Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[dk4]

And, I forgot to note, pre-departure I was offered sparkling wine or water.

 

[aus_flyer]

Flew CBR-BNE in J this week. Breakfast offering was Cornflakes. Pretty bad IMHO.

 

[TMP]

Flew CBR-BNE in J this week. Breakfast offering was Cornflakes. Pretty bad IMHO.

Ouch. That's not good at all almost a month into the new service.

Post automatically merged: Apr 20, 2021

First up, the spirit of Australia is back in business... (But needs a label upgrade - into the black, out of the red.)
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And so is The Pantry... but not with a set menu, rather they just seem to be getting rid of any excess left over items from the covid-boxes they were handing out before. So, that means Pantry is like a lucky dip for the moment - who knows what might be available on any given flight.

View attachment 245451
I found the move from "restaurant style" to "cafe style" just as filling, the chicken souvlaki wrapped in pita, with the side of veggies, was substantial, and didn't over do the carbs (like Qantas does). I asked the "leader" (no longer CS) about the tray to plate real estate situation, and as I surmised before - length of flight dictates how many items are placed on your tray. Transcon, pictured above, gets 4; main plate, side plate, dessert and cheese+crackers.

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I am assuming there are left over tray linings?

View attachment 245453
Gone are the extra knife and fork, down to 4 cutlery items wrapped in the serviette (without a button hole). And, the salt and pepper has gone cafe style as well, and ditched the shakers.

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Bonus pic of lounge sandwich at PER T1

Hopefully the extra items are also included on the long flights to and from Darwin

 

[jonboixxx]

CNS-BNE, tonight, unusual as I've switched most of these returns to QF due to no VA lounge in Cairns. I did enjoy the 80's tunes in the Rattle N Hum bar whilst sipping a large Cab Sav for $15 odd.
The piping hot brisket pie with a tasty sauce was enjoyable, although the mash was a little dry. There was cheese and crackers on the side, no dessert. The tide was definitely in on the shiraz pour, as the cabin manager, per pre-COVID practice was to disappear to the rear, but came back later for additional generous pours.

 

[jakeseven7]

Flew CBR-BNE in J this week. Breakfast offering was Cornflakes. Pretty bad IMHO.

Not even the option of Coco Pops?

 

[Rangalad]

CNS-BNE, tonight, unusual as I've switched most of these returns to QF due to no VA lounge in Cairns. I did enjoy the 80's tunes in the Rattle N Hum bar whilst sipping a large Cab Sav for $15 odd.
The piping hot brisket pie with a tasty sauce was enjoyable, although the mash was a little dry. There was cheese and crackers on the side, no dessert. The tide was definitely in on the shiraz pour, as the cabin manager, per pre-COVID practice was to disappear to the rear, but came back later for additional generous pours.

Crew disappeared after the service on my recent flight. No chance of additional pours. Call bell ‘disregarded’

 

[AIRwin]

Crew disappeared after the service on my recent flight. No chance of additional pours. Call bell ‘disregarded’

Was the flight full in Economy?

 

[jakeseven7]

Call bell ‘disregarded’

Really? That has never happened to be on any airline in my entire flying 'life'..... what bad luck for you......

 

[jsm2090]

Flew CNS to SYD on Wednesday night, 7:25pm scheduled departure and cabin crew informed us that the new business class menu launched that day. My wife had a truffled mushroom and spinach pasta with a creamy sauce, and I opted for the beef brisket pie. Both nice dishes; the pie's pastry and quality of meat was the excellent. Mains served with a small cake and cheese and crackers. No pre departure drink, but crew we're working hard to get us a at from the gate 30mins early (it happened!) Hopefully a sign of good things to come.

 

[jase05]

Flew VA242 ADL-MEL last night
Options were the truffled mushroom and spinach pasta or the beef brisket pie.
Both of us had the pie and once again it was excellent. Cooked nicely and not soggy, only downside was the sauce was heated so only a little bit was able to be used which was a pity.
Cheese and crackers on the side and a couple of vodka and lemonades for the quick journey.
Pre departure bubbly and a attentive and happy crew made it a good flight once again

 

[antycbr]

VA909 SYD to BNE this morning (23 April - 7am). Corn fritters with spinach, mushrooms and tomato relish; danish; and sparkling wine.

Decent meal and excellent service this morning.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

VA909 SYD to BNE this morning (23 April - 7am). Corn fritters with spinach, mushrooms and tomato relish; danish; and sparkling wine.

Decent meal and excellent service this morning.

Looks good! Like how you paired it with a sparkling green tea

 

[Rangalad]

Was the flight full in Economy?

About 1/3 full, mid fifties from memory

 

[dk4]

Flew CNS to SYD ... Mains served with a small cake and cheese and crackers.

So now its confirmed, 3 service items on the tray for longer flights which aren't PER-transcon. (The riddle of when you get 2, 3 or 4 items per tray now seems solved.)

Some more data points - i was offered water, juice and sparkling wine, pre-departure the other day (so back to normal), and I received a serviette with a button hole in it too.


And for those wondering what the inside of the pie is like...


Great flavours, I agree with others, that it is a premium mince, and I really liked the subtle mustard seed flavour in the mashed potato. Clearly the whole meal is designed to go with relish, as that adds the right amount of moisture back into the dish right when you eat it. (Which has always been the way VA served baked items like this in the past.)

 

[dk4]

Piping hot Mediterranean vegetable sandwich.


As served on an afternoon ~90min scheduled service


And, as usual for VA, a really tasty mix of flavours with every bite.

 

[jase05]

Last night on VA241 MEL-ADL
Flight delayed by 40 minutes so ended up departing at 1840. Full J class and looked fairly full up the back. Meals offerings were the familiar Beef Brisket pie or Mushroom ravioli. I went the usual with the Pie and have probably had close to a dozen of these in recent weeks and that was the best of the lot. Perfect temperature and moisture content with a generous supply of relish. Wife had the mushroom ravioli and said it was fantastic and full of flavour also.
Pre departure bubbly and a couple of drinks along the way in what was a fast and enjoyable flight helped by great staff

 

[texanaust]

Per-Mel a few weeks ago. It was a breakfast flight and the hot breakfast offering was an egg quesadilla. I thought the taste was very bland. The bakery item was even worse. Apparently they cannot heat up bread items in their ovens any longer. The FA said catering from Perth is with a different company which is why the usual breakfast burger was not served.

 

[texanaust]

Mel-HBA a few weeks ago. Halloumi quinoa salad and another salad were the only things offered. Taste was okay, but I much preferred the sausage roll from the old VA. Cheese and crackers were also average. Absent was any form of bread.

 

[jonboixxx]

BNE-SYD today, mid-morning. First cross-border flight since Feb 2020 (although many crossings to Byron Bay in the meantime and of course BNE-CNS)
In the BNE lounge, the ham+mustard+2 cheese toastie was tasty, accompanied by the usual excellent barista coffee.
Onboard, water+juice was offered pre-flight. Vegetable Provencal focaccia was flavoursome and delicious, although just a tad oily and the focaccia itself was nice and crispy. The salmon salad was also full of flavour, tangy vinaigrette with cherry tomato, rocket. Both solid efforts from VA.
Also a little shot of a JQ peeling off astern.

 

[Astro]

VA909 SYD to BNE this morning (23 April - 7am). Corn fritters with spinach, mushrooms and tomato relish; danish; and sparkling wine.

Decent meal and excellent service this morning.

I enjoyed that dish on the same route this week. Presentation could have been better - but it was tasty