Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[twinaisle]

I don’t believe the flight can be ‘short staffed’? Min four crew required, and can’t take off without them. Unless something was happening down the back that required the attention of more staff that usual?

Oh it definitely can. We operate with 4 cabin crew but can board with 3 as sometimes someone maybe late getting in from another flight or arrive on departure time as they got called out.

It's the company putting us into that position so it's a whirlwind to walk into the aircraft fit boarded, finding space for your bag and then leaving. I personally hate this as pax look and think you're the late one when it's the poor planning of company
That would probably explain why the CM was frantic doing everything at once.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh it definitely can. We operate with 4 cabin crew but can board with 3 as sometimes someone maybe late getting in from another flight or arrive on departure time as they got called out.

Oh yes! Thanks.

 

[tdimdad]

When you can't eat sandwiches or their tarts / quiches, this is what you can get. Yesterday CNS-BNE I got a full spread of chips (and also a Kitkat I can't eat, either... ). At least the CMS Claire was very attentive and hospitable and made sure everyone had something to drink throughout the flight. On BNE-SYD, the offering was rather meagre, just a bagful of roasted almond / chickpea chips.

The almond / chickpea chip mix was actually good. For someone who usually avoids all kinds of chips, etc, this was a pleasant surprise. But on the way out earlier in the week and now back, I've gotten two year's worth of chips, thank you very much...

 

[The-Aviator]

When you can't eat sandwiches or their tarts / quiches, this is what you can get. Yesterday CNS-BNE I got a full spread of chips (and also a Kitkat I can't eat, either... ). At least the CMS Claire was very attentive and hospitable and made sure everyone had something to drink throughout the flight. On BNE-SYD, the offering was rather meagre, just a bagful of roasted almond / chickpea chips.

Looks like we were on the same CNS-BNE flight! Think it was a different BNE-SYD flight though. Claire certainly was great.

Will post my pics shortly.

 

[The-Aviator]

02/03/23 | VA973 | SYD to BNE

1st of 4 flights as part of a SYD-BNE-CNS-BNE-SYD holiday / status run.

Highlight of flying on a Thursday / Friday evening has to be the Betty's Burgers collab in the lounge. Enjoyed this truffle cheeseburger and popcorn chicken shortly before boarding!

Boarding went well and PDBs offered, a request for a sparkling water by one passenger was fulfilled without any fuss.

Dinner options were Thai Green chicken curry with Jasmine rice and bok choy or Truffle mac and cheese with ratatouille. After enjoying the Green Curry on my flight to Bali in February I ordered it again.

Both options were served with cheese and crackers and the famous chocolate heart. To drink I had a WA Amberley Merlot and sparkling water. Was glad to order this again, definitely one of the better meals VA has on rotation. Perhaps in the next rotation they could do a red curry! One thing of note was that there were four (yes, four!) crackers in the cheese and crackers instead of the usual three. Still only three pieces of cheese though

Orders were taken and distributed in the traditional 1AC, 1DF, 2AC, 2DF. By the last pair they were down to one of each meal choice.

Our flight attendant Nick was spectacular - made it a really enjoyable flight explaining the dishes to passengers as he brought them out and bringing out the wine bottles to show us before doling out some very generous pours. Top-ups were offered on the short flight and we were never left with an empty glass.

One passenger didn't want the cheese and crackers so he replaced it with a ramekin of almonds, broadbeans and chickpeas instead.

Nick also showcased to one passenger the neat folded cup as a phone-holder trick. Handy if you want a handsfree way to enjoy your entertainment!

All in all a good flight which set the standard for the next three flights.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thai Green chicken curry with Jasmine rice and bok choy or Truffle mac and cheese with ratatouille

The Chicken Curry and Truffle Mac n Cheese routine is becoming as famous as Bogart and Bacall, Torvill and Dean, and Sonny and Cher........

Perhaps in the next rotation they could do a red curry!

Please don't offer VA ideas on rotation (or otherwise)

Nick was spectacular

Thats a great compliment..........he must have been really impressive.

Nick also showcased to one passenger the neat folded cup as a phone-holder trick

This seems to be a VA trick; well done, marketing 101 - give people what they want. That may catch on.

