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

[johnd]

The Virgin adverting running ATM shows a passenger getting an offering of (what seems like another) red wine with his food and within the Voyeur magazine this month there is an advert that shows a passenger getting a reasonable meal with wine from a hostess. My recent experience of flying Virgin is a long way from the TV or in-flight magazine advertising. Getting a small packet of a few Almonds and rice crackers on an afternoon flight with no wine was a disappointment. One reason I booked this short flight was because it looked like Virgin had upped their in-flight service food levels and I expected a sandwich and a wine to accompany on my flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Heh, I had it a few days ago.
Wanted to buy something, saw them handling out sandwiches, thought... wow, lets try that.
Bugger mate, butter, small bread, no meat, just cheese and butter and tomato and small bread.
Cheap, but this cheap???
Next time, I will accept the sandwich and buy something else.
Read they now had food on flight, couldnt use the VA lounge as no free access, so didnt eat a lot pre flight, it was a bit after lunch 2.5 hours flight...

 

[Mattg]

The Virgin adverting running ATM shows a passenger getting an offering of (what seems like another) red wine with his food and within the Voyeur magazine this month there is an advert that shows a passenger getting a reasonable meal with wine from a hostess. My recent experience of flying Virgin is a long way from the TV or in-flight magazine advertising. Getting a small packet of a few Almonds and rice crackers on an afternoon flight with no wine was a disappointment. One reason I booked this short flight was because it looked like Virgin had upped their in-flight service food levels and I expected a sandwich and a wine to accompany on my flight.

I think you have a point. Yes, Virgin have said that they will start to offer complementary food and drinks on all flights, but what is being offered is pretty much as you describe. Very minimal.

I believe they do offer free wine, but only on a select number of flights departing on specific times and days. Perhaps someone could enlighten us as to when that actually is.

 

[im.daniel]

I believe they do offer free wine, but only on a select number of flights departing on specific times and days. Perhaps someone could enlighten us as to when that actually is.

Supposedly on flights between 5-7pm on weekdays?? Happy to be corrected here.

Having said that, if VA continue to be cheaper than QF, I guess i'll be more than happy to forgo the food!

 

[blackcat20]

I think you have a point. Yes, Virgin have said that they will start to offer complementary food and drinks on all flights, but what is being offered is pretty much as you describe. Very minimal.

I believe they do offer free wine, but only on a select number of flights departing on specific times and days. Perhaps someone could enlighten us as to when that actually is.

I'm not sure even VA know when that is, based on comments on AFF in regards to being declined complimentary wine during the free wine hours.

 

[Brendan Wheeler]

Having flown regularly with Qantas to Tamworth and back, i always enjoyed their afternoon service usually a small box with some biscuits, savoury dip and a small bit of chocolate as well as complementary red/white wine.

In comparison on my recent VA flight from TMW-SYD i got a small wagon wheel....but also paid $350 less so cant really complain.

 

[Revolio]

Having flown regularly with Qantas to Tamworth and back, i always enjoyed their afternoon service usually a small box with some biscuits, savoury dip and a small bit of chocolate as well as complementary red/white wine.

In comparison on my recent VA flight from TMW-SYD i got a small wagon wheel....but also paid $350 less so cant really complain.

.....a golden wagon wheel......

 

[yohy?!]

I think you have a point. Yes, Virgin have said that they will start to offer complementary food and drinks on all flights, but what is being offered is pretty much as you describe. Very minimal.

I believe they do offer free wine, but only on a select number of flights departing on specific times and days. Perhaps someone could enlighten us as to when that actually is.

Any VA domestic flight between 5-7pm Mon-Fri

 

[yohy?!]

Having flown regularly with Qantas to Tamworth and back, i always enjoyed their afternoon service usually a small box with some biscuits, savoury dip and a small bit of chocolate as well as complementary red/white wine.

In comparison on my recent VA flight from TMW-SYD i got a small wagon wheel....but also paid $350 less so cant really complain.

This sums up the whole approach I think quite well, dial up the offering slightly so they're in the same space as the QF product but the savings in fare difference make up for the lack of proper meal offerings. Lots of QF pax I have seen on SYD-MEL just pass on the food offering altogether at dinner in favour of a wine.

Most obvious difference is on the shorter sectors where the lounge food makes a huge difference, they have to keep up the effort that's been put in there otherwise business travellers just won't accept it.

 

[UP4014]

Any VA domestic flight between 5-7pm Mon-Fri

Indeed, pushing the boundaries when it's only on for 10 hours a week and the other 158 hours are overlooked.

Matt

 

[jaspon]

Any VA domestic flight between 5-7pm Mon-Fri

plus any flight BNE/SYD/MEL to PER (anytime of day ) plus any AUST-DPS flight (anytime of day)

 

[MarkD]

Really could be any flight they choose to provide / not provide. Its a crazy setup, with so many different times/carriers with various offerings. The everyday person who books Virgin Australia flight to Rocky etc has no idea if its a VA regional or VA or if they should be gettin a feed or not. Im personally one who declines the food on flights outside meal times, Im fat enough without eating all these carb heavy foods that are provided. Each to their own, but I preferred it when they were PAYG, at least you knew where you stood.

 

[zig]

Yup, was not impressed by the soggy cheese and tomato 'sandwich' on white bread (who eats white bread?????). I had it on 2 consecutive flights, and passed on it when offered it the second time.
I wasn't expecting alcohol though as I'm cynical enough to never believe advertising and always read the small print.

 

[jastel]

The stuff they give you in a box on Qantas doesn't look like the ads either...nor does Maccas or any other place IMHO.

 

[Mattg]

The stuff they give you in a box on Qantas doesn't look like the ads either...nor does Maccas or any other place IMHO.

Perhaps not, but I do find the Qantas boxed meals reasonably filling and appetising, and they seem to have a large variety of different meals going around so you're not eating the same thing every flight.

 

[bullerdude]

This is VA's description on the complimentary food.

[h=3]Food[/h] No matter what time of day you’re flying, you’ll always be offered something complimentary from our carefully selected food and beverage menu. While the menu varies from flight to flight, what we can guarantee is that you’ll always get to enjoy something delicious. Please also join us for a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink by flying Monday to Friday evenings between 5pm and 7pm.

In my case today for an afternoon SYD-MEL flight it was some Salsa and Parmesan biscuits - they were actually quite nice but not enough of them.

 

[Mattg]

If that's what VA are advertising, I don't really blame the OP for feeling ripped off. They "guarantee" something delicious from their "carefully selected food and beverage menu". In what way is a small pack of almonds or rice crackers delicious or carefully selected?

And as for the beer/wine, why even bother if it is not consistently delivered even in the tiny 10 hour/week time frame it is advertised as being offered in?

 

[blackcat20]

Id be happy if they offered comp soft drink on all flights....

 

[Mattg]

Id be happy if they offered comp soft drink on all flights....

They don't already? What do they offer as the "free drink" then normally?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I don't think VA provides free soft drinks, tea/coffee/water/juice maybe, grog definitely have to pay, but I don't think they provide "free" soft drinks.