Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[AIRwin]

One found five minutes to do her hair in the toilet and both found plenty of time to chat to each other before landing.

Curious how you knew she did her hair in the toilet?

 

[twinaisle]

I actually flew the same route MEL back to CBR a few days later. The last flight of the day and exactly the same options offered as on the way over (sandwich or salad bowl).

Staff were nothing if not efficient - meal orders taken before take off, all meals delivered to seats within 10 minutes of seatbelts off and trays collected again shortly thereafter.

The two cabin crew spent the rest of the flight… not doing much. One found five minutes to do her hair in the toilet and both found plenty of time to chat to each other before landing. After the initial service and clean up that was it - no drink refills or any other service offered to passengers. Probably one of the worst Virgin flights I’ve been on service wise.

I actually flew the same route MEL back to CBR a few days later. The last flight of the day and exactly the same options offered as on the way over (sandwich or salad bowl).

Staff were nothing if not efficient - meal orders taken before take off, all meals delivered to seats within 10 minutes of seatbelts off and trays collected again shortly thereafter.

The two cabin crew spent the rest of the flight… not doing much. One found five minutes to do her hair in the toilet and both found plenty of time to chat to each other before landing. After the initial service and clean up that was it - no drink refills or any other service offered to passengers. Probably one of the worst Virgin flights I’ve been on service wise.

Anyway, heating or not heating of food on a short flight isn’t that bigger deal - I just said in my initial post that it would have been nice, which it would as would Virgin perhaps putting a little more effort into this route. But first world problems and all that - it is still sharply priced for Canberra and on the whole the service has been pretty decent on most flights.

I suppose you expect the crew to be offering a service for the whole flight? 20 mins service time means every minute has to be dedicated to passengers and they're not allowed to have a breather, something to eat, drink or it could of been some feedback/ rapport building between the crew?

Curious to know what other services did you expect on a MEL-CBR flight after the meal trays were cleared in? Liquor and chocolate service? Dessert cart?

If a flight under an hour was one of the worst flights you've had then I can't begin to imagine what kind of service standards you expect on a longer flight.

We love guests onboard but there's always choices and other airlines too if you're not happy.

 

[ole nimeton]

Curious how you knew she did her hair in the toilet?

I was sitting in the first row, diagonally opposite watching - the door was open.

 

[MooTime]

I was sitting in the first row, diagonally opposite watching - the door was open.

Eyeing of the bathroom..... Best to grab a book next time or the newspaper, I suggest The Australian, nice n big to block any alternate views!

 

[ole nimeton]

I suppose you expect the crew to be offering a service for the whole flight? 20 mins service time means every minute has to be dedicated to passengers and they're not allowed to have a breather, something to eat, drink or it could of been some feedback/ rapport building between the crew?

Curious to know what other services did you expect on a MEL-CBR flight after the meal trays were cleared in? Liquor and chocolate service? Dessert cart?

If a flight under an hour was one of the worst flights you've had then I can't begin to imagine what kind of service standards you expect on a longer flight.

We love guests onboard but there's always choices and other airlines too if you're not happy.

I was trying to be constructive in my observations but clearly it isn’t well received. It is interesting hearing your perspective from the other side - duly noted.
Anyway, moving on.

 

[ole nimeton]

Eyeing of the bathroom..... Best to grab a book next time or the newspaper, I suggest The Australian, nice n big to block any alternate views!

Pretty hard to avoid eyesight to the bathroom from that angle mate, especially if The Australian is the alternative. I felt looking up to see what the crew was doing was only fair given my very empty glass.

 

[muppet]

View attachment 276524

Had this on the 6pm MEL-SYD on Saturday night, it tasted really fresh - pasta is simple i know, but i can’t stand the rice + slop QF dishes up.

I think the fresh basil really makes it seem fresh.

And it all only cost $255 in paid D class. If VA continue these fares… well i won’t bother with the competition (there isn’t really any)

 

[muppet]

I suppose you expect the crew to be offering a service for the whole flight? 20 mins service time means every minute has to be dedicated to passengers and they're not allowed to have a breather, something to eat, drink or it could of been some feedback/ rapport building between the crew?

Curious to know what other services did you expect on a MEL-CBR flight after the meal trays were cleared in? Liquor and chocolate service? Dessert cart?

If a flight under an hour was one of the worst flights you've had then I can't begin to imagine what kind of service standards you expect on a longer flight.

We love guests onboard but there's always choices and other airlines too if you're not happy.

is this for real?

a flight that is simultaneously too short to provide any service, but also requiring time for a “breather” …. fortunately on my short flights, other VA FAs have been amazing and given me a drink

 

[QF WP]

18 May VA560 PER/SYD 1.45pm Departure 737-800

Running about 30 mins late, but was fine as had 2.5 hour layover ahead.

Had been fortunate enough to meet the crew going through Perth security. Cabin Manager Richard remembered me as I was the last to get onboard.

Option was the chicken roulade or healthy option (salad) which I chose. Tasty and hit the spot. Red options were Shiraz and a Southern Island NZ Pinot Noir which I chose. 2020 vintage and it was waaay too young so went back to G&T

Efficient service with G&T top ups regularly as I was pounding my laptop keyboard the whole time (3h45 flight time) apart from meal service. He was watching for me to finish and whisked the tray away. Full J cabin (8/8)



17 May VA999 SYD/BNE 10.00pm departure 737-800

Similar service from CM on this flight. After I asked for a G&T, he thought that was exactly what he’d have when he got home.

