Virgin Food [Flexi Fare]

[JohnK]

I am flying OOL-SYD-MEL tonight. For some reason I thought this was flexi fare. I later realised it wasn't but not before I asked for my flexi meal.

I managed to get a Flexi snack of corn chips and salsa even though I wasn't entitled to it.

 

[lovestotravel]

Got a cheese and biscuit pack on a MCY-SYD flexi fare yesterday and then the same cheese and biscuits on a Saver fare SYD-MEL last night. That was the most expensive cheese and biscuits on the flexi fare even when taking the additonal status credits into account.

LOL - What a joke!

 

[muppet]

Meh.

I live in CBR. This is the same nonsense both QF and VA have served for YEARS!

If you're lucky QF with throw a tuna sanga at you. Otherwise it's dip/cheese/cookies.

And we in CBR pay higher fares for shorter flights with fewer frequencies.

EDIT: Just saying.... I know just because service sucks on my routes doesn't mean it's right to suck on everyone else's route.

 

[kevrosmith]

Apparently there have been some further changes as of 1 May... flying SYD-CNS last night, departing at 18:30, and in addition to offering complimentary tea, coffee, water and juice, the CSM announced that beer, wine and soft drinks were also complimentary. I had a Business points upgrade from Flexi, so wasn't too concerned myself, though was interested to hear the announcement. I inquired when this had changed, and Vanessa indicated it started on leisure routes (I took that to mean non-Gold Triangle routes) from 1 May: offering complimentary beer, wine and softdrinks on flights (departing) between 5pm and 7pm.

I did ask what the Flexi offer was on the flight, but she wasn't aware at that stage, but agreed with me when I suggested that I've heard reports that it's dropped from wraps and sandwiches style down to cheese and cracker style offerings. She seemed to think the breakfast offering may still be a muffin.

 

[anat0l]

Apparently there have been some further changes as of 1 May... flying SYD-CNS last night, departing at 18:30, and in addition to offering complimentary tea, coffee, water and juice, the CSM announced that beer, wine and soft drinks were also complimentary. I had a Business points upgrade from Flexi, so wasn't too concerned myself, though was interested to hear the announcement. I inquired when this had changed, and Vanessa indicated it started on leisure routes (I took that to mean non-Gold Triangle routes) from 1 May: offering complimentary beer, wine and softdrinks on flights (departing) between 5pm and 7pm.

I did ask what the Flexi offer was on the flight, but she wasn't aware at that stage, but agreed with me when I suggested that I've heard reports that it's dropped from wraps and sandwiches style down to cheese and cracker style offerings. She seemed to think the breakfast offering may still be a muffin.

I don't understand what has changed (or "further change"). It is after 1600h, which Virgin had said beer and wine was complimentary in the main cabin. I guess for me (you can guess now how long since I've flown Virgin domestic), the addition of juice and soft drinks to the complimentary selection is "new".

 

[kevrosmith]

I don't understand what has changed (or "further change"). It is after 1600h, which Virgin had said beer and wine was complimentary in the main cabin. I guess for me (you can guess now how long since I've flown Virgin domestic), the addition of juice and soft drinks to the complimentary selection is "new".

Beer, wine and soft drinks were never complimentary on routes such as SYD-CNS. Previously they've only been complimentary on routes such as Trans-con, Golden Triangle, the Government Hop, short haul international etc. (I won't attempt to list them all here, as I'm sure I'll miss one and someone will be distracted from the point of the post). Having complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks on flights between 5pm and 7pm is new for a lot of routes.

 

[moa999]

The only consistency seems to be the inconsistency and continual changes

 

[JohnK]

The only consistency seems to be the inconsistency and continual changes

Same as Qantas...

 

[medhead]

Beer, wine and soft drinks were never complimentary on routes such as SYD-CNS. Previously they've only been complimentary on routes such as Trans-con, Golden Triangle, the Government Hop, short haul international etc. (I won't attempt to list them all here, as I'm sure I'll miss one and someone will be distracted from the point of the post). Having complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks on flights between 5pm and 7pm is new for a lot of routes.

I thought the previous situation was complimentary between capital cities.

 

[JohnK]

I got the impression the flexi meal on MEL-OOL earlier was a chicken sandwich.

Is Virgin listening?

 

[Jousams]

I just want a coke on my flexi flights....

 

[pythonisman]

I thought the previous situation was complimentary between capital cities.

