Recent Decline of VA service

[mannej]

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> around here is quoting marketing to support the position of the Qantas defenders. Get over it, the ... protests are unconvincing.

Not as good, but the lounge is not marketed as being as good.

Do I need to say anymore?

 

[medhead]

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!

Now that is <completely wrong>. Talk about logic failure by the Qantas lovers. VA do not offer a business lounge. As demonstrated by my pictures Qantas offers the equivalent variety as VA. In fact VA has 2 types of soup, which would be greater variety. Everything you write about this is meaningless. Come back when you think of a real argument that you can back up with facts not ramblings.

 

[medhead]

Do I need to say anymore?

You could try by reading the description that was posted then show where the marketing claims anything better than the Qantas business lounge. <redacted> it is best if you say no more, because you're absolutely wrong.
...

 

[mannej]

You could try by reading the description that was posted then show where the marketing claims anything better than the Qantas business lounge. I<redacted>it is best if you say no more, because you're absolutely wrong....

You clearly stated that VA do not market their lounge as a premium. That has already been proven incorrect by the quote straight from the VA website.

There is a pattern of members stating that the offerings are poor considering what VA state they offer, you cannot argue that. Yet you label these members as Qantas Defenders? I am sorry but they are not Qantas defenders and are entitled to their opinion.

I cannot see why such offense has been taken to the fact that other members have disagreed. That's life.

 

[medhead]

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

The marketing fluff quoted supports my position. If you believe it doesn't you can always try to make your case. But snacks and refreshments sound the same to me and nothing like a menu and plate of the day and dining.

 

[medhead]

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

That description supports position. Snack = refreshment <> dining menu

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!

That's a false comparison. As demonstrated VA has the same variety as the Qantas business lounge.

 

[danintas]

My flight from ADL to MEL was cancelled on Wednesday which meant I wouldn’t be able to make a MEL to LST connection later that night. The first advice I received via SMS was an an early morning flight from ADL the next day. Preferring to overnight in MEL, to avoid the very early morning start, I made that request at the Lounge service desk. The request was granted, with accommodation organised at the Park Royal. So far, apart from the inconvenience, all is good (I always have an extra change of clothes, just in case).

The whole deal turned a bit unpleasant when I got to the Park Royal at around 9.45. I was locking forward to something to eat as the meagre Lounge offering in ADL were less than appealing. I was given a $50 voucher which stated that In room dining and alcohol were not included, just at the restaurant (which was closing in 10 minutes). No booze, I can live with, but surely a $50 voucher is $50 whatever you spend it on?

Asked the duty manger to make an exception as the restaurant was closing shortly, but NO was the answer. I rang the Platinum service centre, had to escalate to supervisor, who after sensing my annoyance at the situation was able (using my phone) to authorise the hotel to provide in room dining.

All good now – the club sandwich was passable – but was gobsmacked on checkout the next morning to be charged $4 for the tray service. Don't know who is the most petty, the hotel or Virgin?

 

[anat0l]

Don't know who is the most petty, the hotel or Virgin?

For the tray service, a very simple answer - it's the hotel, and heaps of them are similarly petty.

Unusual that VA's credit would not cover room service...

 

[bullerdude]

The quality of the food is appalling and many people on this forum have stated as much.... its that simple.

 

[lovestotravel]

Now that is <completely wrong>. Talk about logic failure by the Qantas lovers. VA do not offer a business lounge. As demonstrated by my pictures Qantas offers the equivalent variety as VA. In fact VA has 2 types of soup, which would be greater variety. Everything you write about this is meaningless. Come back when you think of a real argument that you can back up with facts not ramblings.

Oh really, fact is I can enter the QF J Dom lounges and the best I can enter is a VA lounge so that is my and many other peoples comparisons.

Not my fault that VA decided to do a stupid "club" instead of a J/Platinum lounge

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. There's nothing very platinum about this lounge IMHO

Now we can also mention the QF F lounges va the NZ Int J lounges where the difference is even greater

 

[anat0l]

Now we can also mention the QF F lounges va the NZ Int J lounges where the difference is even greater

Now now... to be fair you should probably also include a comparison against the new EY lounge, albeit that's only in SYD and only available to VA premium and elite customers on flights to AUH.

 

[under the radar]

despite all the argy bargy/semantics on what constitutes a meal v snacks v refreshments.....at the end of the day...ANY airlines domestic LOUNGE is NOT a RESTAURANT... it provides food/choice within its constraints...it's primarily a 'place' to go to 'escape' the 'public spaces'/'great unwashed' as many like to describe them...that's what you're paying for...it's not meant to be a substitute for a full food/beverage offering ...just because you can't manage your time better.. or are too tight a**ed to open up your wallet to buy food elsewhere...and if you're travelling for 'business'...keep your receipts and claim on tax...or tell your business to provide an 'allowance' for F&B required during 'business hours'
it really isn't an airlines responsibility to be your primary F&B provider...they are an 'add on' or alternative..

 

[lovestotravel]

Now now... to be fair you should probably also include a comparison against the new EY lounge, albeit that's only in SYD and only available to VA premium and elite customers on flights to AUH.

