Recent Flights on VA

[Notyourbag]

I wanted to share my recent experiences on VA during the current Covid-19 crisis. I was booked on the direct PER-SYD flight last Monday 30th March which in the week prior was changed to VA682 (PER-MEL) and VA867 (MEL-SYD). The flights were down downgraded from the A330 to 737 given the 330 fleet are now grounded.

Perth Airport at T1 Domestic was empty. Only 2 check-in crew who were struggling with the booking system as all existing bookings apparently needed to be re-ticketed. Of course the lounge was closed with a notice on the door. All retail outlets apart from Amcal were closed.

Once onboard, the crew made an announcement on the PA that due to Covid-19 they would only be doing a water run but guests could purchase off the buy on board menu. This felt like a cop out as the time delivering a meal on a coast to coast service would be far quicker than the cabin crew stopping to take buy on board orders, answer questions, collect credit card, process the transaction and move on. It felt like a desperate cash grab from VA. Also not offering wine (in a sealed bottle and cup) wouldn't be any less riskier than an open bottle of water.

Keen to get others thoughts on their service on VA over the past week. Not trying to make this a first world problem but just hard to see how they justify their onboard catering when it seems their current set up would put their staff in more risk.

 

[TheInsider]

Will be lucky to have an airline after this I reckon!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Will be lucky to have an airline after this I reckon!

Well, Qantas turned off all internet and IFE from today, so I'd say losing a (pretty average) meal is not too bad in comparison. I suppose they'll be lucky to survive as well based on that...

Anyway, you only get a refreshment item on QF now as well in economy according to the article.

Qantas Switches Off Wifi, In-Flight Entertainment

Qantas is no longer offering in-flight entertainment or wifi on board its domestic flights, from today.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The use of BoB only might be at least in part due to pouring of juice etc which is normally done from a bigger bottle. But BoB is your own can/bottle etc. Just a thought.

Hard times for all

 

[Denali]

To be honest, I would take my own lunchbox on the fight and not accept onboard unless I wipe down packaging, sanitise hands ect.

I would also take a couple of sealed/plastic wrapped choc boxes for the crew inc pilots and a small wipes pack for them - they must be feeling pretty bad these days.

 

[JeeJee]

When the tickets were sold, trust the deal was seat, bag & meal. If they can’t serve hot meal, then atleast offer complimentary packaged meals..!! This is sure a money grab and breach of promise.

 

[ozstamps]

Perth Airport at T1 Domestic was empty. Only 2 check-in crew who were struggling with the booking system as all existing bookings apparently needed to be re-ticketed. Of course the lounge was closed with a notice on the door. All retail outlets apart from Amcal were closed.

Once onboard, the crew made an announcement on the PA that due to Covid-19 they would only be doing a water run but guests could purchase off the buy on board menu.

This felt like a cop out as the time delivering a meal on a coast to coast service would be far quicker than the cabin crew stopping to take buy on board orders, answer questions, collect credit card, process the transaction and move on.

It felt like a desperate cash grab from VA. Also not offering wine (in a sealed bottle and cup) wouldn't be any less riskier than an open bottle of water.

Thanks for sharing this transcon experience. Glitches at check-in seem impossible to explain away. All that should have been done before the flight checked in. They are just falling apart at the seams it appears in all areas.

Sounds like a very disappointing long flight. Right NOW giving an exceptional on board experience to all pax should be their mantra, especially if lounges are closed, Wifi presumanly no working now in flight, and the plane downgraded from widebody.

WATER ONLY for 3 or 4 hours is pretty insulting - but you can BUY whatever your hear desires. NICKEL AND DIMING .. nothing to do with Covid.

Virgin look to be a panic stricken basket case right now sadly - sending out confusing Status level emails a Chimp would have worded better, and now limiting gift card purchases, which was the Canary In The Coalmine to me. Water only on transcons etc.

Threatening action against Platinums who sought and got a refund as Virgin cancelled domestic flights, way before any government restrictions, smacks of total desperation.

They will get no extra money doing this - the refund is all a done deal - it will just seriously p!ss off folks who otherwise would have stuck with whatever emerges at the other end of this horrible sausage machine.

 

[mrmerc500]

Good to hear your recent experience Notyourbag, I know it seemed quite severe and this simply reinforces the extreme measures they're having to intoduce to cut costs.

I had a similar situation with a PER - SYD flight for late May but VA have withdrawn from this route until it seems mid June and have obtained a travel credit now.

Also in contact with several FIFO personnel, they're leaving WA in droves to head home before the WA Government's Sunday Travel Intervention.

