr]

What is breakfast (Economy) on QF these days? Last time I flew, it was a tub of yoghurt with dry muesli, and a piece of fruit.
I wouldn't call that a "full breakfast", although in most cases it would suffice as a form of breakfast, and probably more substantial than a 5x5cm coconut cake slice.

Ms 11yo has just told me that they had yoghurt, a bread roll with jam and butter and (for them at least) a choice of OJ or water plus an apple.

Her dinner however consisted of a 'smoked salmon and potato salad' with same drinks choice and a choccie bar...

 

[Julesmac]

I fly VA often (at least monthly) within Australia. Company policy and not my choice but whatever.I snag a nice well filled salad roll at the airport, a large cappuccino, and forget about their pathetic offerings. 'Food" it ain't.

 

[Liroquai]

Feeling left out with all these fancy options. I consider myself lucky if I get something other than the fruit and nut mix on SYD-OOL

 

[anat0l]

I fly VA often (at least monthly) within Australia. Company policy and not my choice but whatever.I snag a nice well filled salad roll at the airport, a large cappuccino, and forget about their pathetic offerings. 'Food" it ain't.

Well, the good thing is that you can put it on your expense account, I guess.

Plus, hopefully most ports have a wider variety which should be more than satisfactory.

You obviously don't fly... "often"... enough because otherwise, like many others here, you would go to the VA lounge and pig out before the flight

Feeling left out with all these fancy options. I consider myself lucky if I get something other than the fruit and nut mix on SYD-OOL

BA used to serve this kind of stuff on shorthaul for a long time. It was known as "birdseed".

 

[Deleted member]

I don't disagree with you, as I said, I frequent the BNE-SYD route and the only time Qantas is cheaper is when they're on sale

Generally speaking! What is the price difference on that route between QF and VA?

 

[flybynight]

Don't know why people are getting steamed up about airline food - eating it is not something I would want to brag about. I read the label on a Qantas cookie year ago and was shocked at the number of calories. Gave up ALL airplane food plus fried food and snacking and lost 21 kg. Feel great and still drink and have normal meals. Can recommend it to everyone!

 

[JohnK]

Have recently flown on VA ticketed flight from Syd to Zqn which was operated by ANZ. Was told in no uncertain terms by the FA that we were not entitled to any food and only tea, coffee or water. We are Gold members with VA, and I am diabetic to boot. We mistakenly assumed that we would receive food and beverages on an international flight. Silly us! It is the last time we will ever fly code share on Air New Zealand and we are rethinking VA as well. Be warned. Ask the question before you stump up your money.

There is no free food on VA flights across the ditch either.

Lucky I ate in the lounge on the way over BNE-AKL as that flight arrived near midnight and on the way back AKL-BNE I had some food in lounge and took some cheese and crackers with me from lounge.

 

[cdp88]

I fly VA often (at least monthly) within Australia. Company policy and not my choice but whatever.I snag a nice well filled salad roll at the airport, a large cappuccino, and forget about their pathetic offerings. 'Food" it ain't.

My employer requires us to book the cheapest flight and for most routes this is Virgin. For the $10 difference I would say QF is worth it but it's not my money so I can't make this choice. Where the difference is $40 it is hard to justify. If you don't have the time to buy food before hand or access to the lounge poor on board catering has more of an impact. I guess you can always buy food on Virgin.

 

[Milefest]

Generally speaking! What is the price difference on that route between QF and VA?

These days with no saver lite for va customers and the recent price bump on fares I believe it's only about $10-30 more flying with Qf

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I was just shopping around for ABX to BNE via Sydney. VA - $229, Qantas - $230.

 

[Foreigner]

Snack on this week's flight was an Arnott mint slice.

 

[MH_fan]

The inclusion of "everything" in a ticket is providing VA with a very dodgy excuse to charge pretty much the same price as QF. As an example, the current sale fare from SYD to CNS is a perfect reflection of this. Both are charging $139 each way but at least I know I'll be getting a proper meal and a range of non-alcoholic beverages on QF compared to VA's snack, which they consider as "food", and a limited range of beverages that only include water, juice, tea and coffee. Not only that, the new promo codes on VA no longer work on sale fares, as that could have been the deal breaker. Guess who I went with?

 

[anat0l]

The inclusion of "everything" in a ticket is providing VA with a very dodgy excuse to charge pretty much the same price as QF. As an example, the current sale fare from SYD to CNS is a perfect reflection of this. Both are charging $139 each way but at least I know I'll be getting a proper meal and a range of non-alcoholic beverages on QF compared to VA's snack, which they consider as "food", and a limited range of beverages that only include water, juice, tea and coffee. Not only that, the new promo codes on VA no longer work on sale fares, as that could have been the deal breaker. Guess who I went with?

Whilst the "food" may be more on QF than VA on average, are you sure you will get a proper meal with QF, unless the flight is scheduled for dinner?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

BE VERY CAREFUL when opening that salsa tub.
It will splat every where!
I take the tub home with me.
The parmasan biscuit does taste nice at 10,xx_ m though.

I feel quite ripped off by NOT getting the salsa and bickie on my last flight!

At least with that morsel, one can buy the cheese and cracker pack and spread the salsa onto the cheese to make what is actually a tasty snack. Combine that with a mini bottle of their crisp pinot grigio and that's what I'd call a reasonable snack for VA to serve in flight. Is that too hard? Too expensive? Too difficult to comprehend?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

2 small round peanut cookies on my 15:00 VAd ADL - MEL flight yesterday.

 

[MH_fan]

Whilst the "food" may be more on QF than VA on average, are you sure you will get a proper meal with QF, unless the flight is scheduled for dinner?

Flight up will be a breakfast flight and coming back will be a lunch service.