Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Aussie_flyer]

I personally wouldn't put a photo of an FA eating (who's clearly identifiable) on a public Internet forum.

This is why I suggested that the appropriateness of her actions would largely be predicated upon the flight duration (and timing). I've been a boss for many staff for over thirty years and there is no way I could make the statement that "she's entitled to a moment to herself to eat", on the basis of what has been suggested. She is entitled to her rostered breaks and that's it. On the first flight of the day, on a 1.5 hour flight, I cannot believe she was entitled to anything of the kind. I think (personally) that the photo caught her out in failing in her job role. These job role failures have become for many VA staff, their self imposed entitlement and it should be raised as a matter of concern (IMHO).



I criticised your comment purely because it ignored what I wrote and labelled me as being ridiculous. I have no problem with you having a different opinion.



The photo didn't shame her. The photo depicted her shaming herself and effecting her own career. The only person responsible for that ladies action is herself. If her career has been affected, so be it. Plenty of people have lost their jobs or been disciplined over photos of them doing the wrong thing, but it isn't the photo....or the person posting the photo, that's to blame for it.

She wasnt shaming herself. Crew eat on board whenever they get a chance... theres no rostered lunch break etc. She was perfectly entitled to be eating in the galley area which is her workspace. You have clearly got no understanding of a short haul crew members working day.

Im sure most people wouldn't expect someone to photograph them in the middle of taking a bite then put it online in an attempt to humiliate them. It was downright rude

 

[N860CR]

She wasnt shaming herself. Crew eat on board whenever they get a chance... theres no rostered lunch break etc. She was perfectly entitled to be eating in the galley area which is her workspace. You have clearly got no understanding of a short haul crew members working day.

Im sure most people wouldn't expect someone to photograph them in the middle of taking a bite then put it online in an attempt to humiliate them. It was downright rude

Crew are also not entitled to breaks nor do they get them. It's not uncommon to have a 10 hour day rostered with nothing but 30 minute turn arounds. Meals for inflight consumption are provided in lieu of breaks.

I guess the only thing she has done "wrong" in this case is not close the curtain. Did she neglect service? I would say not (unless people expect cabin crew to be standing in the aisle waiting to bend down to them?). Was the call bell pressed and, instead of coming to assist, she called out with a mouth full of chao mein "can't you people see I'm eating?!!!". I'm going with no.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Crew are also not entitled to breaks nor do they get them. It's not uncommon to have a 10 hour day rostered with nothing but 30 minute turn arounds. Meals for inflight consumption are provided in lieu of breaks.

So in this case, there was comment that the crew had said they had three sectors in the day, so they do have 1 hour worth of turnaround breaks? Even if they don't, if the VA crew service levels were as before (about 3 years ago), I'd certainly have no issue. Are you suggesting VA have removed breaks from the crew in the last year or two? If not, why could they manage to do their jobs back then, but simply cannot manage it now? Let's face facts here and admit the VA sevice is ordinary (with the odd exception of course) and appears to be getting worse. I think all this "she has the right" bit is ignoring the VA service decline and this fact has been noticed and commented upon by not just by me, but many others here on AFF. I'm somewhat amused to see the agrument has morphed from one about the appropriateness of the posting of the photos, to one about "her right".

 

[clipped_wings]

Anyone have photos of The Business long haul meals? Not sure whether to fill up before we fly, or dine to Monty Python's Meaning Of Life stage on board.

 

[Melburnian1]

i too have had many a flight with disinterested cabin crew who would rather laugh and carry on and not even answer a call button! just poke the head out, look, and go back to whatever in the galley.
This flight was a start of day for this crew and aircraft, 1hr50 flight time.

If it was the start of the day, this begs the question: why didn't she (the flight attendant) eat either before leaving home or (if she must) on the way to the airport?

While I have worked with individuals who have breakfast (or, if shiftwork, the 'due' meal) at their office desk at work, the majority do not do this and enjoy it at home. Unfortunately I missed seeing the photo of the allegedly erring staff member as it has been deleted.

