Virgins Pie In the Sky suggestions (new menu coming)

[Virgin Australia]

More of less.

Yes we have made changes to our menu as noted by many of you.

We've reviewed which menu items were most popular. So with that in mind, we have removed certain products that weren't selling, or required additional handling time such as mixing spirits and the hot chocolate. Changes due to space have also been made eg. the large ginger beer bottle, to a slim line can. Ditto Crown Lager tall bottle, to the Pure Blonde can.

We value everyone's opinions, as you are all entitled to them, so rest assured you have been heard.

We just ask for a little leeway as we tweak to get things right.

Thanks

(For the record, the DJ AFF official company rep isn't a fan of mushrooms either.)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

VA, if you don't wish to have the hassle of mixing spirits go back to the pre-mixes. Easy, but don't ditch them on an excuse you don't want to mix drinks. By all means rotate less popular lines off the menu, but don't ditch complete lines all together with no replacements. The new menu really is an insult to your customers.

Please decide if you wish to be a premium carrier or a LCC, but if you choose LCC, then do the right thing and reduce your fares again, which have crept up of late. My opinion..........this decision is a monumental stuff up, which has just single handedly undermined the great momentum instigated by all the announcements made over recent months. The signals I'm getting is that you want to take on Qantas as a premium carrier, but you just don't know how to achieve that! Think again please.

 

[Mogul]

^^^^^^ Wot he said.

 

[Virgin Australia]

VA, if you don't wish to have the hassle of mixing spirits go back to the pre-mixes. Easy, but don't ditch them on an excuse you don't want to mix drinks. By all means rotate less popular lines off the menu, but don't ditch complete lines all together with no replacements. The new menu really is an insult to your customers.

Please decide if you wish to be a premium carrier or a LCC, but if you choose LCC, then do the right thing and reduce your fares again, which have crept up of late. My opinion..........this decision is a monumental stuff up, which has just single handedly undermined the great momentum instigated by all the announcements made over recent months. The signals I'm getting is that you want to take on Qantas as a premium carrier, but you just don't know how to achieve that! Think again please.

Hearing you on the pre-mixers, and that will be communicated to the team.

Can I just ask, that the new aircraft, new cabins, new lounges, new routes, new alliances, new fare structure, new priority systems, etc has all been undone by the removal from the menu of the spirits and mixers, soup, hot chocolate, and a reduction in the numbers of different cookies and snacks?

This is a menu tweak so as to allow us to provide 'more of less' - a smaller menu so as to allow a greater number of guests the more popular items. Certainly not intended as an insult as you say.

 

[markis10]

It was more than a tweak, and the fact its an ongoing process is a good thing. Just please dont get into the numbers game like the supermarkets where less popular items falling below a line get chopped, sometimes its the presence of the less popular item thats resulting in the customer interest in the first place!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Can I just ask, that the new aircraft, new cabins, new lounges, new routes, new alliances, new fare structure, new priority systems, etc has all been undone by the removal from the menu of the spirits and mixers, soup, hot chocolate, and a reduction in the numbers of different cookies and snacks?

Thanks for the reply VA, that is appreciated and to answer your question......no of course the menu change doesn't change those things. Not sure if you noticed (depending upon when you read my post) but I edited my first attempt to include the words "the great momentum instigated by all the announcements". This was because I recognised my original comment about "undermining all the great changes DJ had made in recent months" was a ridiculous statement that I didn't for one minute believe myself.

My revised text is all about perceptions. DJ were riding a well deserved wave of euphoria as a DIRECT result of all the positive changes made to the company. That euphoria, most importantly, was pretty much universal across the pax and the crew and it was very inticing. It's that euphoria that has now suffered a severe dent as a result of what? A grounding by CASA like Tiger?.....No. A midair (or numerous) mid air emergencies like Qantas?......No. RB going belly up because of the stock market woes in Europe?........No. It was because of such a trivial little thing like an infamous "enhancement" to the menu. Remember, many of us spend quite a sum of money with DJ and yes, we do like to feel pampered and just a little bit special and we've previously spoken of DJ returning to that past era where flying was something special. We can't sit back with a nice Cuban cigar and a brandy (thank god, I hate cigar smoke) but I personally was starting to feel really comfortable about that new DJ direction.......and importanly for DJ, my spending patterns were definitely changing....I think you know who I am and if so have a look at my previous flying history compared to my last few months. GO.Fares have been replaced largely by PE fares......why, well one reason is because of that perceived return to the magic of flying that we use to be able to experience in days gone by.

A poor change to an in-flight menu is bearable VA, but it's those ever so important pax perceptions that you risk losing!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Cheers for input Virgin Australia, we are a tough crowd here at AFF.
Some of us here may be 'upset' with the new menu change, but on the whole, l guess we are all very happy the way VA is heading/headed. If that means copping something (menu change) for a few months (4 'ish) for something better, then so be it and I guess we just need to harden up. A little heads up would have been appreciated and since Crazy Dave has departed, someone has to speak out....

 

[Mogul]

Can I just ask, that the new aircraft, new cabins, new lounges, new routes, new alliances, new fare structure, new priority systems, etc has all been undone by the removal from the menu of the spirits and mixers, soup, hot chocolate, and a reduction in the numbers of different cookies and snacks?

.. and adding mushrooms to the pie.

