Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Bagpuss]

So who is currently providing catering to Virgin ? They obviously have some sort of supplier for the snacks and limited drinks in economy, snack boxes, soft drinks and alcohol in business.

 

[henrus]

So who is currently providing catering to Virgin ? They obviously have some sort of supplier for the snacks and limited drinks in economy, snack boxes, soft drinks and alcohol in business.

That's a good question although given the last brownie I had a couple of days ago had an expiry date of mid this year, I assume these snack boxes have been prepacked a while ago and it wouldn't surprise me if there are lots of them sitting around somewhere waiting to be loaded by Virgin themselves having been done by a caterer who may not even specialise in airline meals.

 

[jonboixxx]

That's a good question although given the last brownie I had a couple of days ago had an expiry date of mid this year, I assume these snack boxes have been prepacked a while ago and it wouldn't surprise me if there are lots of them sitting around somewhere waiting to be loaded by Virgin themselves having been done by a caterer who may not even specialise in airline meals.

The box is tagged MileOne.

 

[Bagpuss]

The box is tagged MileOne. View attachment 237830

Looks about right. Notice their website state Virgin Australia as a client (as well as New Zealand, Signapore Airlines, Dnata etc.)

Notice they setup their online shop due to the pandemic.

MileOne Group on LinkedIn: #travel #snacks #food #disruption #ambient #snackbox

As this pandemic sadly looks to be with us all for a few more months I wanted to share with you our new online shop which we have set up to help those in need…

www.linkedin.com

 

[jonboixxx]

Because of the QLD border situation I had to late swap from a BNE-SYD trip to BNE-CNS. Hence, this was my 1st time in economyX, which was fine as my wife and I had a spare seat. Just to compare J snack box with economy offer, I have attached a picture of all that was on offer in economy today. Apple or orange juice was offered also. I should have taken a picture of the protein ball; I think it will look the same coming out as going in . Luckily my organised wife packed me a nice sandwich.

 

[traceyy]

their snack box was terrible, no sandwich, no cheese just 2 packs of crackers a chutney which was basically tomato sauce and those brownies (which were actually pretty good). i didnt even bother with it on the way back. the lounge had sandwiches and cheese crackers there which they refused to give us before the flight as it was before the 10.35 offering time.

 

[smittykittyflying]

That seems to be the standard snack box...I'm not sure why they would be trying to poach Qantas customers with the current service offer

 

[jase05]

That seems to be the standard snack box...I'm not sure why they would be trying to poach Qantas customers with the current service offer

Surely people aren’t choosing to fly one airline over another just because of a snack.
Generally VA are a fair bit cheaper and as an example I’m heading to MEL next week and it is $399 on VA or $1375 ($241 in Y) on QF.
For that price I couldn’t care less if I get not even a cracker on the flight

 

[smittykittyflying]

Surely people aren’t choosing to fly one airline over another just because of a snack.
Generally VA are a fair bit cheaper and as an example I’m heading to MEL next week and it is $399 on VA or $1375 ($241 in Y) on QF.
For that price I couldn’t care less if I get not even a cracker on the flight

That’s a big variance but on a lot of flights it isn’t that big. I think if you were choosing on price it doesn’t make a difference but for people that already hold status it makes a big difference when you are used to a particular level of service and VA is out there telling people they have a better service offering.
IMO Virgin would be better off spending $$ satisfying or re-engaging their current database

 

[jase05]

That’s a big variance but on a lot of flights it isn’t that big. I think if you were choosing on price it doesn’t make a difference but for people that already hold status it makes a big difference when you are used to a particular level of service and VA is out there telling people they have a better service offering.
IMO Virgin would be better off spending $$ satisfying or re-engaging their current database

VA have said they will be releasing new plans for J soon, so I guess we will have to wait and see.
Even if VA are only $100 cheaper I still think it’s a better option

 

[Tassieoptom]

This thread hasn’t had much action lately...

This was my VA J meal yesterday on BNE-ROK, 8.45am departure:

View attachment 237170

No other options, everyone just got the same snack box.

I’d just had corn flakes for breakfast in the lounge (there were not a lot of food options there either) so just what I felt like was... more corn flakes.

Hard to believe my post, the one just prior to yours, was the last post in this thread for 2020. My wife was worried about my trip to attend a covid planning workshop, so i upgraded/used vouchers to go business class. What a contrast with what they offer now.

 

[Bagpuss]

IMO Virgin would be better off spending $$ satisfying or re-engaging their current database

For any airline it's a case of capuring revenue where possible from all potential flyers.
Even a company which has a "contract" with Qantas (for example) would still have staff flying on Virgin Australia (for example).
Travel Agents get very little for domestic flights so they will sell whatever.

 

[jakeseven7]

So who is currently providing catering to Virgin ?

Jetstar New Zealand

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Still no fixed opening date for the lounge VA will use in Adelaide.
If as some say it looks generic, it could be that the lounge will be a paid lounge for all, not only VA customers.

 

[jase05]

Still no fixed opening date for the lounge VA will use in Adelaide.
If as some say it looks generic, it could be that the lounge will be a paid lounge for all, not only VA customers.

Unless things have changed recently that isn’t the case.

 

[JessicaTam]

Still no fixed opening date for the lounge VA will use in Adelaide.
If as some say it looks generic, it could be that the lounge will be a paid lounge for all, not only VA customers.

When I was there on Tuesday I was told 'in the next two weeks'. Unlikely it will be a paid lounge as the Rex lounge is PP.

 

[JessicaTam]

... and to get things back on topic

Here is my MEL-ADL J “meal” last Monday:

 

[PlaneCrazy]

I'm curious how many gold/platinum members are paying for VA J these days? With lounge and economy X seating, and no real motivation to chase status, I don't see much benefit in paying more even if the J fares are "cheap". Saying that I'm reluctantly back to preferencing QF until I know what the new VA product is. Certainly a lack of communication and resolution by VA2 on that one.

Most importantly, how was the plonk?

 

[AIRwin]

When I was there on Tuesday I was told 'in the next two weeks'.

Previous lounge reopenings were all on a Tuesday:
BNE - 17 November
MEL - 15 December
SYD - 15 December
OOL - 12 January
PER - 12 January

I see ADL flights ramping up from 15 February, so my prediction is:
ADL - 16 February?

 

[jase05]

I'm curious how many gold/platinum members are paying for VA J these days? With lounge and economy X seating, and no real motivation to chase status, I don't see much benefit in paying more even if the J fares are "cheap". Saying that I'm reluctantly back to preferencing QF until I know what the new VA product is. Certainly a lack of communication and resolution by VA2 on that one.

Most importantly, how was the plonk?

I’m one of those Platinums that is still paying for J. For me the seats are the most important thing so even if I only get that and not much else I’m relatively happy for the price