Bubbles?

[guerre64]

Howdy everyone.

I know that VA have mostly served Lanson champagne on their flights from Australia to LA, but I seem to recall reading somewhere very recently that they were changing to a different drop and was wondering if anyone can recall or knows what that drop might be please?

Trivial question I know, but I'm beginning to wonder if I actually imagined reading about it!!

Doing my first J flight to LAX from BNE in November for Thanksgiving in NYC - rather excited.

Cheers.

 

[JessicaTam]

Howdy everyone.

I know that VA have mostly served Lanson champagne on their flights from Australia to LA, but I seem to recall reading somewhere very recently that they were changing to a different drop and was wondering if anyone can recall or knows what that drop might be please?

Trivial question I know, but I'm beginning to wonder if I actually imagined reading about it!!

Doing my first J flight to LAX from BNE in November for Thanksgiving in NYC - rather excited.

Cheers.

Blackcat mentions the Ayala in her trip report. That may be what you are thinking of.

 

[blackcat20]

Blackcat mentions the Ayala in her trip report. That may be what you are thinking of.

Yep that's the one. Vintage champagne.

 

[guerre64]

Thanks JessicaTam and blackcat20 - I knew (or thought I knew!) I hadn't imagined reading something about it

 

[jpk]

I had the Ayala on a recent J MEL-LAX, and it was excellent. Unfortunately they only loaded 3 bottles of the stuff so they ran out before the plane had even taken off - after that it was back to Aussie sparkling. The FA's were not happy about it - apparently the supply of Ayala has been very short since they switched.

 

[blackcat20]

I had the Ayala on a recent J MEL-LAX, and it was excellent. Unfortunately they only loaded 3 bottles of the stuff so they ran out before the plane had even taken off - after that it was back to Aussie sparkling. The FA's were not happy about it - apparently the supply of Ayala has been very short since they switched.

No shortage on my flight yesterday.

 

[KCMil]

I just find it inconceivable that they don't even load an Australian "sparkling" on their domestic services. Flew this weekend and despite having had two e-mails from VA stating that sparkling was coming to all J class, still nothing. It's been two years now of feedback to them.
The Ayala I had on transcon, excellent, I just feel that when I'm paying for J MEL to SYD or CBR (a proportionally higher fare given price to distance ratio,) the least I can expect is a glass of sparkling before or after take-off given that the meal offerings are, ummm, mediocre at best...

 

[pblackie]

I just find it inconceivable that they don't even load an Australian "sparkling" on their domestic services. Flew this weekend and despite having had two e-mails from VA stating that sparkling was coming to all J class, still nothing. It's been two years now of feedback to them.
The Ayala I had on transcon, excellent, I just feel that when I'm paying for J MEL to SYD or CBR (a proportionally higher fare given price to distance ratio,) the least I can expect is a glass of sparkling before or after take-off given that the meal offerings are, ummm, mediocre at best...

I flew MEL-PER on Saturday on a 738 in J and was offered a glass of champagne prior to take off, was most unexpected!

 

[KCMil]

I flew MEL-PER on Saturday on a 738 in J and was offered a glass of champagne prior to take off, was most unexpected!

Yes, that is standard on transcon but not on any other route. Strangely you can't even get champagne or I should say "sparkling" on short haul international where you are paying the same sort of price. My concern is that on MEL-CBR where the price is just over half that of MEL-PER but a much much shorter distance, you are paying more per mile for your seat. However, you are receiving a much poorer quality of meal, and can't even get a glass of "sparkling" / Champagne.

 

[Clivem]

Ohhhh ....My presumptive mistake ........ I though this thread was going to be about a chimpanzee with a lot of velocity points.

 

[pblackie]

Yes, that is standard on transcon but not on any other route. Strangely you can't even get champagne or I should say "sparkling" on short haul international where you are paying the same sort of price. My concern is that on MEL-CBR where the price is just over half that of MEL-PER but a much much shorter distance, you are paying more per mile for your seat. However, you are receiving a much poorer quality of meal, and can't even get a glass of "sparkling" / Champagne.

I've always been offered it on A330 services but on all previous transcon 738 services I've been told they don't carry Champagne.

 

[bubblyguy]

I've always been offered it on A330 services but on all previous transcon 738 services I've been told they don't carry Champagne.

Champagne has been on Boeing transcontinental services since July this year along with table cloths, hot towels, dessert wine, fortified wine, cognac and all other additional spirits. Everything available on the Airbus flights should be available on a Boeing service with the exception of the sweet breakfast meal (pancakes, banana bread etc) and the exception of the seafood main meal for lunch and dinner flights as only 2 meal choices will fit. Last minute downgrades may have all 3 choices available.

 

[overrun]

The champagne is Ayala Brut Majeur NV. Ayala is a revitalized Aÿ-based Champagne house, owned by Bollinger. The styles tend to be lighter and drier, if one could make a generalisation. Aÿ itself is just east of Epernay, and (although not relevant to this champagne) is one of the best Blauer Burgunder-growing villages of Champagne.

 

[esquire]

Champagne has been on Boeing transcontinental services since July this year along with table cloths, hot towels, dessert wine, fortified wine, cognac and all other additional spirits. Everything available on the Airbus flights should be available on a Boeing service with the exception of the sweet breakfast meal (pancakes, banana bread etc) and the exception of the seafood main meal for lunch and dinner flights as only 2 meal choices will fit. Last minute downgrades may have all 3 choices available.

although on the A330 on my SYD-PER flight today when I asked for a glass bubbles was told they didn't have any.... Hmmmm

in fact, after a 11 months hiatus flying the J transcontinental route on VA I thought the whole service was below par in many ways compared to last year - the cost cutting and service slide is obvious - the current menu was average- not bad but nowhere near as good as it use to be. At least the seat and IFE were still good. Hopefully on the return trip the champers will be available.

 

[overrun]

I am pleased to say that Perth-Melbourne 29 Oct and Melbourne-Perth 30 Oct. Both with A330. And both with the champagne.

 

[Dan_]

Last Friday the PER-SYD had Champagne. Was very nice.

 

[vmile]

Bubbles loaded and offered upon boarding, on todays 6.30am SYD-PER.

And very nice it was to. (I did wait till we had left South Australian airspace- to celebrate that fact)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Bubbles loaded and offered upon boarding, on todays 6.30am SYD-PER.

And very nice it was to. (I did wait till we had left South Australian airspace- to celebrate that fact)

Oh that's good - that's very good - do you mind if I use that from time to time vmile?

 

[vmile]

Feel free CE.

Be a bit careful using it around people from Adelaide; they are 'different', 'special' even.

Glad we got to try the Ayala: there was no bubbles on our connecting 737 flight to HKT. (No cognac either, but I did have a Chivas Regal neat post lunch, just to be social)

SQ lounge in Perth had no French bubbles, but did have a very nice Tasmanian Arras NV 'Brut Elite No.701'

Life is good.

 

[Grimace1]

https://www.facebook.com/virginaustralia/posts/10152353561431990