Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[wob.geek]

MEL-PER Friday night (1730 flight) again on the new A332.

Harrissa chicken to start, good too!! (My photo was rubbish so not worth posting)

Main was sea trout:



Very tasty, although the salad wasn't up to much. Choice of white wines was Jacobs Creek Reserve Chardonnay or Watershed Unoaked Chardonnay. Went with the Watershed.

Cheese and port, followed by a Cognac..... things a bit blurry after that.

Another great flight on the A332 though. Back to Melbourne again tonight, hope I can get the barramundi this time....

 

[777]

Anyone had experience of the catering on 3 hour + flights in the 737. I have a BNE - DRW and DRW - MEL coming up next month and was curious what to expect?

 

[wob.geek]

I've done PER-MEL-PER quite a few times in the 737. A lot depends on the FA('s) assigned to J. Sometimes they have been great, attentive and accommodating, other times a little slack. Luckily for me the former is usually the case.

Food depends on what time of the day/night. I have a colleague who's done the DRW-MEL many times in the middle of the night - doesn't rave.

I have found the J seats in the 738 pretty good, and am happy to do the coast-to-coast in one of them, they just pale in comparison to the 332.

 

[Coathanger]

Had my first taste of the A330 Coast to Coast service on Saturday with SYD-PER (DJ553) and PER-SYD (DJ560) on the same day. The flights were operated by VH-XFB so ended up with the old seats but was impressed with the service and extras (international grade amenity kit and coat check service).

Food was a big step up from what I have previously experienced with Virgin Blue, with the barramundi main on the PER-SYD sector being the best fish dish I've had the pleasure of enjoying on a plane.

Breakfast (SYD-PER)

Fruit salad, croissant and yoghurt to start

Followed by buttermilk pancakes with dried cranberries, maple syrup and caramelised bananas

A warm chocolate cookie was offered later in the flight...delicious!

Lunch (PER-SYD)

Warmed nuts and 'The Australian' coughtail

Trout and potato salad starter

The excellent Barramundi main...skin was still crispy!

Cherry and apple crumble and dessert wine

Impromptu birthday cake made by the crew onboard

 

[lovestotravel]

It was a full cabin (8/8 seats) and curiously there was a very distinct order in which meal and drink orders were taken. I (1D) received a personal greeting from the CSM and had my order taken first, then 1F, followed by 2D/F, 2A/C (or vv) and then finally 1A/1C - I was the only one who received a CSM greeting. I wonder if that was due to status, or if others were op-ups.

Hmm from my experience it's always been 1A/C then 2A/C then 2A/C and 2D/F

I have pretty much always been in 1A but when I was in 2A I was served in the order above

Then again J is probably always full of Plat's a Comments recently on a CBR-MEL was that "wow this flight is full of gold/plats" I asked about this and it seemed that more than 50% of the flight was gold/plats.

There is a BIG difference in the way customers are greeted...

Plat's seem to addressed by Surname and welcomed back
Gold's seem to be address by Surname and no welcome back
The rest pretty much a hello and directed to their seat

 

[Major]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

If VA lift their game a little more, they may be my 1st choice for DOM travel.

Boss

They definitely have to lift their game regarding food and wine choices. Often there is just no choice of wine and this is not good enough

 

[bossreggie]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

They definitely have to lift their game regarding food and wine choices. Often there is just no choice of wine and this is not good enough

I have already mentioned this to them. If I had seen another bloody Cheese Platter... I would have been well miffed!!

Boss

 

[Major]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Returning from ADL- BNE a couple of weeks ago and the only white was a Chardonnay which was close to battery acid. Asked what else but told that was all. Should have asked about the red but sulked instead

 

[straitman]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Returning from ADL- BNE a couple of weeks ago and the only white was a Chardonnay which was close to battery acid. Asked what else but told that was all. Should have asked about the red but sulked instead

I had 5 Qantas business class flights last week and there was only a choice of one red or one white on each.

 

[bossreggie]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

The VA flights I have taken in J have had a choice of red or white, just like QF, has this changed? Interestingly I did 12 J flights last week from 7 different ports and all the flights had the same red (a nice Sepplett Shiraz) bar 1, good thing it was a very nice drop.

The main problem I have had is that the choices are exactly that... Red or White.

Reminds me of the time a few years ago when I was in a restaurant in Regional Victoria and I asked if they had any Champagne.... The very excited and enthusiastic young waitress said... Oh yes... We have BOTH types.... Good Lord I thought to myself.... I was already beginning to feel the taste of the sweet bubbles of either Dom Perignon or Krug on my palate. Talk about being disappointed by the ACTUAL 2 varieties.... "Pink OR Yellow".

"Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon" are not what I would consider as a "choice" in a business class cabin. I am aware that J is new to VA but I am hoping this will be rectified sooner rather than later.

