Virgin Food [Flexi Fare]

[mannej]

Very sneaky. Qantas has all the attention and Virgin thought people wouldn't notice.

Have you checked the increased in excess luggage fees as well?

 

[bullerdude]

Qantas: 4pm onwards
Virgin: 5pm to 7pm

Backwards step Virgin if your aim is to compete with Qantas. I have often travelled in the 4-5 time windows for day trips and it was nice to have a drink on the plane... now its just the lounge.

 

[anat0l]

Hang on when did this change???



I'm sure it used to be 4pm to 7pm???

I thought it used to be after 4pm everyday. Wow am I naive...

 

[Cessna 180]

Am sure it used to be a drink with flexi anytime in the afternoon. The cabin staff seemed to be quite generous with this I thought.

My last flexi a month or so ago mel-syd was that two biscuit and cheese other people have mentioned.

Its funny how many folks complained about the wrap and now look what happened, a cheese biscuit for everyone and no drinks at all other than tea and coffee except between 1700 and 1900, which seems to be strictly enforced? Also presume this is only week days?

As a 99% domestic traveller I beleive velocity points are worth more than qf when it comes to redemtions, but qf are still offering a superior on board service and better regional schedule in my opinion.

Also as we are going away from flexi's there is not much point in trying to maintain platinum as there is limited chance to use "free" upgrades.

 

[Noob]

Very sneaky. Qantas has all the attention and Virgin thought people wouldn't notice.

I would guess it is part of VA's wider catering trials throughout the first half of 2014, as they mentioned in their interview with Australian Business Traveller:

The free dining will be offered to passengers on selected Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane flights as part of a trial to help shape the airline's new inflight menu, a spokesman for Virgin Australia told Australian Business Traveller, ahead of the introduction of free meals and drinks on all domestic Virgin Australia flights later in the year.

AusBT Article: Virgin Australia to trial free meals, drinks from February - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[3 Greens]

Disappointed with the Flexi fare offering MEL-BNE, departing 0600. A small muffin (about half the size you can buy from Maccas) and a small piece of "Strawberry & Nougat slice".

Gone are the days when an early departure meant a hot breakfast for all

 

[danintas]

Due to the lack of saver fares, I was forced to buy flexi fares twice in the last week, consisting of 4 flights. Managed to use 2 upgrade credits on 2 flights.

The J legs were good, consisting of omelette for breakfast and barramundi for dinner, but the Y legs were abysmal!

The offering on an early morning flight was a very small muesli bar which unfortunately I dropped down the gap between the armrest and the seat ... impossible to retrieve! The late afternoon "meal" was a small bag of corn chips and some dip which I (less than politely) declined.

 

[Intra]

Due to the lack of saver fares, I was forced to buy flexi fares twice in the last week, consisting of 4 flights. Managed to use 2 upgrade credits on 2 flights.

The J legs were good, consisting of omelette for breakfast and barramundi for dinner, but the Y legs were abysmal!

The offering on an early morning flight was a very small muesli bar which unfortunately I dropped down the gap between the armrest and the seat ... impossible to retrieve! The late afternoon "meal" was a small bag of corn chips and some dip which I (less than politely) declined.

What sectors were the two Y in? The corn chips/dip are actually quite good... Portion size is quite small Yes, but still taste. Yum yum!

The gap I feel too has dropped between Flexi Meals & J Meals ever since they introduced snacks for all of Y on The Golden Triangle then pushed the same idea across all flights for the Flexi "Meals". I chow down more in The Lounge now day's when not flying J.

 

[danintas]

What sectors were the two Y in? The corn chips/dip are actually quite good... Portion size is quite small Yes, but still taste. Yum yum!

The gap I feel too has dropped between Flexi Meals & J Meals ever since they introduced snacks for all of Y on The Golden Triangle then pushed the same idea across all flights for the Flexi "Meals". I chow down more in The Lounge now day's when not flying J.

LST-MEL and MEL-LST

 

[Jousams]

I got this on a SYD-BNK flight (flexi) a few days ago. Not a huge fan of tomatoes so I asked for a Pringles instead and was asked to pay...

It seamed that everyone was getting one of these though. Was also asked to pay for a second drink...

I don't understand what penny pinching someone who spends many thousands of dollars with VA (and $269 on a ticket for a 1 hour flight...) will achieve, but then again I've never worked in an airline...

 

[Jousams]

Pictures not working. It was a tomato dip with 4 crackers

 

[candyflip]

I had a PER-MEL flight on Wednesday last week, 5pm departure, and all alcohol was paid only?!?
We got the usual hot meal, gratis.

Have never had this happen before?