Again, I chose the salad option, rather than chicken cacciatore. Big mushroom cup and grain that was a little bland but filling - some mushroom jus or more than just a couple of drops of whatever they thought the green stuff was, would have sufficed. J cabin was 7/8

 

[drakcir]

VA329 MEL-BNE on Friday (lunch) was a chicken curry or a burrito bowl w/ the cheese & crackers as the snack - I mentioned my allergy to chilli and after the CM confirmed ingredients, I was offered a sandwich from the econ menu; the chicken caesar sandwich was definitely my preference in that situation.

VA318 BNE-MEL (breakfast) it was a ham, cheese & sun dried tomato croissant and an apple danish pastry.

 

[AIRwin]

Noticed a couple from the emergency exit row on my flight head towards the front so I decided to look up and watched them being turned back around at the rope...

 

[JenJen]

VA684 PER-MEL 10.20 seat 1A

Returning the favour. Delayed by about 15 mins. Offered PDD of sparkling or water. I decided I was on Melbourne time so took the sparkling . I can't recall ever not been offered sparkling (or taking it). Told a friend who is a CM for Qantas that this was the norm and she was surprised. She said that Virgin must pay for a special licence to be able to do this.

My order was taken first and food was served first. Didn't catch what they called the burger or what the vegetarian option was. Will take note on my return trip. Rope was enforced. Service okay but had to ask for a refill a couple of times.

Interestingly, when we were leaving Melbourne airport all the lights went out. I was told by a flight controller, who I happened to be sitting next to at dinner, that even the runway lights went out. Apparently a plane was coming in to land and had to pull up really quickly.

 

[Harrison_133]

Noticed a couple from the emergency exit row on my flight head towards the front so I decided to look up and watched them being turned back around at the rope...

Was in J on a Silk aircraft the other night. Obviously with no divider/rope, a few from Y did just walk straight through J, but they all tried opening the large cupboard in front of 1A/C thinking it was the toilet. They were all promptly sent packing to the rear toilets by the CM.

This was my first flight in the new J seats. Found them a little firmer than the old seats, but still comfortable nonetheless. Overall, a good refresh.

Meal was the chicken pasta which has been shared here many times, so I won’t attach an image. I’ve had it a few times and think it’s a very solid dish. One of my favourites off the current offerings, although I do think it’s time for a menu rotation. Service wasn’t the best I’ve had on VA, but was still very attentive and professional, and drinks were promptly topped up.

 

[antycbr]

VA684 PER-MEL 10.20 seat 1A
Interestingly, when we were leaving Melbourne airport all the lights went out. I was told by a flight controller, who I happened to be sitting next to at dinner, that even the runway lights went out. Apparently a plane was coming in to land and had to pull up really quickly.

Runway lights going out - that’s not supposed to happen (except in Flying High)

 

[hydrabyss]

Noticed a couple from the emergency exit row on my flight head towards the front so I decided to look up and watched them being turned back around at the rope...

My flight the other day was the opposite. One guy removed the rope took off his jacket, stored it behind our seats then kept going to the toilet. After that a few more did the same throughout the flight.

 

[AIRwin]

Noticed a couple from the emergency exit row on my flight head towards the front so I decided to look up and watched them being turned back around at the rope...

On my return flight the same evening, I was seated in 1A and finally had my first choice of the Spanish style chicken with mashed potato and broccolini (after having been left only with the Korean style rice bowl on a previous occasion). Everyone in row 1 ordered the chicken and 1C was served just before me as he already had his tray table up.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

So the expected J flight I had in early May never happened... flight was delayed 4 hours and we would've missed my international connection, so downgraded to Y to fly an earlier flight instead!

But did fly J BNE-SYD last Sunday night on VA 992. I have not much to say about this particular VA J experience other than it was fine, since for comparison we had just arrived from DOH in QR Qsuites... OK I will say I do miss the Luke Mangan era sometimes.

Orders were taken 1A/1C -> 1D/1F -> 2A/2C -> 2D/2F. The familiar chicken pasta and a warm mushroom salad.

 

[MarkMelbourne]

May 2022. MEL - ADL business one vegetarian option the "Korean style kimchi rice" and on the way back it's "Japanese coughake rice and black sesame sir" (exactly the same thing). Kind staff managed to serve 2 drinks on the short flight.

 

[dk4]

Here's the chicken and pasta as served in a 3 hour scheduled flight (i.e. with a dessert). PDB offer - still water or sparkling wine. Orders taken and served in standard Z pattern, photos of the options shown on a tablet screen when taking the order.

 

[RickyT84]

Was offered the chicken pasta or mushroom salad on VA886 from SYD to MEL last Thursday evening.

Decided to give the mushroom salad a go since I had the pasta before and was surprised it was warmed (the CSM did not mention this when she took my order) but tasty especially the pesto drizzle.



Although I have to say the size of the mushroom in my salad was noticeably small (see Cryptarcadian's post for comparison).

PDB of sparkling and water were offered with meal orders taken from 1A to 1F then 2A to 2F.

Service was ok as the CSM went to the galley and chat after the meal service.