What order does VA ask for meals in domestic business?

[cbreeze]

Have flown VA a few times in business domestic.

I noticed for the meal option they have something like 4 to 5 meals available for each of the two options. When all 8 seats are full there is always a handful of people that only have one meal option available.

The first time I flew they asked what option people would like in the order of 1-A,C,D,F then 2-A,C,D,F

On a recent flight we were in 1D & 1F and got asked last, only leaving the one food option. They asked in the order of 1-A,C, then 2-A,C,D,F then finally 1-D,F

Is it perhaps that we were flying as a business reward flight and both Red status? Do they usually ask for food options based on your airline status perhaps?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

It's unpredictable. Sometimes it can be across row 1 then across row 2, other times it can be all the A/C seats then the D/F seats, and sometimes they might ask by status for those on paid fares rather than redemptions/upgrades. Basically unless you're in 1A/C, you may not get a choice.

 

[dk4]

For a while in this thread Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service we were all tracking it... But generally it is: Club Members (or whatever that is called now) always get asked first, then normally zig-zag from 1acdf -2acdf. (Note, order taking and order delivery sequence may also be different.)

BUT the cabin managers at Virgin do have a lot of latitude to get creative... hence why you see deviation. (I would guess that hiring "creative" type personalities is an HR requirement, so I expect they need to design service system flexibility to accommodate for this character trait, especially when so much of a cabin manager's job is monotonous, repetitive and check-list & process oriented.) Often when there is deviation, or low supplies of one option on the return of a double catered flight (because I assume the cabin manager gave everyone what they wanted on the first flight), you will hear the cabin manager asking if people have "any food allergies?" while they do their in-seat welcome aboard/introduction - this is the time to mention that you want the vegetarian option if necessary! (And at Virgin, vegetarian isn't ever a second class option, often I find it better and more tasty than the meat based meal.)

However, I have been served 4th in 1A, first in 2F and last in 1D - in the end you just learn to live with it, this variability is part of what gives Virgin service its individual based flair, and differentiates it from more robotic styles of customer service IMO.

 

[Mattg]

I find that it's from 1A through to 2F more often than not, but as others have said can vary.

On my last flight I sat in 2F knowing that it came with a risk of not getting my first choice of meal. Sure enough, after offering the two choices to everyone else the cabin manager then came to me and said "we have a peri peri chicken burger today, would you like to join us for lunch?". It was all done very gracefully and I was fine with it, but I found it slightly amusing that the flight attendant just pretended there was never a second option.

Last week my brother flew VA J and the only seat available was 2F. He has dietary requirements so I suggested he inform the FA of this when he was offered a pre-departure drink. He did, and the FA accommodated this.

 

[jase05]

I’m not sure if it’s just coincidence or luck but no matter where I sit we generally get our orders taken first which often causes other pax to look in our direction. We are both long time Plats but not sure if that makes any difference although I’ve had a couple of cabin crew in the past come and say “Welcome Mr and Mrs Jase05 as Platinum members we would like to take your orders first”

 

[Denali]

Unpredictable. Ive seen row 1 then 2 for one meal and then row 2 to 1 for others (nothing said about our platinum status).

But. If you gift your crew some chocolate blocks/boxes after take off and before orders, you will get lots of extra snack offers and usually 1st meal offer. Dont forget to gift your pilots as well.

 

[stm1sydney]

The few times I've flown VA dom J, it hasn't really mattered because both options are pretty decent. In any case, after the PDB and a couple of G&T's and a wine or two, you could put anything in front of me and I would eat it. So just enjoy!

 

[Bagpuss]

Simply everything varies. I've been on flights (MEL - PER) which will serve cheese, crackers and a drink prior to the main meals, down to flights which don't have any options as well as a variety of ways to ask for orders.
The best honest mixing it up is fair as long as the wine glass never gets empty

 

[Zanzara]

It is a bit of a joke how VA carry so few meals for the absolute maximum possibility of 8 orders. On my flight today, despite 2 people choosing to eat nothing, they still ran out.

This must happen a lot. For such a small outlay, their parsimony risks pi***** off their premium passengers.

The cabin manager asked 2D & E stopped as taxing started, then returned much later to 1A & 1B, 1C & D only to return to 2A & B last. On other occasions they have started at row 2 and finished on 1A. Go figure… It may be due to status or fare paid but that’s probably BS. Frankly, I don’t think theyre that organised or efficient.

I was only offered the Croque Monsieur as the Banana & Caramel Waffle had run out. Only to be told, whoops sorry, by the Cabin Manager, she had miscalculated. Did I want some crew food instead? She said that she would only choose me the best options available. I asked what would happen to the crew if she gave some to me, wouldn’t they be short?

‘Oh no. We have plenty and some of us choose not to eat that food’

She also did find a spare waffle…

I wasn’t sure if that was a put down on VAs crew catering or not.

Anyways, she was quite charming & apologised profusely.

In the end I had a delicious spinach & cheese tart that had lovely thin pastry, served with a side of mushrooms and tomatoes that tasted vaguely of bacon. I was very happy in the end. The VA crew food was actually really tasty.

The mimosa just topped it off.

 

[ozstamps]

Very hit or miss sadly.

And agree, it does not take a Rhodes Scholar to load a few more meal options just in case when fare are often $799 etc.

My partner and I are both long term Plats and always book 1D/1F when available - just did one tonight - and near always are 1st or second to be asked for meal choice.

But if I was a vegetarian $799 pax in 2D asked 'would you like a chicken burger today, and that is your only choice, as you have not bribed me and the flight deck with chocolates'' I'd be mightily pissed.

 

[theoracle30]

On a recent flight MEL-PER, the order was 2A/2C, 2D/2F (me, Platinum, upgrade on a Flex fare), 1A/1C and 1D/1F. The last two people missed out on the chicken option and got the vegetarian pasta.

 

[Vic]

I have a vague recollection of being asked first in VA business as some stage. Maybe last year's Cairns trip, but then my booking was the entire row 2A -2F on that occasion.

This year so far it has been 1A -2F in order for meals, me platinum and partner is gold. Have been seated 2a/c twice, 2d/f once and 1a/c once. Have never not had options, even for flights that might be considered the return catered leg.
Of the times that we had 2a/c, I can't remember if we also had a silver and red in 2d/f or if they sat down the back.

In summary, my 2022 experience has been strictly 1A to 2F in meal preference.

 

[Saab34]

Perhaps to those that prefer V meals tell the Cabin supervisor prior to takeoff.

 

[sydunipete]

Last week I flew SYD-ADL-SYD.

SYD to ADL the order was 2DF, 2AC, 1AC, 1DF
ADL to SYD the order was 1AC, 1DF, 2AC, 2DF

Both flights ran out of preferred choices and they seemed to have only the exact number of meals required. Everything else was pretty good but this budget conscious approach to meals seems to be false economy to me.