Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[alexczarn]

VA921 SYD-BNE 8:30am departure

Chia seed pudding with fruit salad. The other option was bacon & egg on sourdough.

FA made a song and dance about myself and seat neighbour being Platinum and took our orders first (in row 2)



VA970 BNE-SYD 5:05pm departure

Marinated chicken shwarma with rice, yoghurt and pita. The other option was pasta cassarece with pumpkin and zucchini.

you know what, good cafe-ish food, what I enjoy.

 

[PERLHR]

you know what, good cafe-ish food, what I enjoy.

Like the inconsistency.....also Platinum in 2C today ...and I was the last of the 8 to be served. First choice not available....

 

[sudoer]

Like the inconsistency.....also Platinum in 2C today ...and I was the last of the 8 to be served. First choice not available....

Yes, the 'Platinum priority' was only for the first leg. Orders on the return leg were taken 1F, 1D, 1C, 1A, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2F. A few skipped the meal so all the options stayed available.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Like the inconsistency.....also Platinum in 2C today ...and I was the last of the 8 to be served. First choice not available....

I don’t know why this happens? Platinum status is clearly marked on the order sheet the CM uses as they pass through the cabin to take orders.

There could have been 6 other platinums though, as happened on a flight from SYD-MEL last year I was on… the cabin was 7/8 platinum!

 

[dk4]

I don’t know why this happens? Platinum status is clearly marked on the order sheet the CM uses as they pass through the cabin to take orders.

Because officially I think it is only a Beyond/VIP benefit to have your order taken first. Some CMs are generous in extending it to their Platinum guests as well, but some don't, as it is not required service standard.

As a fellow platinum, I suggest being thankful when it happens, and not complaining when it doesn't - because the alternative for 2F, is it never happening at all, if all the CMs are forced to stick to the letter of the law! (BTW: I am at around 50/50 for my order being taken first when I am in row 2. Even happier when, in 10% of the time, it is also served first!)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Because officially I think it is only a Beyond/VIP benefit to have your order taken first. Some CMs are generous in extending it to their Platinum guests as well, but some don't, as it is not required service standard.

As a fellow platinum, I suggest being thankful when it happens, and not complaining when it doesn't - because the alternative for 2F, is it never happening at all, if all the CMs are forced to stick to the letter of the law! (BTW: I am at around 50/50 for my order being taken first when I am in row 2. Even happier when, in 10% of the time, it is also served first!)

So why bother putting plat status on the order sheet? Seem redundant if they’re not going to use it.

The only benefit of platinum in business would be to get a higher choice of meal preference.

 

[simmomelb]

So why bother putting plat status on the order sheet? Seem redundant if they’re not going to use it.

The only benefit of platinum in business would be to get a higher choice of meal preference.

It's definitely up to the discretion of the CM, but yes, it's on there to recognise Platinum members, which they do from time to time.
For example, I was sitting in Row 3 on a flight last year and the CM came over to thank me for my loyalty and gave me some free drinks from business (wine), and said if there was anything else I might like, just to let him know.
It doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's definitely up to the discretion of the CM, but yes, it's on there to recognise Platinum members which they do from time to time. For example, I was sitting in Row 3 on a flight last year and the CM came over to thank me for my loyalty and gave me some free drinks from businesses.

Yes, but this is on the meal ordering sheet… only has rows 1 and 2, with boxes to write the meal choice and drinks.

Using status for meal orders means it doesn’t matter your seat choice, or whether you book first or last, you’ll get your preferred meal. Can’t think of a reason why a CM *wouldn’t* want to keep status pax happy, and returning.

 

[PERLHR]

Can’t think of a reason why a CM *wouldn’t* want to keep status pax happy, and returning

Probably because the dont really care ....whether you return or otherwise ..maybe!

 

[TMP]

VA community survey just received and completed about on board food and beverage. Primarily Y focused, but I highlighted preordering would be win / win for both customer and airline in both Y and J. Seems they are testing interest in hot meals in Y on longer flights.

 

[Harrison_133]

Yes, but this is on the meal ordering sheet… only has rows 1 and 2, with boxes to write the meal choice and drinks.

Not all CMs use that meal ordering sheet though. Some take orders on the iPad, others just use a blank piece of paper.

On another note, I flew OOL-MEL about a week ago in Y. The CM approached me and the other WPs in Economy X half way through the flight saying they had left over business meals.

3 options were offered, but can't remember what they all exactly were. I think left over crew meals were also offered, because I ended up with a Chicken Parma with roast potatoes and broccoli that came in a box which was very tasty.

I have to say, it was better than the parma on the previous menu rotation. Quality of the meat was much nicer.

 

[PERLHR]

I flew OOL-MEL about a week ago in Y. The CM approached me and the other WPs in Economy X half way through the flight saying they had left over business meals.

