Complimentary Alcohol Question

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(Mike)

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Aug 23, 2013
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Hi All

Looking for some help...

I have a economy flight on Virgin coming up soon from Sydney to Cairns but was wondering what the situation is with free alcohol vs what I need to pay for. On my last trip to Cairns I remember I had to pay but a mate mentioned to me yesterday that he thought alcohol is now free on all flights? I checked the Virgin website it says the following:

"All Economy guests receive complimentary tea, coffee and water on all Virgin Australia flights. In addition we also offer a selection of complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks on all Australian domestic flights with a scheduled departure time between 5pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday."

Does this mean I don't need to pay anymore? - my flight is between 5pm and 7pm.

Thanks!
 
I dont think Virgin, or anyone else for that matter knows for sure. The line in the sand continually moves. Not being a smartarse, everyone just gets different service
 
I definitely did not get complementary alcohol the other day on a 5-7pm flight.

This actually just reminded me of how annoyed I was, not because I couldn't go an hour without a drink, but because the website specifically says that is what's offered.

Infuriating.

(Mike), as MarkD​ says, it's anyone's guess.
 
I love a beer more than most people I know, but really if I'm not given a drink on a flight well do be it. As long as I get home I'm happy, there's beer at home.
 
"Free grog" is 5pm to 7pm.
I did a bit post lunch time flight in whY, got a miniscule meatless sandwich, 2.5 hour flight just enough to stop the stomach growl, had to pay $8 for a Fat Yak Pale Ale.
No more ciders. Pale ale not my thing though.
Yah, VA flights on flight sectors get food, but what counts for sufficient quantity.
You might get free grog, but the food to go with it is small.
 
There is a complimentary "snack" (fortunately always vegetarian in my case) on all flights, the longer the flight time the more they offer, MEL-CBR, quite a small offering (I've had mixed nuts or cheese and crackers or double finger sandwich pack,) MEL-PER a full hot meal, The alcohol is only offered on flights between 1700-1900 Mon - Fri, not offered on weekends. There are three beers, Fat Yak, Peroni and Crown Gold, I have also lately noticed VB appearing. There's also a red and white wine offered as well as soft drink, which I was very pleased to note includes the Bundaberg Ginger Beer.

Twice lately I've not made it to the lounge prior to flight, being hungry I've asked politely if there were any left over snacks, both times they were brought to me after the service was finished, one crew member commented that they normally always have a lot of left overs. As opposed to the snap dragon on another airline last thursday who pointed out I'd already eaten what I had paid for and walked away....(though her attitude was not the norm I admit.)
 
Took a VS 'Little Red' flight LHR-EDI a couple of weeks back, at 9:30 am. "We are pleased to offer you your choice of tea, coffee, juice, water, beer or wine on this flight". At 9:30 am? Make mine a coffee ...with a wee dram of single malt, aye.

Back OT on VA, geeze these 'meals' are a bit of a joke aren't they? One muffin for breakfast? Some crackers? Has Mangan's sandwich shop shuttered up its operations?
 
I think Virgin need to have a good look at the overall service on flights over 2hrs. I had to go to Cairns last week at the last moment so i flew up on Qantas ( which i hadnt done for years) and flew back Virgin.
I am in between jobs so i had to hand back my PC and phone and thought the flight up with Qantas was going to be the flight from hell, but i was very surprised. In Flight entertainment and didnt need my own device, filling breakfast option but the thing that sold me was TWICE after the service was finished they walked up and down the aisle offering bottled water( not a plastic cup poured from a larger bottle that you basically have to finish on the spot as Virgin do)
On the Return trip with Virgin i couldnt even get a newspaper and that turned out to be the flight from hell(paying for a soft drink that was free on Qantas)
I joined Qantas Frequent Flyer and i am going to give them a go( with all my travel) but i have a way to go before Gold or Platinum as i dont think i am missing out on to much with Virgin.
 