Post automatically merged: Mar 6, 2023

a good flight which set the standard for the next three flights.

You may have peaked too early?

 

[Mattg]

I am still yet to ever personally see Betty's Burgers in a VA lounge. I must be flying at the wrong times!

 

[Ade]

I am still yet to ever personally see Betty's Burgers in a VA lounge. I must be flying at the wrong times!

Exact sentiments here. Never ever had a chance to have Betty's Burgers - flying at wrong times, indeed. Will be in MEL VA lounge this Friday, around the 1900 mark ... hopeful for some vego burgers ...

 

[Mattg]

Exact sentiments here. Never ever had a chance to have Betty's Burgers - flying at wrong times, indeed. Will be in MEL VA lounge this Friday, around the 1900 mark ... hopeful for some vego burgers ...

I'm often at MEL around that time for VA291... never seen them!

 

[AIRwin]

I'm often at MEL around that time for VA291... never seen them!

Too late!

 

[billmurray]

So when the hell do they have Bettys Burgers at MEL?

 

[QF WP]

I'm presuming at the serving area next to the drinks/bar section? I would give one a try. Admittedly, this isn't really on topic given it's serving in a Lounge. But if it was in the air, would many here go for it over other options?

 

[Ade]

ACK this is off topic.

But if it was in the air, would many here go for it over other options?

quite a few might ... burgers & beer on a flight I know I will
If this gets popular, then it might be a trouble to VA to get that many burgers (assumption here is burgers are served as a meal in J and available for purchase in Y) ... OR, VA could have burgers for purchase in J as well, in addition to the meal they have and pax can choose to have the free meal or buy a burger ...

 

[QF WP]

No, this is now back on topic - as we are talking about a (possible) menu item in J. I've not had a Bettys Burger yet, but it couldn't be worse than HJ's or Maccas. My biggest concern would be keeping them at a reasonable temperature from the time they are made on the ground, to the time served in the air. There would be a proportion of pax that would like to try a burger, depending on the time of flight (lunch or dinner obviously, would they go down well on a snack flight?)

 

[Ade]

would they go down well on a snack flight?

hmm ... may be? if server as burger only, like the $2 maccas cheeseburger without any bells and whistles ...

(lunch or dinner obviously

This would be great and apt I think ... pair it with some chips as well. If chips too difficult to make/store/stay crispy etc, serve this with potato (or sweet potato) wedges, sour cream, sweet chilli sauce and make a meal out of it ...

keeping them at a reasonable temperature from the time they are made on the ground, to the time served in the air.

How about keep the patties separately in the oven (so they are maintained at the right temp) and assemble the burger before service? OR is this too much of an overhead on an already shorter duration flight? I'm not sure how much time FA/CM have to plate meals (I'm assuming most hot meals are served straight out of the over and cold ones straight from the cold storage).

 

[dk4]

Almost a burger, my hot chicken sandwich from last week. (I preferred the focaccia, over the previous burger buns, between which the hot chicken sandwiches have been serve in the past.)

 

[serfty]

Maybe 3:30pm to 5:30pm Thursdays and Fridays.

I tried the chook balls once ... never again .. a good way to increase quickeze sales ...

 

[twinaisle]

2 menu cycles ago we used to serve a chicken katsu/ Perri Perri chicken burger onboard. People apparently were tired of it so it was removed.

We don't plate up things at VA anymore, the most we do is garnish and add a side of whatever to the dish.

 

[RooFlyer]

We don't plate up things at VA anymore, the most we do is garnish and add a side of whatever to the dish.

That's really interesting. I've made the comment several times since Nov and my migration from QF that the meals actually look plated, not poured. Does VA use a different caterer than QF; or if port-to-port then MEL, SYD & BNE?

 

[twinaisle]

That's really interesting. I've made the comment several times since Nov and my migration from QF that the meals actually look plated, not poured. Does VA use a different caterer than QF; or if port-to-port then MEL, SYD & BNE?

We use gate gourmet. All the meals are fresh made at VA and aren't snap frozen so they look and taste good when served