Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[OzEire]

I could not agree more with toowongman's latest post. It is quite telling that we are now 'surprised' when receiving good service in J class.

 

[Flyer 777]

Hi today I received a call from Guest Relations regarding my experience and complaint. The lovely lady who called me was genuinely shocked and alarmed at what had occurred. She explained it is actually in black and white in the flight crews operation manual that Business Class passengers can have anything from the economy menu if they wish. She was apologetic and appreciated the balanced feedback. I was kindly given
a nice deposit of points and assured that the CSM involved has been allocated for further training.
Happy that I received a personal call to discuss and apology.

Thanks to all for your input.

 

[bullerdude]

Now if they can just issue us a copy of the J operations manual that we can refer to when in J class in case of a bad crew

 

[stoneman]

Or get a copy of the pantry menu....

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Hi today I received a call from Guest Relations regarding my experience and complaint. The lovely lady who called me was genuinely shocked and alarmed at what had occurred. She explained it is actually in black and white in the flight crews operation manual that Business Class passengers can have anything from the economy menu if they wish. She was apologetic and appreciated the balanced feedback. I was kindly given
a nice deposit of points and assured that the CSM involved has been allocated for further training.
Happy that I received a personal call to discuss and apology.

Thanks to all for your input.

That's great news. Really impressed they picked up the phone.

 

[kevrosmith]

Hi today I received a call from Guest Relations regarding my experience and complaint. The lovely lady who called me was genuinely shocked and alarmed at what had occurred. She explained it is actually in black and white in the flight crews operation manual that Business Class passengers can have anything from the economy menu if they wish. She was apologetic and appreciated the balanced feedback. I was kindly given
a nice deposit of points and assured that the CSM involved has been allocated for further training.
Happy that I received a personal call to discuss and apology.

Thanks to all for your input.

Afaik, all the CSMs have Business Cards... I remember some time in the last 18 months one of the CSMs telling me and showing me their Business card. Next time this happens, ask them for one of theirs so that you can supply direct feedback to them.

 

[RickyT84]

Travelled on VA888 from SYD to MEL (8pm departure) last Friday and was offered a choice of a cold chicken terrine or a hot vegetarian quiche.

I went with the hot option and was present with this:


Served with a choice of multigrain or white roll plus the side salad and Serendipity choc chip ice cream. The taste of the quiche is not bad but I am slightly disappointed with the portion as you get a bigger meal on QF at a comparable (dinner time) flight.

 

[danielt25]

Traveled Cairns to Brisbane on 10am departure (2/3/16). Served scones with jam and cream. Other choice was chicken sandwich fingers.



Travelled Brisbane to Cairns (21/02/16), 8pm departure - chose the salad / cold option

 

[Milefest]

Travelled Brisbane to Cairns (21/02/16), 8pm departure - chose the salad / cold option

View attachment 66396

I like that they give you a side of salad with your salad.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Two flights this weekend
NTL-BNE

Pumpkin soup with chicken
BNE-NTL

Scones.

No choice on either flight which I thought was very odd.

 

[Mattg]

As much as I enjoy scones with jam & cream, I must admit that I would be pretty disappointed to be served this in business class. Especially if there was no other option.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

As much as I enjoy scones with jam & cream, I must admit that I would be pretty disappointed to be served this in business class. Especially if there was no other option.

Agree, it's actually pathetic.

 

[danielt25]

Yes I Was quite surprised to be offered scones and jam in business class!!
Comparing Qantas and virgin business on the 737-800 - Qantas wins my vote - Qantas just feels more premium

I did actually buy several $399 business fares in their most recent business fare sale (cbs-bne / bne-cns) but have since cancelled them and opted for a saver fare with option to premium upgrade me bid.

Given I usually fly at 8pm I only get offered the snack which usually is either
the arancini balls,
the quesadilla
The mushroom quiche
There's no reason to get more status credits for me as I have already regained WP so would.prefer to save the extra money from an upgrademe saver fare

 

[greenfish]

For what it is worth, I've done a couple of recent trans-tasman VA J flights, and single QF flight.

The VA flight food was excellent - both flights ex AKL, the first had a really delicious green curry, and the second was a salmon filet with various bits and bobs. Both delicious. In both cases there were two options. The QF food was very ordinary.

Where VA are failng in terms of the premium experience at least TT:
* No food menus
* Limited wine options - and again, no printed menu

On both VA flights I found wine I liked - but that was luck with such minimal choice. The experience is just a bit "low rent". Having said that, at least ex-AKL I'll keep flying VA as the food is so nice

 

[kevrosmith]

Barrmundi with rice and black bean sauce. Overall it was nice, though the fish was a little too fishy.

Other choice was the pumpkin soup PF showed above.

 

[bullerdude]

The main theme that i've seen continuing with VA J meals is that Lunchtime/Dinnertime meals tend to be pretty decent but the 'snack' meals at other time tend to miss the mark.

This is one of the most annoying about J class, given that the tickets are always the same price.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

The main theme that i've seen continuing with VA J meals is that Lunchtime/Dinnertime meals tend to be pretty decent but the 'snack' meals at other time tend to miss the mark.

This is one of the most annoying about J class, given that the tickets are always the same price.

Definitely. I feel like every flight should be catered with full meals regardless of timing. Pax don't have to eat it, but there is no time during the day I wouldn't eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Are the meal times in the first post of this thread still what VA go by, or have they enhanced it?

It only just occurred to me that the 17:00 SYD-MEL I just booked for September would be a snack flight rather than a dinner flight. I'm not fussed in this case, because I deliberately picked an earlier flight to allow more connecting time in MEL prior to MEL-AUH, so I can eat at the EY lounge should it actually open. (And I'm sure I'll be stuffing myself on the long haul anyhow! )

But to mrsmart's point, how much better would it be if J customers never had worry about whether it's a snack or a full meal, knowing they had the choice?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Are the meal times in the first post of this thread still what VA go by, or have they enhanced it?

It only just occurred to me that the 17:00 SYD-MEL I just booked for September would be a snack flight rather than a dinner flight. I'm not fussed in this case, because I deliberately picked an earlier flight to allow more connecting time in MEL prior to MEL-AUH, so I can eat at the EY lounge should it actually open. (And I'm sure I'll be stuffing myself on the long haul anyhow! )

But to mrsmart's point, how much better would it be if J customers never had worry about whether it's a snack or a full meal, knowing they had the choice?

It's kind of like what's being discussed over here...

Being a premium pax (whether by status or cabin) should mean having to worry less and have more options, flexibility and comfort. So being able to totally pig out at any time of the afternoon, say, because you've been in meetings all day, is an absolute godsend.

 

[dandandan]

Maybe they are worried about wastage in flights that are outside the major recognised eating times of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, where people may have already had their Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and may just want a snack. It's however fairly obvious from this thread alone, if not their feedback and complaints, that people paying for J or upgrading etc want the full food and wine experience and will save themselves for that on the plane. If Virgin were listening in this area then they would offer a SIA style book the cook service and these types of problems and complaints are solved.

It's kind of like what's being discussed over here...

Being a premium pax (whether by status or cabin) should mean having to worry less and have more options, flexibility and comfort. So being able to totally pig out at any time of the afternoon, say, because you've been in meetings all day, is an absolute godsend.