Business Class Discussion - Seats/IFE/General Thoughts etc

[lovestotravel]

So some heavy discounts in J again, to match the QF sale, but you can travel alone

I know I said I won't be flying VA that much, but at the almost 1/2 price fares, it's too hard to say no... I don't really need the SC's or the points but it's still a nice way to travel for the price.

I have cancelled a few more of my points+pay redemption flights, and booked in J now for MEL-CBR-MEL and changed my flight time to avoid the E Jets......

Two totally different experiences over the weekend

MEL-OOL - Dinner Service - Lounge very busy in MEL - Still displaying the "lunch" sign, soup was great, hot dogs great and pizza was taken away by a staff member, which I think is a great touch! A little more hot food and less hot dogs would be great, I am still saying a rice and curry type dish, is cheap and easy to maintain!

8/8 seats full in J, not sure why I was moved from 1A - I actually received a call from Virgin, about an UN-related matter, earlier that day, as pretty much a pointless call as all my questions were not answered. Simply training someone to call the customer MR. lovestotravel doesn't make it any better. I lost track of how many times he said MR. lovestotravel.... But I guess the call was nice as it wasn't expected!

Priority boarded worked well as always

That aside, the CSM was hopeless and sloppy and all over the place. Slamming every single door shut and could hardly hear her when speaking! Food presentation was sloppy as best, the tomato potato type dish was yummy, but was splattered all over the side of the dish and tray. I was going to take a photo but didn't.

Drink service was poor and this CSM was really a mess! She was rushing around before landing like a headless chicken, and ended up dropping a bottle of wine which smashed and then had to be cleaned up.


OOL-MEL Snack service - Wow what a difference this flight was, I am emailing Virgin tonight about the outstanding service from Sarah the CSM. I was sitting beside the biggest wanchor I have ever met. Fully decked out in clothes meant for a 20 year old, but he was pushing 40. Very demanding and his cough (which I think was fake) when I was trying to sleep was great, so I made sure to visit the bathroom several times, simply so he had to move his tray table, and everything else he had shoved into the seat pocket. I did this mainly as he was so rude and demanding to the CSM. He's not from here as he had no status or FF number on his boarding pass..... :mrgreen:

That aside, OOL lounge - Hurry up, it looks a few weeks off though
Priority boarding - Great work again
Was greeted very nicely and welcomed back
7/8 seats filled in J
No mocktail offered, just water, I didn't ask why
Digiplayers handed out after the meal service, different to every other flight, but it makes sense
Wine kept refilled, along with my water
The meal was cheese, grapes and a tiny muffin, but I was still full from a very late breakfast
The CSM was outstanding to all customers, and was very professional and is exactly what a CSM in the J cabin should be like. She was very much like J service on SQ but with a real smile!

A huge difference between the two fights and of course, simply based on the crew member

 

[bigbadbyrnes]

Nice trip reports, lovestotravel. (almost said mr). Sounds like the J is a work in progress still, but heading in the right direction and making genuine progress.

 

[pythonisman]

Agree totally!

even with the 25% Amex discount.

Can I ask a stupid question (if there's a thread please point me there, I tried searching quickly but failed) -- I've seen a few references to an Amex discount, which I assume is some kind of high tier Amex card / charge card / amex deal - can anyone elaborate?

Sorry for the hijack!

 

[lovestotravel]

Can I ask a stupid question (if there's a thread please point me there, I tried searching quickly but failed) -- I've seen a few references to an Amex discount, which I assume is some kind of high tier Amex card / charge card / amex deal - can anyone elaborate?

Sorry for the hijack!

American Express Platinum Charge and Centurion cards let you enjoy 25% off Virgin Australia domestic business class

 

[Noob]

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

The service was very polished and I even forgot I was on an E190

I honestly think when the new J cabins are installed on the E190s they will be more sought after than the 737-800s, mainly because the 2-1 configuration. Personally, I think Y is better on them too.

 

[toowongman]

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

I honestly think when the new J cabins are installed on the E190s they will be more sought after than the 737-800s, mainly because the 2-1 configuration. Personally, I think Y is better on them too.

Indeed. The Y seats are around 1" wider than B737, and if sitting up the front I have that 'private jet' feeling. However the space in the WC is a little too small for me.

 

[greenfish]

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

I honestly think when the new J cabins are installed on the E190s they will be more sought after than the 737-800s, mainly because the 2-1 configuration. Personally, I think Y is better on them too.

I like E190 Y too, but wonder if they'll need to pinch a bit of space from Y to provide decent leg room in J?

 

[Moopere]

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

Those meals are actually starting to look quite good

Yes, I agree. But the "snacks" in J need serious work. They can choose to call it what they want, but I expect real food, not a piece of cheese, as the catering component of my J ticket.

 

[Noob]

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

Yes, I agree. But the "snacks" in J need serious work. They can choose to call it what they want, but I expect real food, not a piece of cheese, as the catering component of my J ticket.

Not that this excuses the offering but QF in J provides an almost identical quantity and type of food between meal times. They even use the same brand of crackers It's not something exclusively Virgin, and the fact it is being picked up is more a sign that an ever increasing amount of members are using Virgin Australia Domestic Business.

