Snacks for every passenger on VA

[esquire]

So it is "Snacks for every passenger" or not? * (*excludes the bulk of flights between 0500-1559)

 

[jaspon]

So it is "Snacks for every passenger" or not? * (*excludes the bulk of flights between 0500-1559)

will probably consist of muffin/cookies/chips/crackers etc
have been told its all flights between bne,syd and mel, at all times of the day, with free coffee, tea, water and juice
free soft drinks will be available during the happy hour, i think its between 4-7pm

 

[grubbidok]

free soft drinks will be available during the happy hour, i think its between 4-7pm

Cool. Free Bundaberg ginger beer was actually the primary thing I enjoyed doing a QF sector every now and then. Now I can get it *everywhere*

 

[Noob]

Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

Look what I found...

Virgin Australia will introduce complimentary snacks and refreshments on all flights between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne from Wednesday.
........"Following successful trials over the past month, Virgin Australia will introduce complimentary snacks and refreshments."

Read full Herald Sun article here:
No Cookies | Herald Sun


Highlights of the article:

• Virgin Australia introducing complimentary snacks and beverages on all flights between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
• Complimentary soft drinks, beer and wine on all weekday flights between mainland capital cities & other selected routes departing between 4 and 7pm

 

[basso]

Re: Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

Look what I found... Read full Herald Sun article here: No Cookies | Herald Sun Highlights of the article:

• Virgin Australia introducing complimentary snacks and beverages on all flights between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
• Complimentary soft drinks, beer and wine on all weekday flights between mainland capital cities & other selected routes departing between 4 and 7pm

No. THis highlight from the article kills me

A Qantas spokeswoman said Qantas remained the only domestic airline that offered both a meal and checked-in baggage to every passenger as part of their fare, regardless of what time they are flying or which class they are in.

A meal? Every flight, no matter the time??? Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh my, my sides are splitting

 

[ReLoad]

Re: Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

I got this e-mail today:

"From today, Virgin Australia is pleased to offer complimentary refreshments on all flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. All guests in the Economy Class cabin will be offered a delicious snack and beverage*, regardless of the fare type purchased.

If you’re feeling like something extra, a selection of additional items will also be available for purchase from the menu onboard.

And if you’re travelling between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays, complimentary soft drinks are now offered along with a selection of beer and wine on all flights between mainland capital cities and other selected routes."

Terms and Conditions

* Snack items provided will vary. Beverages offered include tea, coffee, water and juice.

Not even provide a soft drink unless its between 4 and 7pm? so no soft drink at lunch? or at all on weekends? Still miles off shedding its LCC tag.
There are so many if's and buts and * depending on length of flight, destination, aircraft type etc etc, you really have no chance of any consistency when traveling on VA.

 

[binaryactions]

Re: Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

I was unlucky enough to be on VA Mel to Syd flight today at 10:00am.

As a Flexi fare passenger, I asked for just a soft drink, but was told, unfortunately I had to buy it. ($4 btw - and i presume it was a small can version as well). I expressed my disappointment to the flight attendant, who happened to be the cabin supervisor. Still didn't get a soft drink.

Everyone was given Carmen's brand corn chips and some salsa.

I hadn't heard of the changes but have just received an email explaining (unfortunately i cannot post the link).

 

[grubbidok]

Re: Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

Not even provide a soft drink unless its between 4 and 7pm? so no soft drink at lunch? or at all on weekends? Still miles off shedding its LCC tag.

I agree that it's not up to what we want, but a reality check is still in order. A lot of legacy carriers around the world have gotten rid of food entirely on domestic runs in Y. The offerings QF now dole out may as well be nothing (I've not even bothered with their offerings the past few flights). VA are probably one of the few airlines who have actually increased their offering, even if it is somewhat limited.

Moan about it all you want, but I think saying they're still LCC because of it is a little overkill. Having returned from the US and Europe what VA are already doing is at the same level as or higher than many legacies. I'm not saying there's no room for improvement (there's acres of room), but I do think VA are miles ahead of their former 'LCC tag' (as any trip on TT or JQ could easily remind you), and personally I find the "VA is still LCC" argument a little boring, as well as wholly inaccurate.

*Sorry, slightly OT, just a personal bugbear of mine

 

[ReLoad]

Re: Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

I agree that it's not up to what we want, but a reality check is still in order. A lot of legacy carriers around the world have gotten rid of food entirely on domestic runs in Y. The offerings QF now dole out may as well be nothing (I've not even bothered with their offerings the past few flights). VA are probably one of the few airlines who have actually increased their offering, even if it is somewhat limited.

Moan about it all you want, but I think saying they're still LCC because of it is a little overkill. Having returned from the US and Europe what VA are already doing is at the same level as or higher than many legacies. I'm not saying there's no room for improvement (there's acres of room), but I do think VA are miles ahead of their former 'LCC tag' (as any trip on TT or JQ could easily remind you), and personally I find the "VA is still LCC" argument a little boring, as well as wholly inaccurate.

*Sorry, slightly OT, just a personal bugbear of mine

Couldn't disagree more.

