Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[danielt25]

VA778 CNS/BNE 13/7 10am departure

Pre departure: water, or juice
Choices: avocado dip with corn chips or empanadas.

Wasn't going to post but was pleasantly surprised after meal finished, CSM came around with a selection of options from "the pantry". I have not been offered anything from the pantry myself (on this route) although have read about "the pantry" from other posts for other routes.

Certainly stands out above QF on this route. And nuts served in a bowl!

Impressed!

 

[dk4]

...CSM came around with a selection of options from "the pantry". I have not been offered anything from the pantry myself (on this route) although have read about "the pantry" from other posts for other routes.

As an official pantry pig, let me welcome you to the wonderful world of piggy options on Virgin. Not every CS (note: Cabin Supervisor on VA, but Customer Service Manager on QF = same, same, but so very different) will offer pantry options... it's like In-and-Out burgers in LA, sometimes a secret menu! (Or the CS just assumes that you will ask if you want, they don't know how dismal Business Class options are on QF: if you are use to flying that airline.)

BUT... once you order off-pantry during your flight (without pre-promoting from the CS or the menu card) IME your VA CS will enhance (in the true VA sense) their service levels (so far beyond their already amazing levels) for the rest of your flight - recognising you as a TRUE VA frequent flyer!

Be someone in the know!

Future goals:

• A pilot style "fly ahead", last minute orgainsed meal - I posted way back when, but this is when the lounge agent rings the caterer and gets them to load an extra meal in "pilot configuration" (i.e. not plated - but in tube style) for you!
• Order for free, from memory, off-economy BOB - for example a wrap, sandwich or trail mix... sometimes M&Ms if you are a true pig!
• Eat something from the FA's own meal pack - some VA FAs (look for the skinny, slick looking ones) bring their own organic, farm-origin, low kilojoules, meal replacements with them - so try an eat their company supplied meals when they don't want it!

This pantry pig is 3 for 3! buurrrbbb!

 

[flying_duck]

As an official pantry pig, let me welcome you to the wonderful world of piggy options on Virgin. Not every CS (note: Cabin Supervisor on VA, but Customer Service Manager on QF = same, same, but so very different) will offer pantry options... it's like In-and-Out burgers in LA, sometimes a secret menu! (Or the CS just assumes that you will ask if you want, they don't know how dismal Business Class options are on QF: if you are use to flying that airline.)

BUT... once you order off-pantry during your flight (without pre-promoting from the CS or the menu card) IME your VA CS will enhance (in the true VA sense) their service levels (so far beyond their already amazing levels) for the rest of your flight - recognising you as a TRUE VA frequent flyer!

Be someone in the know!

Future goals:

• A pilot style "fly ahead", last minute orgainsed meal - I posted way back when, but this is when the lounge agent rings the caterer and gets them to load an extra meal in "pilot configuration" (i.e. not plated - but in tube style) for you!
• Order for free, from memory, off-economy BOB - for example a wrap, sandwich or trail mix... sometimes M&Ms if you are a true pig!
• Eat something from the FA's own meal pack - some VA FAs (look for the skinny, slick looking ones) bring their own organic, farm-origin, low kilojoules, meal replacements with them - so try an eat their company supplied meals when they don't want it!

This pantry pig is 3 for 3! buurrrbbb!

I’m in awe.... #LifeGoals

 

[henleybeach]

ADL-BNE 1335 departure
“Snack service”

Had my arm twisted with a pre departure sparkling wine.
Snack was a choice of Moroccan lamb Jaffle or a salad. Went to the jaffle and it was nice, pantry basket offered later on and champagne was constantly refilled.
Great service

 

[Muppet501st]

View attachment 132184 ADL-BNE 1335 departure
“Snack service”

Had my arm twisted with a pre departure sparkling wine.
Snack was a choice of Moroccan lamb Jaffle or a salad. Went to the jaffle and it was nice, pantry basket offered later on and champagne was constantly refilled.
Great service

What happened to the rest of your jaffle ?

 

[henleybeach]

What happened to the rest of your jaffle ?

Haha the rats have been in the galley

 

[Milboo]

Oh I’m disappointed to see the Heinz dressing. It used to be Birch & Waite.

 

[jsm2090]

BNE>SYD 10:05 departure

Chloe the cabin supervisor was friendly, attentive and helpful, and the meal was excellent. While originally described as a 'vegetable slice', it was more of a cheese and spinach sausage roll. The pastry was flaky, roll was crisp and warm, and fruit sweet and tasty. Pre-departure drinks of wine, juice, sparkling water offered. No chocolate though- just savoury cookies

Having just come off an SQ flight from SIN sitting in business, I have to say I feel the catering on SQ is becoming more and more lacklustre. Everything feels quite plain and cookie cutter compared to VA; from salads consisting of cherry tomatoes and mesclun, to nuts in a plastic bag, to pre-cut and chilled square desserts in bowls. I guess this is a case of SQ trying to make their F experience more special, and VA trying to be a hybrid of J and F?

