VA Economy Service changes - "Staff will be able to assist"

[AIRwin]

For sure, but with all the recent movement it’s consistent with the overall perception that the CEO does seem to want another Jetstar.

Hopefully status holders will still receive all the bells and whistles unlike JQ...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Executive Traveller has listed some details. Not sure on the linking policy, but you all know how to get there and read.

The economy buy on board menu is on the expensive side and not much choice. But I couldn't tell you the last time I bought anything on any airline, and that's not for lack of choice.

Business looks OK. Simple, but that is not a bad thing.

 

[henrus]

Gate gourmet must have been desperate... Apparently, they were annoyed by the whole administration thing but seem to be back for more!

For anyone complaining about the prices, comparing it to Jetstar the prices are basically the same:

Item	Jetstar	Virgin
Cup Noodles	$7.50	$7.50
Chips	$5	$5
Cheese and Crackers	$5	$5
Savory Nibbles	$5	$7.50
Muffin	$5	$5
Soft Drink/Juice	$4	$3.50
Spirits	$11 (includes mixer)	from $8.50 (I'd assume $12 to include mixer)
Beer	$9	from $9
Wine	$9	from $12

 

[ole nimeton]

Rather disappointed in the economy offering, acknowledging they might introduce more items later. Wine is outrageously expensive (qantas is/was $6 from memory!). Seems changing from free drinks and snacks is just a cash grab given they’re not offering anything substantially better/different with this first iteration of the buy on board menu. Cheap and nasty.

Business generally looks pretty good and I’d be happy to be served any of the offerings. Not convinced about the cheese plate though. A few crackers and a small tasty cheese does not make a cheese plate.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Economy menu from VA.

Spend and save offer a nice surprise.

 

[oz_mark]

Gate gourmet must have been desperate... Apparently, they were annoyed by the whole administration thing but seem to be back for more!

For anyone complaining about the prices, comparing it to Jetstar the prices are basically the same:

Item	Jetstar	Virgin
Cup Noodles	$7.50	$7.50
Chips	$5	$5
Cheese and Crackers	$5	$5
Savory Nibbles	$5	$7.50
Muffin	$5	$5
Soft Drink/Juice	$4	$3.50
Spirits	$11 (includes mixer)	from $8.50 (I'd assume $12 to include mixer)
Beer	$9	from $9
Wine	$9	from $12

I just wish they'd copied the rest of the products on the Jetstar menu!

(I also assume it has taken this long due to the negotiations between VA and Gate being tense at times.!)

 

[odysseus]

That's pretty disappointing. Especially for the longer routes e.g. Perth- east coast. "Noodles" is the most substantial meal there is, so hope everybody has eaten before the flight, or has time to eat after the flight.

I guess you can supplement them with "nuts" if you're especially ravenous.

 

[Zanzaid]

Well the menu overall seems fine i guess, but no somewhat filling meals at all? Most of my flying is Brisbane - Perth and back, so even a simple pasta hot meal would have been just right. Noodles, cheese+crackers and a coke for $12 isn't awful i guess..

 

[jakeseven7]

Wow what a fizzer agree with the comments it looks very sparse..... Jetstar looks premium to this!

Maybe VA2 are being forced to prove their credit worthiness again to the supplier before they let them have more!?

 

[jakeseven7]

For sure, but with all the recent movement it’s consistent with the overall perception that the CEO does seem to want another Jetstar.

Yup got it, just wanted to make sure people knew it was VA2 market research not a concrete plan (yet). Interestingly one of the $ pay for items alongside the usual food/baggage/seat selection etc was a companion seat....! They also had an option where you paid for priority boarding... (not sure how the remaining VA2 status flyers would feel about that)

It’s slightly confusing what they want VA2 to be that’s for sure and it’s all still unfolding but with their move downmarket and away from business maybe their new target is fatter and wants the seat next to them spare

Hopefully status holders will still receive all the bells and whistles unlike JQ...

They said VA2 wasn’t going to be a LCC, which Jetstar is, so I can’t imagine they would back down from this position.

