I'm in the VA Lounge thread

[Ade]

Catering budget cut

Not cut, looks like no budget allocated to buy beer

 

[simmomelb]

MEL lounge for next hour. Can guest 1.

However, limited catering. Food quantity severely limited.
Plenty of juice, and wine of dubious quality, but, NO BEER
“ we’ve run out”

Catering budget cut, in led up to float??

I've never seen that in the Melbourne lounge and I'm there every week or two.
Something must have gone awry with the catering company.

 

[MooTime]

I've never seen that in the Melbourne lounge and I'm there every week or two.
Something must have gone awry with the catering company.

awry would be an understatement, imagine a fridge that size with no beer.......close the lounge all together. DIASTER, hs.

 

[kookaburra75]

MEL lounge for next hour. Can guest 1.

However, limited catering. Food quantity severely limited.
Plenty of juice, and wine of dubious quality, but, NO BEER
“ we’ve run out”

Catering budget cut, in led up to float??

Sorry, I was in there on Sunday afternoon and we were all thirsty But at least it was well stocked then, it's a bit cheap not to have refilled the fridges.
I agree on the food - limited quantity and quality

 

[randompunter]

Was in VA BNE lounge for a couple of hours Sunday afternoon for the first time in a while. It had a good selection of food - wraps, sandwiches, tandoori chicken salad, tortellini. Even better selection of beer, that is prob my main beef with the BNE QF lounges - their terrible beer selection and atrocious food in the QF pub (Dom usually okay food but I am only scum gold so don't go in there regularly).

Anyway, this VA lounge ticked all the right boxes for me other than tarmac views. Should just scrape in gold at my review date next week too so will hopefully be back soon.

 

[flydoc]

Back in the VA MEL lounge for next hour. Can guest 1 again (FWIW).
Still a beer-free zone

 

[TMP]

Send a staff member to the local bottle-o! Not good...

 

[simmomelb]

Send a staff member to the local bottle-o! Not good...

Okay, all, I have the exact reason for the beer supply issue in the Melbourne Lounge, do not panic, it was out of their control.
Note: the display lights on in the fridges, does not mean there wasn't a power issue with the cooling (in commercial fridges), before someone jumps to that conclusion
See part of the email response below from VA...
...

Dear Simon,

Thank you for your feedback.

Please be informed that I have escalated your feedback to my Senior support and coordinated the matter for further investigation and was advised by our Food and Beveridge Manager in Melbourne that the days you were in the lounge they lost power on both fridges in the pictures. The beer was getting warm, so it was taken out.

In order for the technician to service the fridges they also needed to be empty. The power came back around 4 pm, and the fridges were re-stocked. There was an additional power outage the next day which has now been rectified.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused, Simon, and we appreciate your loyalty and support.


Kind regards,

 

[mitchd]

MEL lounge has absolutely nothing to eat right now. The salad section, snacks section, main meal and even the soup/bread rolls are all vacant. Pretty busy with people lined up for imaginary meals…

 

[Must...Fly!]

MEL lounge has absolutely nothing to eat right now. The salad section, snacks section, main meal and even the soup/bread rolls are all vacant. Pretty busy with people lined up for imaginary meals…

Put in feedback. Not good enough.

 

[flydoc]

MEL lounge has absolutely nothing to eat right now. The salad section, snacks section, main meal and even the soup/bread rolls are all vacant. Pretty busy with people lined up for imaginary meals…

Contrast with the ADL lounge which always seems to be well stocked with quality offerings appropriate to time of day, regularly replenished and just a nice all-round vibe

 

[clifford]

Contrast with the ADL lounge which always seems to be well stocked with quality offerings appropriate to time of day, regularly replenished and just a nice all-round vibe

I'd say the same for the OOL lounge.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Good morning from a very quiet BNE lounge! Here for 20 minutes, can guest two.
Breakfast is "breakfast wrap" with scrambled eggs, chicken sausage and baked beans, but it's being prepared and served behind the counter rather than self serve.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

And back to a typical Monday morning Sydney Lounge! Reasonably busy with pork chipolatas, Texas baked beans (mild spice) and fritters on the menu. Can guest 2 until 0800.

 

[simmomelb]

And back to a typical Monday morning Sydney Lounge! Reasonably busy with pork chipolatas, Texas baked beans (mild spice) and fritters on the menu. Can guest 2 until 0800.

I need to try those beans. Sounds like a nice hearty breakfast

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I need to try those beans. Sounds like a nice hearty breakfast

They're staff-served rather than self-serve (same as BNE on Saturday morning), which causes a bit of a hold up when the staff member leaves their station. I found them to be quite good

On a related note, it appears that my cider prayers have been answered!! Somersby out of the fridge, replaced by Pure Blonde Cider!! Admittedly PBC tastes a bit "thin" for my liking (low carb, 1.0 standard drinks) but Mrs Hawk will be happier.

 

[alexczarn]

Contrast with the ADL lounge which always seems to be well stocked with quality offerings appropriate to time of day, regularly replenished and just a nice all-round vibe

Honestly has to be somehow VA's flagship lounge; makes it very enjoyable flying out of my home base.

 

[Ade]

In ADL VA lounge until 1740. Can guest 1. ADL lounge is a zoo, hardly any sitting place.

Edit: The eggplant parmi is really good !!

 

[simmomelb]

In the Melbourne lounge, on offer, vegetable curry, chicken wraps, soup, Betty's Burgers and beef salad.
Adequate selection

 

[Ade]

Betty's Burgers

Ah! One of these trips, I’m going to have this …