Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[jsd]

Does anyone know what sort of menu is offered for mid afternoon flights in J on the 738? I've only done J on this aircraft at lunchtime but have to take the later flight (1550) next week from HBA.

Sorry if it's already been covered in here somewhere...

Josh.


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[lovestotravel]

Cheese.....

 

[robbie1984]

Does anyone know what sort of menu is offered for mid afternoon flights in J on the 738? I've only done J on this aircraft at lunchtime but have to take the later flight (1550) next week from HBA.

Sorry if it's already been covered in here somewhere...

Josh.


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

Depends what cycle they're on. Last mid-afternoon snack i had on a flight about 2 weeks ago was a zucchini fritter, fruit salad and a cupcake thing. was very nice.

 

[dandandan]

I was just joking around with you about the drinking and the Chorizo pasta, thanks for understanding that, but I personally don't think it is the best meal after having it a few times. The pie I was very impressed with though and if it was always on the menu and the other choice was the Chorizo Pasta or the Vegetarian for example, then there would be no problems as the fail safe of the pie would be there. Doesn't Qantas have a Neil Perry pie they tried to take of the menu but after a backlash it's now always permanent?

The salad leaves by themselves that comes with the some meals though are disappointing I think. As I mentioned earlier, even adding some cherry tomatoes would make it a whole lot more enjoyable and lift it's paltry profile.

The meals on the transcon are another story and in another league from what I have read and what I have seen in pictures here. Personally I have not experienced them but can't wait to organise a trip over to the Margaret River wineries so I can experience these flights and their service.

haha, fair guess, but no. I rarely drink much on flights as I find it dehydrates me. Maybe a sparkly to start and thats about it.

I've had the shepherds pie many times now and despite some negative comments by others a while ago I've found it to be pretty tasty - though I'm no fan of mushy peas and I push them to one side.

It shouldn't make a difference, but perhaps it does ... most of my flights are transcon on the A330's .... my J experience on DJ as a result is usually very good and I'm struggling as I sit here to think of a recent bad meal experience.

 

[lovestotravel]

I thought the menu's had all changed a month or so ago ?

I was getting the sheppards pie and the chorizo pasta back in July

 

[Princess Fiona]

Quick question, what's supposed to be the meal service on a 1400 departure?

 

[serfty]

Quick question, what's supposed to be the meal service on a 1400 departure?

look at the OP ... "Lunch"

 

[Princess Fiona]

look at the OP ... "Lunch"

Hence my confusion as today's flight NTL-MEL scheduled 1400 was served a "Snack"

 

[serfty]

Maybe DJ have redefined their timings - 'X' was quite specific about 'snack' being 14:01 - ...

 

[N860CR]

I got a snack on a 2pm BNE-SYD. The rice paper roll things.

 

[Princess Fiona]

IIRC I have always had a snack ex-NTL. Admittedly not the greatest sample as that's only about the 5th time I've been on that particular flight. Wonder if its anything to do with where its catered from ?

 

[serfty]

IIRC I have always had a snack ex-NTL. Admittedly not the greatest sample as that's only about the 5th time I've been on that particular flight. Wonder if its anything to do with where its catered from ?

Maybe you should contact VA customer Service asking what timeframes they now cater?

 

[muppet]

IIRC I have always had a snack ex-NTL. Admittedly not the greatest sample as that's only about the 5th time I've been on that particular flight. Wonder if its anything to do with where its catered from ?

MEL - CBR 8:30am is always "morning snack" not "breakfast" have done it about 6 or 7 times since july.

so perhaps the 1 minute past is no more.

another data point.

 

[KCMil]

Hence my confusion as today's flight NTL-MEL scheduled 1400 was served a "Snack"
View attachment 11471

This is indeed the current PM snack loaded out of MEL, the other option is the dreaded "CHEESE", the dessert is the lemon curd by Serendipity, served with a sour dough roll. The snack in this pic is Smoked trout with dill and potato salad. I've certainly seen / tasted worse! How did you find it Princess?

 

[KCMil]

Ok, I like VA service and style, and generally am happy with J class, though I would like to see some polishing to the product and service, but the following article is just a "P**s take:

Cookies must be enabled | Herald Sun

Seriously, the line... "Business class guests are also served a signature mocktail, while the snack range includes rice paper rolls and cheese plates." Made me want to choke on my
gluten free water cracker!

He wants to make airline food yum, try tasting his own dishes four or five times a week.

 

[lovestotravel]

Also from that article, and I laughed

"Mangan, who also designs the menus for Virgin lounges in Australia, says the most important thing is getting the balance right.​

"

"The celebrity chef plans Virgin's menus a year in advance with the help of two other chefs and changes the menu in business class once a week on domestic flights and every three months on international flights.

"Since January we have had so many comments from people about how much they love some dishes, so we keep them on,'' he says.

Menu for a DJ lounge ?
Rice - Check
Chicken curry - Check
OR
Nachos - Check
Beans - Check

Such a great menu... (Granted I haven't flown with Virgin for a few months, has the lounge food changed at all for dinner yet?)

