Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

Overall, my opinion is that meals and service have significantly improved on the E190s and B737s over the last year. Obviously, the refurbs on the E190s helps. The latest new round of meals have nearly all been very tasty. Serving meals instead of snacks on evening flights is a good improvement. I'm happy the cheese platters have disappeared. Luckily, I've always been offered either mocktail or still water on flights after 11am. Although service has improved, it is still quite variable. There are some excellent Virgin CSMs that greet you by name, already have bottled water and Samsung tablet in your seat pocket before you board, are able to naturally chit-chat with you without feeling forced and ensure your drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) are always topped up, especially when your eating. You bascially don't need to ask for anything. The bad CSMs don't make you feel welcome and you have to constantly keep buzzing them to ask for things that are usually automatically done on other flights. The only pattern i've noticed is that certain routes that don't have a high J load (like PER-ADL) tend to have the bad CSMs compared to other sectors that frequently have a high J load.

As for the A330s, the meals and service have consistently been excellent for the last 2ish years. As mentioned previously, the Lanson champagne/juice/water preflight drink choice is only offered on the A330s.
 
Speaking of breakfast, i forgot to put up these photos from a return (11pm departure from Perth) back to Sydney flight on a A330 (yay, my first in J which wasn't onboard VH-XFA or XFB!).

Unfortunately I can't remember what the soup was.. and I don't have the menu to consult.

The soup was the supper, along with some bread and a sweet.
Breakfast was a full breakfast, with fruit, cereal, (sweet) bread, yoghurt, juice and a hot chocolate.

Not bad after a few hours nap in a Lie Flat seat ;)

2013-03-21 00.14.09.jpg

2013-03-21 05.19.03.jpg
 
Hi all,
I don't really fancy reading through nearly a thousand posts and I figure the offerings would have evolved quite a bit since the thread was started over a year ago....
So, does anyone know (or know where to find out, I searched but couldn't find) what is offered in J on these flights which I have booked for early May:

VA1457 MEL-DRW, dep 0145hrs.... a late late dinner or breakfast towards the end of the flight maybe?

VA1345 DRW-SYD, dep 1440hrs.... a late lunch or dinner later on in the flight?

Thanks in advance...
D-H
 
Hi all,
I don't really fancy reading through nearly a thousand posts and I figure the offerings would have evolved quite a bit since the thread was started over a year ago....
So, does anyone know (or know where to find out, I searched but couldn't find) what is offered in J on these flights which I have booked for early May:

VA1457 MEL-DRW, dep 0145hrs.... a late late dinner or breakfast towards the end of the flight maybe?

VA1345 DRW-SYD, dep 1440hrs.... a late lunch or dinner later on in the flight?

Thanks in advance...
D-H

I recently flew DRW-SYD about 1.5wks ago. My memory is already hazy but i'm pretty sure we had a 2 course late lunch at the start (Entree and main). We were also given some icecream later in the flight in addition to the chocolate macadaemia nuts that go on the lunch tray. If you didn't already know, there is still no virgin lounge in Darwin.
 
Morning snack on MEL-OOL. Was fine, although a better quality croissant would have made it decent.
WP_20130401_001.jpg

Afternoon snack on OOL-MEL. Was pretty decent, pie was quite tastly, overall good service.
WP_20130406_005.jpg


I definately feel like the meals are improving and the serving quality is more consistant.
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

Yesterday on the 1700 MEL-SYD service:

2DrKxE1n+


The meal was fettuccine with prawns. It doesn't look like much but it was very nice. A warmed bread roll was also served (something QF don't bother doing anymore in J), but I took the photo before this was delivered.

I flew ahead and was prepared to give up catering but the lovely Natalie in the lounge called through to see if a meal could be loaded for me (before moving my flight). I was then advised that I could sit anywhere I liked as I was the only guest in J (full Y cabin).

I was also surprised to have a dinner service on a 1700 flight.

