Feeling ripped off by Virgin advertising - we now serve food and beverage

[Aussie_flyer]

my comment was pretty clearly about non meal times. I find the snack on the 20:25 flight to be pretty much the same as whatever VA serve up. great that you get cashews and pretzels with your drink, that is not my experience.

You can ask for nuts/cracker/pretzels/soy crackers whenever you want on Qantas domestic. They always have at least one of them.

Im with JohnK... even on refreshment flights Qantas is a better offering

 

[medhead]

You can ask for nuts/cracker/pretzels/soy crackers whenever you want on Qantas domestic. They always have at least one of them.

Im with JohnK... even on refreshment flights Qantas is a better offering

Ignoring the pedantic point that JohnK didn't say anything about asking for nuts/cracker/pretzels/soy crackers. Instead that they were handed out by the handful when asking for another drink, which does not match my experience.

Cashews/pretzels are for the J cabin, again in my expereince. Soycrackers only for Y and they sure aren't better than the VA crackers and cheese. Strangely enough QF serves me crackers and cheese on my regular non-meal time flights. So coming full circle, as I said on those non-meal flights there is no significant difference.

 

[alviau]

No loss there my friend. A few months ago I updated Silverlight especially to have another look at VA ife as I'd previously been unimpressed. Out of the limited offering, I got the impression they must have been paid by someone to regurgitate movies that should have gone extinct with....well, Jurassic Park to help flog new release instalments of old has-beens like Terminator and Jurassic park! Even the TV shows were drivel.

Needless to say I switched it off and thought to myself, yep, still crud! Thank God for Pink Floyd and noise cancelling headphones!

I can provide some insights on this topic as I've worked in content and entertainment distribution and have colleagues still in that space. Hollywood studios dictate when their films/content will be available across different platforms. Currently because these on board streaming systems are relatively new, in comparison to seat back, studios are apprehensive about piracy and the possibility of the user copying that content onto their own device. It's ridiculous as often films are available via torrent by the time they're released in the cinemas, but that's the rules they set to access their content.

So it's not necessarily that VA (and for that matter, other airlines using wireless IFE) doesn't want to provide new releases, it's because the release dates for these platforms may be well behind DVD/Blu-ray. You'll probably find QF's content selection on their streaming system is limited in the same way (tho less obvious as it's only available/trialled on 717s for now?).

 

[JohnK]

my comment was pretty clearly about non meal times. I find the snack on the 20:25 flight to be pretty much the same as whatever VA serve up. great that you get cashews and pretzels with your drink, that is not my experience.

I guess we will always have different experiences. Personally the snacks on VA do not rate in my opinion.

Qantas does have some nice snacks and apart from the snacks one can also ask for pretzels etc any time.

Some interesting experiences on weekend.

I was in row 4 on Friday night OOL-SYD. The cart comes up. The 2 ladies in row 5 ask for Chivas Regal on ice which is $7 each and then also ask for 1 cheese and crackers which brings total to $18? They paid with card. The FA went down the back to get the EFTPOS and came back and after a few minutes told them it is not working and they can have it for free.

I decided that I will also get a beer. It took a long time for the cart to move to us at row 4 and now it will be the FA at the front that will serve. Asked for VB and produced Amex card. The other FA said EFTPOS not working so this FA took the machine to CSM who appeared to fix it. Came back and swiped my card 4-5 times all the while the machine is beeping. She then proceeded to enter the numbers manually all the while the machine is beeping as she is typing in the numbers. The lady next to me ordered wine and we went through the whole thing again. Swipe wouldn't work so she was keying number manually all the while the machine was annoyingly beeping. Not sure if everyone was served. Charge has not hit Amex yet but I understand this is done later anyway.

Last night I fell asleep before take off. Woke up about ~30 minutes from descent and cart service had just started. Must have been turbulence? I was in row 7 and got orange juice and pretzels and not long after the cart service had ceased and they apologised to anyone who missed out.

They are wasting way too much time with the EFTPOS and the float. Way too much time. If you are going to offer free "snack" then everyone needs to have access to it not just the first few rows of each service.

 

[Liroquai]

If you are going to offer free "snack" then everyone needs to have access to it not just the first few rows of each service.

Totally agreed, I would've made a point of it. Seeing/hearing others getting $18 worth for free while they try to madly process your payment for a beer is a slap in the face.