The menu changes in business class one a week on domestic flights ? Ummmmmm I think NOT


​

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Flew DJ697 MEL-PER last night. My first J class flight and I wasnt disappointed! Missed my original set of flights by a few minutes (MEL-SYD-PER) and despite being already checked in, Lisa (?) and Christopher on the desk were awesome and moved me onto the direct MEL-PER no questions asked. Drank the lounge dry for a few hours before it was off down to gate 4 for boarding onto -XFE D). Got 2A in a very lightly loaded cabin of 5/24. Pre departure bubbles offered and graciously accepted. Patrick the J cabin manager introduced himself and was amazing the whole flight, very attentive and professional (couldn't have asked more of him). IFE rebooted for some reason so crew had to do a manual demo, good thing they still know it! Opted for the duck entre and pork main. Both were nothing short of delicious. Awesome flavours and very tender. Pork crackle was very more-ish! As others have noted however the salad wasnt the best, but it was well dressed and fresh so is better than nothing really (how hard would carrot sticks and some cherry tomatoes be though?). Rich pistachio and choc cheesecake to finish. Guys in the pointy end were happy to have me up the front for a chat after the flight which was very much appreciated! Overall a great flight and a very happy camper, I don't want to go down the back ever again!!

Entrée:


Main:


Dessert:

 

[Moopere]

Nachos - Check
Beans - Check​

I gotta tell you though. Coming from PER, I would have killed for a nice plate of nacho's in the QP when I used to travel with QF. I think I got a watery soup at the PER QP once ... thats the best I could do.

Mind that the PER VA lounge is a joke too ... best I've done there is one of those muesli things in a little glass. Elsewhere however, things are considerably better food wise in the VA lounge I've found ... but plenty of room for improvement thats for sure.
​

 

[mavrick9]

I had a recent flight in J by myself PER-MEL 9.00am Departure on a nice clear Saturday Morning. (9.30am Wheels Up) Only 4 pax in the J cabin so plenty of room.

I was secretly hoping that the 9.30am wheels up would let me choose from the 'Lunch' menu as it was a bit better looking that the breakfast option.


Was offered OJ / Tomato juice or water on boarding. Breakfast was a "Hot Cake" with mango and cream, fruit salad, and the soggy croissant


Non-alcoholic drinks were offered throughout the flight. I did ask for a coffee, but the espresso/coffee machine was apparently 'broken', so luckily I had a coffee in the MEL lounge. I was then served a 'ordinary coffee'. Near the end of the flight it's around 1pm EST so you probably should be getting stuck into the vino.. Nothing offered though as I think it's a "Breakfast" flight.


The metal was one of the Emirates re-fits, but no problem there. I couldn't find any In-seat power for laptop etc, but wasn't that important so I didn't ask. I had a Macbook so did't even bother with the IFE. There is a large screen at the front of the cabin showing the under cough-pit camera for take-off and landing. Nice feature from a former owner.


Was a good flight. Flight staff were great. The food didn't come out on a trolley (as has been discussed on another thread).


Nice product Virgin. But I wouldn't pay $1,355 for it. The points upgrade from Flexi , or the comp - upgrades are pretty good.


On the return PER-MEL I sat up the back with family. I moved from the first row behind J to the back as I was on a different booking to the family, to be with them.


At the back of the A330 there are a couple of rows of 2-3-2 , rather then 2-4-2. There is a little bit more space, even though the aircraft narrows.


No toilets aft so no one is bum-facing you waiting. You can also walk around a bit. The food was sub-Qantas I thought. I've never had a problem with the Qantas Chicken-or-the-beef-Sir? offerings. But the Virgin pasta thingy was sub-impressive, and the presentation in the white plastic slip tray could be better.


It does look a bit like a "how cheap can we make this" meal. The Qantas meals over the last few years have got smaller, cheaper but still look presentable and taste fine.


PERTH VIRGIN LOUNGE: There are windows, but they are all fogged so you can't see out. It's large. But a bit square, no real quite nooks to hide. We were there at breakfast 8am on a Saturday. About 10 people wandered in. The bathrooms are very Perth-Airport-From-Ansett-Days-1992 not the glossy black marble tiles of the MEL lounge.


I ordered a Latte. Now coming from Melbourne a Latte is served in a Duralex 8.5ounce glass. In Perth, it's served in a huge Milkshake glass. I would have though that the product would be the same lounge to lounge. But then again it's Perth.


One thing I did want is some pancakes. No machine? Just as we were leaving I saw one inside the kitchen, behind the bar. So perhaps you have to ask for a serving of the Luke Mangan Pancakes in Perth.

 

[DSFlyer]

Hence my confusion as today's flight NTL-MEL scheduled 1400 was served a "Snack"
View attachment 11471

On Friday's Melbourne to Brisbane in J at 1500 there was a snack choice which was the smoked trout (which I believe is what you have in the photograph) or a cheese plate.

It appears they are now offering a choice.