Virgin Australia goes fully inclusive on PER flights

[ash.1111]

Never listen to galley FM...

 

[Justchecking]

A few months is a long time in the airline industry, however the Townsville refueller who was masquerading as a CSM on a flight recently assured me this was one of the few upcoming changes as the next phase of the game change plan continues to kick in.

+1 on the galley FM. Crew are the least reliable source of any information, rumours abound and hope floats. And what would a QF employee (CSM) know about it anyway? To go full service network wide would be a very costly venture I imagine. Not to mention logistically challenging, QF own their own catering company and have complete control of that. Don't DJ use an outsourcing company?

 

[markis10]

+1 on the galley FM. Crew are the least reliable source of any information, rumours abound and hope floats. And what would a QF employee (CSM) know about it anyway? To go full service network wide would be a very costly venture I imagine. Not to mention logistically challenging, QF own their own catering company and have complete control of that. Don't DJ use an outsourcing company?

It was not a QF flight I heard it on, and Qantas now use the same catering company in quite a few ports as DJ and all the other airlines, having sold a number of regional operations which will result in only providing its own catering in BNE, SYD, MEL and PER by mid next year as they also have chosen not to renew the lease on the ADL facility.

Logistically challenging, very much so, bound to happen, watch this space, and we will see if the Townsville refuelled is on the money.

I hear the blues are quite popular on QF galley FM .

 

[93D]

Sorry to drag up a old topic,

However I recently return from a SYD-PER return on the a330 and thought I would share,

Meal Service was quickly served about 1hr after departure from SYD started with a drink service then the main meal and then a water run.

Choice of meal was either Roast Chicken or Penne Pasta


Penne Pasta with bread roll,water and chocolate shown.

Return was either Butter Chicken or Pumpkin Ravioli, no pic on the return sorry.

Dom,

 

[smit0847]

Sorry to drag up a old topic,

However I recently return from a SYD-PER return on the a330 and thought I would share,

Meal Service was quickly served about 1hr after departure from SYD started with a drink service then the main meal and then a water run.

Choice of meal was either Roast Chicken or Penne Pasta

View attachment 10057
Penne Pasta with bread roll,water and chocolate shown.

Return was either Butter Chicken or Pumpkin Ravioli, no pic on the return sorry.

Dom,

How did it taste? That looks like the absolutely revolting dry pasta I had on a QF flight once.

 

[markis10]

How did it taste? That looks like the absolutely revolting dry pasta I had on a QF flight once.

I was thinking the same, the other memorable revolter being butter chicken.

 

[93D]

Hey Guys,

It was surprising nice, maybe 1 or 2 dry bits but other than that it was good. Same couldn't be said for the roast chicken that other people were having around me, looked revolting.


Dom,

 

[Must...Fly!]

Clearly I need to work on my palette, I think it looks ok

 

[drmikki]

Yesterday's PER-SYD (DJ556) offered a choice of Penne Pasta and Mild Beef Curry in Y. I had the beef, not too bad! Even better was the 35g bar of Lindt Milk Chocolate that came with it. Less good was the rock hard bread roll...

 

[93D]

I had the same problem ex SYD My bread roll was rock hard and water an ice brick, yet ex PER roll was soft and water wasn't an ice brick.

Dom,

 

[Rebekkap]

Virgin Australia Announces Major Enhancements To Transcontinental Perth Services - Airline News - etravelblackboard.com

"Amenity kits on three+ hour flights [in J]".

Ooooh.

I got one last time I flew to Perth (using one of my comp upgrades) - was quite a nice amenities kit, for a domestic flight! Had some nice hand cream.

 

[ash.1111]

My last trip was BNE-PER/PER-BNE (red eye). The new Y meals consisted of:

BNE-PER
- Small kitkat
- Small water
- Bread roll (not heated)
- Lamb and vegs or Thai green curry

PER-BNE (red eye)
- Small kitkat
- Small water
- Bread roll (not heated)
- Beef casserole with rice/peas or pumpkin ravioli

Drinks are all free, as much as you can drink within RSA guidelines. Coke/Sprite/CokeZero/Cascade/Pure Blonde/Red Wine (Cab Mer)/White White (Sav Bl)/Tea/Coffee available at all times, but alcohol is not 'offered' on flights before 0930.

Spirits not available, nor anything from the menu.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Drinks are all free, as much as you can drink within RSA guidelines. Coke/Sprite/CokeZero/Cascade/Pure Blonde/Red Wine (Cab Mer)/White White (Sav Bl)/Tea/Coffee available at all times, but alcohol is not 'offered' on flights before 0930.

Spirits not available, nor anything from the menu.

I'm liking the sounds of this Especially the fact coke has finally replaced the devil that is pepsi...

Lack of spirits is a shame though, how is one meant to effectively drown their sorrows about the 5+ hour flight on 737 metal?

 

[KCMil]

Beer and wine is now available on all flights, flights departing before 0930 it is on request only.
The current style of product and lack of spirits is said to be changing. Advice is that the style of tray / packaging etc... will change and we will see the reintroduction of spirits.

I know the crew are pushing very very hard to have the introduction of a snack to be served either at start of flight with drink service or later in flight with a drink service. Particularly on the longer BNE-PER and SYD - PER.

And yep the rolls are disgusting, weird given that they are in an oven style bag, again, an issue I believe crew have taken up, however, it relies upon we the consumer to feed this back as well to get change sooner than later.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Flew DJ556 to sydney yesterday, snagged -xfc!


IFE had a good selection, seats much more comfortable than the ex emirates birds with good lumbar support. Meal was a little less than average however, some barely edible roast chicken abomination (also hard, cold rolls?). Note to any Virgin reps lurking, for the love of god make the bottoms of the trays non slip. Trying to cut anything makes the tray fly all over the table which doesn't always end well! Also what's up with the no salt and pepper sachets? Overall a pretty good flight, crew was superb and always looked after us where they could.

 

[Globetrotter]

View attachment 11223

Looks like prison food lol, not that I've been

 

[under the radar]

Looks like prison food lol, not that I've been

well you are 'imprisoned' in a metal tube!! (note..not just VA specific)

 

[docjames]

Looks like prison food lol, not that I've been

Looks like hospital food!!

 

[muppet]

View attachment 11223

ahhhhhhh.
flew PER-SYD in J tonight that was sans a desert (cheese only).
sadly, I don't have a good poker face, particularly after a few, and the FA obviously saw my look of disgust (despite saying out loud "cheese would be lovely") and she offered a block on lindt chocolate.
I asked for some later and two large blocks appeared on a plate - I was wondering where they came from (concerned she'd had to give up some personal treats due to my gluttony). Now i know!

 

[KCMil]

The plastic trays are temporary, new trays are on the way! The food actually gets a lot of great feedback for taste and size. That is the trouble with two option courses and no ability to select dietary requirements, you can't please everyone. The new res system post end of Jan is meant to improve the dietary requirement issues though.