Seat Selection and Menu

[elemist]

Finally booked my flights for next week - J PER-SYD rtn.

I've had a hunt round the forum, but can't find any good info on the best seats to pick and surprisingly the business class menu???

Any advice from the oh so knowledgeable???

 

[Mogul]

Are you flying 737 or A330, for me A330 seating and space is superior to the 737 offering.

From memory the menu changes and for that reason isn'tpublished anywhere.

 

[elemist]

Was hoping to fly both, one each way so I could check put the new BSI. But flight times didn't lie up so on the A330 both ways.

 

[Justchecking]

J on DJ is a set menu and hence the reason why they don't have one. The meals are rotated based on time of day, sector, and season. No-one has flown enough in J to have figured out what they are yet. Maybe the virgin rep will be so kind?

 

[Mogul]

J on DJ is a set menu and hence the reason why they don't have one. The meals are rotated based on time of day, sector, and season. No-one has flown enough in J to have figured out what they are yet. Maybe the virgin rep will be so kind?

J menu on the coast to coast service isn't a set menu, you have three options. Menu obviously changes throughout they day. Have done morning and lunchtime flights.

Last flight a couple of weeks ago we were also offered anything off the cart as well which was great for the kids as they had the pie's.

 

[Mogul]

Was hoping to fly both, one each way so I could check put the new BSI. But flight times didn't lie up so on the A330 both ways.

Row 3 or 4 window seat.

 

[StevePER]

The menu I had on SYD-PER in June is here:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/taking-care-business-virgin-australia-30821.html

I'm doing SYD-PER in J again on Thursday so I'll post an update to this thread if I remember.

 

[StevePER]

Row 3 or 4 window seat.

How are these different to row 2?

 

[DJPlatinum_Al]

I flew Melb - Perth on a DJ 737 BSI J on the weekend. Believe me you will not be disappointed. All of the food is tasty and fresh. The menu included:

• A pre takeoff mocktail - which included a mixture of cranberry juice, soda water and something else. (I asked Nicky the Cabin Supervisor to add vodka after take off and have to say it was delicious).
• A pre lunch drink - (open bar including wines. beer and mixed drinks) served with a spiced nut mix of cashews, almonds and macadamia nuts.
• A soup starter which was Cauliflower on the way over and Pumpkin on the way back.
• A Salad Main course - choice of chicken salad or lentil salad on the way over and Prawn or Pesto Pasta on the way back. On the A330 I have previously been served a hot meal at lunch time the Moroccan Lamb is great .
• Dessert - Orange Cake on the way over and a very rich chocolate tart on the way back (both delicious).
• Ice Cream - Towards the end of the flight I enjoyed a Raspberry and Vanilla ice cream treat. mmm..

In addition to the food listed above, there was a great wine list that included a Taylor's Chardonnay or a very tasty Pinot Gris. I didn't check out the red wine selection in detail, but vaguely remember a Cabernet Merlot that would have tickled my fancy. Beer choice included Crowne Larger and Fat Yak. I also enjoyed a couple of baileys on ice and a filtered coffee before landing.

All in all, I love the new service, and can't wait to have an opportunity to do lunch in style again. Having said that if you are not keen on the lunch service, I did hear an offer to grab a pie from the back for the gentleman that was sitting behind me, so you might be able to have the best of both worlds.

 

[Mogul]

How are these different to row 2?

Seat wise no different. On my last 3 J A330 flights the cabin was virtually empty and therefore it seems a lot more spacious from row 3 or 4 than row 2.

 

[elemist]

Thanks for the info all - picked out 3a on the way there and 2a on the way back Can't wait only one more week to go!

Interesting about the menu - its the only thing i have an issue with in regards to J or F, as i'm quite a plain eater. Not really a fan of fancy caviar and the smoked fishes etc. But oh well i'll give it a try tis only a short flight and can always fill up with dessert!

 

[Noob]

Thanks for the info all - picked out 3a on the way there and 2a on the way back Can't wait only one more week to go!

Interesting about the menu - its the only thing i have an issue with in regards to J or F, as i'm quite a plain eater. Not really a fan of fancy caviar and the smoked fishes etc. But oh well i'll give it a try tis only a short flight and can always fill up with dessert!

Give it a try and if you don't like it or want something more ask one of the fantastic cabin crew for a meat pie served with a tomato relish

 

[Boris spatsky]

Did MEL-PER last week on 737.

Food very good, but no choice. Lucky it was the Moroccan lamb. Yum.

Wine was terrible though. I reckon they were $10 specials at Dan Murphys. Alkoomi Cab Merlot 2010. Ugggh.

Service pretentious. Young male, late 20s. Not as goid as QF business class staff.

Seat very nice, but no Digi player until 2 hours in! When ssked why, the CSM said it was hard to place whilst serving the food. Oh please!

So not abad effort DJ, but QF still have it by a whisker.

 

[Comoman]

​

Hello

I have done A330 J x 3 and B737 x 2. A330 again tomorrow. B737 to both Mel and Bris from Per.

The A330 food choice is far superior IMHO. Bigger galley I suppose. The smoked salmon is very nice. 3 or 4 choices for main. Good selection of wines. Very happy with the seats and tv. Quite comparable to J on a certain SE Asian airline. Not SQ though!

B737. Same price. Food good but limited choice. I had the pumpkin soup and prawn salad. They ran out of the red wine. I assume the small galley is the issue. Seat obviously not so good. Wider than Y but same pitch as row 14 or 3. No foot rest.

At this stage I usually do PER to east on B737 in row 3 or 14 and fly back A330 in J. I really cannot justify the same money A330 to B737. B737 should be cheaper.

This is just my opinion of course. Others may disagree.

 

[AdMEL]

elemist, are you flying on Velocity points/points + pay, or full payment? Are you using the limo service now that they have extended in until Christmas?

Everyone else, have you flown on points or paid? Have you used the limo?

 

[elemist]

I'm flying points + pay, was a far better deal 13k in points + $350 for return.

Where did you read about the limo transfer extension? i haven't heard anything about it, but very interested!

 

[AdMEL]

Stumbled across it on the Velocity website earlier this evening:

[url]http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Specials/Airlines/index.htm

T[/URL]here doesn't seem to be a definitive answer on whether points + pay flights are eligible - I think some AFF members have said yes and some no. No official word from Virgin - terms and conditions don't specifically mention exclusion, but do mention 'full' business class (what there definition is, I'm not sure - could be paid, or just not upgraded, which they do specifically exclude).

I wonder whether it depends on status too - as someone with no status, I'm interested!

 

[AdMEL]

Points and pay do not earn SC's in the first place.

Double nufin' is still nufin'!

I'm aware points + pay do not earn points or SC's - what I was referring to is I whether Plat and Gold are the only ones given the limo on points + pay flights.

 

[elemist]

Very interesting - last time looked it ended this week i think.

For those that have used it, am i right in reading that its transfers to the airport, then from the airport to your destination with each segment? Or is it one way either to or from the airport per segment, or one per booking?

 

[elemist]

I'm aware points + pay do not earn points or SC's - what I was referring to is I whether Plat and Gold are the only ones given the limo on points + pay flights.

Reading through the info there's no mention of status anywhere so don't believe thats the case.

That said, i haven't had any information sent to me about my booking. I would have thought something in the booking information to call and organize would have been good.