I agree with other comments that there is no discount for J fares that only provide a snack so there should be the option of a substantial snack/grazing type of plate that you can choose along with a full service meal at all times, when travelling in J however it seems at least there is more an offer at snack time now instead of the $2.50 Baker's Delight scroll!.
On Sunday we flew SYD-OOL in J and we got the option of the Shepherd's pie and Tofu Salad for lunch. I though I would try the Tofu Salad, after a post of it here, it was good except for the Tofu which was not good so it sort of defeated the purpose of calling it a Tofu salad. My wife ordered the Shepherds Pie and we got another Shepherds Pie for our 2.5yr old son, just in case he was still hungry after recently having morning tea, which he wasn't so I scored that luckily and I shared the salad with my wife. I really rated this Shepherd's Pie and think it was the best Virgin J class meal on a short haul east coast route I have had, we both commented that and were impressed and happy. The flavour was excellent and I think this should be added as an option that is always on the menu...a fail safe. The meal also came with a nice warm bread roll and a very nice, rich,
little chocolate tart (white chocolate on top of milk chocolate in a pastry tart), I stole that description form someone else's post!. Besides not being possible, I don't expect restaurant quality meals on these flights but meals like the Shepherd Pie are extremely satisfactory and excellent.
The return BNE-SYD in J on Monday night was a bit of a let down. I got the pasta with the chorizo and capsicum/peppers or whatever you want to call them and to be honest I think it is pathetic dish that has a cough and flavourless cream sauce of some sort. I didn't really hear the attendant when she offered the choice's, (my fault for not asking again, however the other choice was vegetarian), I thought it was some sort of other pasta but when it came it was the rubbish one I have had a few times before. My wife agreed and I think our 2.5yr old son did as well as he snobbed his nose at it and ate the bread roll, just plain by itself. My son is not a fussy eater either, unless the food is tasteless and loves pasta. (Those comments about the toddler are true by the way) The meal also came with the pathetic attempt of a salad, a bowl of leaves, couldn't some cherry tomatoes at least be added???
Service on SYD-OOL was good and attentive, constantly offered more and anything we would like, whilst this can be annoying it is great on Virgin as you do usually have to ask or wonder why the attendant is hiding behind the curtains or disappeared down the back of the plane, as in the case of the BNE-SYD.
Service on the BNE-SYD flight was mixed, the attendant raced off down the back once meals were served and one refill was offered. Another attendant at one stage came down the front and we thought we would press the call button to get him to refill the wine however he ignored it and the original attendant came back to service the call after a few minutes, quite strange really. I even saw the First Officer bring out his own tray in the time the attendant went up the back to continue her chat with the other attendant, that she was having a great old chat with when we took off and up until we were in the air, that we all got to hear every detail about.
I also think more choice than just one red and one white wine should be offered. Chardonnay and Merlot as the only option on both flight's, I am a fan of both but I know many people who are not big fans of Chardonnay (crazy I think, but that is another story) for instance .
The other thing about J that I have seen mentioned before and also think should be added is a footrest, how these seats do not have them I don't know, maybe the seat budget didn't extend another $50 to add this option.
Below photo courtesy of Pythonisman, I had exactly the same meal OOL-SYD 02.12.12 which was very good and should be added to the menu full time I think.
Below photo courtesy of RickyT84, I had the exact same meal on SYD-BNE 03.12.12, and have had it before, I think it is cough, please stop serving it.
My beef with the snack service is the fact that there is a snack service
I don't notice any price discount for travelling at 'snack' times and its not up to the airline to determine how hungry I might be. Full service, to me, is full service, I really don't know what they are trying to achieve by offering 'snacks' on a full cost J fare.