VA is compared to QF and vv. QF has marketed itself as a full service airline and the general public have set the bar of a full service = QF. Not other international airlines like AA etc.
VA has said we're a full service airline too, but they have never matched QF's offering so the simple effective comparison is that they are not there yet.

don't get me wrong, im glad that VA are increasing their offering, but its still of a LCC mindset. there is NO consistency and the whole, only between these times on these days with the moon in its third phase of the lunar year is nonsense.

Look at binaryactions example above. Is that a full service airline mentality/operation?

Virgins offering isnt rock bottom, its no TT or JQ thats for sure, but its a long way from being a premium/full service carrier. Hybrid at best. (and then only between 4 and 7pm on certain routes )

 

[docjames]

I thought flexis came with a drink?

 

[smit0847]

I LOVED the VX model from a few years back (don't know if they still do it) - you order and pay for f&b on your seat-back screen and it is delivered to your seat from the galley. Soft drinks and free, everything else you pay for. It worked really well and you didn't have to wait for a cart.

 

[grubbidok]

Re: Complimentary Snacks & Beverages - SYD / MEL / BNE

Couldn't disagree more. VA is compared to QF and vv. QF has marketed itself as a full service airline and the general public have set the bar of a full service = QF.

QF may be marketing itself as a full service airline, but the reality is it's moving closer to a VA model as well. QF will be down at VA's level soon enough. QF's already got about eighty different types of full-service it offers depending on time, route etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still disappointed in the VA offering. I just think it's half-a***ed, rather than LCC (and it could be introductory - I seriously doubt VA even has the infrastructure or capacity to handle food on the morning rush hour, maybe they will later).

The unfortunate reality of modern aviation is that there is no such thing as 'full service' anymore. People that used to do it are moving away from it, and people that are moving towards it, probably aren't going to go the whole way. FWIW I think neither QF nor VA in their current form deserve the moniker 'full-service', it's just that their deficiencies are in differing areas.

 

[MandM]

I LOVED the VX model from a few years back (don't know if they still do it) - you order and pay for f&b on your seat-back screen and it is delivered to your seat from the galley. Soft drinks and free, everything else you pay for. It worked really well and you didn't have to wait for a cart.

Still using this model on VX and I agree that it works an absolute treat.

 

[oglennyboy]

I thought flexis came with a drink?

I just came off VA334 BNE-MEL on the way thru to HBA, and Flexi fare does not get a meal or drink as previously, the complimentary snack (Anzac bikkie & tea/coffee/juice/cup of water) is offered to all.
Making sandwiches in the lounge to take on board is a great idea

 

[Cessna 180]

So the flexi wrap/sandwich is gone?

Just read the email too.

Thats is great for the MEL/BNE/SYD travellers, but what about travelling Mel-OOl or MEL to Adelaide? Roots I travel regularly. Are they not worthy of a complimentary snack?

What about CNS or Darwin to MEL? Why dont they get the same service as the Perth flights?

It all a bit confusing. Seems to vary on every flight.

Maybe they should make it all or nothing, at least then one would know what to expect!

 

[docjames]

I just came off VA334 BNE-MEL on the way thru to HBA, and Flexi fare does not get a meal or drink as previously, the complimentary snack (Anzac bikkie & tea/coffee/juice/cup of water) is offered to all.
Making sandwiches in the lounge to take on board is a great idea

I'd be a bit miffed if i'd paid the extra for a flexi.

 

[davidj]

I'd be a bit miffed if i'd paid the extra for a flexi.

Maybe thats the idea? Take the costly meals away from a few Felxi fares and replace with cheaper snacks to all, resulting in almost a net financial impact zero?

 

[cavemanzk]

I LOVED the VX model from a few years back (don't know if they still do it) - you order and pay for f&b on your seat-back screen and it is delivered to your seat from the galley. Soft drinks and free, everything else you pay for. It worked really well and you didn't have to wait for a cart.

NZ runs the same system on its 77W/763/320s on Tasman/Pacific, it works well depending on the crew. Typically on an A320 they have 4crew in total, with 2x doing the cart for the Works passengers, 1x in the rear galley prepping the orders and 1x in the Cabin acting as a waiter.

 

[jaspon]

So the flexi wrap/sandwich is gone?

Just read the email too.

Thats is great for the MEL/BNE/SYD travellers, but what about travelling Mel-OOl or MEL to Adelaide? Roots I travel regularly. Are they not worthy of a complimentary snack?

What about CNS or Darwin to MEL? Why dont they get the same service as the Perth flights?

It all a bit confusing. Seems to vary on every flight.

Maybe they should make it all or nothing, at least then one would know what to expect!

Looks like flexes loose, but all pax win, Turns out though that the "happy hour" has been extended to more than just the mainland capitals, now it's pretty much all flights less than 2.5 hrs in duration, mon-fri, flights departing between 4-7pm , free tea,coffee,h20, Apple/OJ, beer & wine

 

[esquire]

After the last few flexi meals I received I think I would have rather the complimentary snack...