Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[jase05]

VA229 MEL-ADL 1435-1530
Afternoon snack service and was offered the same options as I had on my flight over Thursday night. Once again chose the Chicken and Cashew satays. Was good again but not quite as nice as the journey over. Didn’t quite pack the punch but plenty of left over sauce and was offered an extra bread roll to polish it off.
MEL lounge was quite calm and Premium exit was in use so breezed through. PB strictly enforced and onboard so was the rope. One J newbie actually wasn’t aware of the forward toilets and tried to make her way down the rear before being turned around
PDB offered straight away and service great throughout the short flight.
A little bit of turbulence leaving MEL but another good short and sharp flight.
Heading back to MEL on Wednesday night with QF and has been almost a year since Dom J with them so will be interesting to compare

 

[theoracle30]

VA 1368 MEL-Launceston.

Similar departure time as above and we got the same catering. I picked the chicken skewers which were absolutely superb.

In fact, my photo of it is currently up on Luke Mangan's Instagram story feed!

 

[Mexpirate]

So VA679, MEL to PER flying late Nov/early Dec due to leave 9.15am - I should expect the 3 course lunch/dinner right? Was somewhat underwhelmed with the service/breakfast on my first a330 business trip this week, planning a points trip to Tasmania from Perth to give it a other chance and keen to get a proper meal this time!

 

[theoracle30]

So VA679, MEL to PER flying late Nov/early Dec due to leave 9.15am - I should expect the 3 course lunch/dinner right? Was somewhat underwhelmed with the service/breakfast on my first a330 business trip this week, planning a points trip to Tasmania from Perth to give it a other chance and keen to get a proper meal this time!

Unfortunately a 9:15am departure will be breakfast. Lunch/Dinner starts for flights with a scheduled departure after 9:30am if I remember correctly.

I've done VA679 and it was breakfast.

 

[Mexpirate]

Well that sucks... thanks for the quick response seems there is no way to get a 3 course meal on an a330 going PER to HBA then, trip dates are completely flexible, but all flights I can see leave 6am-9.15am in either direction and only available routing is via MEL

 

[Pleb Status]

VA334 12MAY19 BNE-MEL B738 J

Afternoon snack flight down to MEL. Quite nice, but I appear to have been ripped off as some photos above show three skewers per serving...

 

[Pleb Status]

VA693 12MAY19 MEL-PER A332 J Transcon

Nice to be back in VA J after more than six weeks OS. Good effort overall as normal.

No dinner menu was loaded for this flight. The wine menu is also now more generic with five white and five red listed, with 'at least six available' on the flight but no way to know which without asking the FA. Basket of Pantry items offered later in the flight.

Starter - Chicken and corn salad


Main - Atlantic Salmon with tomato salsa


Dessert - Brownie with creme fraiche


For interest and comparison, a selection of international J mains from recent travels. The VA domestic J mains stack up pretty well against some tough competition.

QR DUB-DOH B788 J - Lamb Shank and potato mash


CX HKG-FRA B77W - Roasted Chicken from the new CX plate on board menu


Eurostar Standard Premier (First) Brussels - London St Pancras - Quiche and salad (quiche was served cold)

 

[clipped_wings]

OT but may I ask how the lamb shank was?

 

[Pleb Status]

OT but may I ask how the lamb shank was?

It was nice and tender....

 

[QF WP]

VA308 BNE/MEL 13/5/19 (6:55 Departure)

Being a morning flight expected the usual breakfast option (Bircher museli or a hot option) and not disappointed. As I have oats most mornings, a hot option is welcome. But for the life of me, I can’t work out why they would serve this as breakfast

From memory, mince and potatoes with red capsicum and (goats cheese?). I love each constituent part but mince is a poor choice IMHO - takes it down a notch



Service was good with 7/8 seats occupied and CSM Tara working methodically through the pax, from PDB’s to meals and hot drinks. I was in 2A.

I’ve received a request for feedback and I will happily share my bemusement with them.

