Tokyo Haneda slot - how will Virgin Operate it?

[kangarooflyer88]

I believe it's an individual palate that changes with altitude.

Perhaps, but I do recall having Champagne that tasted great at altitude. I think my complaint about the Australian champagne I had was that it was quite dry. I also had a red on my outbound SYD > OOL last week in J which tasted like cough syrup (unsure what the wine was)

My trusted correspondents like the domestic 'sparkling wine' served, especially the Qantas longer Domestic haul sparkling Lane Lois Sparkling Blanc de Blancs NV (Chardonnay - ADL hills).

Will need to keep that in mind next time I fly QF domestic long haul (which likely will be a long time away given the price of fares). I'm waiting for the day that SYD > PER goes on sale (ideally QF5 so I can access the Emirates and Qantas INTL lounges whilst travelling domestically.

From an Intellectual Property (IP) perspective, Champagne is perhaps the best-known example of a product protected by a geographical indication (GI); therefore, we are restricted from labelling any Sparkling produced in Australia as 'Champagne'.

But I mean if I say Australian champagne, there's no confusion there, is there?

Sparkling is a mood drink consumed in good company and surroundings, and no doubt you will have been spoiled (as all lucky and intrepid travellers are) by the luxury environs along the track.

Look, I am no wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination but I reckon that if one orders sparkling wine, there should be bubbles? When it comes out flat and tasting dry, it doesn't matter what the mood of the cabin is, that ain't champagne. I also forgot to point out that this was the PDB served by Virgin, so the whole notion of being in the air and unable to taste as well as on the ground doesn't apply. That being said, it was a PDB something that QF doesn't consistently offer domestically in J.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Vic]

Champagne can be dry, one of the best I've had was a very dry Taittinger.
But they definitely need bubbles, very fine and delicate bubbles are best

sparkling Lane Lois Sparkling Blanc de Blancs NV (Chardonnay - ADL hills).

plus 1 for the Lane Lois.
DAOSA is another good one from the Adelaide hills. Priced in the NV champagne bracket. They get good bubbles...

and enough off topic from me

 

[AIRwin]

Sake and umeshu please!

 

[oz_mark]

But I mean if I say Australian champagne, there's no confusion there, is there?

The only confusion is that there is no such thing!

 

[HS-TQE]

If they can run it cheap, as a LCC, then it would probably be good for those coming down, or those going up, ie, to and from Japan, and who don't care for the "creature comforts" that some *(most of us on here)* are used to.

Most VA could do is to introduce 'pre-booked' meals in Y for all Short Haul International flights including CNS-HND. It would bring them in line with AirAsia group carriers, JQi and Scoot, which also offer the service. (JQd's BoB is the same as VA's Y service).

 

[Must...Fly!]

But do the galleys have enough space for pre-order meals and a full BoB menu...

 

[HS-TQE]

But do the galleys have enough space for pre-order meals and a full BoB menu...

Considering VAi's Short Haul 737s (at least the ones registered to VAi) used to serve complimentary hot meals in Y on all VAi 1.0 short haul international routes, they should be able to accommodate pre-booked meals under VAi 2.0.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Most VA could do is to introduce 'pre-booked' meals in Y for all Short Haul International flights including CNS-HND. It would bring them in line with AirAsia group carriers, JQi and Scoot, which also offer the service. (JQd's BoB is the same as VA's Y service).

However, those other carriers listed tend to operate wide bodies to/from Australia which I reckon has some impact on catering and overall cabin comfort.

 

[HS-TQE]

However, those other carriers listed tend to operate wide bodies to/from Australia which I reckon has some impact on catering and overall cabin comfort.

AirAsia and JQi's A320s also allow for pre-booked meals on Short Haul International. The former has full hot meals with a choice of drink, whilst JQi Short Haul has Heated Pies/Sausage Rolls/Toasties/Heated Wrap Combos with Drinks.

Edit: Scoot also allows for full hot meals on their A320/A321neos, and TR's A321neos are regularly scheduled into PER as their second daily.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Considering VAi's Short Haul 737s (at least the ones registered to VAi) used to serve complimentary hot meals in Y on all VAi 1.0 short haul international routes, they should be able to accommodate pre-booked meals under VAi 2.0.

Yes but the problem isn't meals for all or BoB, it's pre-booked meals and BoB. They regularly run out of toasties etc on the PER-MEL/SYD/BNEvv runs...not just VA either but JQ run out of things as well

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sake and umeshu please!

Or even Soju.

Warm or cold Sake?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think we are setting our expectations too high.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Pricing wise, and the benefit being that our VFF points can last our lifetime so long as there is activity on the account, the fares BNE - CNS - HND and return for Jul 2023, is $2801 or there abouts.
If I wanted to do it, I would need to get to BNE on a Mon arvo, and back on a Sun arvo, for a Tue flight up, and a Sat flight back.
Faster for me would be to go via SIN, and spend more days in Tokyo, but the fares with SQ are higher.
And get their wide body A350 and the B777.
Downside of flying SQ is that their points expire, downside with the VAi flight, is no lounge access in CNS and most likely none in HND, unless we pay via PP or due to holding an eligible CC.
For VA, lounge access only in BNE for the flight to CNS, and thats it.

 

[AIRwin]

Downside of flying SQ is that their points expire

You can always credit to Velocity?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Indeed, forgot about that "cardinal" rule.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes but the problem isn't meals for all or BoB, it's pre-booked meals and BoB. They regularly run out of toasties etc on the PER-MEL/SYD/BNEvv runs...not just VA either but JQ run out of things as well

SQ flies 737s on DRW and CNS routes. A hot meal and hot snack are served to all economy class pax. So in theory there should be room for plenty of food!

 

[HS-TQE]

Also to add Batik Malaysia are exactly the same as Virgin Australia in terms of Low Co.. err 'Value Orientated' carrier (i.e LCC Y with a J class).

Batik also got rid of complimentary of Y meals post-COVID, in its place, Batik also introduced pre-paid meals in Y with BoB in Y on their international flights on the 737-800 and 737-8 MAX.

If Batik can introduce pre-paid Y meals and offer BoB Y service on the exact same aircraft, then so can Virgin.

 

[jpp42]

SQ flies 737s on DRW and CNS routes. A hot meal and hot snack are served to all economy class pax. So in theory there should be room for plenty of food!

It depends on the configuration, removing the full galley allows an extra row of seats to be added, as with JQ's A320/321's for example.

 

[_flyer]

I wonder if Virgin Australia will change its mind regarding the 8 recliner business class seats and opt for the lie flat design by Thompson Aero Seating. Even if they only upgrades the Virgin International aircraft with the Thompson design and made some minor adjustments to Economy. I can't see the route being competitive on a 7hr 45min flight, if they don't opt for greater comfort. The Singapore Arlines 737MAX gets great reviews in Business and even in economy. A check on the reviews for Virgin Australia's 737 flights to Bali, are not very good.

 

[HS-TQE]

Can't see Virgin going bespoke for one route only, let alone have 1 or 2 aircraft re/fitted with lie flat for a self stated 'Value Orientated' carrier. At most they might increase the J pitch to something similar to their Indonesian rival Batik Malaysia (formerly Malindo), which are VA's hybrid LCC rivals on the East Coast to Bali flights.