Disappointing in flight flexi meal

[random111]

Hi All

Is it just me or is anyone else disappointed at the inflight meals included when you purchase a flexi ticket? Flying at dinner time I would really enjoy a basic hot meal as are offered elsewhere. I was disappointed when a 'gourmet sandwich' and a few biscoti were handed to me. Can someone explain how processed meat can be gourmet?

Flew from brisbane to melbourne in the 4pm-7pm window, so there was more than enough time to serve the flexi's a basic hot meal.

I didn't have time to go the lounge before the flight, in future I will hopefully ensure I can. I got home hungry and late, missing out on having dinner with wife after not seeing her for a while. A hot meal would have gone a long way to making the return home more pleasant.

Wasn't happy that there was no inflight entertainment on the newly refurbed plane either but I had more than enough reading material to get me by.

Interested to hear your thoughts...

 

[MarkD]

Sort of old threads re-opened on a loop isnt it, no offence random111, but it really is more of the same that is in other threads on here.

 

[random111]

I thought that might be the case MarkD but I figured it won't hurt to start another thread about this matter to hopefully get virgin's attention sooner rather than later.
It is seriously frustrating and disappointing. Not only the hot meals, but not having drinks served at the same time! It ain't hard to have a trolley with hot meals and drinks on at the same time! If you can manage it multiple times on international legs, why is it hard to do it once on a 2 hour domestic route?

Serving processed meat's full of salts etc as the only option for people that paid for a meal, isnt keeping in line with the 21st century!

 

[MomoWang]

Can someone explain how processed meat can be gourmet?

Pretty simple really, put a Luke Mangan logo on the packaging and you can make anything gourmet. I am still waiting for the Meadow Lea margarine to be replaced by the Luke Mangan brand,

 

[MarkD]

Round and round it goes, I agree though, even a basic hot meal, even a Luke mangan pie, not too hard is it. Anyone know for certain of the dj 737 has the same galley as qf? All I can think of is they don't have the facility to heat potentially 100+ flexi meals. Not making excuses, as I do agree with you that it's really not that flash, but perhaps that is a valid reason why they dont have hot flexi meals. Tbh the last few qf hot meals have been in edible as well, and by the time they get through a 767 they are basically throwing stuff at you anyway. We will never get good quality meals, they will alway taste like microwave meals. The curry/ rice in the Bne virgin lounge last week was damn good though

 

[markis10]

I dont think they do have the capacity to do a large number of meals, given the promise made does not involve a "hot" meal, I suspect its a case of want versus promised. It would be nice I agree, hot breakfasts are some thing I miss since the demise of AN, and for some reason my boss takes great delight in booking me on the first flight.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Anyone know for certain of the dj 737 has the same galley as qf? All I can think of is they don't have the facility to heat potentially 100+ flexi meals.

IIRC i remember reading that the new VA 737s were being delivered with full service galleys?

 

[Cyberon]

Yes, the food is very average.
I've tried two Luke Mangan items which were absolutely appalling.
They had a corned beef and cheese wrap which was extremely dry and bland. Also the Kumera juice was awful.

I think those have been removed off the menu.

BTW, if you are on business class and fly in the afternoon, they will just open 3 snacks and place it on nice plates for you.
They are the Spotted cow cookie, the nut mix (heated in the microwave), and the cheese and crackers. (not my type as I've found cheddar tastes really cheap and try).

 

[anat0l]

BTW, if you are on business class and fly in the afternoon, they will just open 3 snacks and place it on nice plates for you.
They are the Spotted cow cookie, the nut mix (heated in the microwave), and the cheese and crackers. (not my type as I've found cheddar tastes really cheap and try).

They shouldn't be doing that - they should be full fledged and serviced refreshments (someone mentioned something like rice paper rolls, cheese plates or the like).

That sounds more like Premium Economy service, which is gradually being retired as more aircraft get fitted with and thus sold as bona fide Business Class.

 

[Cyberon]

They shouldn't be doing that - they should be full fledged and serviced refreshments (someone mentioned something like rice paper rolls, cheese plates or the like).

That sounds more like Premium Economy service, which is gradually being retired as more aircraft get fitted with and thus sold as bona fide Business Class.

Forgot to mention it was a domestic flight.

I've also found that the food in the lounge isn't spectacular, considering how much they charge single entry users.

