Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Luke B]

VA613 BNE-MKY - Braised Beef with mash. Not great...

 

[Stealthflyer]

Miso noodle salad on a short hop. Definitely the nicest VA J meal I’ve had so far.

 

[Luke B]

VA608 MKY-BNE, some casserole with rice. Not great.

 

[zig]

VA608 MKY-BNE, some casserole with mash. Not great.View attachment 482000

Funny looking mash

 

[anat0l]

VA608 MKY-BNE, some casserole with mash. Not great.View attachment 482000

If I had to guess, it looks like either Indian or Moroccan influenced - the chickpeas are swaying my judgement - either a curry or tagine.

Also can't see any mash, unless the rice was severely overcooked

Not having much luck with the braises or stews so far, eh?

 

[Luke B]

Apologies... was meant to put rice haha, anyway here's the mash, VA332 BNE-MEL

 

[anat0l]

Apologies... was meant to put rice haha, anyway here's the mash, VA332 BNE-MELView attachment 482023

Same braised beef? Any better?

Notice a heck of a lot of broccoli in use. I'm surprised the assembled makes a huge deal about pumpkin but find broccoli oddly acceptable (nothing wrong as such with broccoli, but IME it's not everyone's cup of tea sitting somewhat underneath the likes of Brussel sprouts).

 

[zig]

Same braised beef? Any better?

Notice a heck of a lot of broccoli in use. I'm surprised the assembled makes a huge deal about pumpkin but find broccoli oddly acceptable (nothing wrong as such with broccoli, but IME it's not everyone's cup of tea sitting somewhat underneath the likes of Brussel sprouts).

I like broccoli, but unfortunately have always found it to be an over cooked soggy mess on VA.

 

[jase05]

Same braised beef? Any better?

Notice a heck of a lot of broccoli in use. I'm surprised the assembled makes a huge deal about pumpkin but find broccoli oddly acceptable (nothing wrong as such with broccoli, but IME it's not everyone's cup of tea sitting somewhat underneath the likes of Brussel sprouts).

I dislike broccoli but will eat it in small doses and I’d eat a plate full of the stuff before I have even one mouthful of pumpkin

 

[Luke B]

Same braised beef? Any better?

Notice a heck of a lot of broccoli in use. I'm surprised the assembled makes a huge deal about pumpkin but find broccoli oddly acceptable (nothing wrong as such with broccoli, but IME it's not everyone's cup of tea sitting somewhat underneath the likes of Brussel sprouts).

Yeah same dish, suspect it's probably BNE catering based.

Same thoughts as before, a bit meh. Beef was very tough.

 

[anat0l]

I like broccoli, but unfortunately have always found it to be an over cooked soggy mess on VA.

Yeah I don't bet the house on any broccoli being cooked well on an aircraft so it isn't overcooked and soggy, unless it is fresh in a salad (i.e. no cooking).

Broccolini at least has a better chance of remaining quite crisp and not soggy.

 

[anat0l]

Same thoughts as before, a bit meh. Beef was very tough.

The thing that befuddles me is that if this is "braised beef", braising cuts are tough by nature but when you cook them slowly over a long time (or under pressure for slightly shorter times), they eventually pull apart quite readily and shouldn't be tough at all.

 

[VPS]

I didn't realise there were so many anti pumpkin people. It's not a vegetable that I even think of as causing angst compared to brussel sprouts and coriander

 

[jase05]

I didn't realise there were so many anti pumpkin people. It's not a vegetable that I even think of as causing angst compared to brussel sprouts and coriander

I eat Brussel’s sprouts occasionally and absolutely love coriander but pumpkin is on my banned list

 

[VPS]

I eat Brussel’s sprouts occasionally and absolutely love coriander but pumpkin is on my banned list

Coriander is the evil herb IMHO

My father took 20+ years of marriage to tell mum he didn't really like pumpkin

 

[The-Aviator]

November 2025 | VA989 | SYD to BNE

Quick weekend trip to Brisbane. The temporary entrance to the Sydney VA lounge is well signposted, inside the food consisted of wraps, Thai vegetable green curry and a chicken fried rice which seemed to be missing any chicken. Nothing particularly photoworthy!





Unfortunately due to storms in Brisbane there was a pause on activity which resulted in a significant delay of over an hour for our flight, with boarding starting about 40 minutes after our scheduled departure time. We were some of the fortunate ones though as plenty of other (non-VA) flights got cancelled that evening. It took an exceptionally long time to board, complicated further by front door boarding only. No PDB was served however to the CM's credit, he acknowledged this to the cabin and noted it was with the intention of getting us away as soon as possible and promised an open bar once we were airborne.

It was a full cabin and a few days into the new Business menu - options were described as a chicken with ginger and spring onion salsa and pandan rice (not sure which one this corresponds with on the advertised menu) or fussili arrabiata with optional chicken breast (potentially the romesco fusilli pasta with roasted vegetables). I went with the pasta and optional chicken. Orders were taken 1AC, 1DF, 2AC, 2DF and everyone got their first choice.

Meals were delivered very quickly. Perhaps a bit on the smaller side but otherwise fine.



Close up of the main.



Service was good during the flight with top-ups on the drinks regularly offered. the CM even came around with chocolates for everyone after the meal.



Aircraft was also clean (has been a bit hit-and-miss for me on recent flights) however the Wi-Fi unfortunately was not working. This was also one of the rare jets which still had the perspex divider in place however I see it has now gone off to Singapore, perhaps for its retrofit.



It was pandemonium on arrival in BNE, with lots of people trying to return home or to their hotels after their flights out got cancelled. Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long for an Uber (heard some nightmare stories about the queue at the taxi rank!) but surge pricing did mean a ride to the city cost $120. The joys of travel!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

November 2025 | VA989 | SYD to BNE


View attachment 482657

Is that a piece of red onion or something? Otherwise that chicken slice is looking a little pink/red/raw?