Service was impeccable, and Belinda looked after me very well. I have sent positive feedback, because with the way Business service is improving it's becoming very hard to stick with Qantas (I've had some very uninspiring QF Business flights recently - I flew SYD-MEL on QF J the day before).

I'm also a fan of the E190 J product. I think I prefer it over the 737 as the service is very individualised.
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

SYD-MEL VA838 on 1st April. Some cous cous, IMO hardly appetising!
image.jpg
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

A few photos from the last few months on the golden triangle..

SYD-BNE
Morning snack - An awesome Ham and Cheese toasty (you won't see this on QF to Dubai)
IMG_20130223_120725.jpg

MEL-SYD
Dinner - Think it was Beef cheeks. Was impressed.
IMG_20130314_195619.jpg


SYD-MEL
Breakfast on a 737-700
Pork sausage, bacon, tomatoes and some reconst egg thingy underneath which was average
(also not seeing this on QF to London).
6/8 in the cabin

IMG_20130409_080332.jpg

MEL-SYD
Evening snack (well both evening snacks!).. I was 1/8 in the cabin on a 5.30pm flight! (and I had used comp upgrade)
Cheese platter with grapes and an apple puree of some description
Cold noodles with I think duck (CSM just gave them to me and didn't tell me what they were)
IMG_20130409_174942.jpg
 
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Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

a few photos from the last few months on the golden triangle..

Syd-bne
morning snack - an awesome ham and cheese toasty (you won't see this on qf to dubai)
View attachment 14627

mel-syd
dinner - think it was beef cheeks. Was impressed.
View attachment 14626


syd-mel
breakfast on a 737-700
pork sausage, bacon, tomatoes and some reconst egg thingy underneath which was average
(also not seeing this on qf to london).
6/8 in the cabin

View attachment 14624

mel-syd
evening snack (well both evening snacks!).. I was 1/8 in the cabin on a 5.30pm flight! (and i had used comp upgrade)
cheese platter with grapes and an apple puree of some description
cold noodles with i think duck (csm just gave them to me and didn't tell me what they were)
View attachment 14625

3 pieces of cheese & on an actual plate!

This is what they neded to do 12 months ago!
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

A few photos from the last few months on the golden triangle..

SYD-BNE
Morning snack - An awesome Ham and Cheese toasty (you won't see this on QF to Dubai)
View attachment 14627

QF now have a 'Signature' J Toasted Sandwich; The Schnitzel and Coleslaw toasted Sandwich. Had this a few times last month, and it's pretty damn good!

And contrary to rumours i've read on here, the F Steak Sandwich is still very much with us (according to the CSD on my flights). The J one is an introduction so people always have a staple if they feel like it. It's served in a Cibatta-esque roll.
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

QF now have a 'Signature' J Toasted Sandwich; The Schnitzel and Coleslaw toasted Sandwich. Had this a few times last month, and it's pretty damn good!

And contrary to rumours i've read on here, the F Steak Sandwich is still very much with us (according to the CSD on my flights). The J one is an introduction so people always have a staple if they feel like it. It's served in a Cibatta-esque roll.

Last toasted sandwich I had on QF was soggy on the bottom and dry on the type. Not really what you expect for a J price meal. A toastie is the sort of thing that has to be perfect if you are going to serve it.
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

Last toasted sandwich I had on QF was soggy on the bottom and dry on the type. Not really what you expect for a J price meal. A toastie is the sort of thing that has to be perfect if you are going to serve it.
What sandwich was it? The Steak and Schnitzel ones i've had on QF have all been warm, crunchy and tasty!
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

Was a steak one, it was warm but the whole experience was a let down.

In F? The F steak sandwich has always been brilliant. It's more roll than sandwich but QF have a sandwich toaster on their 380's for F and J.
 
Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering

In F? The F steak sandwich has always been brilliant. It's more roll than sandwich but QF have a sandwich toaster on their 380's for F and J.
No, was in J. but it shouldn't matter if it was F or J. If it cant be served right, it shouldn't be served at all. Hate to imagine what they serve in Y!
 

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