There is a small chance that individuals may be unfairly photographed but as the OP said, we have become very 'sensitive.' Far more important that employees in a service industry behave appropriately. That will lead to the maintenance of high standards and hopefully bring extra income for the company (VA) and increased security of employment from happy, or at least not disgruntled, passengers.

Employees like this need to remember what happened to Ansett and the two Compasses - it is not impossible for airlines to fold even though there is a variety of reasons (some beyond employees' control) why businesses go into administration.

 

[dk4]

...so they do have 1 hour worth of turnaround breaks?

AFAIK Industry standard for major domestic airlines is that cabin crew do NOT get a break during turn arounds! They all have paid duties to perform while the aircraft is on the ground, except for Qantas, where QF crew still work to out dated work practices. Among other things, AFAIK, VA cabin crew in-particular are expected to clean and prepare the cabin during a turn around; including wiping down surfaces/seats where required, picking up rubbish, crossing seat belts and bringing safety cards to the front of seat pockets... I have certainly seen them start this process while passengers are still disembarking.

 

[dk4]

If it was the start of the day, this begs the question: why didn't she (the flight attendant) eat either before leaving home or (if she must) on the way to the airport?

AFAIK VA cabin crew meals are provided in the same way that ours are as customers - based on the time of day which the flight occurs. So the first flight of the day may well be catered as a "cabin crew breakfast flight". Indeed some crew may come off an overnight flight from Perth/Darwin/... and then be expected to crew a second sector before going offline!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

VA cabin crew in-particular are expected to clean and prepare the cabin during a turn around; including wiping down surfaces/seats where required, picking up rubbish,

Hmmm, good point.....trouble is, that's not being done too successfully either! These two pics depict what I was confronted with when entering my 2F seat last Wednesday 20/7/16, BNE-CNS 9.40am. If VA wish to upskill their crew, I'd support it.






That has also been noticed many times and commented upon on this forum of late. As I said, we can go around in circles defending plain and simple poor work ethic and attitude (and please don't get me wrong, they quite likely have good reason....but that's between them and their boss, not the paying pax) with rubbish like "they're entitled".

Many people grab a bite when they can at work (I have for about the last 30 years) and I don't have an issue with VA FAs doing that, but they have a job to do and them hiding behind a curtain for a fair portion of every flight (or it would appear, they now don't even have time to pull the curtain as they're that busy reading magazines, gossiping and eating) is just being recalcitrant. When one does that, the others usually bring them into line or have them booted, but what happens when most of them do that? I'll tell you what happens, everyone does it and then the odd problem child recalcitrant worker becomes the norm. Then all those that have not just accepted the poor attitudes, but actually defended "their right", logs into an internet forum and whines about poor service!

 

[WethereX]

If i took a photo of an electrical worker doing unsafe work practices would i come under the same scrutiny? Or would HR or management want to know that such a worker exists? I work in the public eye and get photographed all the time, some people find it interesting.

I have no intimate knowledge of FA operations, and she may have been entitled to a rest period,,, all for it, but why with such contrition and in front of 140 odd people!? Is this normal? Why not spend 10 seconds to secure a curtain and have a little discretion?

I was not deliberately trying to shame anyone or get anyone in any sort of trouble. i was curious. i have had private messages from people wanting to see it, and it was already deleted permanently after i removed it, so it will never be seen again.

I asked a question and i got outright flamed and labeled 'rude'. Aussie Flyer, you sir a rude and have no respect for other peoples opinion.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

If i took a photo of an electrical worker doing unsafe work practices would i come under the same scrutiny? Or would HR or management want to know that such a worker exists? I work in the public eye and get photographed all the time, some people find it interesting.

I have no intimate knowledge of FA operations, and she may have been entitled to a rest period,,, all for it, but why with such contrition and in front of 140 odd people!? Is this normal? Why not spend 10 seconds to secure a curtain and have a little discretion?

I was not deliberately trying to shame anyone or get anyone in any sort of trouble. i was curious. i have had private messages from people wanting to see it, and it was already deleted permanently after i removed it, so it will never be seen again.

