Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[jazza1971]

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.

I'm sure had you asked for something, you would have received what ever drink they had on board!

 

[Princess Fiona]

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?

The trout was nice, I don't eat potato salad as I like my potatoes actually cooked properly and not crunchy ( not VA's fault as most potato salads are served like this). The ice cream was delicious.
You are correct in regard to the cheese option, passenger in 1A had it and it looked pretty poor as usual. I really think that VA should serve proper lunch in J on this flight. There is no Lounge at NTL ( unless you count Hungry Jacks ) , the departure is scheduled at 1400 and for c.$450 one way the meal service is well below par especially if VA serve lunch on other 1400 departures as per OP.

 

[KCMil]

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.






It should have been explained to you that the "Full" bar service is available to you on your flight, though alcohol is not on the cart for breakfast, nor is the champagne poured unless requested. Poor work on your CC members part there.

 

[bullerdude]

Agreed.

No where on the Business Class page on the VA website does it say the alcoholic drinks not available before 11am.

 

[brad330]

VA776 73H BSI LUNCH
0930 CNS-1140 BNE

VA950 73H BSI LUNCH
1300 BNE-1535 SYD

Travelled with mum and three sisters (11,13,15) Mock tail or water on boarding for both flights, first flight had lemon wedge in it. Crew on first flight looked and acted very tiered with heads hands. After economy crew released CSM waited ten mins leaning against door. When he got up he then asked if we were hungry and gave the options of pasta with meatballs or salad. All went for pasta. Meal received and then drink delivered then bread this order was the same for the second flight. Drinks refilled when empty the CSM was behalf eating a muesli bar and cam into cabin and asked if we wanted a drink while still eating my 13yo sister turned to me and said how unprofessional that was. I found the all male crew to be very bogan in the slang they used and the was they conducted them selves they were missing a woman's touch.

Second flight male CSM again all the same exept that the CSM completely ignored row one which my sisters and I were sitting in and served other second row meal and drink and ife then half way through the flight served my sisters and I. We all felt very discriminated against that the adults got served then children even though we were row one. It's not like they ar e ferrel bogans. They are very well presented and behaved for there ages.

I have given VA benifit of the doubt and swapped from QF and I find they are slipping. They need to change it up. I am almost platinum so I am stuck for the next t year or two.

Next flight is 1700 CBR-1810 MEL which I know is a snack. What should I expect? If it is the salmon or cheeses plate I will eat it he lounge.

Regards

Brad

 

[Fruitcake]

Crew on first flight looked and acted very tiered...

Sounds like they didn't stack up too well.

 

[lobo76]

I've got 3 more J trips ahead this month including my first on the A330
I'll get a taste of both cabins on the MEL-PER-MEL trip as I fly back with my partner, so we'll both be in Y (unless she tell me it's ok for me to upgrade to J, and means it ;P)

I'm hoping for the Barramundi as it looks pretty good, I'll also be getting merry on the flight as I go straight from the airport to a gig so I hope the drinks keep flowing

 

[Jousams]

On recent SYD-OOL flight
Morning snack service was offered.
Pesto Sandwich Fingers or Leek & SD tomato Quiche offered.
Decided on Quiche, come with fruit & cinamon & apple muffin.



Acceptable for a morning snack, however it could be branded as brunch and breakfast offering could simply be offered with muffin instead of crossiant. As it was not as good as a Vege Fritatta I've had previously for Breakfast.




CS was enthusiastic & helpful.
Overall it was good for an hour long business class flight.


Return was a lunchtime flight
Pesto Pasta Salad & Thai Prawn Curry Offered.
I opted for curry,
Rice was a tad dry but i was impressed with the prawns as seafood is often cooked wrong onboard flights & tasted good overall



CS was really cheerfull and helpfull making the flight that much more enjoyable.
And contrary to what i had read earlier on in this thread she happily served a plate of mixed nuts from economy menu afterwards.



Overall an excellent flight.

 

[MadFairlane]

Got my first A330 flight coming up in Jan.
BNE - xMEL - PER

Its one of the last departures from Melbourne, going in J all the way so will be great to experience the new bird, fingers crossed.