Boss

 

[markis10]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

The main problem I have had is that the choices are exactly that... Red or White.

Reminds me of the time a few years ago when I was in a restaurant in Regional Victoria and I asked if they had any Champagne.... The very excited and enthusiastic young waitress said... Oh yes... We have BOTH types.... Good Lord I thought to myself.... I was already beginning to feel the taste of the sweet bubbles of either Dom Perignon or Krug on my palate. Talk about being disappointed by the ACTUAL 2 varieties.... "Pink OR Yellow".

"Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon" are not what I would consider as a "choice" in a business class cabin. I am aware that J is new to VA but I am hoping this will be rectified sooner rather than later.

Boss

Fair comment and good input but its the same regardless of who you travel domestically, there is room for a front runner to offer more choice that is for sure!

 

[Simo]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

The main problem I have had is that the choices are exactly that... Red or White.

Reminds me of the time a few years ago when I was in a restaurant in Regional Victoria and I asked if they had any Champagne.... The very excited and enthusiastic young waitress said... Oh yes... We have BOTH types.... Good Lord I thought to myself.... I was already beginning to feel the taste of the sweet bubbles of either Dom Perignon or Krug on my palate. Talk about being disappointed by the ACTUAL 2 varieties.... "Pink OR Yellow".

"Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon" are not what I would consider as a "choice" in a business class cabin. I am aware that J is new to VA but I am hoping this will be rectified sooner rather than later.

Boss

Reminds me of the time I was out with a vegetarian and we asked if they had any vegetarian dishes and they said the chicken is vegetarian.......

Lol

 

[anat0l]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

"Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon" are not what I would consider as a "choice" in a business class cabin.

What is it with Chardonnay or Cab Sav being the choices of the cheap? Almost every catered event that I've been to that features wine always seems to have these two. Obviously, our hosts who ordered the catering were on a budget, but why these two grape varieties?

It also amazed me that I went out last Friday with work colleagues to a restaurant in the Brisbane CBD and asked for a bottle of white wine. We were offered a bottle of house wine, complete with house label. I didn't expect that restaurants offered clean skins. We didn't foot the bill, but I should've asked how much it was. (To be fair, it was drinkable - and it was not a Chardonnay!)


To be honest, Qantas domestic J only offer one white and one red at a time if I recall correctly. They are supposed to be the matching wines with the dishes, so it's not pinned down to one or two grape varieties. The only possible exception is perhaps Perth CityFlyer services (and even then).

How many red and white wines are offered on QF and VA international J?

 

[serfty]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Interesting - on Friday I had a choice of one read - the temperanillo.

On Sunday there were two red options, the temperanillo or a Cabernet.

Did not ask about white.

 

[AirlineGuy]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Does anyone else think that champagne would be a better option for their 'welcome drink' as opposed to the 'Mocktail'? on 737 services. Mocktail just appears to cheapen the whole experience on the 737, while the 330 and 777 services are offered champagne. I know when I think J class travel I think champagne, not a sweet red drink. There should be some more consistency at least with those details I believe.

 

[pat25d]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I believe they don't have a liquor licence to serve alcohol on the ground for 737s.

 

[bossreggie]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Does anyone else think that champagne would be a better option for their 'welcome drink' as opposed to the 'Mocktail'? on 737 services. Mocktail just appears to cheapen the whole experience on the 737, while the 330 and 777 services are offered champagne. I know when I think J class travel I think champagne, not a sweet red drink. There should be some more consistency at least with those details I believe.

I'd be happy to be offered Champagne!!

That would make me happy. Qantas don't offer it on short J DOM flights so it would give VA a point of difference.

Boss

 

[moa999]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I actually think the mocktail is a point of difference to QF's juice.
No need for champagne (or sparkling) on such a short flight, particularly after coming from the lounge.

The Jacobs Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2011 definitely needs to go.

 

[Ewing]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I actually think the mocktail is a point of difference to QF's juice.
No need for champagne (or sparkling) on such a short flight, particularly after coming from the lounge.

The Jacobs Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2011 definitely needs to go.

I'm quite fond of the Apple & Strawberry juice on QF - after all, I buy the same juice at home. I don't mind the mocktails either, but they could certainly do with a splash of vodka

Agree 100% with the choice of wines though. I don't mind a good Chardonnay, but the Jacobs Creek is dreadful. I'll be sticking with G&Ts if that stays

 

[bossreggie]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I'm quite fond of the Apple & Strawberry juice on QF - after all, I buy the same juice at home. I don't mind the mocktails either, but they could certainly do with a splash of vodka

Agree 100% with the choice of wines though. I don't mind a good Chardonnay, but the Jacobs Creek is dreadful. I'll be sticking with G&Ts if that stays

I think you and I would VERY easily be able to enjoy a pre-flight Champagne together!!