Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[serfty]

1pm MEL-SYD Sunday received prawn curry, bread roll, dessert (pannacotta?). The curry was good enough, although I'm not really a fan as seafood flavour is delicate enough without killing it with a curry. Accompanying rice Rice was perfect.

Offer of wine and either sparkling or still water. Had decent pour of red and sparkling, along with a refill of both prior to landing.

9:30pm SYD-MEL Sunday received lamb casserole with couscous. No dessert but a bowl of green leaves and a dressing accompanied. Had metal bottle crownie and later another glass of red (had to use the call button for the latter).

In both cased I had an option of a pasta salad ...

 

[Justinf]

On flights scheduled for 1.5hours, lunch does NOT come with a salad (it comes with a dessert in the bowl instead: whereas dinner is served with a side salad in the bowl but no dessert, except small chocolate), nor is there a drinks run before the meal is served on flights of this length, drinks are served as part of the meal service and afterwards apon request.
Obviously pre-departure drinks should have been served, but offering a Galaxy Tab on short flights seems to be at the CS's discretion, but if you ask for one you will get it.

Ok, thanks for the clarifcation about the salad. No big deal for a few lettuce leaves and some dressing. Like I said, it didn't bother me about the entertainment option. Watching the snow on the alps as we cruised overhead was nice enough for me.
Even though it is not policiy, I believe a drinks run SHOULD be offered before the meal service on business class. 65 minutes in the air, this is ample time to do this. Keep the punters happy with a drink and then sort out the food. Seems logical to me. Anyway, just my opinion.

 

[AirlineGuy]

Ok, thanks for the clarifcation about the salad. No big deal for a few lettuce leaves and some dressing. Like I said, it didn't bother me about the entertainment option. Watching the snow on the alps as we cruised overhead was nice enough for me.
Even though it is not policiy, I believe a drinks run SHOULD be offered before the meal service on business class. 65 minutes in the air, this is ample time to do this. Keep the punters happy with a drink and then sort out the food. Seems logical to me. Anyway, just my opinion.

65 minutes in the air, includes climb and descent, which crew obviously cannot serve. I have a feeling working VA's Business is a little more difficult than over at QF. Just a guess. But looking at the difference in galley size between the 737s, VA have hardly any space to move, QF seem to have a little more working room. Can anyone clarify also if the QF CSM solely works QF J, including galley prep the lot. Because at VA, the CS is responsible for the entire thing, and has practically no assistance from any other crew.

 

[dk4]

65 minutes in the air, this is ample time to do this.

On which airline have you experienced the level of service you require, on a flight length you describe?

I do a very basic time and motion calculation in my head, and can't see how a CS, in a best case optimal scenario, can deliver more than 5.5 minutes of time to each passenger in J on a B737. (And that 5.5 minutes includes non contact time - from preparing F&B through to galley clean up. And then, I presume that non-contact requirements per passenger, heavily outweigh contact times, so perhaps less than 2 minutes total on any flight can be spent face to face* with any single J passenger?)

And then, during the cruise the CS obviously has additional commitments to the flight deck, their cabin staff and general management issues, which I haven't even factored in.

* And that face to face time is "divided up" into - taking your order, delivering your order, removing your order, delivering IFE, additional requests... etc

 

[serfty]

Lunch MEL to SYD - Prawn Curry and Rice:


Dinner SYD to MEL - Lamb with Couscous:


I was offer the Galaxy Tab after take off from MEL.

For the return, the devices were already sitting on the armrests with earphones - I was able to watch as the plane boarded - had to unplug earphones for safety demonstration.

 

[lovestotravel]

What dessert is that for lunch ?

Haven't seen that one before

 

[serfty]

What dessert is that for lunch ? ...

I reckon it was an inverted Panna cotta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ... (tipped from the mould)

 

[Justinf]

On which airline have you experienced the level of service you require, on a flight length you describe?

I do a very basic time and motion calculation in my head, and can't see how a CS, in a best case optimal scenario, can deliver more than 5.5 minutes of time to each passenger in J on a B737. (And that 5.5 minutes includes non contact time - from preparing F&B through to galley clean up. And then, I presume that non-contact requirements per passenger, heavily outweigh contact times, so perhaps less than 2 minutes total on any flight can be spent face to face* with any single J passenger?)

