Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[bam71]

@sudoer

Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

Bne-adl VA1388 Crew fantastic, chose the French Toast and it was pretty good. Other option was the eggs/dukah which I’d had before. Also had yoghurt with berry coulis on the tray. PDB and multiple top ups were officered. Food orders taken in an unconventional 1DF, 2AC,2DF,1AC.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Post 3991. Definately eat in the lounge, or take some snacks with you!

 

[sudoer]

@sudoer

Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

Bne-adl VA1388 Crew fantastic, chose the French Toast and it was pretty good. Other option was the eggs/dukah which I’d had before. Also had yoghurt with berry coulis on the tray. PDB and multiple top ups were officered. Food orders taken in an unconventional 1DF, 2AC,2DF,1AC.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Post 3991. Definately eat in the lounge, or take some snacks with you!

Thanks, sorry I missed your post. If the Amex lounge is a zoo I might pay the $20 surcharge to enter the House via Priority Pass...

 

[Stealthflyer]

How'd your flight go? I'm on SYD-DPS tonight and wondering whether to eat before the flight. Also I assume there's still no VAi lounge access for business/elites - any vouchers? I can access the rather tiny Plaza Premium in Sydney but expect it to be jam packed given the Amex lounge is closed for renos and redirecting guests to PP.

I hope they reintroduce lounge access soon. After squirrelling away points for years, I’ve decided to redeem a large chunk for J flights for me and my friends to Bali in 2023. Even though there will be more than enough food and beverages on board, I’d love to take them into the lounges. As it stands, the only lounge I’d be able to take them into is the SYD domestic lounge on our return legs. I wonder if VA is waiting until after February when the status extensions expire to reintroduce complimentary lounge access.

 

[Stealthflyer]

SYD-HBA breakfast: French toast or eggs on ciabatta. I chose the French toast and gnawed my way through half a piece, regretting my choice to eat on the plane rather than the lounge. Everyone around me ordered the eggs and ended up leaving the bread untouched. No one ate the pastries. Ultimately there were a lot of food scraps left over.

The French toast really needed some fruit or something to enliven it. It was just some sweetened oil-soaked bread served with “maple flavoured” syrup. Disappointed, I decided to join the people behind me in a cheeky 11am G&T. The staff were lovely and very attentive, offering everyone top ups until the seatbelt announcement.

I usually only fly J in the evening because I perceive it as better value for money, catering-wise. I think I’ll stick with Y for morning flights.

 

[dairyfloss]

My wife and I both selected & later handed back the VA J scrambled eggs on toast with dukkah on our AM flight SYD-MCY last week.

That dukkah shouldn't be pre-dispensed on the eggs; or even 'a thing', really. Dry eggs that wouldn't even stay on the fork, and the Turkish toasted bread couldn't be cut without frightening nervous flyers with serious turbulence in the front of the aircraft. I gave up after a few varied attempts.

My 6YO son dissected the dish by removing the dukkah layer and adding it to my plate - huzzah; lucky dad! - he then ate the eggs with a spoon, and then the bread-resemblant item on its own afterwards. Maybe his was the trick to enjoying the dish. I just had a pastry & a juice, and thankfully that was enough to cover me until getting to Noosa.

Food in the SYD VA Lounge did not inspire confidence, as much as fried eggs floating in tepid water in a bain-marie should have.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[sudoer]

I hope they reintroduce lounge access soon. After squirrelling away points for years, I’ve decided to redeem a large chunk for J flights for me and my friends to Bali in 2023. Even though there will be more than enough food and beverages on board, I’d love to take them into the lounges. As it stands, the only lounge I’d be able to take them into is the SYD domestic lounge on our return legs. I wonder if VA is waiting until after February when the status extensions expire to reintroduce complimentary lounge access.

The check-in counter was very apologetic about the lack of lounge arrangements. They weren't aware of any plans to reinstate in the near future - she said she didn't expect any lounges while they were just flying to DPS, NAN and ZQN, but I'm surprised they can't come to an arrangement with SQ, Aspire or Plaza Premium as contract lounges.

 

[OzEire]

CBR-BNE today I had the delicious vegetable tart with caramelised onion on top and mash on the side (photo by Mattg up-thread). Lovely. Not too heavy at the start of a very long day.

 

[lovestotravel]

SYD-HBA breakfast: French toast or eggs on ciabatta. I chose the French toast and gnawed my way through half a piece, regretting my choice to eat on the plane rather than the lounge. Everyone around me ordered the eggs and ended up leaving the bread untouched. No one ate the pastries. Ultimately there were a lot of food scraps left over.

The French toast really needed some fruit or something to enliven it. It was just some sweetened oil-soaked bread served with “maple flavoured” syrup. Disappointed, I decided to join the people behind me in a cheeky 11am G&T. The staff were lovely and very attentive, offering everyone top ups until the seatbelt announcement.

I usually only fly J in the evening because I perceive it as better value for money, catering-wise. I think I’ll stick with Y for morning flights.

You base flying Y vs J on a $10 meal.....

 

[sudoer]

VA65 SYD-DPS

Options were:
Chicken green curry with jasmine rice
Truffled mac and cheese with ratatouille



The green curry was not particularly authentic but still a tasty dish. The flat bread and taramasalata side was outstanding, the bread in particular tasted very fresh. The chocolate dessert was also great.

