6pm departure = snack service

[Gremlin]

I was on DJ973 this evening from SYD to BNE which was scheduled as a 1800 departure. Traveling in J. When I arrived at the airport the screens were showing a 10 min delay and we ended up pushing back at 1815.

I was expecting a meal, but it turns out it was only a snack service. I don't know if there had been catering issues, but it seemed strange to me. Should I have expected dinner on a 6pm service? I deliberately chose not to eat in the Lounge on the expectation of a meal on the plane.

 

[serfty]

Oh dear!

Domestically, if the lounge food seems OK than I go for it - anything else is a bonus.

Seems stnage for the timing however.

Maybe DJ are seeing the need to significantly reduce cost

 

[Gremlin]

In the end, I just supplemented with a piece of fruit when I got home. Probably a healthier option anyway

 

[brad330]

I have a 1810 MEL-CBR next week I hope its not a sanck!

 

[edy4eva]

I have a 1810 MEL-CBR next week I hope its not a sanck!

Nope, a proper meal (I think a salad with something on the side ) is served in business on DJ287. But in Y it's a snack box (chocolate brownie and a pack of nuts)
I doubt you will have time to wrap up the meal in J because the last time it was a 40 minute flight and trays were cleared (some haven't finished) shortly before landing.

 

[medipri]

I was flying on a PER-ADL 1715-2215 last week on E190 (and yes, there are now "curtains" in place) and I must admit that I was alittle miffed when I got served a cheese platter. It was filling and all but I was after a savoury meal as the Perth lounge isn't that great for food.

 

[JohnK]

I heard an announcement in the BNE lounge last night that one of the flights did not have enough meals loaded and to eat in the lounge. Perhaps that was the flight heading back to SYD.

Not my flight but I had 3 hot dogs anyway. :shock: Who said they were sick and tired of the hot dogs in the Virgin Lounge? Healthy or not healthy it is by far the best food I have seen in the Virgin Lounges.

 

[jazza1971]

I was flying on a PER-ADL 1715-2215 last week on E190 (and yes, there are now "curtains" in place) and I must admit that I was alittle miffed when I got served a cheese platter. It was filling and all but I was after a savoury meal as the Perth lounge isn't that great for food.

That is actually really cough, a three hour flight over that time and a cheese platter instead of a main meal in J. I hope you lodged a complaint about it!

 

[medipri]

That is actually really cough, a three hour flight over that time and a cheese platter instead of a main meal in J. I hope you lodged a complaint about it!

I didn't know whether this was worthy of a complaint or not but I will lodge a complaint now and see what they say.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I was on DJ973 this evening from SYD to BNE which was scheduled as a 1800 departure. Traveling in J. When I arrived at the airport the screens were showing a 10 min delay and we ended up pushing back at 1815.

I was expecting a meal, but it turns out it was only a snack service. I don't know if there had been catering issues, but it seemed strange to me. Should I have expected dinner on a 6pm service? I deliberately chose not to eat in the Lounge on the expectation of a meal on the plane.

As luck would have it, I was on todays DJ 973 SYD to BNE in J.
Full dinner service.

 

[`X']

This is the offical meal schedule provided to me by Virgin Australia after an enquiry regarding pretty poor meal performance.

[TABLE="width: 427"]
[TR]
[TD]Meal Type
[/TD]
[TD]Meal Window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Breakfast
[/TD]
[TD]First Flight - 08.30
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Morning Snack
[/TD]
[TD]08.31 - 11.59
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lunch
[/TD]
[TD]12.00 - 14.00
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Afternoon Snack
[/TD]
[TD]14.01 - 17.59
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dinner
[/TD]
[TD]18.00 - 20.00
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Evening Snack
[/TD]
[TD]20.01 - Last Flight
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Fruitcake]

Those times seem OK to some extent, but I think they need to make things a bit more fluid than simply 'departure time'. Flying SYD-BNE departing 11:30am, a snack service is, in my view, acceptable. But a SYD-CNS service, for example, departing at 11:30am and arriving at 2:30pm I think should clearly have been a lunch service. (I don't think a CNS-SYD service at that time exists, but substitute any 2.5+ hr flight that departs between 11am and 12pm.) Maybe the reference point should be the mid time of the flight - but there'd still be examples where that wasn't appropriate either.

At the very least, the popup flight info box should on the website in the booking process should state the 'complimentary meal service for flexi fare and business class passengers: snack/dinner/breakfast' or something similar. At least you'd know exactly what to expect on board and can make your decision appropriately before booking/upgrading/etc.

 

[serfty]

So, would a 2pm departure MEL-BNE have lunch or snack in J going by that I'd expect Lunch.

What about a 4:40pm departure BNE-CNS arriving 7:10pm - I'd expect a snack.

 

[straitman]

We flew OOL-MEL with an 1050 departure and 1405 arrival. That was a snack service that went over the whole lunch period :?:

 

[markis10]

My 9.30 AM flight to CNS last week was a lunch service.

 

[brad330]

My 9.30 AM flight to CNS last week was a lunch service.

Was this MEL-CNS? I am on this flight on Saturday? Is it 3 course lunch?

 

[edy4eva]

Cheese/crackers for economy on DJ287 last night

 

[muppet]

Cheese/crackers for economy on DJ287 last night

CBR - MEL/SYD is practically cheese and crackers every flight. Between 4 - 7 you get a beer though.

 

[Moopere]

Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering - Service, Meal times, Menus

I haven't flown Virgin J, but this thread has been an interesting read. I find it amazing that they sent the meals by departure time, doesn't make any sense to me. Rather shouldn't dinner be served if the flight is in the air between certain hours? At least some flexibility as has been noted there really is some strange ones at the moment.

The whole notion of "meal times" just staggers me. They can't possibly know if you ate already, maybe you're a late starter, maybe breaky for some is lunch for others, perhaps you are transiting ... who knows?

The detail and management required is ridiculous. I seriously think they'd get great kudos and might actually save money by just loading proper meals for all J (or other eligible) pax and be done with trying to logistic their way through meal times and snack times. Its little wonder the catering company is stuffing up and not loading meals. ... what a nightmare to manage.

How much easier would the contractors and the passengers lives be when all that had to be worried about was how many Pax were expected in J ...

 

[greenfish]

Re: Virgin Australia Business Class Catering - Service, Meal times, Menus

Moopere, agree with your comments.

It'd make a real difference to me if they'd extend the meal times - I was really surprised the first time I was given a cheese platter on my 5:30 flight ex CBR - would very much appreciate a decent dinner.