Here's the pic I uploaded again:

 

[serfty]

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

...

Here's the pic I uploaded again:

View attachment 7662

Yum! That's from Qantas - Give me smoked Salmon over Cheese any day ...

I don't know how you can post they are "almost identical quantity and type of food" ...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....y/the-dj-op-up-thread-29894-4.html#post617698

 

[mannej]

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

Not that this excuses the offering but QF in J provides an almost identical quantity and type of food between meal times. They even use the same brand of crackers It's not something exclusively Virgin, and the fact it is being picked up is more a sign that an ever increasing amount of members are using Virgin Australia Domestic Business.

You do quote almost identical. The smoked salmon does look to give the platter the edge on the plain cheese platter!

 

[Noob]

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

Yum! That's from Qantas - Give me smoked Salmon over Cheese any day ...

I don't know how you can post they are "almost identical quantity and type of food" ...

You do quote almost identical. The smoked salmon does look to give the platter the edge on the plain cheese platter!

I'm trying to show that it isn't something unique on behalf of Virgin, the quantity and type (which I mean value) of the items offered are almost identical between meal times on both carriers. To post as if it is unique to Virgin to offer a reduced food offering between meal times is misleading to readers of the forum IMO. I was trying to communicate that it isn't unique and is the standard across both carriers.

Whether you prefer salmon and crackers or cheese and crackers is a personal preference - Personally I enjoy salmon and cheeses (probably salmon a little more )

 

[mannej]

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

Looks like that QF snack you posted has Salmon, Crackers and Cheese all in one

 

[Moopere]

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

I'm trying to show that it isn't something unique on behalf of Virgin, the quantity and type (which I mean value) of the items offered are almost identical between meal times on both carriers.

I am sure, well I hope that the different recent posts are tongue in cheek to some extent, personal preferences aside.

Several months ago I had a J flight MEL to SYD if I remember correctly, with no J food loaded at all. I complained and got a $50 credit shell. So, from that single data point I infer the proposed value of in flight catering to be $50. I've been to some pretty fancy pants restaurants over the years, but not too many of them would have the cheek to charge me $50 for a single small slice of cheese (or salmon) on a plate. As there are no fare discounts that I am aware of during 'snack' times, I have to assume that the normal 50$ fare component for catering applies for snack flights also ... its just a bit rich, I'm sorry.

If Virgin or Qantas want to find inventive wording and menus to vary things for their passengers then fine, as I said in a post above, call it whatever you want, but don't insult your premium guests sensibilities. What would be wrong with providing proper canapés or something, in reasonable quantity during the so-called non meal times?

 

[cityloop]

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

From my point of view I feel the teething issues are being ironed out quite well given the disastrous hit and miss J offering in the past.

I have enjoyed very tasty meals and a much improved level of service and professionalism on may last couple of J flights. I heard through the grapevine that John was receiving many direct complaints about the J product and he was well aware of the situation dragging many over the coals in order to sort out the mess. Glad it's finally paying off. I still have an issue with the big difference in the general J product as compared to the trans continental J product but I hope this will be aligned closer in the future.

 

[Moopere]

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

Don't get me wrong. Things are improving and its very heartening to see what appears to be a strategy of continuous improvement. I did the A330 transcon PER-SYD today, very smooth service despite leaving about 30 minutes late.

I forgot to take photos, but I got the duck that others have posted about lately, nice. The menu's and variety _are_ improving, but I'll keep whinging about these cheese based 'snacks' so long as thats the only choice outside of these narrow windows of 'meal times'

 

[Ewing]

This was my " refreshment" on Qantas today between Sydney and Canberra.



With that in mind I do hope that Virgin start a more substantial refreshment offering as taking tonight for example I haven't had time to go to dinner so without a meal like I had on Qantas I would have been quite hungry.

Sent from my LT26i using AustFreqFly

 

[Deleted member 29185]

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

With reluctance, I enter this debate with a single observation.

The J meals of today, look like the Y meals of yesterday.

To those that quip it's not possible to serve a decent J meal in "the time frame", I respond......No, it's not possible to serve a decent J meal with that attitude!

Roast meals use to be served as Y..... now we're told pre-packed cheese and half a dozen grapes is all that can be accommodated in the five times more expensive J class. Yes, fares have dropped, but the excuses for sub-standard meals have been perfected.

I agree, the meals are looking considerably more attractive. But c'mon you lot, it's a take! Offer cough, wear the whinge, offer cafe wear the glory! Come in spinner. All airlines (for the price of J) can most certainly offer a J experience........decent food (including roast meals or equal) on ALL flights and service to match (rather than a quick flick of the day and retreat to gossip behind closed curtains). It's a disturbing facit of DJ LCC that has persisted.

OK, I'll retreat as the non-J flyer. Trouble is, what is coveted as J these days, was discount economy of days gone by. I know things change, but the excuses that 'we haven't the time" really means "we couldn't be bothered and where would our time be?" A decent meal accompanied by decent service was always possible. Don't let's pretend it's something new and yet to be achieved.

 

[dandandan]

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

I think the cheese is good, just needs a few more crackers and some stronger ones at that. In saying that who is to say other than yourself if your desire, want or need a main meal in between main meal times, a J fare should cater for that option.