Pantry items were offered a couple of times during the flight and very attentive drinks service from the FA throughout.

Order of service (because I know it's a topic of conversation in this subforum) was 1A->1F, 2A->2F, with the exception of a VA staff member in row 1 who was served last. Neither meal choice ran out.

 

[bam71]

Better experience than ours last month…

 

[Stealthflyer]

You base flying Y vs J on a $10 meal.....

On a couple of G&Ts actually.

 

[Peso]

VA319 MEL-BNE

First time flying VA J and the lounge breakfast is underwhelming IMO. Only hot options were scrambled eggs and bacon, cold spread was either cereal, an egg+scalloped-potato thing or tuna/ham-cheese wraps. Even Qantas Club has a better breakfast offering. Ended up using my Priority Pass at T4 Quikshots to get a pretty good smashed avo and a chicken sandwich to go.

Inflight choices were Pancakes or Mushroom Bruschetta. Went with the former. Came with a cinnamon roll. Not amazing but pretty good. I do like how the staff topped up my drinks, even while I was slept most of the flight.

 

[stig_aus]

I was diagnosed celiac approximately 6 months ago to great surprise, luckily i've found gluten free meals and options very easy to find. The exception to this rule though is J on VA. As most of my flights are east-west cross country, I always have to bring a backup meal for myself as 90% of the time both VA's J meal options contain gluten.

I'm loathed to move back to the 'flying rat' after 10 years of being a strong VA advocate, but the situation is extremely frustrating. Obviously VA joining the modern world and offering dietary meals would be the perfect scenario, but I don't see that happening thus a jump to the dark side looks likely. Does anyone in a similar position have any advice or recommendations?

I'm in the same boat, but 2 years into my fun Coeliac journey. VA is terrible at accommodating GF options in J. Luckily the situation in the lounger has improved so you can generally eat prior to the flight.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Had this in the OOL lounge this morning - a Japanese smoked salmon salad, basically a poke bowl. Probably the best meal I've had in a domestic lounge across VA or QF ever!

 

[twinaisle]

A small refresh of the onboard menu went live yesterday. Summer menu includes grant burge Prosecco, merlot and cab sauv

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Had this in the OOL lounge this morning - a Japanese smoked salmon salad, basically a poke bowl. Probably the best meal I've had in a domestic lounge across VA or QF ever!

The dish I mentioned above was far superior to the Cajun chicken sandwich I had onboard. While quite tasty it was very greasy and both serving size and presentation left a lot to be desired.

 

[Sprucegoose]

VA65 SYD-DPS

Options were:
Chicken green curry with jasmine rice
Truffled mac and cheese with ratatouille

View attachment 308411

The green curry was not particularly authentic but still a tasty dish. The flat bread and taramasalata side was outstanding, the bread in particular tasted very fresh. The chocolate dessert was also great.

Pantry items were offered a couple of times during the flight and very attentive drinks service from the FA throughout.

Order of service (because I know it's a topic of conversation in this subforum) was 1A->1F, 2A->2F, with the exception of a VA staff member in row 1 who was served last. Neither meal choice ran out.

Interestingly I had the same meal BNE-MEL the other night on VA346 (after a substantial weather delay), which tasted far better than my expectations I also got a photo of my neighbour's Truffled Mac N Cheese (thankfully, they had a sense of humour), so they must have similar offerings out of SYD/MEL/BNE.

Sorry about the quality of the photo; I know it looks like a dingy Soho nightclub........The Boeing Sky Interior makes a difference (deep purple is calming - note get more purple in your life) in that setting after a rough day. I appreciate it more these days; hopefully, all new aircraft will accentuate softer mood environs.

The St Hallets Faith Shiraz is another drop that tastes better (more body profile - a taste of peppery blueberries and walnut? - stop it, Spruce..) at altitude than in Collins Street.

I note you got a proper dessert, but you were winging it a lot further (DSP) (we got the little chocolate heart..........which is all one really needs)

I am back in the air tomorrow; this could become pretty predictable.......

 

[Stealthflyer]

Interestingly I had the same meal BNE-MEL the other night on VA346 (after a substantial weather delay), which tasted far better than my expectations I also got a photo of my neighbour's Truffled Mac N Cheese (thankfully, they had a sense of humour), so they must have similar offerings out of SYD/MEL/BNE.

Sorry about the quality of the photo; I know it looks like a dingy Soho nightclub........The Boeing Sky Interior makes a difference (deep purple is calming - note get more purple in your life) in that setting after a rough day. I appreciate it more these days; hopefully, all new aircraft will accentuate softer mood environs.

The St Hallets Faith Shiraz is another drop that tastes better (more body profile - a taste of peppery blueberries and walnut? - stop it, Spruce..) at altitude than in Collins Street.

I note you got a proper dessert, but you were winging it a lot further (DSP) (we got the little chocolate heart..........which is all one really needs)

I am back in the air tomorrow; this could become pretty predictable.......



View attachment 309327View attachment 309331View attachment 309401View attachment 309402

I prefer the chocolate heart. Much better than the strange cakes they serve as desserts.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I amazed at how big the cheese and crackers look in photos compared to reality!

 

[AIRwin]

I amazed at how big the cheese and crackers look in photos compared to reality!

Not all it's cracker-ed up to be...