Recent Decline of VA service

[bass_ke]

i think it's about time that we told VA about their poor Lounge fare. About to email the VA BNE Lounge Manager contact about something else, so will include a link to this thread to see what she says

In your email could you please pass on a compliment? That is if BNE still looks after OOL.

Sandi at the OOL lounge this morning was absolutely amazing, she put a smile in mine and my families day. We even got a visit from her just before boarding was called to wish us a safe journey

 

[anat0l]

I'm bored and XFA or XFB is delayed so here's the pics from PER this evening
...

The tags are actually an improvement on MEL but the overall offering is poor. I have been here since 1530, there is no hot food other than soup. Every so often the stale greasy smell of an unwashed toasty machine drifts by and I'm currently using my Telstra 4G because the wi-fi is back in the '90s somewhere.
It is grim

That pretty much reminds me of what I remember on PER's selection the last time I was there. Poor or not, I suppose it is what it is.

The only consolation in all lounges is that there's always enough to make a toastie, or in other words, one of the last or most dependable bastions of warm comfort food there is available. Now as for the possibly dirty toasting machine, well, I'm not going there with a bargepole....

 

[QF WP]

Yes, Annette from BNE also looks after OOL and MKY, IIRC. Will pass onto her

 

[maninblack]

Last time I was in Perth there was no food at all and the most scored and worn looking glassware I have ever seen. Other than that the food seems identical in every lounge and it sure is boring.

I think VA are pretty lucky that there are essentially only 2 airlines in Australia and it just happens to be one of them. Market share by default in a race to the bottom.

 

[Jousams]

Yes, Annette from BNE also looks after OOL and MKY, IIRC. Will pass onto her

OOL lounge staff are great!

 

[blackcat20]

I just don't understand how transcon J has better meals than international J...

 

[Moopere]

I think VA are pretty lucky that there are essentially only 2 airlines in Australia and it just happens to be one of them. Market share by default in a race to the bottom.

Yes, I have to agree. As QF have let their standard slip over time I also see a correlation in the dropping of VA standards. My impression is that VA, as the relative newcomer, still measures itself by QF and is happy enough to track them.

On both sides of that equation I guess its win-win. Nowhere for your customers to go so they just have to suck it up (domestically anyway) and as both sides drive hard towards minimum standards then there is some money to be saved - though I have to honestly wonder just how much of a saving we're talking about.

 

[eastwest101]

Currently in the VA lounge in MEL and the food options are atrocious.
Cold cuts, salad, sliced tasty cheese. The hot options are chicken soup, minestrone soup or make your own toasty with the poor range of cold cuts. Popcorn, small cookies at the barista bar. Fortunately there's no evidence of hot dogs but jeez it's slim pickings.....

For what its worth I second this opinion, for me, its not that the quality of the food in the VA lounges is necessarily bad, its just the lack of variation that gets me, if they could just mix it up a bit and occasionally rotate in something different or unusual like a pasta, quiche or even just some curry puffs or vegie spring rolls or even sushi just to bring the salads to life a bit. The soups are fine - just a bit of variation would be appreciated.

Not expecting fine dining for free - just some variation and imagination would be nice. I have seen more variation and imagination in some mine camp mess halls at lunch time than the VA lounge.

If feedback is being given, also tell them to uphold the standard of J food on B737 services to the A330 standard, those B737 J class seats are not especially cheap so it really is a bad look if you try to "cheap out" on the catering in J class.

 

[KCMil]

I am yet another echo of dissent...the lounge food is apallingly boring. The quality of individual items is fine, I am just finding that I can no longer stomach eating the exact same thing every time!!! And then to only get on board the aircraft and have hit and miss J class service. The J class menu reminds me of a school tuck shop, mini hot dogs in crunchy inedible buns, Meat pies be they chicken or beef, cooked in a container that makes the pastry go soggy, or pork sausage rolls. And whilst some of the crew show absolutely sterling effort in trying to provide the product (though not all,) you can only do so much to make a mediocre to poor product presentable as a J class product. I've never been to a Luke Mangan restaurant, but I seriously doubt I would risk it!!!

It really does come across as attempting champagne taste on a beer budget. The seats are also less than average, however, I do like the slightly better personal space so I continue to use it. And the chance of a smile or friendly face on VA is a "very slight" edge over the competition. But it is waining.

 

[doubleplatinum]

In your email could you please pass on a compliment? That is if BNE still looks after OOL.

Sandi at the OOL lounge this morning was absolutely amazing, she put a smile in mine and my families day. We even got a visit from her just before boarding was called to wish us a safe journey

Pfft yeah pity about the food, always dismal and im there about 3-4 times a week

 

[Kieran2274]

Yes, I have to agree. As QF have let their standard slip over time I also see a correlation in the dropping of VA standards. My impression is that VA, as the relative newcomer, still measures itself by QF and is happy enough to track them.

