Article: Toastie Wars: Qantas Club vs Virgin Lounge

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-virgin-lounge-toasties/

Toastie Wars: Qantas Club vs Virgin Lounge is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Toastie Wars: Qantas Club vs Virgin Lounge

The humble toasted sandwich has been a staple at Qantas Club lounges across Australia for decades. Now, Virgin Australia has added toasties to the menu. Which airline does it better?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Hvr]

I'll never know because I don't frequent the. VA lounges.

 

[oz_mark]

I thought Virgin has had toastie machines in their lounges for years. Or did they go away at some point?

 

[Human]

Totally agree with your verdict. The lack of a protein/meat option in the VA lounges makes VA toasties clearly inferior. This doesn't mean that the VA toasties are bad (the relishes add to the flavour quite nicely). But QF toasties just come with more options.

 

[serfty]

I thought Virgin has had toastie machines in their lounges for years. Or did they go away at some point?

VA had toasties before Qantas copied and brought them in some months afterwards.

Other than during COVID, they remained a staple offering.

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

I am pretty sure VA had toasties for many years, perhaps predating Qantas? They even used to have paper bags for 'take away'...

 

[Beano]

I have no experience of VA lounges but agree with the excellent toasties in the Qantas lounges. On the matter of fillings it is variable apart from the cheese and tomato. Sometimes you don't get beetroot in the business lounge but it is in the QC. Same with mayo, not always present in business lounges. i have seen myself going to the QC for beetroot and mayo and bringing them back to the business lounge, for example in BNE where you don't have to go through an LD to get into the QC!

 

[Flyingwombat]

VA had toasties before Qantas copied and brought them in some months afterwards.

Other than during COVID, they remained a staple offering.

I was going to say the same. VA started the toasties and then QF copied them a few weeks later! This was not a QF initiative.

 

[bigpete]

I hate those toasties. So it's now a race to the bottom; purchase from JQ inflight menu or indulge as part of your QF and VA Lounge experience. Wonder if Qantas offers them in CL?

 

[serfty]

I thought Virgin has had toastie machines in their lounges for years. Or did they go away at some point?

Yes, here we go - a post from 2011 ...

Post in thread 'The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access)'

Jun 22, 2011

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

You guys are full of good ideas!
We love our toasties / grills as much as you do so will be trialling sandwich presses in SYD lounge later this week. If all goes well, all lounges will soon have sandwich presses.

• Virgin Australia

• 

 

[Beano]

Yes, here we go - a post from 2011 ...

Post in thread 'The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access)'

Jun 22, 2011

Re: The Lounge 1stAug - changes to access and pricing (including Priority Pass Access

You guys are full of good ideas!
We love our toasties / grills as much as you do so will be trialling sandwich presses in SYD lounge later this week. If all goes well, all lounges will soon have sandwich presses.

• Virgin Australia

• 

OK, so they are trialing them. But did it stick?

 

[Flyerwin]

Great fact checking by AFF members.

 

[Beano]

A quick trawl suggest they were in the VA lounges until Covid, then dissappeared.

 

[Flyingwombat]

A quick trawl suggest they were in the VA lounges until Covid, then dissappeared.

From direct personal experience of making toasties from 2011-2019, they were definitely in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane the whole time. I was WP and G over those years and flying VA/EY combos. I didn't fly VA during COVID, only QF and JQ so not sure after 2019...

 

[oz61]

The other notable point is that Qantas offer nothing but a toastie. At least Virgin have a soup, a pasta (even if a bit gluggy) and wraps that can also be toasted.

 

[Beano]

The other notable point is that Qantas offer nothing but a toastie. At least Virgin have a soup, a pasta (even if a bit gluggy) and wraps that can also be toasted.

I've had lots of soup in Qantas lounges, but only after breakfast service is finished and hot meals appear early evening. PS. Never been disappointed with a Qantas croissants, which is more than can be said about hotels, even those with a french background.

 

[AuSammy]

I've had lots of soup in Qantas lounges, but only after breakfast service is finished and hot meals appear early evening. PS. Never been disappointed with a Qantas croissants, which is more than can be said about hotels, even those with a french background.

Yep. I try to avoid peak periods so most times Ive been in QC there is soup on hand as well as the toasties.

I know toasties aren't everyone’s cup of tea but I really enjoy a ham cheese tomato mustard toastie and hands down way better than VAs offering. No contest.