Changes to Virgin Trans Tasman In Flight Service

[Noob]

Worthy of a new thread? If so can a mod please split

"Virgin Australia now offers complimentary beer and wine to Flexi guests on flights operated between Australia and New Zealand (and return). In addition, Flexi guests will also receive new hot meal options on Trans Tasman flights.Flexi guests can choose between a hot or continental breakfast. Hot breakfasts include scrambled eggs and bacon, or frittatas, served with fresh local fruit. Continental breakfasts include gourmet cereals (such as Bircher Muesli), a bakery item and fresh local fruit.
Lunch and dinner meals now include options such as braised lamb or butter chicken – a vegetarian selection is also available. All hot Flexi meals are served with a bread roll and dessert, including chocolates, slices, cakes or ice cream.
Premium Economy guests are privy to new Flexi meals in addition to their other on board entitlements."

Complimentary Beer and Wine and New Hot Meals Across the Tasman « Virgin Australia Blog

 

[greenfish]

This is good news - it makes for a much better alignment between the DJ and NZ products. IFE and the better seats (IMHO) will keep me on NZ for the time being, but a definite step in the right direction.

 

[greenfish]

I wonder if DJ will align their fare options with NZ for travel across the ditch.

NZ offer Seat, Seat + Bag, The Works, The Works Deluxe (but not on DJ metal), with a "flexi option" available on each of these categories - 6 options on DJ metal, 8 on NZ.

DJ offer the standard Saver (+optional bag), Flexi, Premium - 4 options.

I really like the NZ options - I can have flexi (and presumably extra SCs) with seat only - or if flying with the family, The Works but no flexi. Looking at the 9th of May BNE-HLZ (DJ metal), prices look like this:

NZ "Seat Only" = $260, DJ "Saver" = $259
NZ "Seat and Bag" = $285" DJ "Saver" + Baggage = $284

So no difference so far, but:

NZ "Works" (meal + IFE) = $315 - nearest DJ equivalent is Flexi (which is better) but $439 - dear if all I want is a hot meal for the kids (I won't mention IFE)

So let's go flexi with NZ

NZ "Seat" = $390
NZ "Seat + Bag" = $415
NZ "The Works = $445

With the DJ flexi at $439, I'd probably save the dosh and go for the NZ "Seat only" if travelling alone, otherwise the DJ flexi probably wins.

So moral of the tale = check out both NZ and DJ websites to find the optimal product / price.

 

[docjames]

NZ "Works" (meal + IFE) = $315 - nearest DJ equivalent is Flexi (which is better) but $439 - dear if all I want is a hot meal for the kids (I won't mention IFE)

Wouldnt you just buy saver and then buy on board?

 

[Noob]

I'm interested in seeing some pics of these new economy flexi meals, they sound great! Similar to Jet Connect's offering in economy?

 

[greenfish]

Wouldnt you just buy saver and then buy on board?

The implication of the blog is that the hot meals were for flexi passengers only - perhaps so they don't waste hot meals. If you can buy hot meals on-board, that would be great, but it remains to be seen if that is possible.

 

[greenfish]

I'm interested in seeing some pics of these new economy flexi meals, they sound great! Similar to Jet Connect's offering in economy?.

They sound like the NZ offering to me, and I really liked mine when I last flew NZ on a flexi fare.

 

[Jousams]

Sign of things to come for domestic flexi?


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[lovestotravel]

Greats news and about time, now upgrade the aircraft and fit seatback IFE and have a consistant product like Air NZ..

 

[random111]

Sign of things to come for domestic flexi?


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I really really hope so!!

I find the domestic product so disappointing atm!!

 

[Justchecking]

Sign of things to come for domestic flexi?


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Or gearing up for short haul international flexi? Aka....dps [and who knows where else] Could possibly see them on coast to coast though. I can't imagine them offering these hot meals on 1hr domestic hops with 60 odd flexi's onboard. Two thing's spring to mind...time and oven space.

 

[Jousams]

Or gearing up for short haul international flexi? Aka....dps [and who knows where else] Could possibly see them on coast to coast though. I can't imagine them offering these hot meals on 1hr domestic hops with 60 odd flexi's onboard. Two thing's spring to mind...time and oven space.

Doesn't qantas do it on its cityflyer services?


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[Justchecking]

Doesn't qantas do it on its cityflyer services?


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I don't know. But I imagine not having buy on board setup simplifies things somewhat. Handing out a meal to everyone takes less time than handing out meals to specific people seated wherever plus selling stuff to everyone else.

 

[markis10]

Not sure DJ have the galley to do it.

 

[LiamR]

Not sure DJ have the galley to do it.

I thought part of the refitting of 737 aircraft was to upgrade the galley so this is possible?

 

[Fruitcake]

It sounds like they're loading NZ catering for the trans-tasman flights. There's not too many ports that DJ trans-tasman services that NZ doesn't. And the brief description of menu offerings in the blog/PR piece match what I've been offered on NZ trans-tasman. If it was a more systematic change I'd expect to see them roll it out on at least transcon flights / 3+ hr flights at the same time. Could be just baby steps though!

I like VA moving up market but I don't want to see hot meal by default across the entire aircraft. I'd rather have the option of paying $15 on board for something substantial if I happen to want it (referring to a hot meal... I wouldn't pay $15 for the day old packaged sandwich!) rather than having my fare go up $5 across the board to cover a nasty bare-minimum hot meal provided to everyone simply because QF does it.

 

[markis10]

I thought part of the refitting of 737 aircraft was to upgrade the galley so this is possible?

I understand they have limited oven capacity, whilst the refit added some.

 

[cavemanzk]

Not sure DJ have the galley to do it.

The menu sounds 100% the same as NZ's & they do it in there A320 without any major problems, in fact they removed galley space when they went to all Y. I would say DJ will be using NZ gear to cater the TT sectors, NZ has come up with some very crafty ways to pack meals into an A320. To the point that they load the return sector meals ex-NZ & only pick up stock in AU if they run out of something en route. Its common for them to load the return sector meals into the overhead lockers above the last rows.