No more free items from retail menu when flying business

[Mattg]

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

You have to pay for all drinks when flying economy domestic on VA, except tea, coffee, juice and water, unless you're on a flight that departs between 5-7pm Monday-Friday or on a trans-continental flight to/from Perth.

 

[soh]

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!

The lines between Full Service and LCC seem to be so blurred across airlines and also within airline groups depending on market sector. Most would consider NZ a full service carrier on face value. On Trans Tasman SYD-AKL in Y there was no meal and $4 for a coke unless I had booked the 'Works' fare - seems to be like the old VA 'flexi' type. My return VA economy sector had a hot meal and drinks (including coke and beer/wine). Either way the inclusion of a meal or drink isn't really a factor for me in the choice of a particular carrier in economy on a short sector.

This week in J on VA the meal was more than decent as usual, unlimited alcohol for me and I think I near emptied the pantry of popcorn, chocolate and trail mix for my daughter who didn't really fancy the 2 options. If I had wanted something extra from the retail menu it would have been tap and go time...I'm ok with that. If I asked for a diet coke or a sprite and was told they had run out in the J cart and it would be $4 from the retail cart I wouldn't have been so understanding - that must be a one off anomaly in a new service for the crew involved.

 

[Ade]

They should certainly be pushing for the pre-flight orders

Agree, that's the way to go. Give customer the option to choose what he wants before the flight and for those who don't have the time to pre-select their meal, there's always some options left on-board.

 

[pauly7]

Agree, that's the way to go. Give customer the option to choose what he wants before the flight and for those who don't have the time to pre-select their meal, there's always some options left on-board.

For domestic J?... Who on earth has the time... Sorry but I would put forward that a majority of FF’s flying J (especially domestically) want the easiest seamless possible experience without fussing around on things like selecting meals in advance.

I agree though for AFF’s who salivate over every little last detailed piece of their flight experience a book in advance would be fine though and something else to post about on this forum

The rest of us just want it taken care of.

 

[texanaust]

Agree, that's the way to go. Give customer the option to choose what he wants before the flight and for those who don't have the time to pre-select their meal, there's always some options left on-board.

Definitely should be available. If AA can do it for domestic, then VA should have no problem. Makes the customer happy and cuts down on wastage. If you cannot be bothered to preselect, then you take your chances with what is left.

 

[Vic]

O.M.G. That is completely insane

What is more insane is that anyone would drink diet coke; or think it's better to drink than normal coke.

 

[ozstamps]

C'mon, it is a choice thing. And VERY often a health thing. If it occured to me I'd be emailing the CEO. Total nosnese.

As a minor data point, in the last 3 days we have flown biz SYD-BNE-AKL-RAR on 737s and have never once seen the Buy Up cart.

 

[soh]

C'mon, it is a choice thing. And VERY often a health thing. If it occured to me I'd be emailing the CEO. Total nosnese.

As a minor data point, in the last 3 days we have flown biz SYD-BNE-AKL-RAR on 737s and have never once seen the Buy Up cart.

I've never seen a retail cart up front and don't think that is the intention. The menu card is now there and cabin crew have referred to it in passing during their intro but that's pretty much been it. Haven't heard any hard sell of the retail menu up front and not sure anyone, including business cabin crew, would appreciate economy crew hauling a double length cart up there to start selling some sandwiches.

 

[Vic]

C'mon, it is a choice thing. And VERY often a health thing.

Diet Coke???
The only people who say Diet Coke is healthy is the Coca cola company advertising team.

 

[Plutonus]

Diet Coke???
The only people who say Diet Coke is healthy is the Coca cola company advertising team.

There are people who for medical reasons choose 'diet' drinks. Maybe you should curtail your judgement and let others enjoy any beverage they choose.

Anyone spotted this increased variety of menu options yet?

 

[ozstamps]

Diet Coke???
The only people who say Diet Coke is healthy is the Coca cola company advertising team.

Here is your new word for today - DIABETES.

Perhaps google it, read up on it, and report back when you have entered 2019.

I am in the Cook Islands right now, and there are huge DIABETES warning signs on roadside billboards. It is killing some populations in our region. AND our own Aboriginals. And MANY Caucasians.

I have never consumed Diet Coke. But if I liked it, and it was loaded somewhere on board, and I was in Business Class, I'd expect a can POSTE HASTE at no cost - NOT what occured in the instance above.

 

[woodborer]

It might be better than Coke for people with diabetes, but there are better things than a can of chemicals for those people!

 

[Vic]

Here is your new word for today - DIABETES.

Hahahaha
Feeding an addiction to sugary drinks isn't by substituting something that tastes like the sugary drink isn't healthy. Someone with Diabetes needs to manage their blood sugar levels and can do that just as well with Coke original.

Diet drinks still lead to weight gain and obesity that is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Plus they have no nutritional value. Some one with diabetes should change their diet to eat healthily, that includes cutting out diet drinks.

There is no MEDICAL benefit to diet drinks.

 

[straitman]

Back to the topic thanks folks.

 

[Cult of one]

I flew Melb - Bris yesterday and the gentlemen in 1A and C both wanted a Diet Coke and were told there was only one available and none could be sourced from economy under the new rules. Truely appalling.

As a type one i am not able to have regular soft drinks (as a bonus I dislike soft drinks anyway) but for those type ones who do not having a diet option means water? thanks.

Make me glad I quit flying 150 times a year

 

[Cult of one]

Here is your new word for today - DIABETES.

Perhaps google it, read up on it, and report back when you have entered 2019.

I am in the Cook Islands right now, and there are huge DIABETES warning signs on roadside billboards. It is killing some populations in our region. AND our own Aboriginals. And MANY Caucasians.

I have never consumed Diet Coke. But if I liked it, and it was loaded somewhere on board, and I was in Business Class, I'd expect a can POSTE HASTE at no cost - NOT what occured in the instance above.

While you are at it google the difference between

Type One (nothing you did to get it and nothing you can do to prevent it) and much more serious. Kills more people than Breast cancer, lung cancer and Aids put together (source: WHO). No cure just a minimum of 4 jabs per day and it is zero fun besides that.

AND

Type two (lifestyle illness). Can be reversed in many cases.

They are not the same at all but unfortunately both have the post-fix of "diabetes"