In all seriousness though it hasn't undone all the changes VA have made so far. What it has done is lessened the overall experience that VA is trying to improve. It's the small things people remember. And as in most business's it's the client's last experience that they judge you on.

As someone who travels with young kids from time to time the menu needs to include items / meals that are suitable for them especially on the longer flights. There would be nothing worse the winging kids who are hungry.

For me personally there is nothing that I would now eat on the menu, which means next week on my PE flight from Perth back to Sydney it looks like it will be lounge sandwiches on board as well (are there doggy bags in the lounge).

 

[Hvr]

More of less.

(For the record, the DJ AFF official company rep isn't a fan of mushrooms either.)

And I thought you were fun guys? :mrgreen:

Pity about the hot chocolate. Surely there must be a way to make it simple?

 

[Justinf]

Spirits weren't being mixed anyway. We were given a can of mixer and the small bottle of spirits and a plastic cup with or without ice. I don't understand where the 'mixing the spirits' bit has come from?

 

[DJ 1D]

I spoke with the crew tonight on my flight home and they echoed what AirlineGuy said: Not enough space, low demand items gone, new business class menu coming.

I can understand their dilemma but unfortunately I agree with swanning: this has taken a bit of wind out of their sails. The menu as it stands now is just not up to par at all, and after all the great steps forward this is definitely a pretty big step back. I'm guessing it was a decision borne of pure economics, but it's just a shame that the transition to "phase two" or whatever comes next means the overall experience is lessened for a few months.

Hopefully this is just a small hiccup as they move from LCC to full service carrier...

 

[brad330]

As it says on the VA site PE pax choose what they want from 'The Menu'. Is this still the case or do PE guest have a special menu?

 

[DJ 1D]

As it says on the VA site PE pax choose what they want from 'The Menu'. Is this still the case or do PE guest have a special menu?

As a PE guest flying today, my choice was from the menu I posted above. Nothing special - in fact, tonight my white wine choice was a Chardonnay and a Chardonnay - they didn't load any Sauv Blanc. I tried the Chardonnay and it was awful, so they offered me a glass of the SemSauv they had in the big bottle for the flexi guests. I gladly took it.

But it sure wasn't a Premium experience...

 

[MarkD]

LOL we sound like a bunch of pisspots.... Hi My name is Mark and Im an AFF Alco.... Fancy taking away our grog!!!!

 

[Justinf]

LOL we sound like a bunch of pisspots.... Hi My name is Mark and Im an AFF Alco.... Fancy taking away our grog!!!!

I know you're taking the piss (pardon the pun) but it's not like we are a heap of drunks who board sloshed and swill up at every opportunity.
One of life's simple pleasures for me is sipping on my beverage of choice at 35,000ft watching the clouds go by. It's just so very relaxing and gives me a feeling of comfort from deep within.
Pure Blonde is not beer. And a thimble of wine is not a drink.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

tonight my white wine choice was a Chardonnay and a Chardonnay - they didn't load any Sauv Blanc. I tried the Chardonnay and it was awful,
But it sure wasn't a Premium experience...

The Sauv Blanc has been off the menu for some time. It was my preference in fact (I don't usually drink the beer or spirits.....although I love a rum, oh and a gin, oh and a scotch, of and a..........better forget that train of thought :shock: ) and I also think the Chardy is a bit ordinary. For the record, on my short hops I drink usually one wine, two at a stretch if it's a bit longer flight, and that's it.

 

[markis10]

Hi My name is Mark and Im an AFF Alco....

Now that the scotch has gone I cannot say the same :evil:.

 

[markis10]

The $8 white is currently:

Was not a bad drop:

Fruit sourced from Benwerrin Vineyard at picturesque Oakbank, with vineyard aspect being integral to the production of the highest quality fruit from the 20 year old vines which were planted on a northerly facing slope. This combination of cool climate and long days of sunshine creates flavour and aromatic qualities, to craft a wine of depth and character. A single vineyard wine, fruit is hand harvested. The 2010 season produced cool growing conditions, and some timely heat in February assisted these low yielding vines to slowly build flavour and intenity of the fruit.
Lightly pressed, only free run juice is used. Solids ferment carried out in 100% new French oak barrels. Weekly lees stirring for up to eight weeks until malo-lactic fermentation was complete. This wine was then stored in oak for a further six months, prior to blending with an un-oaked portion. The wine is then filtered once prior to bottling.
With fine lemon and straw colour; the bouquet displays cool climate white peach & nectarine fruit aromas with the subtle use of fine French oak which has added creamy complexity. The palate is rich, soft and creamy, an elegant Chardonnay. The long balanced palate has delicate fruit and spice characters with great balance and length.
Try a salad of grilled scallops with witlof, blue cheese and hazelnut. The richness, complexity and structure of this wine dictate that it will repay careful cellaring over the next five years!


http://www.winestar.com.au/prod2021.htm




I also had the luke M sambo, got to say it was real good!

Looking at the menu its not great for early morning flights, how about a cheese/ham croissant DJ?

 

[Nigelinoz]

it's not like we are a heap of drunks who board sloshed and swill up at every opportunity

It's obvious you haven't been to many AFF drinks events :!::mrgreen::mrgreen:
Cheers
N'oz
(Only jokin')

 

[Major]

Maybe we should flog the sandwich maker from the Lounge and plug it into the galley somewhere.

A toasted sanga on board would be outstanding.