But not for people travelling to USA, plus it's an Etihad lounge not a VA one

 

[lovestotravel]

despite all the argy bargy/semantics on what constitutes a meal v snacks v refreshments.....at the end of the day...ANY airlines domestic LOUNGE is NOT a RESTAURANT... it provides food/choice within its constraints...it's primarily a 'place' to go to 'escape' the 'public spaces'/'great unwashed' as many like to describe them...that's what you're paying for...it's not meant to be a substitute for a full food/beverage offering ...just because you can't manage your time better.. or are too tight a**ed to open up your wallet to buy food elsewhere...and if you're travelling for 'business'...keep your receipts and claim on tax...or tell your business to provide an 'allowance' for F&B required during 'business hours'

QF: 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.

VA: Featuring a great selection of complimentary benefits – such as a Luke Mangan designed buffet menu, premium wines,
The Virgin Australia lounge - a reason to arrive at the airport early.


Perhaps tell VA and QF to re-word this then

 

[under the radar]

QF: 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.

VA: Featuring a great selection of complimentary benefits – such as a Luke Mangan designed buffet menu, premium wines,
The Virgin Australia lounge - a reason to arrive at the airport early.


Perhaps tell VA and QF to re-word this then

is the word 'restaurant' mentioned?? the word 'menu' does not constitute a 'restaurant'...which is what many seem to 'interpret' ... hey...I can even print 1 item on a card and call it a 'menu'

 

[anat0l]

QF: 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.

VA: Featuring a great selection of complimentary benefits – such as a Luke Mangan designed buffet menu, premium wines, The Virgin Australia lounge - a reason to arrive at the airport early.

Perhaps tell VA and QF to re-word this then

Just because the chefs designed the menu doesn't mean that it makes it a restaurant. In fact, it's more likely that the chefs have their own consultants or consulting group who helped out design the menu, obviously to a specific budget set by the respective airlines, since if it were designed anything close to say Rockpool or glass, the lounges would be charging for cover.

All I'm saying is that sometimes marketing is about using the most minimalist definition of a word to produce an inflated effect (and no I do not work in marketing - thank God!)

 

[lovestotravel]

is the word 'restaurant' mentioned?? the word 'menu' does not constitute a 'restaurant'...which is what many seem to 'interpret' ... hey...I can even print 1 item on a card and call it a 'menu'

No, but going back to the point is that the QF J lounges have gone downhill, and further back to the point that VA service is going downhill.

Fact remains you used to be able to eat pretty well in the QF J lounges, now not so much

A sad race to the bottom

 

[under the radar]

No, but going back to the point is that the QF J lounges have gone downhill, and further back to the point that VA service is going downhill.

Fact remains you used to be able to eat pretty well in the QF J lounges, now not so much

A sad race to the bottom

lol...I was commenting on your 'bold/highlighted' points
fact remains....travelers have had it too good for too long...welcome to 'reality'

 

[anat0l]

fact remains....travelers have had it too good for too long...welcome to 'reality'

I guess it depends on what you define as being "too good" (let alone, "too long", notwithstanding any of the economic snarls - if any - which we are currently embroiled within).

We could run the lounges like in the USA where elites have no automatic access (it is mainly subscription based) and only the bare basics - like soft drinks and staple nibbles - are free of charge, with "premium" food (not really, but basically stuff that a cafe would charge at least $5.00 for) becoming chargeable.

Notwithstanding possible backlashes in lounge subscriptions and membership base, I'm sure the airlines would be able to run the lounges a lot cheaper in those cases. Whether that is the baseline* for "reality" is another thing.........

Anyway, a diversion off topic. I'm flying VA J next month so I'm hoping that the service as at least as good as I remember it last, i.e. it wasn't blow-out-of-water spectacular, even compared to its prime rival, but quite acceptable. I've got a refreshment or lunch service one way and either a refreshment or dinner service back the other way. The first flight is on a Friday and the other is a Sunday. I'm expecting a couple of salads - hopefully not (unfortunately typically) insipid tasting - and enough ingredients to make a toastie in the lounge, preferably fresh ingredients, not slimy ham and not tomatoes that look like they've just been reintegrated after a month in the Siberian tundra. I'll look at the soup and see how thin it is; if it is, I'll pass, otherwise I might try it if it seems to have some texture to it. If there is some hot food, I might try it but I'll always be prepared to expect it will be bland.

I likely don't have the sample size or regularity at all to see if VA's service level is decreasing, any more than I could tell if VA really sells J (in cash or in awards) on its domestic flights (because on almost all of the flights that I've been on, the J load factor has been less than 50%). My second hand reports tell me that there's nothing too adverse out there, but my second hand reports off this forum are not also as critical as the typical AFF member.

* "baseline" does not equal "the lowest standard"

 

[Jama]

I don't know that I would call the decline in service recent. It's been declining for a long time and you don't need to focus on food.

I think even management is over it. I had a issue that got escalated to senior management a few years back and I got a very quick personal response with a full credit and an upgrade on my next flight. I also got a follow up to indicated what was being done to prevent the issue in the future. I had another instance more recently that likewise got escalated and I eventually got a message from someone's assistant saying the particular issue was pretty poor, sorry about that. And that was the extent of it.

In the end I guess that you vote with your feet. I had given VA enough business that I have been Platinum since it was introduced and at this point I have got my wife and my daughter on Platinum as well. This year I will not even maintain my own level let alone the rest of my family.