No meal service trans-tasman, inquiry to VA about why is bizzare

[Ausbt]

Maybe they thought you run the AusBT site (do you)?

No, that's David Flynn but I'll use every trick in the book none-the-less

I had a similar thing happen to me last week with VA BNE-LAX
So, naturally I wasn't happy and sent feedback to VA.....but it makes you wonder, how on earth do they just forget to feed one of their top tier frequent flyers travelling in business????
JASON

Ask for 20K points for that but maybe expect 5K

 

[PLANT]

Um the company paid not you? But wow international flight no food!!!

 

[UP4014]

IMHO VA are dropping back to being a LCC

They never really seemed to quite pull away from being a LCC did they.

 

[UP4014]

^Wear a red shirt next time

Perhaps we need some T shirts with the AFF logo on the back and DYKWIA on the front. :shock:

 

[dk4]

Would have been much easier if Virgin simply told the OP that, rather than the pretty disgusting series of emails they chose to se

VA's product and fare range has become so complex and inconsistent, is it any wonder their staff have no idea how to respond without a "PhD in Virginomics"?

What chance have ordinary customers got, in knowing something as simple as - which flights they might get a free orange juice on, and which ones they won't!

 

[CPMaverick]

Not all fares on the trans tasman include food – yor travel agent must have booked you in one of those cheaper classes that does not include and buy on board

Trans Tasman | Virgin Australia

I still don't see anywhere here what fare classes (letter code) equal what type of fare. When booking international flights, all I see is the fare code. Does anyone have this list?

 

[Muppet501st]

I've only done the 1 return trans crossing on NZ ticket, VA metal, BNE-AKL in the cheapest ticket. After all the meals were served to those on the dearer tickets, my wife and I were asked if we would like a meal from what was left over.

 

[Viridianne]

We were given meals SYD>AKL and return.

The worse was LAX>AKL when some guy took my special meal. (These people are robbing others with food allergies of their meal, even if they didn't mean to)
FA was apologetic and ended up having to scavenge some leftover cheese and salad from J.

 

[suze2000]

I was given a MOML on a flight recently. I queried it because I didn't want to take someone's special meal, but the response implied that if I didn't take that, it would be nothing. And of course, it was breakfast and there was no bacon.

 

[Mattg]

We were given meals SYD>AKL and return.

The worse was LAX>AKL when some guy took my special meal. (These people are robbing others with food allergies of their meal, even if they didn't mean to)
FA was apologetic and ended up having to scavenge some leftover cheese and salad from J.

Was this on an Air New Zealand flight? As VA don't fly the LAX-AKL route.

 

[Viridianne]

Was this on an Air New Zealand flight? As VA don't fly the LAX-AKL route.

Ah yeah, it was on the NZ flight! Thanks for pointing it out

 

[Milefest]

VA's product and fare range has become so complex and inconsistent, is it any wonder their staff have no idea how to respond without a "PhD in Virginomics"?

What chance have ordinary customers got, in knowing something as simple as - which flights they might get a free orange juice on, and which ones they won't!

Get ready for even more confusion as the fare buckets become more fragmented after the introduction of the new fares.

"I thought I got the OJ in this fare?"

"No, you bought the 'Premium Getaway Happy Hour Budget' fare without paying the $4 additional extra for the OJ."

 

[Muppet501st]

Made a booking this morning, BNE-LAX via AKL with NZ. I asked about a meal service on the BNE-AKL leg, and was told, that as my booking is part of a long haul international flight, I would get a meal.

 

[jpk]

Made a booking this morning, BNE-LAX via AKL with NZ. I asked about a meal service on the BNE-AKL leg, and was told, that as my booking is part of a long haul international flight, I would get a meal.

Yes NZ are very good at that - if you are on a trans-pac booking, then you'll get a meal on trans-tasman sectors. Seems that VA don't do the same, and don't do a good job of explaining that either. The new fare buckets are going to make this even more confusing, it's really becoming a mess.

I actively avoid them these days, not worth the frustration. The customer service replies to the OP reflect the state the airline is in now.

 

[CPMaverick]

So, can nobody help me out with the fare classes that offer meals vs. just Seat/Bag for trans tasman flights? Or is this not publically available information?

I book through a company portal, so I can check fare class. But there is no information in the portal that mentions food...

 

[kevrosmith]

So, can nobody help me out with the fare classes that offer meals vs. just Seat/Bag for trans tasman flights? Or is this not publically available information?

I book through a company portal, so I can check fare class. But there is no information in the portal that mentions food...

Don't know about the current fare range, but these are the new ones starting from 7 September:

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT.

Fare buckets are listed at the top of each Fare Class section.

 

[CPMaverick]

Don't know about the current fare range, but these are the new ones starting from 7 September:

https://email.virginaustralia.com/p...RiiR3y3_wkpkuAkvRBrrEMWbd4JAgTdDD-4jE6sjCFgzT


Fare buckets are listed at the top of each Fare Class section.

Thanks! The above link is trans-tasman.

However, it actually doesn't clarify things as well as it should. Go and Go Plus have no food. The rest do. But Go Plus fares are T,Q,V,N,E. Getaway fares which include food are fares T,Q,V,N,E!

So how is a travel agent supposed to know how to book a fare including a meal? The only way to be sure is full-flex fare... what a stupid mess.

 

[williamsf1]

So how is a travel agent supposed to know how to book a fare including a meal? The only way to be sure is full-flex fare... what a stupid mess.

If they were a half decent travel agent they should know.........

 

[CPMaverick]

If they were a half decent travel agent they should know.........

How? If it is so easy, please tell me. Is it in the fare rules?

I have a corporate travel portal so I have to essentially be my own travel agent. We do have a company we can use for advice though, or have them book for us if the portal is insufficient. However being US based I doubt they know about how stupid the trans-tasman is for benefits like whether you get juice or not But I am willing to help them, if I can figure it out. Seriously, if you are going to slight people that can't figure this out, please at least have the courtesy to explain!

 

[williamsf1]

How? If it is so easy, please tell me. Is it in the fare rules?

I have a corporate travel portal so I have to essentially be my own travel agent. We do have a company we can use for advice though, or have them book for us if the portal is insufficient. However being US based I doubt they know about how stupid the trans-tasman is for benefits like whether you get juice or not But I am willing to help them, if I can figure it out. Seriously, if you are going to slight people that can't figure this out, please at least have the courtesy to explain!

I guess any one in 2016 with a internet connection and a mobile phone can call themselves a travel agent.....

Without knowing what travel portal / tool you use to make your booking …. It is very had to know what information you are provided, however my experience with these tools is they normally tell you what is included with regards to baggage or meals . If not you are told the booking class , this will be a letter . that letter then maps to the table or fare type below. For example you would see Economy N . The N then maps to a fare type

https://static.cdn.responsys.net/i5/responsysimages/content/virginaus/Trans Tasman - Retail.pdf

I hope that helps ……