Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Cryptarcadian]

Is there a reliable pattern for how orders are taken nowadays?

Maybe we should keep sharing what pattern we see.

e.g.
1A/1C -> 2A/2C -> 1D/1F -> 2D/2F
1A/1C -> 1D/1F -> 2A/2C -> 2D/2F
1A/1C -> 1D/1F -> 2D/2F -> 2A/2C

Haven't been in J for a few months, but on my last flight the crew went with the example in bold above, when my partner and I were in 2A/2C... no choice despite both of us being platinum.

Have picked 1A/1C on an upcoming flight, but I really prefer row 2 with the better legroom!

 

[serfty]

Is there a reliable pattern for how orders are taken nowadays?

Maybe 95% of the time Row 1 gets priority with A/C generally first.

So I when solo my order of preference is 1A, 1C, 1F, 1D. (Although, if a sunset/dusk flight I may preference 1F over 1A for Northerly bound flights)

 

[Stealthflyer]

Maybe 95% of the time Row 1 gets priority with A/C generally first.

So I when solo my order of preference is 1A, 1C, 1F, 1D. (Although, if a sunset/dusk flight I may preference 1F over 1A for Northerly bound flights)

1A for northerly sunset flights. I love seeing Tasmania’s highest peaks bathed in pink while sipping on some shiraz.

 

[jayphi]

We recently flew DRW-MEL seated in 2D&F. We were last to be offered a 'choice' of meal (quotation marks meaning by the time they got to us, there was no choice

 

[BNEFlyer]

Is there a reliable pattern for how orders are taken nowadays?

Maybe we should keep sharing what pattern we see.

e.g.
1A/1C -> 2A/2C -> 1D/1F -> 2D/2F
1A/1C -> 1D/1F -> 2A/2C -> 2D/2F
1A/1C -> 1D/1F -> 2D/2F -> 2A/2C

Haven't been in J for a few months, but on my last flight the crew went with the example in bold above, when my partner and I were in 2A/2C... no choice despite both of us being platinum.

Have picked 1A/1C on an upcoming flight, but I really prefer row 2 with the better legroom!

I'm always in 1C (when available) and usually get my order taken after 1A, but on my last flight orders were taken 2F>1A but I (in Gold in 1C) was served my meal first (?!). I've also seen orders taken 1F>1D>1A>1C>2A>2C>2D>2F but only once.

 

[1022]

3/5/22 ADL-SYD & SYD-BNK. Booked VA in J as it was only $100 more than QF in Y. SYD-ADL was a choice of Chicken Katsu Curry or ‘a lovely salad with “quin-awah”(lol) and sweet potato’. The katsu curry was great! Orders taken 1A/C-2A/C (us, both red)-2D/F-1D/F. Food delivered in pretty random order. Decent, discreet and professional service from male CM.

SYD-BNK Reuben sandwich or Burrito Bowl. Had the bowl and it was delicious. Though for a mid arvo flight, an “afternoon tea” type option would have been good - I felt like something sweet. Very chirpy CM. Asked if either of us had dietary requirements. My partner avoids gluten and CM went to great lengths to check if the burrito bowl would be ok it was) and to ensure he had first dibs (1D). She was a tad unpolished but had infectious enthusiasm and real customer focus.

Overall two great flights and definitely better than most of my recent experiences in QF J in terms of service and catering. Oh and priority boarding. The VA ADL lounge is a really nice space too and was pretty quiet late on a Monday morning.

I’m leaning more and more towards switching loyalty given how abysmal QF has been on most fronts of late. If flying 737 J, it’s a no brainer. VA is clearly a better choice. In Y I’m yet to be convinced though.

 

[kerfuffle]

VA412 SYD-ADL: ham and cheese on Turkish bread or the leek and gruyere cheese tart. Chose the latter as I had the ham and cheese almost six months ago on the same number flight ... Orders were taken 1A-2F, 2A-2F and served in the same order.

Thought these menus rotated seasonally?

 

[JackMiles]

VA684 Per-Mel 5th May
No photos, sorry.
PDB sparkling wine or water.
Meal choice of southern chicken (ie deep fried) sandwich or veg salad with grilled halloumi.
White wines; Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Had the chard, was okay, did not see the label sorry.
Sandwich not very good at all.
Tray came with little antipasto, carrot cake and Mainland ‘tasty cheddar’ cheese and crackers.
Meal and drink service was done quickly after take off.
1A (me) ordered first. Think it went 1CDF and 2ACDF after that.
Interestingly, delivery went 1DF then 1A, then row 2 (1C declined meal). 1DF had same as me so was not that a diff meal was ready sooner. Maybe status. Not a complaint, just a note.
Drink refills frequent, for a while.
Service tapered off in back half of flight. Pushed call button and got no response. Went to galley, attendant reading a book, had not noticed the call.
Other than that minor blip, good flight, really good service, lousy food.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

PER-BNE 22nd April

Quiche - was a bit average unfortunately (like my photography skills!)


