No more free items from retail menu when flying business

[Melburnian1]

Isn't a key difficulty here that most domestic J passengers are either having their travel paid for by a company or govt agency, or by redeeming points, and hence there is a perception that everything should be 'free?'

Travelling over the years in QF or at one time AN J, I observed workmates who were incredibly stingy when it came to one cent leaving their pocket.

 

[JohnPhelan]

How is diet coke not part of the "full bar" anyway? That makes no sense to me.
As dumb as it is, I do get the policy of having to pay for economy menu items such as sandwiches etc (so dumb), but sure mixer drinks like diet coke are just part of the standard J bar?

Yes, but they only had one can of Diet Coke on the J trolley, and the FA thought they weren't allowed to go and get another can of Diet Coke from the Y trolley!

 

[Max Samuels]

Yes, but they only had one can of Diet Coke on the J trolley, and the FA thought they weren't allowed to go and get another can of Diet Coke from the Y trolley!

O.M.G. That is completely insane

 

[Ade]

Yes, but they only had one can of Diet Coke on the J trolley, and the FA thought they weren't allowed to go and get another can of Diet Coke from the Y trolley!

IMHO, instead of saying that they've got only one can of Diet Coke, the FA could've handled the situation in a better way ;

The FA could've said, "Sir/Madam, I've got only one in J trolley, let me check the Y trolley and let you know"

And if the FA didn't wanna give the diet coke for free, he could've simply lied "Sorry sir/madam, I checked the Y trolley and all the Diet Coke's are taken/used in today's flight. May I offer you another drink instead ? A glass of water perhaps ? or another drink of whatever is for "free" in J trolley? "

 

[Ade]

I just fail to see the reason why VA would do this. Although from the discussions on this thread one could think it's cost cutting measures or someone took "liberty" and had a lot of drinks. All said and done, asking premium passengers to cough up more than what they have already in $$ or taxes or points just doesn't seem fair.

Instead of asking them to pay up, the airline could offer an alternative instead of what they asked for. If giving away Ink Gin is expensive and is costing VA $$, they could offer an alternative, cheap, readily available gin or a pre-mix.

Or

After/during the usual meal service, Instead of giving away the usual menu with it's bells and whistles, the airline could pass around a "free" cheap drinks menu that can be offered for free.

There's so many ways by which VA could be doing this rather than charging premium any customers in a silly way

I'm not trying to say that premium passengers are "special" and need to be pampered. All I'm saying is, there is a certain "thing" in flying premium, just don't make it cheap by charging for items on-board.

I wouldn't be surprised, if in the future airlines start charging for pillows and blankets

 

[Silvia]

Just saying, I am very happy getting my diet coke for free in QF economy, particularly when at times an A330 is available on a short hop from SYD-MEL.

As @Ade is saying, the way of handling it could have been very different. There are ways to manage your losses, but clearly this one is not. It doesn't entice me to book any future J travel with VA.

 

[woodborer]

Instead of asking them to pay up, the airline could offer an alternative instead of what they asked for. If giving away Ink Gin is expensive and is costing VA $$, they could offer an alternative, cheap, readily available gin or a pre-mix.

They do. I think it's Gordons.

 

[darrend]

Isn't a key difficulty here that most domestic J passengers are either having their travel paid for by a company or govt agency, or by redeeming points, and hence there is a perception that everything should be 'free?'

My perception is that I pay for J personally and I have children whose palate does not extend to the dishes provided. This is not a phenomenon particular to my children, it is a quality that children the world over possess. If Virgin are happy to take my money for the flights then they need to provide age appropriate meals. They do not. The solution to date has been to take simple fare from the economy menu which suits their palate. With this change they now do not have appropriate meals nor do they have access to the simple fare from economy, save and except an additional sum being paid on top of the premium already paid for a product that is not delivered in the first instance. My view is "enough is enough" and the result is VA has lost most of my business, and whilst not huge in the scheme of things is equally not trivial - as an indication of the scope 5 Platinum's in our family and that business has dried up as a result of this penny pinching approach. Just my view.

