Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[RooFlyer]

Well, what I hope Virgin will call those, who don't do better than the bare minimum, is UNEMPLOYED!

JH needs to stamp out this downward race to mediocrity - IMO any service guide should be considered the starting point, and all employees should personally strive to achieve better than that. (Thankfully at Virgin, as this thread points out, most CMs are inspired to do so! IMO those that can't/won't, really need to walk out 1L, and not come back.)

I agree with the sentiment, but if you are an employee and your instructions are to do X and Y then if you do more than that, using more resources then it’s on your head.

I agree and applaud anyone who goes above and beyond but employees are not always able to do that, given the limitations of their employment.

 

[serfty]

Had the marvellous Kirsten MEL-SYD this arfternoon. 2:30pm flight, left after 3pm.

Service was 1DF,2DF,1AC & 2AC.

Finally got the Chicken Curry - it was good!

When orders were taken it was advertised as 'dinner' and indeed the chocolate heart was on the plate.

 

[twinaisle]

Well, what I hope Virgin will call those, who don't do better than the bare minimum, is UNEMPLOYED!

JH needs to stamp out this downward race to mediocrity - IMO any service guide should be considered the starting point, and all employees should personally strive to achieve better than that. (Thankfully at Virgin, as this thread points out, most CMs are inspired to do so! IMO those that can't/won't, really need to walk out 1L, and not come back.)

When you come on expecting unrealistic service requests or expecting a Singapore Airlines or Qatar service on Virgin Australia then that is a problem itself.

If a crew member goes above and beyond what they're expected to do and you expect others to achieve the same thing, that's also unrealistic on your behalf.

Before you say other crew need to strive to archive better than that, maybe we don't want to go above and beyond because our pay, allowances has been cut and we're working longer and harder days which contributes to us being tired.

Don't worry though, most the task force are walking out due to our conditions. Most of us do enjoy our job and are accommodating, were human. You're human, no one is perfect, it's fine doing bare minimum to what your job expects you to do.

If you're a customer and you're not satisfied, there's other airlines out there for you. If you're crew, apply at Qantas, bonza or rex unless your skills aren't compatible and you're forever stuck

 

[JessicaTam]

I flew SYD-MEL last Sunday and got the delightful Ali as CSM. Very cheerful and engaging. No hiding behind the curtain.

As the VA flight in J was only $100 more than the similar timed QF flight in Y () the choice was a no brainer. Crew like Ali make it even easier to ‘swap sides’ more often.


The alternative was a Thai curry with nuts so another no brainer for me!

 

[Sprucegoose]

There are uncorroborated reports that VA are still flogging the Chook Thai Currry and Truffle Mac (without garnish).

All you (VA) are doing is making NP look ok.

Come on VA these ought to be easy wins.

 

[jase05]

There are uncorroborated reports that VA are still flogging the Chook Thai Currry and Truffle Mac (without garnish).

All you (VA) are doing is making NP look ok.

Come on VA these ought to be easy wins.

It already is an easy win when VA J is cheaper than QF Y.
Yeah I’m a bit over the same menu like others but I do love the Thai curry dish

 

[1022]

BNK-SYD VA1140. PDB orders taken at the seat with offers of juice, still or sparkling water and sparkling wine.

Lunch orders taken and delivered 1D/F 2 A/C 2D/F 1A/C. Choice of Reuben sandwich or cauliflower and pearl cuscus salad for the first few to order, then salad only from 2D/F onwards. I had the Reuben and enjoyed it.

Service was brusque and almost entirely without a smile but at least it was efficient and top ups were offered. Unexpectedly, given how tepid (almost robotic) interactions were throughout the flight, J pax were all thanked by first name upon disembarking. Overall it was a slightly odd experience tbh. Maybe an off day or tough previous flight for the CM.

 

[kerfuffle]

VA412 SYD-ADL

Ham and cheese toastie or egg and cheese quesadilla. Opted for the toastie. Orders taken and served 1A-F, 2A-F (I was in 2A). Top up of my sparkling wine was offered (don't judge me; haven't been to Adelaide in ten months and don't have to drive ) but declined.

Same thing on VA826 SYD-MEL (but this time the ham and cheese toastie was sold as a croque monsieur). Orders taken and served in same order (1F who had a baby didn't seem to order a meal, and nor did 2C who just had a coffee), but because 2C and I in 2A also asked for sparkling wine, that was delivered to us first before the meals.

Saw 2C walking along Bourke Street as I left Southern Cross to tram it down and out of all the hotels in Melbourne, checking into the same one I'm at (if you happen to be 2C and reading this, hi ...)

 

[AIRwin]

Saw 2C walking along Bourke Street as I left Southern Cross to tram it down and out of all the hotels in Melbourne, checking into the same one I'm at (if you happen to be 2C and reading this, hi ...)

2C or not 2C, that is the question...

 

[Sprucegoose]

Saw 2C walking along Bourke Street as I left Southern Cross

I confirm I am not 2C.

 

[twinaisle]

Same thing on VA826 SYD-MEL (but this time the ham and cheese toastie was sold as a croque monsieur).

