Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[ole nimeton]

ADL-MEL; 4:40pm

Slightly delayed with push back at 5:05. PDB was water only.

Chicken parmigiana or a saffron pasta with cannelloni beans.



Chicken was cold in the middle (although the dish was too hot to touch) which made me a little worried about food poisoning- in hindsight, should have sent it back. Beer was warmish.

My neighbours pasta looked and smelt nice though they didn’t eat much of it.

No drinks offered after the initial service though it was a fairly quick flight.

Not strictly for this thread but - great selection of food at the Adelaide lounge - tofu salad, egg wrap, falafel wrap, chicken sandwiches, corn chips and dips, two types of soup, pork buns, arancini balls, cheese, crackers, cakes and an absolutely delicious custard slice dessert (pictured next to the cheese, tofu salad and other cold options in background).



Melbourne lounge had its usual sad food offerings by comparison including bolognese pasta which was rationed out by staff rather than self serve. Both Melbourne and Adelaide seem to have done away with tap beer - I hope that’s not a permanent change.

MEL-CBR, 9pm.

The pick of my four flights with a very professional cabin crew. PDB was whatever you requested - water, sparkling water, juice, wine etc.

Meal choices were the chicken salad that I posted earlier or a chickpea salad with lychee and sliced pumpkin. Had the chicken again - was nice.

Short flight, no refills offered after initial service.

 

[Vic]

I had the Gnocchi last night, everyone else went for the Chicken. I was very happy with it.

View attachment 283993

Had this exact meal last night. Rather average Gnocchi, but not bad Gnocchi. The meal was good overall, just slightly dense gnocchi.

No Pre departure drink, only just realised on reading this thread. As mentioned elsewhere no proactive drink top ups (livid). I had to hunt down the crew manager. Even pushed the call bell, which did at least get a very prompt response.

 

[zig]

We don't heat the pastries. ( Some do as an extra touch, definitely know I do on the odd occasion being extra but I let my passengers know it's not normal to be served warm pastries so don't always expect that on other AM services )

Just curious - are they not routinely heated due to lack of oven space? I didn't touch the one I was given as it was very cold and very 'solid'. I think the pastries would really benefit from being warmed.

 

[twinaisle]

Just curious - are they not routinely heated due to lack of oven space? I didn't touch the one I was given as it was very cold and very 'solid'. I think the pastries would really benefit from being warmed.

They're not heated because the service post pandemic is simple and straightforward, no fuss.

The service is pretty much to minimise the amount of heating and plating we have to do to serve the meal and catering loading is designed to be simple and straightforward so all meal trays will be built the same with the only exception of added side dishes depending on flight length.

The only component to be heated is the main dish without the need to plate it which is why all our meals come pre plated. (We use to plate up meals transcon/ISH/long flights so there was a lot of catering flows which has now been simplified)

The danish are pre plated and individually wrapped in glad wrap and served as is. I'm efficient with my service and if I'm feeling it then I'll heat it and serve which I tell my guests to eat

 

[zig]

They're not heated because the service post pandemic is simple and straightforward, no fuss.

The service is pretty much to minimise the amount of heating and plating we have to do to serve the meal and catering loading is designed to be simple and straightforward so all meal trays will be built the same with the only exception of added side dishes depending on flight length.

The only component to be heated is the main dish without the need to plate it which is why all our meals come pre plated. (We use to plate up meals transcon/ISH/long flights so there was a lot of catering flows which has now been simplified)

The danish are pre plated and individually wrapped in glad wrap and served as is. I'm efficient with my service and if I'm feeling it then I'll heat it and serve which I tell my guests to eat

@twinaisle, thanks for the explantation.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

3 bean pasta with no taste fetta.
Pasta wasn't hot enough to warm it, edible but warm enough.
1 pix without BYO bread roll.
Other with it.
Laugh but yes, you indeed must BYO bread roll to make it worth the meal.
Flat pasta was delish.
Passionfruit slice.
No salt and paper.
No PDD.
Very late dep and very late arr into BNE.
(OT train replacement bus made the trip longer to hotel... a very long trip.
Roma St has very major works for new cross River train station).

