Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Justinf]

I', not even going to bother trying to requal gold this year. Last year I just made it...this year...meh.

 

[dk4]

Having a camera clean out, and found these...

 

[Zephyrana]

Ugh, stay away from the "vegetarian shepherd's pie". It's 50% undercooked onion with a little tomato, bitter eggplant, charred black red pepper strips with the skin on, topped with bland mashed potato. I can still taste the onion. Ptah.

The fresh basil leaves for garnish were yum, though.

 

[Carfield]

My first contribution here:
A very disappointed downgraded experience on VA 572 from Perth to Sydney! It was supposed to be an Airbus A330-200 flight, but the flight was downgraded to Boeing 737-800 about a week prior to departure (well I found out a week before)! As noted here, all the offerings of Airbus A330-200s ARE NOT OFFERED on the Boeing 737-800s. There were no pre-departure drink, no international style amenity kit, no linen, no hot towel, and printed menus. Indeed, there is no longer a continental breakfast offered prior to arrival. There was only one supper service, which was a choice of a Corn soup or chicken watercress sandwich served warm, along with a rosemary bread roll and a black cherry brownie. Service was completed in the first 30 minutes, and nothing was offered unless asked. I had to ask for a bottle of water, and there was no pre-landing juice or coffee service. The morning announcement was the promotion ad for Velocity. I have always been a fan of Virgin Australia transcontinental flight, but this down-gauge and downgrade of service has just shocked me. Given that there was no money or point differentiation, I did not understand why VA could not even provide the same service offered on the A330 flight. I was just thankful that I used point for this ticket, not $$$. I honestly would ask for a refund because the seat along was not appropriate for any redeye flight, but not to mention a supposedly transcontinental business class flight. I barely slept on this flight! Sorry for the ranting! But if your transcontinental flight is operated by 737s, please lower your expectation or book an A330 flight.

Here are the pictures:

 

[toowongman]

Again with the bread roll and bread. All those carbs, probably trying to get you to sleep.
I'd be asking for a partial points refund.
It's reasons like this that we're now doing BFOD over staying loyal to VA.

 

[Zephyrana]

This "sandwich with a bread roll with a cake" business is preposterous. Is Virgin taking kickbacks from Big Carb?

 

[mannej]

Warm chicken? Sounds like a recipe for disaster...

 

[Justchecking]

I would be expecting my morning coffee on any redeye flight. Hell, I' be expecting a breakfast if I were being honest.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Is Virgin taking kickbacks from Big Carb?

That is hilarious.

 

[hummel]

I urge anyone that has been downgraded to a 737 without sufficient notice to get in touch with the velocity team.

I wasn't notified and complained to Velocity and they offered to upgrade any domestic flight for me and I just had to email them. Shame I haven't been back to perth yet!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Pathetic. Do they not see how absurd it is to serve a bread roll with a sandwich?

Thats disgraceful

 

[young_nomads]

Pathetic. Do they not see how absurd it is to serve a bread roll with a sandwich?

Thats disgraceful

The business class meals are just a 1 out of 10. No thought or even common sense is involved!

 

[lovestotravel]

Virgin still can't get it right ? How long has it been now ?

 

[Moopere]

Whilst there is a significant difference in physical size, of the galley amongst other differences, there simply _has_ to be a way to close the massive product gap between an expensive J class transcon ticket on the 332 and the just as expensive J class ticket on the 73H ... there simply must be. If the powers that be are not interested in providing a similar experience then they seriously need to think about split pricing ... one (high) price for 332 flights and a much much lower price on the 73H. Personally, I very much dislike the 73H, no matter the class or length of flight so would happily pay the premium for a 332 seat.

 

[Justinf]

Braised beef and couscous MEL-SYD noon on Monday. Was OK, but nothing wonderful. The couscous was actually very difficult to eat. Bread roll was warm and the dessert, a cheesecake thing was quite nice.
The only red wine on offer was a merlot and I HATE merlot.
All in all, the standard of meals in J is dropping alarmingly.

 

[jpk]

SYD-MEL 8pm last week, pretty average experience. Took ages after takeoff to get a drink. I was expecting dinner (used to QF dinner times) but it was a snack service. FA offered a salad or "bocconcini balls". I asked was it really just cheese, and she said it was cheese with rice. This confused me so I chose the salad. Turns out it was actually arancini balls, which I would have had if I'd realised. Salad was ok if a bit bland and small. Anyway the strangest thing was the FA getting some small wine bottles off the economy cart - wine glass was given to me already full - tasted poor - I went to the galley later and yep, we all got the same wine as economy. I guess it didn't get loaded. After clearing the food the FA disappeared down the back to hang out with her mates, so that was the end of service. I'd be disappointed if I had paid or used points - this was a WP comp upgrade, so I just shrugged.

ADL-MEL 4pm - I flew ahead, changed flight 1 hour prior to takeoff, so I got the "catering not assured" sticker. Girl at the lounge said it would be fine though as they always have extra food. Errr no, didn't get anything. Had to ask for the pretzels from down back. Wine was good though. Cabin of 5 and only 2 got food. Again a comp upgrade so not bothered, but seems like VA don't expect many to flyfwd from evening to late afternoon flights (which is exactly when people DO want to flyfwd).

Outside of C2C it does seem a bit ordinary, but it's been a couple years since I did VA J on a short flight so perhaps that's the standard now.

 

[vmile]

Had to ask for the pretzels from down back.

I'm sorry, but as much as we are enjoying our VF experience at the moment the pack of just pretzels is dire.

The mint slice bikky is so much better, (but still a bit lame.........)

 

[Plutonus]

didn't get anything... Cabin of 5 and only 2 got food.

I'm not 100% sure how they cater, but surely they'd have at least enough on board for every original booked (not fly ahead) J passenger to get a meal. Maybe this is worthy of feedback?

 

[Justchecking]

This "sandwich with a bread roll with a cake" business is preposterous. Is Virgin taking kickbacks from Big Carb?

Wheat is cheap these days. Half the world is paleo and the other half is gluten free. They've got to sell it somewhere. :mrgreen:

 

[notzac]

SYD-MEL 8pm last week, pretty average experience. Took ages after takeoff to get a drink. I was expecting dinner (used to QF dinner times) but it was a snack service. FA offered a salad or "bocconcini balls". I asked was it really just cheese, and she said it was cheese with rice. This confused me so I chose the salad. Turns out it was actually arancini balls, which I would have had if I'd realised. Salad was ok if a bit bland and small. Anyway the strangest thing was the FA getting some small wine bottles off the economy cart - wine glass was given to me already full - tasted poor - I went to the galley later and yep, we all got the same wine as economy. I guess it didn't get loaded. After clearing the food the FA disappeared down the back to hang out with her mates, so that was the end of service. I'd be disappointed if I had paid or used points - this was a WP comp upgrade, so I just shrugged.

No, you paid for the upgrade. Doesn't matter that it wasn't $$, your upgrade still wasn't free.

I'd be complaining loudly. A FA not knowing what food is available, serving whY wine and then vanishing like that is terrible service and grounds for compensation IMHO.