Cheese & crackers were handed out in the second half of the flight.

 

[kerfuffle]

VA234 ADL-MEL: Spanish chicken and some vegetarian salad thing. Order taken was interesting as it was 2A-C (with me being in 2A and no I didn't play the allergy card), then 1D-F, 2D-F, and finally 1A-C. 1A got their dinner first though, then in order of seating i.e. 1C 1D, etc.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Tuscan chicken with mash potato, white and green beans on VA341 tonight. Was delicious. Alternative was a warmed vegetarian poke bowl.

Sparkling as a PDB. Top ups of G&T were forthcoming at an almost alarming rate....no empty glass all the way MEL-BNE from meal service to when the cabin was being packed up for landing...

Orders were taken as 1A-F, 2A-F. Unsure if status played a role as I am WP and in 1A anyway.

 

[antycbr]

VA1090 SYD-LST - 1310 departure.

Cajun chicken sandwich or vegetable pie.

Pie was pretty tasty and I couldn’t face any more Cajun chicken for a month or so!

Flight was on VH-IJW ex MI 737 with standard VA seats. Missed the bulkhead though.

CS introduced herself and asked if I had any dietary needs, including offering to check ingredient listings. Then said I would have first choice (along with my seat mate in 1C, unknown to me) as we were both Platinum status.

 

[twinaisle]

My next flight I'm going to do orders 1C, 1A, then horse shoe it around just to play around even more with this sequence you guys are trying to notice.

 

[AIRwin]

View attachment 276091

What's more interesting is the screen below the tray table...

 

[Must...Fly!]

What's more interesting is the screen below the tray table...

Best bit about a small tablet on a narrow body is you can keep watching old favourites on the streaming IFE in your lap while eating from the tray table!

 

[kerfuffle]

View attachment 276091

Tuscan chicken with mash potato, white and green beans on VA341 tonight. Was delicious. Alternative was a warmed vegetarian poke bowl.

Sparkling as a PDB. Top ups of G&T were forthcoming at an almost alarming rate....no empty glass all the way MEL-BNE from meal service to when the cabin was being packed up for landing...

Orders were taken as 1A-F, 2A-F. Unsure if status played a role as I am WP and in 1A anyway.

Hey I had the same thing on my ADL-MEL flight but they said it was Spanish and with broccolini! (See attached photo)

VA883 MEL-SYD: chicken tagine or cheesy pasta. Was full from the Spanish/Tuscan chicken so just had cheese and crackers. Can't remember order orders/serving was done as I was too busy talking to my seatmate in 2C

 

[Must...Fly!]

Hey I had the same thing on my ADL-MEL flight but they said it was Spanish and with broccolini! (See attached photo)

VA3 MEL-SYD: chicken tagine or cheesy pasta. Was full from the Spanish/Tuscan chicken so just had cheese and crackers. Can't remember order orders/serving was done as I was too busy talking to my seatmate in 2C

Who knew broccolini was Spanish and beans, Tuscan!

Perhaps it is a differently spiced dish and a (rather pedestrian) attempt at variety? I would certainly call mine Tuscan before Spanish.

 

[astrosly]

PER-BNE 22nd April

Quiche - was a bit average unfortunately (like my photography skills!)
View attachment 276041

Cheese & crackers were handed out in the second half of the flight.

The side salad looks tasty

 

[KSyd]

Friday afternoon SYD-MEL chicken katsu curry - the alternative was a vegetarian power bowl...

 

[kermatu]

CNS - BNE. Noon flight. PDB was still water in a glass after everyone was boarded.

Food options were Cajun chicken with dirty rice or cold Asian veggie bowl. I was in 1D and am Plat but along with 1F (an unrelated elderly lady of no status) we were offered our meals last. One of each remaining so I let 1F choose. She scoffed at the Asian plate so that’s what I had. Quite glad that I did. It was tasty and very generous and probably what my body needed. Cajun chicken looked a bit dry and 1F barely ate half of it, but that may not be down to quality. Of note, flight deck served after J pax. Have never seen that on QF.



On this flight Natalie the Cabin Leader (you can see her skirt in the pic!) was just amazing. Possibly the best FA I have had the pleasure to be served by. Nothing was too much trouble to her for me or my elderly neighbour. Plentiful wine top ups, and when I switched to whiskey I had generous serves as well as pantry offerings. After we started our descent she came to me and asked if I’d like another. Despite asking for a small one she gave me another generous one. No rush or hassle despite there being a bit of weather in Brisbane.

My first VA flight for close to 3 years. But a great reminder of how much better the service can be.