Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Jousams]

So it really is a lottery on VA lately.

Couldn't agree more.

Whilst I have had some great J flights on VA lately, no pre flight drink/newspaper really starts the experience on a bad note, I now politely ask for a mocktail if they are not offered (is that DYKWIA behavior? oops).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So it really is a lottery on VA lately. Overall, the service was pretty good and I can't complain.

I'm sort of agreeing with this. (I say sort of as I've only taken just over 1/2 dozen J flights now).

The discrepancies that I've experienced are:

1) sometimes offered a paper, sometimes not (in fact once the paper was waiting for us on the armrests along with the earphones).
2) more often not offered a mocktail (only had one), but always offered a choice of water or juice pre-taxi.
3) once the Galaxy was already waiting in the seat pocket which was nice as once the seat belt sign was off, we could help ourselves rather than wait for them to get it out of the bags, power them up, find the earphones etc etc.
4) once not offered a bread roll (either of us) but when I asked, they did have them (not sure if they short quantity and decided to save them for those who asked)
5) of course the running out of choices has happened on most flights, but not always to me.
6) one flight the J rope was not put up and the crew allowed Y to use the J toilet. It was a 700 so I wasn't sure if this was standard for a 700 or if they perhaps had a toilet out of action down the back, but no announcement was made about the front toilet being J only like they usually do.

I did notice on one flight, the crew pulled the curtain up front to the galley, but as I was in 1C I could see through the gap and they were helping themselves to the spare J meals. Not sure if this is acceptable practice as it beats throwing them out, but it could lead to choices being "unavailable" to the paying pax, simply because the crew want them.

 

[JKjnr]

RE : crew eating a J meal. I also noted this once (captain also had one it seemed) and on next flight asked FA - response was "not allowed".

 

[dk4]

I was on a "catering not assured" flight recently (fly ahead), and the lounge angels insisted on calling catering, to make sure "something" would be loaded for me to eat.

Anyway, this is what was served up by a very apologetic CS, advising that - while a last minute hot meal was added, the appropriate crockery was not.

Well done to everyone along the chain at VA, on getting it to me with so little notice.

 

[Justinf]

Dk4, What is it?

 

[dk4]

"vegetarian option" - I can't recall what it was called (there was the usual long spiel by the CS describing it) however it was similar to a vego-lasagna but didn't have any pasta in it. Very tasty, as indeed I find are most of Luke Mangan's vegie creations for VA.

 

[LiamR]

I'm sort of agreeing with this. (I say sort of as I've only taken just over 1/2 dozen J flights now).

The discrepancies that I've experienced are:

1) sometimes offered a paper, sometimes not (in fact once the paper was waiting for us on the armrests along with the earphones).
2) more often not offered a mocktail (only had one), but always offered a choice of water or juice pre-taxi.
3) once the Galaxy was already waiting in the seat pocket which was nice as once the seat belt sign was off, we could help ourselves rather than wait for them to get it out of the bags, power them up, find the earphones etc etc.
4) once not offered a bread roll (either of us) but when I asked, they did have them (not sure if they short quantity and decided to save them for those who asked)
5) of course the running out of choices has happened on most flights, but not always to me.
6) one flight the J rope was not put up and the crew allowed Y to use the J toilet. It was a 700 so I wasn't sure if this was standard for a 700 or if they perhaps had a toilet out of action down the back, but no announcement was made about the front toilet being J only like they usually do.

I did notice on one flight, the crew pulled the curtain up front to the galley, but as I was in 1C I could see through the gap and they were helping themselves to the spare J meals. Not sure if this is acceptable practice as it beats throwing them out, but it could lead to choices being "unavailable" to the paying pax, simply because the crew want them.

I'm not defending VA here, but I can answer two of those.

1) Papers are offered on flights departing before a certain time, 1100 I think.
2) Juice/Water is served on flights before 1100, Mocktail/Water/Booze is offered on flights after 1100

Does that line up with what you've experienced or still just as hit and miss?

Crew meals are packaged and served the same was as Business Meals, so unless she was eating it off a purple tray, I'd hazard to guess it's a crew meal.

 

[pwae]

2) Juice/Water is served on flights before 1100, Mocktail/Water/Booze is offered on flights after 1100

Normally before 11 i get Juice/Water, sometimes i've been offered Champagne as well on an early flight.
However after 11, i've never been offered a "Mocktail", always Juice/Water/Champagne.

Most of my J flights are Coast to Coast, so not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

1) Papers are offered on flights departing before a certain time, 1100 I think.
2) Juice/Water is served on flights before 1100, Mocktail/Water/Booze is offered on flights after 1100

Does that line up with what you've experienced or still just as hit and miss?

Crew meals are packaged and served the same was as Business Meals, so unless she was eating it off a purple tray, I'd hazard to guess it's a crew meal.

Answers some Liam, thanks.
1) Lines up. I believe a paper has been offered on all am flights I've taken
2) Still hit and miss. I've only been offered a mocktail once (and never grog) pre-taxi, out of 4 (afternoon/evening) J flights.