I asked a question and i got outright flamed and labeled 'rude'. Aussie Flyer, you sir a rude and have no respect for other peoples opinion.

Thats a laugh... telling me I have no respect. I have no issue with you having an opinion, you gave yours and i gave you mine back. Welcome to the Internet

It seems a good chunk of people agree with what I said though.

By the way the comparison to unsafe electrical work is drawing a pretty long bow.

 

[mannej]

If i took a photo of an electrical worker doing unsafe work practices would i come under the same scrutiny? Or would HR or management want to know that such a worker exists? I work in the public eye and get photographed all the time, some people find it interesting.

Apples and oranges here - eating with a curtain not drawn is not an unsafe work practice.

I have no intimate knowledge of FA operations, and she may have been entitled to a rest period,,, all for it, but why with such contrition and in front of 140 odd people!? Is this normal? Why not spend 10 seconds to secure a curtain and have a little discretion?

You have nailed it with your first comment here.

I was not deliberately trying to shame anyone or get anyone in any sort of trouble. i was curious. i have had private messages from people wanting to see it, and it was already deleted permanently after i removed it, so it will never be seen again.

Considering there are airline reps on here, any identifying photo can have that affect regardless of your intent.

I asked a question and i got outright flamed and labeled 'rude'. Aussie Flyer, you sir a rude and have no respect for other peoples opinion.

Where was Aussie Flyer rude? I'm struggling to find an example?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Where was Aussie Flyer rude? I'm struggling to find an example?

Ive just scrolled back to check and I don't see it either. I did say that I thought it was rude to post that photo, which was then debated.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Considering there are airline reps on here, any identifying photo can have that affect regardless of your intent.

Hang on....either she has done something wrong or she hasn't. If she has done something wrong, that's a direct result of her own actions......not the posting of a photo.

 

[clipped_wings]

We seem to be going round in circles here. Where's John Wayne when you need him? Let's arrange to meet up, duke it out and find the winner. Then we can all go back to posting photos of food and be friends again.

 

[mannej]

Hang on....either she has done something wrong or she hasn't. If she has done something wrong, that's a direct result of her own actions......not the posting of a photo.

A bit too simplistic don't you think? The OP mentioned he doesn't have the foggiest about Flight Attendant operations, so was only "asking" a question (let's not forget they mentioned that the lady was eating their favourite meal). If there is an indiscretion don't you think it is fairly minor in the scheme of things?

 

[Princess Fiona]

We seem to be going round in circles here. Where's John Wayne when you need him? Let's arrange to meet up, duke it out and find the winner. Then we can all go back to posting photos of food and be friends again.

There you go
MEL-PER Dinner service


The Lasagne was delicious
I also got a souvenir cruet set from the crew, wrapped by them for me to take home

 

[Deleted member]

Raises an interesting point. I guess FA have to eat and rest, but unless it's a longish flight (transcon for example), I would think that should not happen, especially without a drawn curtain. FAs ignoring the pax has been noticed to be on the rise, now it seems, they're not even pretending to be interested in their work. Would you care to share the flight duration (no need for route)?



I'm in two minds. Service on VA has been falling rapidly and these people are paid (by us) to do a job which often they almost refuse to do ( the one photographed for example, couldn't even be bothered to pull the curtain). Name and shame? Perhaps it's time!

staff
I disagree, we dont have the right to judge and sentence, make an official complaint if that is a concern to you. it is up to VA to make any call on what their can and cant do

 

[clipped_wings]

Thank you Princess Fiona! You are a gem

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I disagree, we dont have the right to judge and sentence, make an official complaint if that is a concern to you. it is up to VA to make any call on what their can and cant do

The concept of name and shame is neither new nor unusual. I have no idea why you'd expect me to complain to VA about it.....I wasn't there.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

If there is an indiscretion don't you think it is fairly minor in the scheme of things?

It's the "scheme of things" which makes it an indiscretion that needs questioning. There is nothing minor about the disintegration of VA propriety. The next thing I'll read is the next classic line, "don't fly VA"...but the reality is that we're stuck with only a few of airlines, so any erosion of quality on any of them should be challanged.