And then, during the cruise the CS obviously has additional commitments to the flight deck, their cabin staff and general management issues, which I haven't even factored in. f

* And that face to face time is "divided up" into - taking your order, delivering your order, removing your order, delivering IFE, additional requests... etc

First seatbelt (the one for the FAs) went off after three minutes. What I am trying to say is that in my opinion it would be nice to have meal and drink orders taken immediately, and then bring the drink order out before the meal service. Obviously as a nonregular J flyer it's just a personal opinion and that's why I visit this website, to get a better understanding of what goes on and obviously posts such as yours gives me a better idea of what to understand and expect. In my experience yesterday, there was ample time to do all this considering that IFE was not handed out at all and that it took around 20 minutes to be asked for my drink and meal preference and I was in 1D with a load of 6/8.If the serving of a round of drinks before a meal is not practical then so be it. Considering we did not get predeparture drinks, perhaps that time could be spent taking a first drink order for when the seatbelt sign goes off? I take that VA wants to actually have a J product that is superior to QF's? This is one way in which this could be achieved? Or maybe I am just being unrealistic?
Sorry, but my expectation of business class and the prices they charge for it, is more than what was delivered yesterday. Once again, just my opinion.

 

[markis10]

Ironically the only time I have been offered a pre meal drink in J was with DJ last week, might have helped being the only one in J, otherwise I cannot see how they would find the time, given it takes quite some time to set up the meal and trolley for serving etc.

 

[AirlineGuy]

You will however, receive a pre-meal drink and nuts on any flight longer than 3 hours.

For the return, the devices were already sitting on the armrests with earphones - I was able to watch as the plane boarded - had to unplug earphones for safety demonstration.

I like the sound of this. They should look at implementing this as a standard procedure. Maybe not on the armrests, but definately in the seat pocket? Would reduce the time inflight for the FA's to offer and distribute, and allow more time to actually use the thing.

 

[KCMil]

I'm sure many of you will be pleased to know that there is a new J class menu for A330 starting from 15 Oct. No details of menu yet! Likewise there is a change to the AM / PM "snack" services coming for J class. Reportedly a HOT/COLD choice on flights and slightly enhanced size as well as bakery. A welcome change I'm sure.

 

[Major]

About time...and yes very welcome

 

[pshepvic]

65 minutes in the air, includes climb and descent, which crew obviously cannot serve. I have a feeling working VA's Business is a little more difficult than over at QF. Just a guess. But looking at the difference in galley size between the 737s, VA have hardly any space to move, QF seem to have a little more working room. Can anyone clarify also if the QF CSM solely works QF J, including galley prep the lot. Because at VA, the CS is responsible for the entire thing, and has practically no assistance from any other crew.

Not really. In the past before J, they only had 4 FAs compared to QF's 5. Now they have 5, and the CSM pretty much spends the whole time at the front and does not assist the FAs further back. Pretty much the same as on a QF 737 but with 4 less seats in J!


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[ash.1111]

^ 5 crew are only on flights under a certain block time. BNE-SYD, yes. BNE-MEL, no. Also, not on -700s.

 

[pshepvic]

^ 5 crew are only on flights under a certain block time. BNE-SYD, yes. BNE-MEL, no. Also, not on -700s.

There were 5 FAs on my MEL-BNE-MEL flights last week.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Justinf]

Peobably a dumb question with a simple answer, but why don't J pax get served an alcoholic drink before take off on the 738 or E190?

 

[serfty]

Peobably a dumb question with a simple answer, but why don't J pax get served an alcoholic drink before take off on the 738 or E190?

Flights generally too short perhaps?

Maybe they do on 3+ hour flights as the catering philosphy is different.

Anyone with experience on this? SYD-CNS/DRW?

 

[brad330]

Flights generally too short perhaps?

Maybe they do on 3+ hour flights as the catering philosphy is different.

Anyone with experience on this? SYD-CNS/DRW?

CNS-SYD/MEL is exactly the same catering wise as any SYD-CBR/BNE/OOL service with the exception of and ice cream sandwiches loaded (you have to ask or you will not receive)

 

[serfty]

CNS-SYD/MEL is exactly the same catering wise as any SYD-CBR/BNE/OOL service with the exception of and ice cream sandwiches loaded (you have to ask or you will not receive)

Catering wise, somewhat as being over 3 hours they are always meal services.

Question is, are pre-meal drink orders taken on 3+ hours 737 flights?

 

[ash.1111]

Must have been a new crew member onboard then. One of those would have been their buddy trainer (+1 makes 5).

There were 5 FAs on my MEL-BNE-MEL flights last week.

Also, only 330 J has an alcoholic choice for pre take-off drinks.