Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[HeavyElectricity]

Was very impressed with 'The Business' food and service on a couple of recent transcontinental services.

PER-MEL 21st December (lunch):


Smoked salmon starter


Curried roast duck with lychee and almonds

[not pictured]
Vanilla slice


Coffee and a mince pie



MEL-PER 29th December (lunch):


Chicken and couscous


Beef ribs

[not pictured]
Lemon Pavlova with strawberries

 

[Pleb Status]

Menu on VA569 tonight SYD-PER. Might go for the seafood double.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Good to see the menus changing slightly. After only four flights on the old menu, I was getting pretty over it. Looking forward to trying the new stuff! Kind of wish they changed the menus even more frequently.

 

[Milboo]

SYD - CBR mid December - breakfast was Bircher muesli which was quite nice.

 

[Milboo]

MEL - SYD mid afternoon, choices were a chicken mushroom lattice topped pie or mozzarella with smashed peas, lemon and rocket.

Had the latter and really enjoyed the flavours of it but felt it either needed more smash or another ingredient as there was not a lot of put the mozzarella with but something I'd certainly eat again.

 

[Plutonus]

Out of curiousity, does anyone know what the difference is between the regular cabin supervisors in the normal uniform, and those in the darker black/charcoal uniform?

 

[Milefest]

Out of curiousity, does anyone know what the difference is between the regular cabin supervisors in the normal uniform, and those in the darker black/charcoal uniform?

Seen the female CSM uniform quite a few times now, it looks modern and professional. When you see it, it's quite obvious, a grayish charcoal coloured dress in the similar style as a regular FA's red dress. Still yet to see the male equivalent though.

Edit: Images of the uniform can be found here.

 

[Denali]

Seen the female CSM uniform quite a few times now, it looks modern and professional. When you see it, it's quite obvious, a grayish charcoal coloured dress in the similar style as a regular FA's red dress. Still yet to see the male equivalent though.

Edit: Images of the uniform can be found here.

Ah, that will explain the woman Im somehow following on Instagram annoucing she was putting away her red dress for a charcoal grey - I thought it was a promotion of some sort as she also posted pics of numerous badges. No idea how I started following her.

 

[Jousams]

No idea how I started following her.

Instagram is strange like that. I was once following, among other out of place pages, a few ISIS fan club pages, tens of pages about cats and a heap of gay cough stars. Strange considering I'm not a terrorist, allergic to cats and straight.

 

[Blackswan]

Instagram is strange like that. I was once following, among other out of place pages, a few ISIS fan club pages, tens of pages about cats and a heap of gay cough stars. Strange considering I'm not a terrorist, allergic to cats and straight.

On Instagram, you're only following those on the "home" tab. The "search" tab (magnifying glass) is the explore functionality - whereby Instagram suggests photo's and accounts that may interest you, based upon who you follow, and what you've liked in the past.

 

[Jousams]

On Instagram, you're only following those on the "home" tab. The "search" tab (magnifying glass) is the explore functionality - whereby Instagram suggests photo's and accounts that may interest you, based upon who you follow, and what you've liked in the past.

No it wasn't suggestions, it was follows. I think I may have been hacked.

 

[Plutonus]

Seen the female CSM uniform quite a few times now, it looks modern and professional. When you see it, it's quite obvious, a grayish charcoal coloured dress in the similar style as a regular FA's red dress. Still yet to see the male equivalent though.

Edit: Images of the uniform can be found here.

That explains the charcoal version then, but over the past 18 months I have had a few 'all black' outfits. Sometimes with an extra crew member up the front. Maybe a CSM trainer.

Anyway on Christmas Eve (SYD-OOL) only option was cheese platter, and last night only option was a beetroot and carrot chicken salad (OOL-SYD). The salad was quite tasty and refreshing, I declined the cheese platter.

Comparing to recent QF J short haul meals, VA is winning on the food front.