Correct, and in my experience that's been pretty consistent.
Very happy if they've extended it to non-cap cities as it always seemed a bit silly to me. I live in a capital city but most of my flying is not to another one

 

[mrpooky]

I've been very confused by the service on NTL -> BNE twice in the last three months. Both flights have had the "complementary beer and wine" announcement by the Captain or FO, and the most recent included cider in that announcement, too, but both times when I've asked for a wine or cider I've then been told I'd have to pay for it, although I've noticed others in the cabin not being asked to pay.

I found this rather embarrassing and first wondered if it were a Flexi-only perk. Then I realised that I was on a flexi ticket both times, and I did receive the rather disappointing corn chip and salsa snack.

I just can't understand what's going on.

mrpooky.

 

[kevrosmith]

Hmm... wondering what I'll be offered for breakfast on my Monday morning CNS-SYD flight then... last couple months have been a muffin and banana. Provides even more incentive to get to the Lounge for a bite to eat before the 3 hour flight!

Drum roll.... and it was.... a muffin! Raspberry and White Chocolate none-the-less! Just what you want at six in the morning.. Sigh... rather disappointing, though perhaps one day I'll be glad for a muffin when they possibly eventually roll-out 'full-service' to all routes, and we all get corn chips and salsa for breakfast on a 3 hour flight!

 

[kevrosmith]

Apparently there have been some further changes as of 1 May... flying SYD-CNS last night, departing at 18:30, and in addition to offering complimentary tea, coffee, water and juice, the CSM announced that beer, wine and soft drinks were also complimentary. I had a Business points upgrade from Flexi, so wasn't too concerned myself, though was interested to hear the announcement. I inquired when this had changed, and Vanessa indicated it started on leisure routes (I took that to mean non-Gold Triangle routes) from 1 May: offering complimentary beer, wine and softdrinks on flights (departing) between 5pm and 7pm.

I did ask what the Flexi offer was on the flight, but she wasn't aware at that stage, but agreed with me when I suggested that I've heard reports that it's dropped from wraps and sandwiches style down to cheese and cracker style offerings. She seemed to think the breakfast offering may still be a muffin.

Oh dear... when will Virgin get this right...?

On tonight's flight, CSM B.l.nd. didn't read the script from the manual, and initially failed to announce that beer, wine and softdrinks were complimentary in Y on our flight from SYD-CNS tonight. After her announcement, I piped up and indicated my surprise that they weren't complimentary, as they were last week and the CSM from last week indicated that some changes had come in form 1st May... a few quick checks and actually reading of the script and she was able to confirm that beer, wine and softdrinks were complimentary on flights between 5pm and 7pm, and subsequently made a further announcement.

I wonder how many times this will happen before the CSMs actually bother to read what is happening rather than assuming they know what the go is... and wonder how many passengers have not properly received what VA are expecting them to receive on their flight. Didn't affect me this time, as I was in J, but thought I might as well help the other pax onboard. Such as shame though.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

and wonder how many passengers have not properly received what VA are expecting them to receive on their flight.

VA don't really sport a history of letting this worry them too much, I doubt they'll lose sleep over it now.

 

[toowongman]

Wife gave me a box of bags, told me to make sandwiches in the lounge before the next flight. Might just do that.

 

[JohnK]

Wife gave me a box of bags, told me to make sandwiches in the lounge before the next flight. Might just do that.

I have tried that once or twice. Sandwich is soggy most times.

 

[erkpod]

I just want a coke on my flexi flights....

I had the same issue on several occasions during the weekend where I flew 6 sectors, 5 of them in Y on a Flexi. I can understand the confusion that the cabin crew are having because of the different fare types, the different rules for different sectors, different rules for different types of the day, different people do different things.

I was having a discussion with VA on Twitter about this situation & was referred to the page that states the inclusions & exclusions for different fare types - in this case the Flexi. The text of the F & B section on the Flexi page contradicts the text of the Compare tab for Flexi fares that compares the different fare types. I was told that I was correct in spotting confusion & that the issue will be taken up to where it needs to go at the VA end.

From what I can gather, the rules can be different on the MEL/SYD - OOL sector to the MEL/SYD - BNE sector. I flew in & out of OOL this weekend & there was confusion on behalf of the cabin crew as others have noted.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

different rules for different types of the day,

Cloudy day different to sunny day, you mean?

Must make the cabin crew deliriously happy (not) when they fly into Melbourne........

Crew to Pilot - "Hey Skip, MEL cloudy at the moment but we only have the offering for Sunny. What will we do"?
Pilot to Crew - "No probs, it's MEL...I'll fly around in circles for 5 minutes and it'll be sunny again!" :shock:

Only kidding, I presume you meant different times of the day!