 

[hydrabyss]

Here is part of a US article.

Major U.S. airlines are updating their food, drink and seating policies in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

After announcing last week it would suspend usual beverage service and instead offer only water and snacks, Southwest announced Tuesday it would be "temporarily suspending all on-board beverage and snack service... until further notice" beginning Wednesday, Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish told USA TODAY.

Flyers will be able to request unopened cans of water on the flight or can still bring their own water and soft drinks as long as they purchase them or fill up at water stations post-security.

 

[Notyourbag]

Here is part of a US article.

Major U.S. airlines are updating their food, drink and seating policies in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

After announcing last week it would suspend usual beverage service and instead offer only water and snacks, Southwest announced Tuesday it would be "temporarily suspending all on-board beverage and snack service... until further notice" beginning Wednesday, Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish told USA TODAY.

Flyers will be able to request unopened cans of water on the flight or can still bring their own water and soft drinks as long as they purchase them or fill up at water stations post-security.

But an unopened bottle of wine on a coast to coast and a domestic 5pm service can't be offered?

 

[Mogul]

Thanks for sharing this transcon experience. Glitches at check-in seem impossible to explain away. All that should have been done before the flight checked in. They are just falling apart at the seams it appears in all areas.

Sounds like a very disappointing long flight. Right NOW giving an exceptional on board experience to all pax should be their mantra, especially if lounges are closed, Wifi presumanly no working now in flight, and the plane downgraded from widebody.

WATER ONLY for 3 or 4 hours is pretty insulting - but you can BUY whatever your hear desires. NICKEL AND DIMING .. nothing to do with Covid.

Virgin look to be a panic stricken basket case right now sadly - sending out confusing Status level emails a Chimp would have worded better, and now limiting gift card purchases, which was the Canary In The Coalmine to me. Water only on transcons etc.

Threatening action against Platinums who sought and got a refund as Virgin cancelled domestic flights, way before any government restrictions, smacks of total desperation.

They will get no extra money doing this - the refund is all a done deal - it will just seriously p!ss off folks who otherwise would have stuck with whatever emerges at the other end of this horrible sausage machine.

Qantas have also removed catering from all their flights.

 

[p--and--t]

All airlines worldwide will either be grounded or in survival/cash preservation mode for the next 6-12 months if still flying.

Most likely that only international flights from any airline will have any form of F&B service and I'd hazard a guess more brown paper bag type meals than the usual fare.

 

[AIRwin]

Most likely that only international flights from any airline will have any form of F&B service and I'd hazard a guess more brown paper bag type meals than the usual fare.

Brown paper packages tied up with strings? These are a few of my favorite things...

 

[drron]

Well I am hoping to fly VA tomorrow but really not confident it will happen. The VA website is often difficult but hopeless today.
I can find the flight but first couldn't log into velocity saying I didn't have an account.Got them to resend my Velocity number so used the same details and got in.
When i went to online checkin said it couldn't be done and i have to see an agent.
Went to at least select a seat and it wanted me to pay for the flight again.

So I just went back in to check and it has been cancelled.

 

[drron]

Update.Got my agent to check what could be done.Got on to VA and asked any alternatives to the cancelled 318 flight tomorrow-Oh!Looks like the wrong flight was cancelled.318 is still on.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Don't worry. Crew aren't getting fed either. I brought things from home to try and get me through. Luckily Red Rooster was still open in BNE last week to catch up on sustenance, and yes even us as crew have been asked to pay for in flight snacks.

Desperation? Perhaps. Just as long as there's an airline for me to come back to.

 

[Coops1]

Feel compelled to comment. Times have changed!.....would be numerous reasons why they wouldn’t do a normal service. Sorry to all the DYKWIA’s but, a little less complaining and acceptance goes a long way.

 

[Ekka]

I'm interested in the five dots, but what do they mean? Three dots constitute an ellipsis, which is slightly different from a dash, but do five actually mean anything?

 

[Coops1]

I'm interested in the five dots, but what do they mean? Three dots constitute an ellipsis, which is slightly different from a dash, but do five actually mean anything?

They were angry periods! Refer to: The secret emotional lives of 5 punctuation marks

 

[MarkD]

At the end of the day, the meal was not worth having. Personally, I would rather have VA here as an airline that doesn't serve the stuff they were, than not have them at all. Its not necessary, even on coast to coast.. Take a water and a muesli bar. .. … …. ….. …...

 

[Matt_01]

Personally, I would rather have VA here as an airline that doesn't serve the stuff they were, than not have them at all.

So that would be ... _ _ _ ...