Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Richie312]

A bit, they are terrible!

 

[Denali]

My husbands first solo flight in about 20yrs and this was his 7am breakfast, SYD>MELB, and he said it was very tasty. He said it was a spinach and mushroom omelette with salmon and tomato relish

He said lots of Giant fans in the lounge and on the flight, no idea who the Giants are.

 

[serfty]

...
He said lots of Giant fans in the lounge and on the flight, no idea who the Giants are. ....

Giants (as in AFL) are playing up North on the Gold Coast this evening, so lounge? yes, but on Flight to MEL then ?!?!

 

[Denali]

Giants (as in AFL) are playing up North on the Gold Coast this evening, so lounge? yes, but on Flight to MEL then ?!?!

My error. He said Giant fans in the lounge and the flight seemed 3/4 full.

 

[Justinf]

I didn't think the Giants had any fans?

 

[Pleb Status]

J menu from VA468 BNE-PER last Sunday. It is the first time I have had exactly the same J menu as a previous flight.

Service was well below the usual VA J 330 standard. It would appear that the CSM was a 'vampire' as he was only seen fleetingly and only when the lights were out. This lack of visibility infected the remainder of the J FA as once service was completed, the central galley was 'the place to be' for the reminder of the flight.

The meal service was also poor with items arriving at odd times (or not at all), requests ignored and no proactive service of wine etc.

Menu


Entree


Main


Dessert

 

[Jurahn]

Service was well below the usual VA J 330 standard. It would appear that the CSM was a 'vampire' as he was only seen fleetingly and only when the lights were out. This lack of visibility infected the remainder of the J FA as once service was completed, the central galley was 'the place to be' for the reminder of the flight.

The meal service was also poor with items arriving at odd times (or not at all), requests ignored and no proactive service of wine etc.

Mr Jurahn was on VA683 MEL-PER yesterday afternoon and said exactly the same thing - as soon as the meal service was finished, the entire J crew disappeared behind the curtain and there they stayed. Not one crew member came through the cabin to see if anyone wanted/needed anything at any stage, any requests had to be called for. It was his first time in "The Business" and he was very unimpressed by the (lack of) service. He said it was a stark contrast to VA684 (737) PER-MEL on the Saturday, as the J crew on that flight were fantastic and couldn't do enough for the (full) J cabin.

 

[PDog]

I had that same menu yesterday Syd- Dps, the barra is only available in the 330, as is the nespresso. Prawn & lamb were great, cheese was the perfect temperature! Staff were sensational, the were in the cabin the whole time, offering water, wine, snacks, anything. Water was also provided as we disembarked fit the immigration queue, which I thought was a nice touch! They said I was the only play in J (7/8) so was offered first choice each time.
Only down point- only one bottle of champagne loaded- apparently that's standard practice?!

 

[Denali]

SYD to Brisbane, reward seats, full cabin and asked 3rd and 4th.

Beef pastie thing for hubby, had it before and I would really like this with some sour cream and I think 2nd choice was buffalo mozzarella salad with peas and lemon zest.

Cabin supervisor Kristy ran a tight ship, nothing was left wanting. She even refilled my glass while I snoozed so woke up thirsty and there it was.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

On PER to MEL on Thursday night we had Bollinger.. Food was good (I had red curry duck) and the service fantastic

 

[blackcat20]

On PER to MEL on Thursday night we had Bollinger.. Food was good (I had red curry duck) and the service fantastic

That the kind of thing I like to hear!

 

[anat0l]

SYD to Brisbane, reward seats, full cabin and asked 3rd and 4th.

Beef pastie thing for hubby, had it before and I would really like this with some sour cream and I think 2nd choice was buffalo mozzarella salad with peas and lemon zest.

Cabin supervisor Kristy ran a tight ship, nothing was left wanting. She even refilled my glass while I snoozed.

...

I can see where you're going with the sour cream, but I've never heard of any kind of pastie being served with sour cream. In fact, sour cream on board or in lounges always seems in short supply, even if it goes with many things (if albeit unhealthy).

What was the side salad - looks like sliced cucumbers and dill. Any dressing?

On PER to MEL on Thursday night we had Bollinger.. Food was good (I had red curry duck) and the service fantastic

That the kind of thing I like to hear!

Well, if even other parts of the VA operation are going south, it seems at least the alcohol part of it is going alright. How is that possible?

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Well, if even other parts of the VA operation are going south, it seems at least the alcohol part of it is going alright. How is that possible?

They like me

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well, if even other parts of the VA operation are going south, it seems at least the alcohol part of it is going alright. How is that possible?

Everything about VA domestic is going south with the exception of the trans-cons IMO.
No Bolly on any other flights in fact the wines onboard are identical to those served in the lounges.