Then back on the redeye 10 days later, but only BNE-PER... I guess it will be better than economy lol

 

[jazza1971]

Some shots of a recent trip to Perth

737 snack service, was offered both options as I was only one up front

A330 Peking duck, green mango and papaya salad with tamarind dressing

[FONT=&amp]A330 Roast Lamb with red cabbage & roast pumpkin[/FONT]

A330 Desert (dont know what it was)

A330 King smoke salmon with soba noodles and ponzu dressing

[FONT=&amp]A330 Arabic spiced lamb cutlets with lemon couscous, sweet potato and chickpeas

[/FONT]

A330 Cheese platter & Muscat

B737 Dinner Shepard's Pie

Food was delecious on all flights, but sad I missed the Pork Belly across to Perth for some reason

Full trip report here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../virgin-business-class-trip-report-45909.html

 

[mickeyc747]

I have had this meal offered 6 times in the past 2 months SYD OOL SYD DRW ADL MEL MEL OOL SYD BNE HTI BNE sick of it refused it the last times and I dont like the alternative either. Last 12 J Sectors with QF over the smae period has been a different meal and snack 10 out of 12. Glad I am on a snack flight Christmas day with DJ

 

[dk4]

1.5 hour flight - AM snack

quiche

frittata


1.5 hour flight - lunch

 

[dk4]

A330 coast to coast lunch/dinner service

nuts (with pre-meal drink)

entree (with bread roll)

mains vego option (with side salad)

dessert (with cointreau)

 

[dk4]

For the purposes of contrast, at Qantas...

1.5 hour flight - PM snack

1.5 hour flight - dinner

 

[lovestotravel]

View attachment 11805
I have had this meal offered 6 times in the past 2 months SYD OOL SYD DRW ADL MEL MEL OOL SYD BNE HTI BNE sick of it refused it the last times and I dont like the alternative either. Last 12 J Sectors with QF over the smae period has been a different meal and snack 10 out of 12. Glad I am on a snack flight Christmas day with DJ

I am glad that someone else has picked up on the lack of variety with J VA food!

That pasta meal has been on offer for 6 months or more!

As I said Virgin can't manage well anything right really, they can't even change their menu often, yet they claim Luke Mangan's bid to make airline food yum | News.com.au

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

 

[Princess Fiona]

Return was a lunchtime flight
Pesto Pasta Salad & Thai Prawn Curry Offered.
I opted for curry,
Rice was a tad dry but i was impressed with the prawns as seafood is often cooked wrong onboard flights & tasted good overall

View attachment 11594

.

I had the same curry ( allegedly as it looks nothing like your picture) today MEL-SYD

3 prawns ( edible), rice burnt to a crisp and broccoli which was so overlooked it disintegrated at the mere touch of a fork
Hands down the worst meal I've ever been served in domestic J

 

[KCMil]

Seems Luke Mangan may be changing the menu weekly but nobody is telling the caterers that produce the "food" and I use that term lightly in the case of many meals. That frittata above, what in god's name is the slop baked onto the base of the dish, and that curry, the rice does have little brown tinges, (that's the coconut,) but it just looks burnt!
I truly believe that the biggest problem is the individual who prepares it on board. Too many are just turning the oven on for the set time and walking away never checking. When you get a good CS you can see that they check the food. Then they serve it with dishes wiped clean, no baked on slop. One CS told me part way through cooking she dribbles a drop of water onto rice and stirs it through, and the rice came out quite soft and pallatable.
Definitely seems it is time for VA to " Move Forward" and move Luke on!

 

[mannej]

For the purposes of contrast, at Qantas...

For completeness of contrast, what is served on a C2C equivalent of QF?

 

[robbie1984]

I am glad that someone else has picked up on the lack of variety with J VA food!

That pasta meal has been on offer for 6 months or more!

As I said Virgin can't manage well anything right really, they can't even change their menu often, yet they claim Luke Mangan's bid to make airline food yum | News.com.au

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

The cycles seem to change ok on the flights i've been on. Asked one of the crew once and each port has a set cycle so all flights out of SYD will have meal x that week, next week SYD will have meal y and meal x would then be put on the cycle for flights from MEL. Idea according to the CC was so that people who fly from the same port weekly/few times a week dont get the same meal.

Flying once a week I haven't had the same meal offered more than once or twice.

 

[mickeyc747]

For completeness of contrast, what is served on a C2C equivalent of QF?

I think C2C DJ win hands down but on the East Coast QF have far out performed DJ with variety and taste.