On both sides of that equation I guess its win-win. Nowhere for your customers to go so they just have to suck it up (domestically anyway) and as both sides drive hard towards minimum standards then there is some money to be saved - though I have to honestly wonder just how much of a saving we're talking about.

I think you are on the money there Moopere - VA do seem to be happy to just track/pip Qantas in J lately, rather than be too competitive (it was a bit more of a fighter until the last 4-6 months ago). Some sectors have let meals slip (CBR-MEL, for example, where I recently was served a mini beef sausage in a bun - better than the dreaded Qantas cheese box or one small prawn on 50c worth of cold glass noodles QF gives me on this sector, but not by much), and service is a bit more patchy than it used to be. Even on the leading VA J MEL-PER sector, where the meals and wine are still very good, the amenities bag has become by request only.

Guess everyone is getting stingy now.

 

[Princess Fiona]

A very positive experience onboard today to report.
MEL-NTL, CSM Lisa. I was the only pax in J.
The service was superb, warm and friendly without being over familiar. Lisa is a real credit to VA and I will be providing feedback to them regarding her service.
Another trip tomorrow and after today's flight I'm actually looking forward to it

 

[lovestotravel]

Yeah yeah but the QF J lounge has a hot meal every night that rotates a little

 

[mannej]

Regardless, the point I made earlier is the basic foods are equivalent between the lounges. Considering there markets that reflects poorly on the business, higher level, lounge.

Not necessarily. You are ignoring what else is on offer, which limits the argument you are trying to present.
FWIW, the last time I was in a QP, the offerings were similar to the VA Lounge offerings. Neither were as good as the offerings in the J lounge the following day if you took everything into account (which your argument does not).

 

[anat0l]

... the lounge is not marketed as being as good.

I have to say that sounds rather refreshing... :shock:

 

[esquire]

Not at all because the only point of difference in food, which is what the discussed start with, is the hot meal that is served for a few hours of the day. Any objective comparison of the basic food offerings shows they are equivalent. Of course a premium business lounge with offer a premium hot meal. But the point is that people who bag VA lounge food are clearly ignoring the fact that QF offers the same standard. Not to mention it is disingenuous to compare a base level lounge with a premium lounge.

I know you are trying your best to defend VA lounge food (and disagreeing with anyone that thinks otherwise) but was in the Sydney VA lounge today and it was BORING. Although they did have tinned pineapple so I assume it will always be better than the QF J lounge.

 

[bullerdude]

By comparison to the stew in the business lounge VA had fried rice and 2 varieties of soup. Not as good, but the lounge is not marketed as being as good.

No offence but <it's incorrect> that its not marketed as a premium lounge....

From the descriptions on both sites the VA lounge more closely compares with the qantas business lounge description.

Qantas Club from QF Website:

Most Qantas Club lounges feature complimentary refreshments, business facilities including wireless internet throughout the lounges and shower facilities.

Qantas business lounge from description of domestic business class page:

Relax before your flight in our exclusive Domestic Business lounge, available to Platinum Frequent Flyers and customers travelling in Business. You’ll enjoy Neil Perry designed menus, in-house baristas and island dining offering our Plate of the Day Service.

Virgin Lounge from VA Website:

Stop in and enjoy barista coffee^. Treat yourself to quality snacks and cold drinks at any time of the day. Stay a little longer and enjoy our Luke Mangan designed breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets – the menu changes monthly, and rotates throughout our lounges. Or relax and unwind with your choice of boutique premium wines and refreshing ales, available from 11.00am daily.

 

[mannej]

Not at all because the only point of difference in food, which is what the discussed start with, is the hot meal that is served for a few hours of the day. Any objective comparison of the basic food offerings shows they are equivalent. Of course a premium business lounge with offer a premium hot meal. But the point is that people who bag VA lounge food are clearly ignoring the fact that QF offers the same standard. Not to mention it is disingenuous to compare a base level lounge with a premium lounge.

Do you still agree with your argument considering the description that has been posted straight from the VA website?

 

[lovestotravel]

Traveling VA in J or as a Plat you compare it to the QF J lounge which has variety

Therefore, VA lounges are boring/bland/pathetic when compared to QF J lounges

Pretty simple!

 

[medhead]

Do you still agree with your argument considering the description that has been posted straight from the VA website?

Are you serious? Marketing! Yeah ok then that's a telling argument. Really objective view of what is actually offered in the lounge versus the spin. The only <thing wrong> here is quoting marketing to support the position of the Qantas defenders. Get over it, the ... protests are unconvincing.