Blimey..can I fly with you please!!

 

[twinaisle]

Sorry but offering crew meal to pax in Y shouldn't happen. It looks good for others who do it but it's against our service manuals.

I can see both sides to this but it's extremely skewed and very inconsistent.

Probably because the dont really care ....whether you return or otherwise ..maybe!

This.

Yes, but this is on the meal ordering sheet… only has rows 1 and 2, with boxes to write the meal choice and drinks.

Using status for meal orders means it doesn’t matter your seat choice, or whether you book first or last, you’ll get your preferred meal. Can’t think of a reason why a CM *wouldn’t* want to keep status pax happy, and returning.

If you fall into -3 hours before as in FCNA you won't get a meal choice, even if you a a Beyond member let alone WP.

Guys - if someone is going to go off rails to provide you with something you don't get in your cabin or a product that's not for you then don't post it. @Harrison, it's great that you could enjoy our crew meal (some of our crew complain that it's s#$!) But I will be using this as an example in our internal discussions as it's very, very inappropriate of that crew member. They all want "consistency" but they never offer it with their actions.

 

[PERLHR]

I can see both sides to this but it's extremely skewed and very inconsistent.

Goes with the rest of the on board experience then!

Post automatically merged: Jan 19, 2024

- if someone is going to go off rails to provide you with something you don't get in your cabin or a product that's not for you then don't post it.

Yes that makes sense though ...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you fall into -3 hours before as in FCNA you won't get a meal choice, even if you a a Beyond member let alone WP.

Guys - if someone is going to go off rails to provide you with something you don't get in your cabin or a product that's not for you then don't post it. @Harrison, it's great that you could enjoy our crew meal (some of our crew complain that it's s#$!) But I will be using this as an example in our internal discussions as it's very, very inappropriate of that crew member. They all want "consistency" but they never offer it with their actions.

Thanks twinaisle! So on my flight there were two plats, circled on the CMs sheet. Neither were FCNA, and there were no other pax marked as that either. We weren’t offered our choice first.

Just wondering what the reason was that the CM took the trouble to circle ‘PLAT’, but then ignored it. It’s not like it was a straight 1A—>F system either, they went randomly around the cabin to take choices, jumping 1DF, 2AC, 2DF, 1AF.

 

[twinaisle]

Thanks twinaisle! So on my flight there were two plats, circled on the CMs sheet. Neither were FCNA, and there were no other pax marked as that either. We weren’t offered our choice first.

Just wondering what the reason was that the CM took the trouble to circle ‘PLAT’, but then ignored it. It’s not like it was a straight 1A—>F system either, they went randomly around the cabin to take choices, jumping 1DF, 2AC, 2DF, 1AF.

This was the first thing that came to my mind when I read "what was the reason"

They probably just didn't care to be honest. They probably used it to identify status pax and that was it.

Sometimes other factors will play with it such as "wonder if these pax in row 1 are vegs/Vegan" by profiling. Or they couldn't be bothered jumping around the cabin and easiest would be going 1A-F 2A-F

 

[Bagpuss]

I can see both sides to this but it's extremely skewed and very inconsistent.

Not really, I've been on a flight before and for business class they had pre-departure drinks on a tray. They offered business class passengers bubbles twice as they had some left. End result they were then offering to economy x row 3, 4 etc.

 

[PERLHR]

They offered business class passengers bubbles twice as they had some left. End result they were then offering to economy x row 3, 4 etc.

Shhhhh...don't spread it around that some think outside the box...just saves them throwing remains down the toilet on the descent...

 

[Harrison_133]

But I will be using this as an example in our internal discussions as it's very, very inappropriate of that crew member. They all want "consistency" but they never offer it with their actions.

Please do share it, and I agree with your sentiments.

I was confused when they offered it but was quite hungry so accepted. I was even more confused when a crew meal turned up. It did feel slightly uncomfortable being singled out like that, and I thought it was a bit inappropriate to be offering a select few people something while the people seated next to me got nothing.

There were a few other "inconsistencies" I observed, so I think this particular CM needs to take a good look at the service manual again.

 

[twinaisle]

Not really, I've been on a flight before and for business class they had pre-departure drinks on a tray. They offered business class passengers bubbles twice as they had some left. End result they were then offering to economy x row 3, 4 etc.

I've done more than one pre departure drink to my J pax more than often. I pretty much sometimes aggressively suggest they drink.

I've also had bubbles follow me into the Y cabin when I have nice chats with WP pax in Y if I identify there's a genuine chat when I sometimes greet my WP in Y then I'll probably treat them to a drink or seven. It depends

Drinks or a pantry snack is fine. But crew meals is a different scenario.