 

[henleybeach]

Just got back from Brisbane.
BNE-ADL 1250 departure
lunch service -
Choice of prosciutto salad or a chicken and corn hot serve.
Went with the latter and it was really nice,
No bread roll .... which is the first time I’ve never had one, considering they served us one with our toasted jaffle.
Pre departure sparkling offered and gladly accepted, bottled water at the seat (there wasn’t on the adl-bne leg two days prior)
And pre lunch drink with olives and nuts which again we didn’t have two days prior .
Fresh beers constantly brought out but no pantry snack basket offered. Two flights two days apart and you can notice the inconsistency, still everything was nice.

 

[danielt25]

VA797 BNE/CNS 22/7 19:50 departure

Walk on to find bottled water sitting on seat partition.
Not offered anything else pre departure.
Choices were black bean pasties or salad.

Drink served with meal and bun roll given by default. (Rather than drink on previous occasions being brought out while meal being prepared)

Following meal asked if i wanted anything else.

I suppose at 8pm the last thing CSM wants to be doing is getting everyone different pre departure drinks - hence bottled water sitting waiting.

And while not actively being shown a tray of things from the "pantry" (as with my previous VA 737 J flight) I guess asking if i wanted anything else is good enough. .... Thinking back about when I was offered a tray of things from the pantry (see my post above - July 13 above), there were some "Club" / high profile society members on the flight so perhaps that could have been the reason the service was above what I was used to.

 

[Ralphie]

VA1391 - ADL/BNE 24 July.

Choice of two - Bircher muesli with dates, cardamom and greek yoghurt or the hot choice of falafel with bacon, roasted mushroom and labneh.

I chose the second. It wasn’t bad. Good size and well presented but perhaps a little dry and the falafel was quite crumbly. Not entirely sure the textures worked really well together for my liking. That said it was a genuinely decent offering.

Served with fruit in a side bowl and a bread roll.

The pantry basket was brought around - first time I’d ever seen it. I took some Lindt chocolate. The basket was offered twice to the family in 1D/F.

 

[sven89]

VA422 - SYD/ADL Sunday 29-July
Lunch service. 7 of 8 in the cabin.

Offered "water, sparkling water, orange juice........oh and I almost forgot, we also have champagne" pre-departure, but only once all of economy had boarded. Luckily we sat on the tarmac for a while so we weren't rushed drinking it.

Choice of mains was the prosciutto salad or the chicken and corn hot option.
Went for the chicken with corn puree, sundried tomatoes and mushrooms. Chicken was moist, and while the corn puree might not look the most refined, was tasty.
Roll served by default already on the tray. Noticed the pax next to me had a plain white roll, so just luck of the draw I guess.
Single cheese (a cheddar) and the gf/df choc cake.

Service was good, but 'efficient'. Came through the cabin to clear trays when all but one pax were clearly still eating.
No pantry offered, but multiple top-ups offered.

Wifi equipped plane. Although the system needed to be restarted once we leveled out as the full entertainment system wasn't loading.

 

[Denali]

SYD-ADL, corn frittata with bacon. First world problem I thought the corn was too sweet, it needed something to contrast it.

That sludge on the rim is suppose to be some sort of wild chili salsa but it was baked into the plate.

 

[dxwell]

but it was baked into the plate

Microwave turned up to high

 

[Pleb Status]

VA470 BNE-PER 05AUG18 332 Transcon J

After five VA J flights in a row with the exact same menu, it was nice to get something new. They just avoided matching my record of six J flights in a row with the same menu on QF...

The 'incorrect' menu was loaded so the one that was provided was retracted after boarding.

Food was excellent as normal. However, if I was going to be harsh, and I am going to be, the service provided on this flight was not up to the standard that I am used to on VA. The service was very sloppy overall and it was almost like the FA who was operating on my side of the aircraft had not been in J for a very long time (or at all). Also, I have run into the CSM of this flight previously and I recall not having a 'great' flight on that occasion as well.

Starter - Peking duck and citrus salad


Main - Atlantic salmon


Dessert - Blackberry roluade

 

[zig]

NTL - MEL - afternoon refreshment
Lamb meatballs with Parmesan and basil. These were very nice, particularly when the salad was added - peas, pea shoots and mint with radish.
The alternative was the trio of dips with flat bread

 

[zig]

Lunch service. Another great salad- celery and apple with trout. Alternative was green chicken curry with rice.
For the first time for me, following the meal I was offered something from the pantry. Couldn’t turn down the Lindt chocolate

 

[Denali]

ADL to Syd and my husband is banned from taking photos now.

Quiche with tomato chutney, cookies and cheese. The cheese was really, really good.


Salmon salad, lots of salmon.



Interesting that the cookies were dairy and gluten free but didn't list any ingredients. Hubby said he could taste oats.

 

[danielt25]

VA786 CNS/BNE 10/8 16:35 departure

Offered choice of drink pre departure incl sparkling wine
Choices: moroccan lamb jaffle or cheese and dips
Asked for a snack / (ie pantry item) afterwards met with an unfriendly look from CS Tash and asked "well what would you like?" Anyway got the potato chips.

Anyway since you can get VA business class with upgrademe minimum bids, makes it a worthwhile and significantly cheaper option on this route compared to QF

 

[danielt25]

VA773 BNE/CNS 13/8 7am departure

Great service from CS Giles

Options: poached eggs with bacon, capsicum, tomato, ricotta or greek yogurt

Tried both!