In the market research though they were proposing to ‘sell’ a lot of the benefits that VFF elite members get access to, so anyone could buy the equivalent of a gold VFF member for example if they wanted for a flight.

 

[eastwest101]

I got the same survey as well, the interesting thing was the research seemed to be intended to measure/gauge the support for benefits such as priority boarding, empty seat next to you, priority check-in, meals on board, wifi entertainment, seat selection etc, the survey seemed very interested in peoples perceptions of Qantas and Jetstar's price points and inclusions at different fare levels.

The first part of the survey asking detailed questions about different fare classes in Y tickets and what benefits passengers expect with what price point addressed similar issues as above with additional stuff about flexibility of fare. Nowhere in the survey did they mention a frequent flyer scheme or status and any benefits that came with status so its either a case of 'silo thinking'/tunnel vision or status being irrelevant in the minds of the market researchers and/or Bain management. In either case its a weird omission given Bains previous enthusiasm for Velocity/loyalty schemes to drive customer loyalty and revenue that they would ignore the interplay between fare price points and other more intangible loyalty stuff.

Presumably the only reason they were surveying people were recent propensity to fly VA ,and/or status of passenger, so they have assembled this VA market research community via recent custom, data matching and status but are ignoring a lot of the issues around loyalty and status?

 

[ferntree]

Yeah, like others I find this disappointing. I wouldn't want anything fancy, but maybe a sandwich or two on the menu would be an improvement. But then I'm guessing taht they don't want anything on the menu that's perishable and might end up being thrown out as waste ... it's all about keeping costs down.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

So travellerse can "purchase their favourite menu items at a reasonable price"

$5 for a kitkat. Right.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Economy buy on board menu doesn't impress, but from what I see I'd say I'd be happy with the J offering.

Apparently this is BoB 1.0, with a refreshed menu to be released when travel starts to pick up.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Yeah, like others I find this disappointing. I wouldn't want anything fancy, but maybe a sandwich or two on the menu would be an improvement. But then I'm guessing taht they don't want anything on the menu that's perishable and might end up being thrown out as waste ... it's all about keeping costs down.

AFAIK perishable items are coming. I think it's good VA have implemented something now along with the new J menu rather than wait until they could get a full "beefed up" BoB offering.

 

[eastwest101]

Their research dept is in overdrive at the moment so give them feedback....

Another more general recent survey about forward travel/Covid-19 effects and brand/reputation damage assessment:

.

 

[jakeseven7]

Yeah, like others I find this disappointing. I wouldn't want anything fancy, but maybe a sandwich or two on the menu would be an improvement. But then I'm guessing taht they don't want anything on the menu that's perishable and might end up being thrown out as waste ... it's all about keeping costs down.

Its super unhealthy as well, loads of saturated fats in there...

 

[henrus]

So travellerse can "purchase their favourite menu items at a reasonable price"

Prices match Jetstar so I don't think it's that bad.

Plus buying a beer/wine at some cafe/restaurants or a muffin at a coffee shop is scarily close to what they're charging onboard.

 

[aussiejohn]

$5 for a Kit Kat that costs $1.50 on special at Woolies. I don't think so. And the $5 muffin will be a third of the size of a $5 muffin at Muffin Break et al.

Why do people pay these silly prices for stuff??

I gave up on this years ago and take my own snacks with me. A couple of Uncle Toby's muesli bars is way better value and more substantial (though marginally more nutritous) than this rubbish, and regular travellers can keep a couple of boxes at home or the office to grab a couple to throw in the carryon bag or put in your pocket.

Given their buying power, it would cost a couple of dollars to provide a sandwich and a small sweet snack in a paper bag. The cost is neglible in the overall air fare so this is not going to result in lower cattle class airfares.

 

[jakeseven7]

Their research dept is in overdrive at the moment so give them feedback....

Another more general recent survey about forward travel/Covid-19 effects and brand/reputation damage assessment:

.

Basically every survey I ask for the transfer of Velocity points to Krisflyer to be reinstated on behalf of AFF