 

[JohnK]

Totally agreed, I would've made a point of it. Seeing/hearing others getting $18 worth for free while they try to madly process your payment for a beer is a slap in the face.

I don't mind paying. Lots of people were paying cash and VA were happily taking the money. There is no consistency. There is no urgency. The FA's don't appear to care.

All of this time wasting leaves less time for the free "snack" service which is probably a blessing in disguise for some people.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So it's not necessarily that VA (and for that matter, other airlines using wireless IFE) doesn't want to provide new releases, it's because the release dates for these platforms may be well behind DVD/Blu-ray.

Yes, but all that tells me is the move away from seat back to streaming was a poorly thought out scheme which was likely based purely on airline cost rather than pax enjoyment. I disliked the concept when it was first rumoured and nothing has happened to change my mind on that. To me, it was a retrograde concept and it's a retrograde reality. Perhaps in future (with internet connectivity) it may be worthwhile, but I'm also very dubious of that as well. I can see 56k being about it, which also doesn't cut it IME.

 

[medhead]

Totally agreed, I would've made a point of it. Seeing/hearing others getting $18 worth for free while they try to madly process your payment for a beer is a slap in the face.

Of course the $18 thing isn't about the free snack.

I'm also struggling to see what bearing it has on the discussion of the comparative quality of the free snack. I guess it is just part of the general anti-VA MO around here: "VA snack is cough, because they do this other cough thing that makes no difference to the quality of the snack".

Yes, but all that tells me is the move away from seat back to streaming was a poorly thought out scheme which was likely based purely on airline cost rather than pax enjoyment. I disliked the concept when it was first rumoured and nothing has happened to change my mind on that. To me, it was a retrograde concept and it's a retrograde reality. Perhaps in future (with internet connectivity) it may be worthwhile, but I'm also very dubious of that as well. I can see 56k being about it, which also doesn't cut it IME.

All change has challenges. Sounds like the studios, among many others, are struggling to cope with change. I find the streaming to be excellent, even with the limited content. In row 3 on VA I can watch a movie gate to gate, unlike row 4 Qantas. For ADL-SYD this means I can watch most movies on a single flight, unlike Qantas. VA have the streaming on demand IFE on all flights (737 aircraft at least), unlike Qantas.

A minor benefit is that both my content and the airline content is available on the same device.

 

[Liroquai]

Of course the $18 thing isn't about the free snack.

I'm also struggling to see what bearing it has on the discussion of the comparative quality of the free snack.

I wasn't talking about the snack at all. I understand this is what the topic is about but I'm commenting on an entirely different situation. As JohnK mentioned there is no consistency.

I'm not anti VA, I fly them exclusively. I like a lot of things about them. But there are days when it feels like a true full service airline and others where you wonder if they're a LCC in disguise.

 

[Captain hum]

Just to clarify, you have installed the VA IFE app?

Yes. I may be blonde but even I understand that part

 

[Captain hum]

VA have the streaming on demand IFE on all flights (737 aircraft at least), unlike Qantas.
.

Not on my flight.... (737)

 

[JohnK]

I wasn't talking about the snack at all. I understand this is what the topic is about but I'm commenting on an entirely different situation. As JohnK mentioned there is no consistency.

I'm not anti VA, I fly them exclusively. I like a lot of things about them. But there are days when it feels like a true full service airline and others where you wonder if they're a LCC in disguise.

Let's forget about the quality of snack for 1 minute.

They are offering a snack on most flights now but the service is not consistent.

The FA on Friday night insisted on swiping every card 4-5 times then keying all 16 numbers while the machine was beeping. Then the other night service was short due to turbulence? Or partly time wasting.

If I was in row 10 waiting for tea/coffee and/or snack the excuse "We are sorry we cannot complete todays service due to .... " is not good enough. The FAs are incompetent. The advertising is misleading.

Isn't that what this thread is about?

 

[jpk]

Yes, but all that tells me is the move away from seat back to streaming was a poorly thought out scheme which was likely based purely on airline cost rather than pax enjoyment. I disliked the concept when it was first rumoured and nothing has happened to change my mind on that. To me, it was a retrograde concept and it's a retrograde reality. Perhaps in future (with internet connectivity) it may be worthwhile, but I'm also very dubious of that as well. I can see 56k being about it, which also doesn't cut it IME.