 

[bullerdude]

I had a PER-MEL flight on Wednesday last week, 5pm departure, and all alcohol was paid only?!?
We got the usual hot meal, gratis.

Have never had this happen before?

Submit a complaint as that doesn't match the service offering.

Flights from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Perth (and return)
Guests travelling on direct transcontinental services, from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Perth (and return), receive a complimentary hot meal and beverage offering. Beverages include a selection of soft drinks, juice, water, tea and coffee. Beer and wine is available after midday.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I had a PER-MEL flight on Wednesday last week, 5pm departure, and all alcohol was paid only?!?
We got the usual hot meal, gratis.

Have never had this happen before?

Submit a complaint as that doesn't match the service offering.

Oh no! Surely this isn't a case of VA staff not understanding VAs T&Cs, (again)?

One has to question whether all these "mistakes" are a directive from above or whether VA are failing to adequately train their new staff. If the whole plane was refused the complementary drinks, that indicates a failing of ALL the crew.......is that really likely? The whole complement of crew being inadequately trained newbies? Is this a new policy change where the T&Cs haven't yet been altered? Who knows (certainly not VA it would seem)?

 

[KCMil]

I had a PER-MEL flight on Wednesday last week, 5pm departure, and all alcohol was paid only?!?
We got the usual hot meal, gratis.

Have never had this happen before?

When you say 'alcohol' just needing to check if you mean beer / wine, which is complimentary, or do you mean spirits, which are purchase items?

 

[Intra]

Just got off OOL-SYD on a Flexi Fare, asked for a Lemonade drink with my "meal" (Crackers/Cheese) and apparently the FA was supposed to charge me for it, but let it go this time as if she was doing me a favour.

I can understand somewhat charging me an extra $15/$25 for the Flexi from what prices were 6~ months ago; VA then wanting me to pay an extra $4 for a soft drink though put a sour taste in my mouth! :? Might as well just drunk more in The Lounge

Apparently the change was made in January with the charge of drink she told me, but I know I got free drinks on my Flexi the last time I did OOL-SYD-OOL in February. Trying to see what had changed (apparently) has me confused. All the wording still looks the same on the website since The Golden Triangle Food trial went live, unless they are giving a blanket rule to all drinks only being free on flights with Flexi's between 5-8pm (Or whatever the times are for the beer/wine, neither of which I drink so don't give a rats about)

VA will be getting a short but blunt email from me, from the flyer that will be Plat. once today's SC roll in. Why is VA heading the way of QF with enchantments....

 

[woodborer]

I had a PER-MEL flight on Wednesday last week, 5pm departure, and all alcohol was paid only?!? We got the usual hot meal, gratis.

I've heard them announce that, but when it came to the actual service, beer and wine was not actually charged for.

 

[Jousams]

Just got off OOL-SYD on a Flexi Fare, asked for a Lemonade drink with my "meal" (Crackers/Cheese) and apparently the FA was supposed to charge me for it, but let it go this time as if she was doing me a favour.

I can understand somewhat charging me an extra $15/$25 for the Flexi from what prices were 6~ months ago; VA then wanting me to pay an extra $4 for a soft drink though put a sour taste in my mouth! :? Might as well just drunk more in The Lounge

Apparently the change was made in January with the charge of drink she told me, but I know I got free drinks on my Flexi the last time I did OOL-SYD-OOL in February. Trying to see what had changed (apparently) has me confused. All the wording still looks the same on the website since The Golden Triangle Food trial went live, unless they are giving a blanket rule to all drinks only being free on flights with Flexi's between 5-8pm (Or whatever the times are for the beer/wine, neither of which I drink so don't give a rats about)

VA will be getting a short but blunt email from me, from the flyer that will be Plat. once today's SC roll in. Why is VA heading the way of QF with enchantments....

I was on that flight (3F) and the exact same happened to me!!!!!! She told me that the 'enhancement' happened a few months ago. Even though I was fine getting a coke last week on a flexi.. For dietary reasons I like to avoid dairy, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to ask for something without cheese and argue that it should be free of charge.

I will also be lodging a complaint with VA.

So inconsistent.....

 

[Jousams]

VA 516 right?

 

[Intra]

I was on that flight (3F) and the exact same happened to me!!!!!! She told me that the 'enhancement' happened a few months ago. Even though I was fine getting a coke last week on a flexi.. For dietary reasons I like to avoid dairy, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to ask for something different and argue that it should be free of charge.

I will also be lodging a complaint with VA.

So inconsistent.....

Mate, was in 3C! (Why you take my fav. seat in 3F )

Annoyed also with the lady that barged passed me once we were deplaining..... DYKWIA moment for her?