I will not refute anyones experiences with either airline, I also find it is hit and miss. Out of curiosity from "stickshaker's" experience I thought I'd check up on flight prices as that is what helps to steer my choices.

MEL - CNS tomorrow (11 Jun) VA$289 vs QF $469. So the bottled water, more substantial food and in seat IFE (which I would love to see on VA,) would cost me an extra $180. And similarly next Wed (17 Jun) the difference is $120 more for QF. And I also note that the in seat IFE is not on all 737 services that they offer. Many of the flight options to CNS are with JQ, ticketed by QF. So inclusions aren't the same.
I'm required to use best fare of the day so I have no personal choice, but the fare diff's are just too big to be value positive.
 
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KCMil said:
Twice lately I've not made it to the lounge prior to flight, being hungry I've asked politely if there were any left over snacks, both times they were brought to me after the service was finished, one crew member commented that they normally always have a lot of left overs. As opposed to the snap dragon on another airline last thursday who pointed out I'd already eaten what I had paid for and walked away....(though her attitude was not the norm I admit.)
Click to expand...

Yikes. I assume you're talking about QF? I've found they are happy to offer more food if it's available. A passenger sitting next to me on a recent flight had two meals, and upon asking the flight attendant even brought him a third meal with a smile.
 
Have only flown VA transcon and regional WA. Regional WA I have (at times) been offered alcohol between 5-7. Transcon you do get an alcoholic drink with your meal buy trying to get a second drink is like trying to get blood out of a stone. Flying with Qantas transcon and ive asked 3/4 beers on many occasions and usually they say not a problem and grab another.

It was even a big deal (the sigh and hmff, ok then) asking for a can of coke (I had already had 1 beer with my meal) on my last VA flight Melb-Perth as a plat member sitting in front row econ on the a330.
 
cory said:
Have only flown VA transcon and regional WA. Regional WA I have (at times) been offered alcohol between 5-7. Transcon you do get an alcoholic drink with your meal buy trying to get a second drink is like trying to get blood out of a stone. Flying with Qantas transcon and ive asked 3/4 beers on many occasions and usually they say not a problem and grab another.

It was even a big deal (the sigh and hmff, ok then) asking for a can of coke (I had already had 1 beer with my meal) on my last VA flight Melb-Perth as a plat member sitting in front row econ on the a330.
Click to expand...

I've never had any problems asking for an extra wine (or two) after the meal on VA trans-continental flights.
Always brought with a smile and never a suggestion of payment.
 
I had no issues getting extra beers with no mention of any charge in Y PER-MEL last month. It was on a Saturday with a early afternoon departure.

I ended up having about 3 or 4 and the lady next to me had likewise with wine.
 
Ausbt said:
Back OT on VA, geeze these 'meals' are a bit of a joke aren't they? One muffin for breakfast? Some crackers? Has Mangan's sandwich shop shuttered up its operations?
Click to expand...
Had a 5:10pm SYD-OOL flight yesterday.

Soup, make your own sandwich or salads only in SYD lounge. Not interested. I'll eat something in OOL lounge before the last bus to Varsity Lakes when we land. Flight delayed 20 minutes and then another 10 minutes. Rationed 20 grams of pretzels and few cashews on board. Landed late and rushed straight out at 6:54pm to baggage carousel while time ticked away. Grabbed bag 17th off carousel and made the 7:03pm bus by 2 minutes. Got to apartment at 9:30pm starving and heated some rice soup for late dinner.

Hindsight sounds much better.
 
esseeeayeenn said:
I've never had any problems asking for an extra wine (or two) after the meal on VA trans-continental flights.
Always brought with a smile and never a suggestion of payment.
Click to expand...

SponsorSFC said:
I had no issues getting extra beers with no mention of any charge in Y PER-MEL last month. It was on a Saturday with a early afternoon departure.

I ended up having about 3 or 4 and the lady next to me had likewise with wine.
Click to expand...

Do they even do the BoB service on transcon? I thought they were the full service flights?
 
They still sell spirits.
 
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