Rumour: Next phase of VA "meals for all" to start tomorrow [14-Apr-2015]

[cdp88]

+1 to this. Anything would be better than the pathetic 2 crackers and a matchbox-sized piece of cheese that we received when flying Flexi fares MEL-OOL and OOL-MEL last year.

I flew BNE-MEL down and back today. For some reason I always end up going to meetings that are in MEL. I would love for the next meeting to be somewhere else as I would love to see if the breakfast option changes.

The same tired defrosted chocolate chip muffin appeared for "breakfast." In the afternoon I received the small cheese and crackers.

I think Qantas usually has better snack offerings and, sometimes gives you options ie you could take an apple as well as the snack or instead of it.

If only Virgin would increase their prices to the same as or more than qantas so that I could choose Qantas and avoid the muffin.

 

[Demon_fan]

I flew BNE-MEL down and back today. For some reason I always end up going to meetings that are in MEL. I would love for the next meeting to be somewhere else as I would love to see if the breakfast option changes.

The same tired defrosted chocolate chip muffin appeared for "breakfast." In the afternoon I received the small cheese and crackers.

I think Qantas usually has better snack offerings and, sometimes gives you options ie you could take an apple as well as the snack or instead of it.

If only Virgin would increase their prices to the same as or more than qantas so that I could choose Qantas and avoid the muffin.

Cheese and crackers are better than some of the sugary snacks that get offered.

 

[kalboy]

VA regional have been providing food on all flights for some time now. From my experience there is no difference between the offerings between Flexi or Saver. Flights over 3 hours a sandwich or wrap. one hour flights pretzels / cheese / chockie etc.
On A330 East/West flights in Y, I have found the complimentary meals to be the same as Qantas (maybe same caterers even).

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Flew SYD-BNE-SYD today. Got a muffin the diameter of a 50c coin on the way up in the morning (saver), and the shrink-wrapped cheddar + cracker box on the way back in the evening (flexi)... in other words, exactly the same as what we were getting on capital city flights prior to today, regardless of fare class.

 

[serfty]

Flew SYD-BNE-SYD today. ...

What time of day were these flights?

 

[MH_fan]

Seriously though, any flight over 3 hours should have a meal and not some stupid snack.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So it seems although this is a positive move for most, its benefit is marginal at best. Flexis have been apparently downgraded from a year or so ago yet have increased in price. Saver lite has increased in price (by becoming extinct) but provides now a basic small snack and a checked bag (OK for some, not for others). Savers have probably been the winners, but the prize is a morsel of food.

Because VA recognize that with this miniscule offering they still need to offer "buy on board", it really doesn't make life easier for the flight crew either. It also amazes me that transcon flights actually get a pretty reasonable meal but similar duration flights get bugger all! Where's the logic in that?

 

[serfty]

... It also amazes me that transcon flights actually get a pretty reasonable meal but similar duration flights get bugger all! Where's the logic in that?

I would suggest competition - maybe specifically directed or perceived or otherwise ...

... The coast to coast routes seem to be a battle ground.

 

[Demon_fan]

So it seems although this is a positive move for most, its benefit is marginal at best. Flexis have been apparently downgraded from a year or so ago yet have increased in price. Saver lite has increased in price (by becoming extinct) but provides now a basic small snack and a checked bag (OK for some, not for others). Savers have probably been the winners, but the prize is a morsel of food.

Because VA recognize that with this miniscule offering they still need to offer "buy on board", it really doesn't make life easier for the flight crew either. It also amazes me that transcon flights actually get a pretty reasonable meal but similar duration flights get bugger all! Where's the logic in that?

Yep incredibly annoying.

Fly to Perth and get a meal and alcohol and IFE.

Fly to Cairns, don't even get wireless entertainment and zero food. Yet it's the same duration. All to do with competing against QF.

 

[kevrosmith]

Yep incredibly annoying.

Fly to Perth and get a meal and alcohol and IFE.

Fly to Cairns, don't even get wireless entertainment and zero food. Yet it's the same duration. All to do with competing against QF.

To CNS from where? SYD? Which flight number and/or aircraft? Nearly all my weekly SYD-CNS have wireless IFE, including most E190s now. We are also fortunate enough to have Happy Hour with a 18:40 departure on VA1429.

It sounds like routes like SYD-CNS will benefit the most from this next phase: hopefully a more substantial meal for all in Y. Might mean I can save upgrading to J most weeks now and pool my points for an EY Apartment redemption

 

[Aussie_flyer]

MEL-OOL yesterday, 11.10AM. Small egg/salad sandwich, same I was offered a few months back on SYD-MEL in early afternoon. At least Qantas offer a choice of soft drinks at all times.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

What time of day were these flights?

I did say "morning" and "evening", but I guess I should've been more specific… 08:00 and 21:00.

 

[Melburnian1]

I would suggest competition - maybe specifically directed or perceived or otherwise ...

... The coast to coast routes seem to be a battle ground.

serfty, an important point. If the Australian mining industry keeps on losing jobs (there have been a couple more announcements in the last few days), then in time (other things being equal) it is logical that passenger numbers on the transcontinental routes between MEL or SYD and PER will decline. While QF and VA can reduce capacity by cancelling some flights if they believe demand has sufficiently dropped, a difficulty is that VA, for instance, had its A330s converted at great cost to better seating (at least in J) so they presumably need to be used on routes long enough for passengers or companies to be able to justify spending money on a J fare. SYD-CNS is a shorter flying time than SYD-PER by a considerable amount.

 

[Demon_fan]

To CNS from where? SYD? Which flight number and/or aircraft? Nearly all my weekly SYD-CNS have wireless IFE, including most E190s now. We are also fortunate enough to have Happy Hour with a 18:40 departure on VA1429.

It sounds like routes like SYD-CNS will benefit the most from this next phase: hopefully a more substantial meal for all in Y. Might mean I can save upgrading to J most weeks now and pool my points for an EY Apartment redemption

Was from Melbourne on Monday morning. Not sure of the flight number.

 

[Mattg]

This seems very similar to what airberlin does. On airberlin, passengers on all flights receive a complimentary drink, as well as a warm pretzel stick on morning flights or a choice of a sweet or salty snack on other flights. Other items are available for purchase on-board, including hot meals on longer flights (above 2/3 hours). This seems to work well for them, but then again, most of the competition intra-Europe is not up to the standard of QF IMHO and a lot of their competition don't actually offer any food for free.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Also what Jetblue and Nokair do

 

[JohnK]

Have the meals started or still snacks?

 

[kevrosmith]

Have the meals started or still snacks?

I'll be able to report back after flight tonight SYD-CNS.

 

[Demon_fan]

Have the meals started or still snacks?

Yep. Got an egg and lettuce sandwich on Townsville to Brisbane earlier today.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yep. Got an egg and lettuce sandwich on Townsville to Brisbane earlier today.

Did you consider that a meal? Those sandwiches have been around since the 'snack' service was implemented on the triangle