 

[anat0l]

Everything about VA domestic is going south with the exception of the trans-cons IMO.
No Bolly on any other flights in fact the wines onboard are identical to those served in the lounges.

But on the flights with no Bolly, you still have Ayala, or at least Champagne, not local sparkling.

I mean, there's not much wrong if one wants to stock local sparkling, but at least select an excellent one. Something which (except for France, of course) no airline sommelier in the world has been able to do, hence in most cases to cut their losses, they just opt for Champagne (even if it is a cheap one).

If the quality of the lounge wines are high, then again not a big deal - that's still a high quality stock on board.

Dessert wines are also offered on board and not in lounges.

All said and done, the alcohol range is very respectable. It can't be a small expense on the VA accounts, but they are maintaining it (for now). Maybe this is just one of the things (along with the move to upgrade longhaul J seats) in the operation they have earmarked as untouchable so the cuts have to come from somewhere else. Perhaps that's a wise decision.

 

[Princess Fiona]

But on the flights with no Bolly, you still have Ayala, or at least Champagne, not local sparkling.

I mean, there's not much wrong if one wants to stock local sparkling, but at least select an excellent one. Something which (except for France, of course) no airline sommelier in the world has been able to do, hence in most cases to cut their losses, they just opt for Champagne (even if it is a cheap one).

If the quality of the lounge wines are high, then again not a big deal - that's still a high quality stock on board.

Dessert wines are also offered on board and not in lounges.

All said and done, the alcohol range is very respectable. It can't be a small expense on the VA accounts, but they are maintaining it (for now). Maybe this is just one of the things (along with the move to upgrade longhaul J seats) in the operation they have earmarked as untouchable so the cuts have to come from somewhere else. Perhaps that's a wise decision.

The lounge wines are not high quality. I do not think that any airline should be serving wine that's bought cheaply as lounge quaffers for all onboard in J.
There's no sparkling or dessert wine on these flights either.
As I said there is night and day between the VA J product on the trans cons and everywhere else IMHO.

 

[Denali]

I can see where you're going with the sour cream, but I've never heard of any kind of pastie being served with sour cream. In fact, sour cream on board or in lounges always seems in short supply, even if it goes with many things (if albeit unhealthy).

What was the side salad - looks like sliced cucumbers and dill. Any dressing?





Well, if even other parts of the VA operation are going south, it seems at least the alcohol part of it is going alright. How is that possible?

Hubby said the side salad was a bit like gherkins with dill, a bit sour.

AIR NZ BNE lounge had awesome enchiladas with sour cream tonight.. I had seconds. I think I want to try the pastie with sour cream because it comes with this tomato relish, almost Mexican.

 

[Denali]

Bne to Wellington.

Moroccan chicken with cauliflower puree


I can't remember what the other option was but think it was a soup, I actually requested the Pepper Chicken that was being served in economy and it was nice.



Sweet was a dark chocolate and pear muffin/cake. Hubby said it was good.

 

[cory]

Recently flew back on VA567 (I think, Syd-Per). The week before I flew melb-per on qantas also in J. So now I've tried both the new products I think I can make a fair comparison.

As far as the lounges go well Qantas business lounge obviously is the clear winner.

Priority boarding easily goes to Virgin.

Pre-take off drinks, Virgin offers a cheap French champagne which was fine. Miles ahead of Qantas' apple juice offering.

As far as a snack goes once up in the air, Virgin delivered some nuts in a small bowl accompanied with some wine. Qantas brought a small nuts/pretzels pack without any drinks.

Wine menu: Qantas had 2 whites, 1 red, 1 dessert wine. Virgin had 3 whites, 3 reds, champagne and dessert wine. I found Virgins wine to be of better taste and quality and they are certainly more proactive on refills after the dinner service.

Entree: The king prawn entree of Virgin smashed Qantas' offering out of the park.

Main: I got a fish main on both, and I thought Qantas' was a bit better.

Dessert: Ice cream stick on qantas and chocolate brownie on virgin. Virgin again was better.

Another note is Virgin plate meals up and deliver in a more restaurant style, Qantas were wheeling down a trolley making it difficult to use the 1 toilet they had in business class.

The seats are much of a muchness and are both terrific. Qantas had by far better IFE however.

Priority baggage on both airlines worked effectively.

I'll be clear that they are both fantastic. But if I'm picking a winner its certainly Virgin. Their service and food&beverage offerings were certainly better. Both J cabins were full on each flight.

 

[mad_atta]

Denali, Nice to see a trans-Tasman J menu at last - thanks. Are they basically the same as domestic? Any differences in the booze? I have an upgraded SYD-CHC evening flight coming up, and I'm curious to know whether champagne might be on offer...