 

[koonyaflyer]

BTW, if you are on business class and fly in the afternoon, they will just open 3 snacks and place it on nice plates for you.
They are the Spotted cow cookie, the nut mix (heated in the microwave), and the cheese and crackers. (not my type as I've found cheddar tastes really cheap and try).

I wonder if this J class experience was due to a catering issue, as all the snack meals I have had were items such as Vietnamese rolls, cheese platters or a egg and bacon tart. I have requested the nut mix, but was always offered full J class snack options as well

 

[ash.1111]

BTW, if you are on business class and fly in the afternoon, they will just open 3 snacks and place it on nice plates for you.
They are the Spotted cow cookie, the nut mix (heated in the microwave), and the cheese and crackers. (not my type as I've found cheddar tastes really cheap and try).

That is incorrect. That is not the normal business class catering, and was most likely the result of issues with catering. In addition, aircraft in Virgin's fleet are not fitted with microwaves.

 

[drron]

Everyone around me last night got the Flexi meal-one of their wraps and a snack thingy all served in a cardboard box.Didn't encourage me to pay the extra.

 

[Justinf]

I had a flexi meal last night. It was almost to the point of being gross. Veg wrap that was inedible after the third bite (yes I gave it that long). At least they were serving Cascade Premium though.

 

[straitman]

I had a flexi meal last night. It was almost to the point of being gross. Veg wrap that was inedible after the third bite (yes I gave it that long). At least they were serving Cascade Premium though.

Where/to was your flight :?:

 

[N860CR]

I had a fairly average flexi-meal last week. ROK-SYD, was a spinach scroll (cold) with some bisuits. That said... I was on a saver fare and was given the food and a couple of beers "on the house" so I'm not complaining! Glad I didn't pay the extra for the flexi fare though.

 

[Justinf]

Where/to was your flight :?:

SYD-MEL 17:30 flight.
I must say though, I wasn't a flexi paying passenger. I was kindly offered the flexi meal by a nice gentleman in 3F, who offered it to a gentleman in 3E who politely declined. I was the guts in 3D who glady accepted the freebie.

 

[obrienja]

Like the OP and others I've had (and commented before) about the poor quality of Virgin's flexi food. My comments to Virgin's social media team about their $198 sandwich (cost difference between Saver & Flexi - SYD-PER) is that there is also the extra baggage allowance and ability to change the ticket included in that cost. We've discussed that the flexibility of a flexi is a fallacy and as a WP the baggage allowance isn't relevant. Outside of extra status credits & points (a dubious deal unless there's double SCs or bonus points on offer) I can't see the point of flexis. As has been suggested before it would be more reasonable to offer flexis a choice from the regular menu but that pie still isn't worth $198

 

[smit0847]

^^ agreed.

Except on the longer coast to coast routes you would be better having a (better) overpriced meal at the airport and paying for a saver fare!

I regularly fly MEL-ADL. Normal saver is $109, normal Flexi is $199. For a one hour flight I can tell you I don't spend the $90 on a 'gourmet' wrap.

I do realise why they offer savers and flexis though. The savers are to compete with Jetstar and Tigers LCC fares, the flexis to compete with Qantas's all inclusive economy fares. The problem with offering this is that VA are usually more expensive than Jetstar and Tiger on their Savers and more expensive than Qantas on their flexis. The Virgin experience is much better than the Jetstar or Tiger one but I think its about on par with the Qantas economy yet they charge more.

 

[Travel Guru]

Hi All

Is it just me or is anyone else disappointed at the inflight meals included when you purchase a flexi ticket? Flying at dinner time I would really enjoy a basic hot meal as are offered elsewhere. I was disappointed when a 'gourmet sandwich' and a few biscoti were handed to me. Can someone explain how processed meat can be gourmet?

Flew from brisbane to melbourne in the 4pm-7pm window, so there was more than enough time to serve the flexi's a basic hot meal.

I didn't have time to go the lounge before the flight, in future I will hopefully ensure I can. I got home hungry and late, missing out on having dinner with wife after not seeing her for a while. A hot meal would have gone a long way to making the return home more pleasant.

Wasn't happy that there was no inflight entertainment on the newly refurbed plane either but I had more than enough reading material to get me by.

Interested to hear your thoughts...

You think the flexi meal experience is bad for yourself, try being a gluten free vegetarian and see how hungry you end up going home then...

TG