After switching back to QF for a while, I've decided I prefer the VA streaming - it's on all the planes, whereas QF you only get seatback on some flights. Sure the content isn't awesome, but I think it's pretty average on QF too. And it's better than on NZ where you have to pay to watch movies.

 

[medhead]

I wasn't talking about the snack at all. I understand this is what the topic is about but I'm commenting on an entirely different situation. As JohnK mentioned there is no consistency.

I'm not anti VA, I fly them exclusively. I like a lot of things about them. But there are days when it feels like a true full service airline and others where you wonder if they're a LCC in disguise.

Perhaps if you didn't quote the bit about the snack the connection would've have been more clear.

Not on my flight.... (737)

Well the equipment is on the flight. And I've also had 1 flight were they didn't turn it on/it was broken.

Let's forget about the quality of snack for 1 minute.

They are offering a snack on most flights now but the service is not consistent.

The FA on Friday night insisted on swiping every card 4-5 times then keying all 16 numbers while the machine was beeping. Then the other night service was short due to turbulence? Or partly time wasting.

If I was in row 10 waiting for tea/coffee and/or snack the excuse "We are sorry we cannot complete todays service due to .... " is not good enough. The FAs are incompetent. The advertising is misleading.

Isn't that what this thread is about?

You've interjected into my comparison about the quality of the food. So no, lets not forget the quality of the food, since that is what I was talking about. If you want to talk about eftpos machines, write a stand alone post.

If you refer back to the OP, IMO it is about the QUALITY of the food not how long it takes to swipe a credit card.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

After switching back to QF for a while, I've decided I prefer the VA streaming - it's on all the planes, whereas QF you only get seatback on some flights. Sure the content isn't awesome, but I think it's pretty average on QF too. And it's better than on NZ where you have to pay to watch movies.

Ah yes.......I don't doubt some will prefer QF and some will prefer VA and some might even prefer NZ. My comment was not comparing airline offerings. I was simply stating my opinion that the content is rubbish, old and boring and my preference is to lie back with shut eyes and listen to music. There has also been no change to my dislike of having a BYO device clogging up an already compact seat space. It's all personal opinion of course.

Needless to say I switched it off and thought to myself, yep, still crud! Thank God for Pink Floyd and noise cancelling headphones!

 

[JohnK]

You've interjected into my comparison about the quality of the food. So no, lets not forget the quality of the food, since that is what I was talking about. If you want to talk about eftpos machines, write a stand alone post.

If you refer back to the OP, IMO it is about the QUALITY of the food not how long it takes to swipe a credit card.

Have it your way. The quality of snacks on VA is nowhere the quality of snacks on QF with the odd exception here and there.

The thread title which is based on VA PR is also not correct on 2 counts. Advertising food/snack on every flight is misleading as it's drawing a long bow to refer to what they serving in that way. And not everyone gets served as the FAs are incompetent.

Rightly or wrongly that's how I see it. Not VA bashing. I believe I am quoting actual experiences.

 

[kalboy]

Not on my flight.... (737)

There are still two 737-700s with no IFE in their fleet, that regularly fly around WA weekdays then from Perth - Kalgoorlie - Melbourne on a Friday. Used on East coast flights over the weekend before returning Sunday night.
The 700's had " Free to air " removed and no replacement installed.
You may have encountered one of them. They are a bit shorter than the 800's

 

[Milefest]

The FA on Friday night insisted on swiping every card 4-5 times then keying all 16 numbers while the machine was beeping. Then the other night service was short due to turbulence? Or partly time wasting.

I think your point about the service being shorter due to turbulence is irrelevant, it's not unusual for service to stop or be shortened due to the risk of turbulence on any airline.

 

[Captain hum]

There are still two 737-700s with no IFE in their fleet, that regularly fly around WA weekdays then from Perth - Kalgoorlie - Melbourne on a Friday. Used on East coast flights over the weekend before returning Sunday night.
The 700's had " Free to air " removed and no replacement installed.
You may have encountered one of them. They are a bit shorter than the 800's

That'll be one of the ones we had then

 

[JohnK]

I think your point about the service being shorter due to turbulence is irrelevant, it's not unusual for service to stop or be shortened due to the risk of turbulence on any airline.

Point taken.

My point is in the time they did have available with 2 carts they could have given everyone a "snack" and drink. The paid service with all its glitches can be done after the "free" service? No?

It is quite obvious to me the FAs cannot handle both.