 

[twinaisle]

3 bean pasta with no taste fetta.
Pasta wasn't hot enough to warm it, edible but warm enough.
1 pix without BYO bread roll.
Other with it.
Laugh but yes, you indeed must BYO bread roll to make it worth the meal.
Flat pasta was delish.
Passionfruit slice.
No salt and paper.
No PDD.
Very late dep and very late arr into BNE.
(OT train replacement bus made the trip longer to hotel... a very long trip.
Roma St has very major works for new cross River train station).

Was the salt and pepper sachets not loaded within the cutlery roll?

That mango passionfruit cheesecake is

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Because of gate change and gate gourmet being late, no S&P in sight, wasnt offered either.
Had a call from a Private Number so maybe my return QF flight back to ADL is canned.
Didn't dare answer.

 

[serfty]

no S&P in sight

S&P is normally wrapped up with the cutlery, very easy to miss and have it fall out of sight when unwrapping.

 

[dk4]

The vego tart/quiche/whatever, seems to have less pumpkin, plus with asparagus this cycle? (Short sector ~90 minute scheduled service, now with the added chocolate as mentioned previously. BUT no upgrade of the scotch from red back to black label )

A close up inside.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

S&P is normally wrapped up with the cutlery, very easy to miss and have it fall out of sight when unwrapping.

I opened the napkin to its full...
No S&P sachets fell out.
That pasta dish leftover needs to be wiped off stubble.
Not to mention mask still needed on VAd flights.

 

[AIRwin]

Not to mention mask still needed on VAd flights.

Mask still needed on all domestic flights...

 

[Vic]

mentioned previously. BUT no upgrade of the scotch from red back to black label )
View attachment 284655

Mixed with coke it makes no difference...

 

[blackcat20]

MEL-BNE lunch time. Chicken salad. Other option was the tart with mashed potato. Shiraz was a very drinkable St Hallet.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

VA908 BNE-SYD this morning, connecting to UA870. STD 0605, delayed to 0620 due to a nuffY forgetting to board.

Took the citrus French toast offering and whilst it looked a bit simple in the plate, it has the citrus flavour shining through. Adding most of the maple syrup container helps to offset the tartness of the citrus.
Didn't have the pastry as I'd had pancakes in the BNE lounge, and the coffee wasn't the greatest.onboard.
PDB requested sparkling water and it was graciously provided. Sorry but forgot to take the obligatory photo this morning in my 3am wakeup fog!

For those playing at home, service was 1B, 1D/F, 2A & 2F. 5/8 on board this morning, but Y was full to the brim.

 

[Rangalad]

MEL-BNE lunch time. Chicken salad. Other option was the tart with mashed potato. Shiraz was a very drinkable St Hallet.View attachment 284834

Snap! Same meal VA832 SYD/MEL.
I was missed for PDB. Offered first meal choice, not sure if the two events were related. Non existent service post meal. Curtain drawn cabin crew chatting. Tried to draw the curtain to go to the loo, response you can’t come in, the coughpit door is open! Eventually was allowed to go to the loo. Asked for a refill on my wine. Response: sorry we’re landing soon.

 

[snoophound]

Flight Melb to Sydney a 7am flight breakfast in Biz Class was a single Pastry and a coffee.
Wish I had eaten in the lounge....way better.

 

[blackcat20]

BNE-MEL, dinner time last weekend. Choices were truffled mac n cheese or green curry. Everyone else went for the curry, I chose the pasta so I could share with Mr 1yo; he would have inhaled an entire serve if he was entitled to one.
Wine was the St Hallet Faith. Pre departure bevvies included sparkling wine.

 

[Shervin]

Flew BNE-SYD today. Had the French Toast. It was ok - just a whole lot of sweetness taste wise. The other option was the eggs.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

BNE-MEL, dinner time last weekend. Choices were truffled mac n cheese or green curry. Everyone else went for the curry, I chose the pasta so I could share with Mr 1yo; he would have inhaled an entire serve if he was entitled to one.
View attachment 285647 Wine was the St Hallet Faith. Pre departure bevvies included sparkling wine.

I don't mind a bit of Faith and think it's a good choice at Virgin's price point. A fair amount of bang for your buck and while not overly interesting it's also non offensive which suits a broad audience.

I stuck to the bubbles on my recent flights (still no idea what it is as the details have never been offered) and had burgers in each direction - one might have been beef with relish and the other katsu. Both OK but too much bread, I ended up removing the top. The flight attendant thoughtfully put the relish on the side which I preferred with the cheese and crackers.