Virgin inflight service in Y

[clipped_wings]

One of these days, some enterprising, young intellectual will do a comparison thesus on the Human Condition with regard to Eating Habits in Transit. Specifically - how a person can drive 3 or four hours in a vehicle without stopping - yet feel compelled to consume food or drink over a one hour flight.

I'm guilty of the above hypothetical - so don't sharpen the pitchforks. I'm just amused at myself and everyone else who feels obliged or entitled to this peculiar practice. Do we need inflight food on a 1 hour flight? Is it really the only time of day we can spare for breakfast/lunch or dinner? And the biggest question of all:
Is that muffin and water in whY an acceptable subsitute for a bowl of cereal or toast before we leave the house or hotel?

Ok, keep your answers on point, respectful and remember we are talking short hops in Y not J............

 

[Max Samuels]

One of these days, some enterprising, young intellectual will do a comparison thesus on the Human Condition with regard to Eating Habits in Transit. Specifically - how a person can drive 3 or four hours in a vehicle without stopping - yet feel compelled to consume food or drink over a one hour flight.

I'm guilty of the above hypothetical - so don't sharpen the pitchforks. I'm just amused at myself and everyone else who feels obliged or entitled to this peculiar practice. Do we need inflight food on a 1 hour flight? Is it really the only time of day we can spare for breakfast/lunch or dinner? And the biggest question of all:
Is that muffin and water in whY an acceptable subsitute for a bowl of cereal or toast before we leave the house or hotel?

Ok, keep your answers on point, respectful and remember we are talking short hops in Y not J............

I remember reading somewhere years ago that it was more about giving people something to "do" and keep them in their seats. Unlike a train where you can just get up and walk around as much as you like, it is not really practical for everyone to get up at the same time on a plane....

But I 100% agree with you and have often thought the same. I think that the linking of flying with luxury and pampering has been well and truly established in our minds and forms the basis of our expectations. Take First Class for example. Why do they serve caviar? Because everyone that flies First loves caviar? Or just because it is an expensive luxury item? I can only talk for myself, but I never have had caviar in my real life. I don't know anyone that does. But I love to have it when flying First. So even though this about Y catering, I think the attitude is the same in every class.

Years ago I was part of a market research focus group on the perceived value of business class air travel. I can't remember what the exact figures were but it was something like this:

If your company was flying you to LAX and back for work, would you:

a) Let them pay a first class ticket for you at $20k
b) Give you a $10,000 travel budget to spend as you please (and keep the change)

I think 100% of respondents chose (b), and most of them said they would buy discount Y for $2k -ish and pocket the rest. Some said they'd spend it on J.

So....... what I took away from this is that it is all in our heads - we just need to change the perception. The next time I fly, I am going to pretend that I turned down a $20k first class ticket and bring my own caviar on board!

 

[dajop]

Nah. Never. Take what's on offer for free any day.

Hypothetical : so if you had the choice between a flight that offered a free small packet of pretzels around meal time (or even not around meal times) but no food for sale and a flight that didn't offer a packet of pretzels for free, but offered the chance to purchase a sandwich, a salad or a hot meal for a fee or various snacks for a fee, you would prefer to have a pack of pretzels for free? For me "token" free food is worth nothing.

 

[Antoallison]

I fly Y both short and long haul (have only experienced J twice). I can say that eating food and drinking on board is rarely about satiating hunger or thirst.

It’s about breaking up the monotony of air travel and the prospect of being cooped up in a metal tube for any length of time.

The food is never anything particularly edible or tasty and yet the anticipation is great - the dissappointment palpable.

I guess some of the different feelings towards having food/drink when I am on a plane versus driving a car somewhere, is that in a car I am in control and can decide to go off the freeway anywhere or any time enroute and have a meal at that quaint restaurant or tearooms.

 

[Max Samuels]

I had more Ink Gin the other day - loved it!!!
Also, in the inflight mag they still have a cheese board as an option, although it has been discontinued. The FA apologised for the confusion and comped my drink

 

[p--and--t]

One of these days, some enterprising, young intellectual will do a comparison thesus on the Human Condition with regard to Eating Habits in Transit. Specifically - how a person can drive 3 or four hours in a vehicle without stopping - yet feel compelled to consume food or drink over a one hour flight.

I'm guilty of the above hypothetical - so don't sharpen the pitchforks. I'm just amused at myself and everyone else who feels obliged or entitled to this peculiar practice. Do we need inflight food on a 1 hour flight? Is it really the only time of day we can spare for breakfast/lunch or dinner? And the biggest question of all:
Is that muffin and water in whY an acceptable subsitute for a bowl of cereal or toast before we leave the house or hotel?

Ok, keep your answers on point, respectful and remember we are talking short hops in Y not J............

During my period of intensive flying (yes I know it was before some on here were born) the majority of flying was before, in the middle of, or at the end of the working day to maximise time with clients/team members etc i.e. when one normally has a meal break.

In addition, back then some of the meals were actually tasty and filling - I recall the well prepared very lean cuts of steak of ample proportions with steamed veges in Y on Ansett when I requested a low fat meal.

Things have some what deteriorated in the ensuing decades with the advent of LCC etc.

 

[JohnK]

Hypothetical : so if you had the choice between a flight that offered a free small packet of pretzels around meal time (or even not around meal times) but no food for sale and a flight that didn't offer a packet of pretzels for free, but offered the chance to purchase a sandwich, a salad or a hot meal for a fee or various snacks for a fee, you would prefer to have a pack of pretzels for free? For me "token" free food is worth nothing.

Hypothetically speaking I'd eat elsewhere and not fork out $9 for a pie. Even without lounge access I'd bring food and drink with me as I have done when I've flown JQ from OOL in the evening after Qantas lounge closes.