 

[Justinf]

ADL-MEL 8/1/2015 at 1.05pm.
2 pax in J on a 738.
Lunch selection was not in fact a selection at all. Only one option - what was described as a "coleslaw salad, but I can put some chicken pieces in it". The chicken pieces was OK, but there was no salad dressing to spruce it up. It was bland and inadequate for a lunch service.
It was awful. No hot option. No other option. For a lunch service is was abysmal.
The cheese and quince paste was OK and the choc cake passable. What I found most disappointing (yes even more disappointing than the ordinary lunch that was offered) was a total lack of low-alcohol options on the drinks menu. No low-alcohol beer available and for someone like me, who had already had two light beers in the Lounge prior and had to drive after the flight, I had a few sips of red wine.
All in all, massive fail and I'm usually easily pleased when it comes to food.

 

[Mattg]

This was dinner on an evening PER-SYD flight earlier this month.

Starter - king prawns with salsa



Main - salmon with tomato, potato and ginger curry



Both meals were very tasty. I was also impressed that VA had proper champagne in J, although I didn't really like the flat bottom wine glasses.

The new A330 suites are excellent too, although I (just) preferred the ones on QF.

 

[dk4]

Peeps, peeps, people, please.... Virgin Business Class is NOT a take it or leave it serving! Unlike their competitor, there are two additional formal (but not necessarily presented to you) menus on board every flight - so order from them as needed!

If you don't like the two main options presented for plating in Business Class, then start ordering off the Economy menu!
(Free of charge.) - https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/...ocuments/webcontent/~edisp/va-retail-menu.pdf

Pantry Pig didn't feel like either main meal option, so ordered a chicken sandwich (and a side serve of chips to boot).

And if you are still peckish after the main event, go raid the pantry (which also has fresh fruit and finger sandwiches on longer flights, pictured previously). - https://www.virginaustralia.com/cs/...tent/~edisp/summ_15_menu_jd_aus_c1_drinks.pdf

Pantry pig is NOT a fan of the gluten free organic chocolate (and must remember to order m&m's next time)

There are always more options on Virgin, than merely those which are presented to you. If it is your first time V.A.ing, and you are unsure - then just ask the CS: IME they (unlike their competitor's staff) actually enjoy mixing up their service for guests! (Remember a VA CS only has a maximum of 8 guests on a B737, whereas a QF CSM has up to 12 customers to deal with - so your Virgin CS has the time to personalise your experience way beyond that of their competitor - just ask!!!!!)

 

[Plutonus]

Peeps, peeps, people, please.... Virgin Business Class is NOT a take it or leave it serving!

To be honest, CSMs should be more proactive in this. I've only ever had one offer the economy menu/pantry items when I refused that dreaded cheese platter. On a related note, cheese platter only option four flights in a row now...

 

[Milefest]

when I refused that dreaded cheese platter. On a related note, cheese platter only option four flights in a row now...

Never had that option, though I generally fly mornings and evening. I'd be insulted if that's all they offered me.

 

[Plutonus]

Never had that option, though I generally fly mornings and evening. I'd be insulted if that's all they offered me.

I usually fly afternoons, before dinner service. I have provided feedback, but expect the standard nonchalant response.

 

[Spacetravel]

Thought i'd add my experience from a few months ago SYD>MEL Saturday night points upgrade from economy to J in the lounge.

I got the sticker on my boarding pass saying catering not guaranteed which was understandable due to the last minute (about 45 min before) upgrade. However during the flight they went through economy handed out the 'meal' to economy. Asked for some food was told I was made aware catering not guaranteed and there is no food available. Asked if I could at least have the economy snack I would have gotten if I was seated the row behind me in row 3 (my old seat was now vacant) and was told they had none left! So I spent points upgrading and doing so got less then I would have in economy.. so to compensate I made sure to go hard on the spirits at least.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Thought i'd add my experience from a few months ago SYD>MEL Saturday night points upgrade from economy to J in the lounge.

I got the sticker on my boarding pass saying catering not guaranteed which was understandable due to the last minute (about 45 min before) upgrade. However during the flight they went through economy handed out the 'meal' to economy. Asked for some food was told I was made aware catering not guaranteed and there is no food available. Asked if I could at least have the economy snack I would have gotten if I was seated the row behind me in row 3 (my old seat was now vacant) and was told they had none left! So I spent points upgrading and doing so got less then I would have in economy.. so to compensate I made sure to go hard on the spirits at least.

Wow!!! Thats mental. They had nothing from the so called pantry or anything? ?