 

[dajop]

Reading this thread and looking at typical fares that VA charge vs QF it’s hard to see a future for VA business class. Just glancing at 5 routes at varying degrees of time to travel, VA are consistently (except a very small number of specific instances) cheaper than QF. For example on SYD-MEL VA commonly $616, QF at same time $848. At face value , $200 offers a fare bit of buy on board over 1.5 hrs. But I know the equation is not that simple. Perhaps VA should not offer anything from economy menu at all (even for purchase), then they would have similar offer to QF (except children’s meals?).

 

[andrewpf]

Seems like this whole thing is poorly thought through.

Surely they should have business class and economy class catering (being the meal for business and snack for economy as they do now) + a bar/pantry that is the same across both classes with it being free for business and costing $ for economy.

And they shouldn't be in a situation where there are more expensive items available for economy that aren't available for business. Having a common pantry/bar would presumably reduce wastage and weight? Why carry one type of gin for business class, and a more expensive but paid one for economy? It just makes no sense.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I dunno how it works, but I suspect the economy carts are itemised and have to be reconciled with cash/card takings. So a common bar cart would make that a little more difficult. I suppose they could have a ‘complimentary’ item code for things taken from the economy cart for use in business.

 

[Falcs]

So was denied an expresso martini today

Meanwhile they ran out of hot options for 3 out of 8 pax

And I didn't quite catch the whole conversation but I think overheard the flight attendant tell another customer they couldn't have a can of tonic water because they had to serve the cabin from a large (1.25L) bottle?

The penny pinching just gives them a terrible look in a business cabin.

 

[pauly7]

I do find it a little odd the strategy of cost cutting first in domestic business class.

I would have thought there would have been other places they could save money first and less inflammatory.

 

[prf31]

I do find it a little odd the strategy of cost cutting first in domestic business class.

I would have thought there would have been other places they could save money first and less inflammatory.

Agree. Perhaps they should be focused more on stemming the bleeding from their money-losing ventures in the first instance.

 

[soh]

So was denied an expresso martini today

Meanwhile they ran out of hot options for 3 out of 8 pax

And I didn't quite catch the whole conversation but I think overheard the flight attendant tell another customer they couldn't have a can of tonic water because they had to serve the cabin from a large (1.25L) bottle?

The penny pinching just gives them a terrible look in a business cabin.

Depending on the time of day 5 hot options to cover 8 pax with 4/5 cold options sounds pretty standard. Did 3 pax not get a meal? They don’t free pour tonic in the economy cabin but they do have larger bottles of sparkling and still water for J. If someone down the back wants a Gordon’s or Ink they can add a mixer can, I think it’s Fever Tree tonic.

 

[InfreqFlyer]

I wouldn't be surprised, if in the future airlines start charging for pillows and blankets

"I'm sorry, sir/madam, but you should have worn more clothes."

 

[downloadingdata]

Wait a min - do you even pay for diet coke in domestic Y on VA? I thought they are a full service carrier?

 

[Ade]

Wait a min - do you even pay for diet coke in domestic Y on VA? I thought they are a full service carrier?

Nope. Never have to pay for a diet coke in a full service airline. I never have in QF, apparently that's how it is in VA, going forward!

 

[Falcs]

Depending on the time of day 5 hot options to cover 8 pax with 4/5 cold options sounds pretty standard. Did 3 pax not get a meal? They don’t free pour tonic in the economy cabin but they do have larger bottles of sparkling and still water for J. If someone down the back wants a Gordon’s or Ink they can add a mixer can, I think it’s Fever Tree tonic.

Cold option was fruit and Greek yogurt, 2 people asked for and ended up with the economy meal.

Yeah I think the other person in j wanted a can and got told they had to use the large bottle

 

[Max Samuels]

So strange.... I mean, I am no scientician, but to me it would seem that catering a J cabin of only 8 seats is not the hardest job in the world. They should certainly be pushing for the pre-flight orders that AA have allowed on domestic J/F for ages (at least 5 years) for flights that have a "dinner" or "lunch" service.... 30 days in advance, order what you want... and BAM! You get it!!!!