About to board my return flight so will report hopefully a better meal - would love those satay sticks (3 please )

 

[serfty]

From memory, mince and potatoes with red capsicum and (goats cheese?). I love each constituent part but mince is a poor choice IMHO - takes it down a notch

I guess you have never had the likes of a breakfast burrito.

Oft available in the USA.

 

[kermatu]

VA308 BNE/MEL 13/5/19 (6:55 Departure)

Being a morning flight expected the usual breakfast option (Bircher museli or a hot option) and not disappointed. As I have oats most mornings, a hot option is welcome. But for the life of me, I can’t work out why they would serve this as breakfast

From memory, mince and potatoes with
red capsicum and (goats cheese?). I love each constituent part but mince is a poor choice IMHO - takes it down a notch

View attachment 164083

Service was good with 7/8 seats occupied and CSM Tara working methodically through the pax, from PDB’s to meals and hot drinks. I was in 2A.

I’ve received a request for feedback and I will happily share my bemusement with them.

About to board my return flight so will report hopefully a better meal - would love those satay sticks (3 please )

Looks like (a poorer version of) what I had ex-CBR a few weeks ago. Was ground sausage meat, which I quite liked. See post #2605.

 

[clipped_wings]

I guess you have never had the likes of a breakfast burrito.

Oft available in the USA.

Pleeeease don't mention burrito......

Pet airport lounge hates

Cathay have guidelines.... Lounge etiquette | Flying with us | Travel information - Cathay Pacific

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[QF WP]

I guess you have never had the likes of a breakfast burrito.

Oft available in the USA.

Oh but I have had burritos on VA in J previously - I have posted photos and reports in this Forum, but they were far better than this attempt at a deconstructed burrito. Sorry, but this was a fail and have advised VA via the feedback email.

 

[QF WP]

Looks like (a poorer version of) what I had ex-CBR a few weeks ago. Was ground sausage meat, which I quite liked. See post #2605.

No, I think yours looked better and it looks like it had spring onion, not kale. Your pieces of meat look like larger chunks than mine, which resembled dry bolognese.

Breakfast CBR-MEL.

View attachment 158912

Hot dish of potatoes, ground sausage, kale, feta and various veg. Delicious and a nice change from eggs.

Yum. That reminds me of a bubble & squeak style breakfast my mum used to make.

I loved bubble and squeak but I can't say my VA breakfast plate reminded me of those days...

 

[jch]

I guess you have never had the likes of a breakfast burrito.

Oft available in the USA.

Only in the Air NZ lounge in SYD last year. Not sure if they still do it?

 

[QF WP]

14/5 VA353 MEL/BNE (8:15pm)

Again, 7/8 in J and as I was boarding saw a work colleague so he joined me in the Premium line and was grateful. I was in 2C and he was near the back of the plane.

Offered PFD and chatted to CSM Vicki briefly. She is MEL base crew.

I’d heard the options when she was serving Row 1 and I was thrilled when it was the Chicken Satay but she threw me a look when I asked 2 skewers or 3. Of course, I relayed our thread discussion here and she was very intrigued.

It was delightful and spicy so went well with the red wine. Would have it again in a heartbeat.



After service, she came back to chat and small world, she was long time FA/CSM, having flown AN/QF and now VA. She knew 2 of my pilot friends and neighbours and her uncle is Chief Pilot for JQ. We could have kept talking but we started to descend and she needed to clear the cabin.

 

[Milefest]

14/5 VA353 MEL/BNE (8:15pm)

Again, 7/8 in J and as I have as boarding saw a work colleague so he joined me in the Premium line and was grateful. I was in 2C and he was near the back of the plane.

Hope you sent back a glass of red for him

 

[jakeseven7]

Just flew SYD - MEL, a relatively decent granola for bfast, not inspiring but at least substantial.

Crew a bit subdued over all the VA financial issues in the press today - head FA was talking about it and an internal staff briefing on it shortly... His quote was funny though 'It's not like we aren't used to losing heaps of money though'....

 

[QF WP]

Hope you sent back a glass of red for him

He is a non-drinker, so no need . He wasn't surprised that I was up the front - I don't think he knows anything about points though (got a blank look when I said I buy economy and upgrade with points).