It actually is a croque monsieur.

We dumb it down to a ham and cheese toastie because some don't know what a croc monster is and it takes less time to explain.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

hi twinaisle and thanks for the insights!

Is there a determined pattern for meal orders? Or do CSMs play around with what they feel like?

As posted upthread there seems to be a fair bit of variation. Is it / should it be status based?

 

[twinaisle]

hi twinaisle and thanks for the insights!

Is there a determined pattern for meal orders? Or do CSMs play around with what they feel like?

As posted upthread there seems to be a fair bit of variation. Is it / should it be status based?

There is a pattern of meal cycles.

Eg

MEL C1
SYD C2
BNE C3
PERTH (On their own cycle with different meals than east coast)

If a flight gets double catered from MEL to OOL and you're on a OOL-MEL you'll be having the C1. Applies to all other flights that are double catered from the other ports.

We use to play around but we're not allowed to play as much the only playing is some garnishing these days.

There's a menu refresh coming in by Q3

Black and white, we take orders by status based. If there's a whole cabin of WP then you could go the standard 1A-F, 2A-F but I and others sometimes like to change the order up so row 2 doesn't always miss out. Sometimes I may go by whoever is the nicest

I would also like to highlight FCNA

If you upgrade yourself 3 hours before the flight, change your flight, your flight was cancelled and you got moved to another flight you will be marked down as Full Catering Not Assured.

This happens because catering close off 3 hours before scheduled timing of the departure. They cannon add extra meals as the catering would have been finalised and closed off so they can prepare it and deliver it hours before.

Sometimes we may have meals but you won't get a choice.

VA also don't do dietary requirements. "Last flight the crew got me the noodles from the Y retail menu" this is not supposed to happen. We're not allowed to comp free items.

 

[Princess Fiona]

First VA flight in years for me.
Old plane, no inseat power.
SYD-BNE. Seat 1A. I had my SQ Gold on the booking. Mr D is VA Silver.

PDB offered of water or Sparkling wine.
Went the wine.
Meal orders taken prior to departure
1A/C, 1D/F, 2D/F. Served in that order.
2A/C were empty.
Can’t recall the cold dish but we both chose the quiche with mashed potato.
Mash was yummy.

Excellent service by the CSM.
Food was fresh and tasty. Wine top ups offered.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks twinaisle! I think the FCNA explains a couple of anomalies in the service pattern!

 

[1022]

First VA flight in years for me.
Old plane, no inseat power.
SYD-BNE. Seat 1A. I had my SQ Gold on the booking. Mr D is VA Silver.

PDB offered of water or Sparkling wine.
Went the wine.
Meal orders taken prior to departure
1A/C, 1D/F, 2D/F. Served in that order.
2A/C were empty.
Can’t recall the cold dish but we both chose the quiche with mashed potato.
Mash was yummy.

Excellent service by the CSM.
Food was fresh and tasty. Wine top ups offered.
View attachment 323361View attachment 323362

First time I've seen the heart chocolate upgraded to a whole bowl of its own

 

[kerfuffle]

VA867 MEL-SYD

First time I get to fly over the city twice due to delays

Chicken parmigiana or cheese and tomato ravioli. Went for the ravioli.

Orders taken: 1D-F, 2D-F, 2A-C, 1A-C
Orders served: 1A had a snack, 1C had a meal I couldn't identify, from the gap (I was in 2A), 1F had a meal I couldn't identify, 2C had the parmigiana (and like five glasses of wine over two hours; no wonder she couldn't find her phone that she left behind on the centre armrest table), 1D had the ravioli, then I got my ravioli ... And lost track at that point.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

VA867 MEL-SYD

First time I get to fly over the city twice due to delays

Chicken parmigiana or cheese and tomato ravioli. Went for the ravioli.

Orders taken: 1D-F, 2D-F, 2A-C, 1A-C
Orders served: 1A had a snack, 1C had a meal I couldn't identify, from the gap (I was in 2A), 1F had a meal I couldn't identify, 2C had the parmigiana (and like five glasses of wine over two hours; no wonder she couldn't find her phone that she left behind on the centre armrest table), 1D had the ravioli, then I got my ravioli ... And lost track at that point.

I was on the same route an hour later… orders taken 1A, 1D, 2D-F, 1C, 2A-C. (1F empty)

Everyone chose to eat, everyone got their preference except 2A-C who were told there was one of each and had to decide between them.

Gonna make my own bingo cards to see if I eventually get every possible combination of order taking!

 

[twinaisle]

I was on the same route an hour later… orders taken 1A, 1D, 2D-F, 1C, 2A-C. (1F empty)

Everyone chose to eat, everyone got their preference except 2A-C who were told there was one of each and had to decide between them.

Gonna make my own bingo cards to see if I eventually get every possible combination of order taking!

It's either someone is a beyond member or FCNA

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's either someone is a beyond member or FCNA

Ah, yes. i was in 1A, so if the person next to me was FCNA, that would have made the pattern 1AC,1DF, 2DF, 2AC. Sort of a pattern! I was the only person whose order was taken before take-off!