Recent Decline of VA service

[Deleted member 29185]

VA: a Luke Mangan designed buffet menu,

Just because the chefs designed the menu doesn't mean that it makes it a restaurant.

To me this VA spiel is just blatant BS. Just what part of the VA buffet has been "designed"?

Wasn't Oscar Wilde an insightful person when he wrote "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life" as VA have certainly taken inspiration from this Fawlty Towers skit..........

Miss Gurke: I'm sorry, but do you think
we could cancel our fruit salads?
Sybil: Well, it's a little tricky, Chef's just
opened the tin.

 

[anat0l]

To me this VA spiel is just blatant BS. Just what part of the VA buffet has been "designed"?

I'm sure someone in LM's clique decided that Persian rice salad should be added to the buffet

 

[under the radar]

show me a business that doesn't 'talk up' their product/s...look around you...happens EVERYWHERE.. It's called ADVERTISING...McD*****S 'market' themselves a restaurant!! ...as an example

 

[grubbidok]

I'm quite happy with the actual service on VA, and haven't really seen a difference (though QF *is* narrowing the gap on this end, maybe that's what's being noticed?). What I'm more concerned about is that the VFF program itself seems to be getting less and less worthwhile, and I can't see any extra value being proposed for the near future, particularly given it is essentially worthless outside of Australia.

 

[here2go]

So what do we want from VA? We've all had a whinge, myself including, I just wonder if member VelocityFrequentFlyer is taking note.
My take so far is:
* recognition for flexi flyers with the meal - NB I've never had a problem getting a beer or wine, but don't consider corn chips and salsa a flexi meal BNE-CBR
* Improved business class meals, including bringing back the mocktail before takeoff.
* More variety at the lounge food bar from a day to day basis, including better hot food options (perhaps regional variation too)

*I'd like to add also in ports like DRW sans lounge, a voucher for Dome would not go astray for Gold and business travelers, especially if they bring back the redeye to BNE.

Anything else VA flying AFFers?

 

[Moopere]

...particularly given it is essentially worthless outside of Australia.

Yes to this thought. I've always known it of course, but am planning some extensive O/S trips for later this year at the moment - through central and SE Asia ... being Gold with VA is essentially worthless unless one is willing to pay the significant premium to fly SQ.

 

[Jousams]

Anything else VA flying AFFers?

Just want a coke on a flexi fare!

 

[here2go]

Just want a coke on a flexi fare!

I can't see why you don't get Coke. I ask for red wine and get it.

 

[ap_spd]

VA: Featuring a great selection of complimentary benefits – such as a Luke Mangan designed buffet menu

Well being cheeky, Luke designed the menu card and signed it. Not sure about who decided how to cook the items on the menu

 

[bullerdude]

Didn't even get offered complimentary drink today on my flight home :-/

VA also decided to sit a 5-year-old in 3E as opposed to maintaining a Platinum shadow. Now whilst I am no directly concerned with this as I try to be respectful to traveling families, this kid was up and down like a Yo-Yo..... no chance of a peaceful flight.

In fact, Row 3 is become a joke these days on some flights and is not protected at all, even asked and was given the shadow the other week only to find it occupied by a non-plat...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Not sure about who decided how to cook the items on the menu

The buffet items are cooked? What the boiled eggs? Yup, can really see we need a "celebrity chef" to boil eggs and sign a menu!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

VA also decided to sit a 5-year-old in 3E as opposed to maintaining a Platinum shadow.

Maybe that 5YO was a plat!

 

[grubbidok]

Maybe that 5YO was a plat!

Or belongs to a Plat. For every WP whining about a non-WP sitting in Row 3 there's another WP whining that they can't get their non-WP travelling companion in Row 3 to sit with them. VA are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

*I always wonder if I get this kind of disapproval from WP types. I'm WP, sit in Row 3, but as my work allows it I dress for comfort and usually wear casual jeans/shirt and have backpack carry-on. Have been asked a few times by neighbour "how did I get Row 3" after boarding - they look surprised when I tell them it's because I'm WP. People shouldn't assume people that "don't look WP" aren't WP.

 

[ap_spd]

Agree with you grubbidok, I always dress for comfort in my jeans and looks aren't very encouraging when on row 3.

 

[Fruitcake]

Agree with you grubbidok, I always dress for comfort in my jeans and looks aren't very encouraging when on row 3.

I have had someone in a suit try to "subtly" shoulder me out of the way in the priority boarding queue, presumably because he thought I didn't look like I belonged there. He would have been lucky to be three quarters of my size.

But his carry-on bag did have QF WP tags; if he does most of his flying on QF I guess he can be excused for assuming that one needs to get aggressive to defend priority boarding privileges.

 

[grubbidok]

I have had someone in a suit try to "subtly" shoulder me out of the way in the priority boarding queue, presumably because he thought I didn't look like I belonged there.

Ha, yes, both I and Mrs Grubbidok [VA SG] have had that a few times. Mrs Grubbidok was even once politely reminded by a VA staff member that "this is the priority line, not the standard line", to which she replied "I know, that's why I'm standing here".

 

[blackcat20]

Had a great experience on both VA23 and VA24 this month. The crew were friendly and attentive and made sure we always had a drink. Priority check-in, boarding and baggage worked perfectly.

 

[vet]

Well being cheeky, Luke designed the menu card and signed it. Not sure about who decided how to cook the items on the menu

They employ United's f.a's like this bird

 

[bullerdude]

Or belongs to a Plat. For every WP whining about a non-WP sitting in Row 3 there's another WP whining that they can't get their non-WP travelling companion in Row 3 to sit with them. VA are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

*I always wonder if I get this kind of disapproval from WP types. I'm WP, sit in Row 3, but as my work allows it I dress for comfort and usually wear casual jeans/shirt and have backpack carry-on. Have been asked a few times by neighbour "how did I get Row 3" after boarding - they look surprised when I tell them it's because I'm WP. People shouldn't assume people that "don't look WP" aren't WP.

I am the same, always jeans and tee-shirt sitting in row 3, much more comfortable.

Like I said, the issue here was more that the kid was jumping up and down like a yo-yo....

 

[jsoprano]

I am the same, always jeans and tee-shirt sitting in row 3, much more comfortable.

Like I said, the issue here was more that the kid was jumping up and down like a yo-yo....

I don't care about suit or jeans, but another thing annoyed me last week on BNE-MEL: I was in 3F, another WP in 3D, and luckily 3E remained empty. On the other side of the aisle, same scenario: 3A and 3C occupied, 3B vacant.

Gentleman walks in as one of the last to board, spots empty 3B (lucky he didn't have is eye on 3E), and asks FA if he could sit there instead of [whatever his assigned seat was, he was in row 6 or further back]. No idea if he was WP or SG or something. Anyway, FA tells him to take his assigned seat for take-off but she would check with the cabin manager if he could relocate. I saw FA have the chat with the manager, don't know what the verdict was but it included a lot of head-shaking by the manager. FA then went to talk to the gentleman.

Fast-forward 15 mins: Up in the air, seat-belt signs go out, and voila, 30 seconds later, Mr. X politely asks lady in 3C to please let him through and take "his" seat in 3B. Lady in 3C was definitely looking at him a bit annoyed but didn't say anything nor consult crew, just let him proceed. Not sure what 3A's reaction was.

What would you make of such a situation? Had he tried to sit in 3E I would have used the call button. WP perks are scare and rare on VA so I value this bit of extra space, it's occurring rare enough in row 3. I know there is no such thing as a WP shadow or that I don't have any "rights" over the empty seat next to me, but such behaviour supported by the crew is simply annoying and not correct.