The crew I saw eating the meals were indeed eating out of a plastic dish (similar to the one dk4 posted above) so it may well have been a crew meal. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. They did however get those meals out of the trolley racks which is why I assumed they were the spare J meals.

 

[attroxx]

For me,

1) At least one,maybe two, AM flight(s) didn't have papers offered.
2) I haven't been offered a mocktail in an evening flight now for a couple of months - normally just juice or water option. Last flight the choice was still or sparkling water.

I must say that I can't fault the service so far this year so the CS standards are certainly picking up from what I see... it's just the little details that seem to be quite variable.

 

[PDog]

I've provided (positive) feedback after my last 2 J flight.
One was a 3pm snack service, where I'd just made an earlier flight. On one, my second 'snack' was bigger than the original, and when I asked, she'd used a crew meal salad to add to it, as she'd had lunch on the flight before!

 

[hummel]

BNE-MEL VA328 J 2A
1st April 2013
Load 5/6

Service was great by Lara I think it was. Mocktail before take off, and the food options were a vegetarian something or other and the below dish. Beef ribs maybe? Lara apologised and commented that they don't know why they short-cater however the vegetarian dishes had already been snapped up by 1A/C so I was only left with the one option.

I accepted and it was *ok* but definitely nothing spectacular. Probably my worst VA J meal I've had out of the 8 J flights I've taken.

Also received cheese/crackers after the main meal, drink topped up all the time. Probably my best flight service wise and the worst flight meal wise. Can't win them all!

 

[DirkDiggler]

I liked that meal when I had it!

Braised short ribs with polenta and fresh gremalata (sp?) on top. Although mine looked much better than your, significantly more moist! And we all know wetter is better!

 

[KCMil]

That meal is used on both transcon (Boeing) and mainline business. The difference being that the transcon versions are prepared in separated containers for each ingredient(allowing varied cook times for veg / meat etc..) and then plated freshly. The mainline version is an all in one dish prepared and served. Although it wouldn't hurt the crew member serving to wipe the gunk from the rim with a wet cloth.
There are rumours of all J food changing to the individual plating where flight times allow.

 

[hummel]

BNE-MEL VA328 J 2A
1st April 2013
Load 5/6

Service was great by Lara I think it was. Mocktail before take off, and the food options were a vegetarian something or other and the below dish. Beef ribs maybe? Lara apologised and commented that they don't know why they short-cater however the vegetarian dishes had already been snapped up by 1A/C so I was only left with the one option.

I accepted and it was *ok* but definitely nothing spectacular. Probably my worst VA J meal I've had out of the 8 J flights I've taken.

Also received cheese/crackers after the main meal, drink topped up all the time. Probably my best flight service wise and the worst flight meal wise. Can't win them all!

At the same time yesterday as I posted this, I submitted feedback to VA about the issues, not being harsh at all but just pointing out some things that could be improved if they really wanted to be competitive with QF. Imagine my surprise upon receiving an email back this morning apologising, addressing my comments.

I also received 'I have issued you with a flight credit to the value of your fare of $100AUD. You will receive an email within the next five business days instructing you on how to use this credit'.Not sure how that will work considering it was a reward booking but needless to say, I was surprised.

FWIW, I'm SG and sitting on 790SC and with bookings in the system will hit WP by end of June. Not sure if that has any effect but thought it might be interesting to some.

 

[lobo76]

At the same time yesterday as I posted this, I submitted feedback to VA about the issues, not being harsh at all but just pointing out some things that could be improved if they really wanted to be competitive with QF. Imagine my surprise upon receiving an email back this morning apologising, addressing my comments.

Did you get a confirmation mail as soon as you submitted feedback? I did one the other day but haven't received any reply... not 100% the feedback fro worked...

 

[hummel]

Did you get a confirmation mail as soon as you submitted feedback? I did one the other day but haven't received any reply... not 100% the feedback fro worked...

Yes I did receive confirmation, so perhaps try again.

 

[Jousams]

At the same time yesterday as I posted this, I submitted feedback to VA about the issues, not being harsh at all but just pointing out some things that could be improved if they really wanted to be competitive with QF. Imagine my surprise upon receiving an email back this morning apologising, addressing my comments.

I also received 'I have issued you with a flight credit to the value of your fare of $100AUD. You will receive an email within the next five business days instructing you on how to use this credit'.Not sure how that will work considering it was a reward booking but needless to say, I was surprised.

FWIW, I'm SG and sitting on 790SC and with bookings in the system will hit WP by end of June. Not sure if that has any effect but thought it might be interesting to some.

I left feedback on Friday and got a reply on Tuesday. Very efficient.

 

[lobo76]

Yes I did receive confirmation, so perhaps try again.

A proper reply came about about an hour after I posted that.

Back on topic - I've got my first Brekkie in J flight tomorrow.... seems a waste without the booze!

 

[KCMil]

lobo76 the bar is open on all flights. It just isn't put on the cart during service. If you want wine or beer or spirits, just ask! It is all loaded on every J flight.