 

[serfty]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FvlNSFiF2I

There also the Google street view ... Can be found in many places ... Here's one

Site Offline

travelskills.com

 

[Matt_01]

I flew VA Y yesterday for the first time in a while as most of my VA flights have been booked during the 30-40% J sales and in most cases the J was about the same price as flex Y. Anyway back to the question when did VA start rationing out wine from bottles rather than just handing out little bottles.

 

[dajop]

when did VA start rationing out wine from bottles rather than just handing out little bottles.

This highlights the difference between QF and VA!

QF would do this and it would very much be "Qantas is offering an enhanced onboard wine experience, replacing current individual serve small bottles with a more diverse selection of quality local and international wines hand picked by our experienced sommelier panel and professionally decanted by our award winning cabin crew. This will not only enhance the experience of our passengers but as part of our committment to sustainablity will result in a significant reduction in the waste generated on board our planes"

VA .... you said it ... when did the rationing start?

 

[woodborer]

This highlights the difference between QF and VA!

QF would do this and it would very much be "Qantas is offering an enhanced onboard wine experience, replacing current individual serve small bottles with a more diverse selection of quality local and international wines hand picked by our experienced sommelier panel and professionally decanted by our award winning cabin crew. This will not only enhance the experience of our passengers but as part of our committment to sustainablity will result in a significant reduction in the waste generated on board our planes"

VA .... you said it ... when did the rationing start?

Rationing? They started pouring from bottles months ago.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I flew VA Y yesterday for the first time in a while as most of my VA flights have been booked during the 30-40% J sales and in most cases the J was about the same price as flex Y. Anyway back to the question when did VA start rationing out wine from bottles rather than just handing out little bottles.

It's part of their waste reduction program (reducing plastic consumption etc). Good on them.

 

[dajop]

Rationing? They started pouring from bottles months ago.

Just reporting a perception ( I have no idea when it started haven't flown either VA or QF domestically for a long time), but the point was to highlight the (lack of) marketing spin that made the OP think that VA were rationing vs QF who would dress it up as a huge positive and create an entirely different perception. QF are masters of marketing, VA have an image but they seem to not have the same ability to spin things to their favour.

 

[mrmerc500]

Overall I do prefer the fully-inclusive meal service on QF domestic. But the Ink Gin that VA sells is indeed very good.

As a Vegan, I certainly do prefer the option for Domestic Y to pre-order a Vegan option where’s VA only offer this on a long haul service.

The meal is a consideration when traversing West to East Transcon.

Although I much prefer the VA service & velocity so have an even split generally.

Will have to try this Ink Gin that all are raving on with my VA flight back to Perth tomorrow.

As originally mention, the buy onboard menu with Virgin is generally good and can be with other airlines, Jetstar’s SumoSalad is a great option, wheres Tigers is still getting a revamp even after months!

 

[clipped_wings]

I can say that eating food and drinking on board is rarely about satiating hunger or thirst........and yet the anticipation is great.

Wonderful observation. 100% agree. The anticipation of a flight can often transcend the actual experience. Except J class - where I remain enamoured by the delightful FA's, the exquisite meals and super-comfy seats.

Holiday makers and business people are poles apart though. In the case of (non-business) air travel - it's all about saying "yes" to everything they offer you - as it feeds that compulsion to want the experience to be everything you dream it will be. I still push all the buttons, check out the contents in my seat pocket etc - and say YES to every single offering from the FA. Even if it's a pack of peanuts.

I suppose if I was flying every other day - I'd probably be more like: "No thanks - I have 287 packets from last week".

 

[Matt_01]

Rationing? They started pouring from bottles months ago.

I looked at my flight records and the last time I flew VA Y was 29 Jul 18, it's no wonder I missed the memo.

 

[Max Samuels]

The other day flying MEL-SYD on VA in J..... was not amazing. I'm sorry VA you have lost some points (and you were doing so well!)

Boarding was an absolute s***fight, "priority" boarding was non-existent (the priority line was 2x long as the normal line), and there was NO space for my bag in the locker above my seat (1A). I said to the FA "how is this even possible"?, as there were only 2 other people already seated in J, and he just shrugged. At least he didn't make me put it at the back somewhere... he put it in the forward crew locker.

And.... total first world problem I know.... but the pork & fennel sausage roll is getting pretty boring... I think it has been months on the menu?

But the booze flowed freely and frequently so I was easily placated. Overall I would give this a 7/10....

Coming back in Y on Friday with all the footy fans... OMG... what an experience (not necessarily a good one). Thank the lord I had a spare seat next to me. Was the first time I had used the VA lounge in SYD..... not too bad. Not as slick as the QF J lounges of course, but the view from L4 of all 3 runways was pretty spectacular! Easily made up for the decor, in my opinion

 

[robbo135]

Am flying VA 569 in a few weeks to PER in Y, whats the meal service like? Is it a snack like what you get on SYD-MEL? Or will it be a bit more substantial given its a 7pm departure?

Cheers

 

[AIRwin]

Am flying VA 569 in a few weeks to PER in Y, whats the meal service like? Is it a snack like what you get on SYD-MEL? Or will it be a bit more substantial given its a 7pm departure?

Choice of meals and a selection of drinks including a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink:

Onboard Menu | Virgin Australia

Select items from our onboard menu.

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[robbo135]

Choice of meals and a selection of drinks including a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink:

Onboard Menu | Virgin Australia

Select items from our onboard menu.

www.virginaustralia.com

Ta

So I will get something a bit more substantial. Still very inconsistent as a flight between SYD and DRW is of a similar length yet you don't get a meal. You do get a "snack box" which is more substantial than what you'd get on a shorter sector.