Snacks for every passenger on VA

[Gredgy69]

Flew Syd-Mel-Syd over the weekend. Snack to Mel was carrot & ginger muffin and a honey & something muesli finger (not big enough to classify as a bar). On the way back it was Carmen corn chips with spicy tomato salsa. Both snacks were very tasty.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Flew Syd-Mel-Syd over the weekend. Snack to Mel was carrot & ginger muffin and a honey & something muesli finger (not big enough to classify as a bar). On the way back it was Carmen corn chips with spicy tomato salsa. Both snacks were very tasty.

I too did MEL-SYD-MEL on the weekend and was pretty happy with my corn chips and salsa. Seems like it's operationally efficient, and probably a lot easier than trying to distribute 'meals' to select pax.

 

[Gredgy69]

Did Syd-Bne-Syd yesterday. On the way to Bne received a packet of Kez's choc chip bites. I thought I would try one and save the rest for the kids when I got home. Needless to say the kids didn't get any - too nice. On the wayu back to Syd received and Sydney Biscuit Company flat crackers and salsa. The salsa was delicious but the crackers seemed stale to me - not sure if they were stale or whether they were meant to be like that.

 

[PLANT]

I was the recipient of anzacs bne-mel... average.
Today armond choc bar mel-bris....yum.

 

[davek]

Flew ADE-MEL-SYD over the weekend and received some free cheese and crackers on the MEL-SYD leg - they were nice.
Felt sorry for the people in front of me who ordered and paid for the cheese and crackers from the menu, only to then be given the free ones 10 minutes after receiving the paid-for ones.

 

[Intra]

Flew BNE-MEL on a Saver & MEL-SYD-OOL on a Flexi fare, so only the last leg had me have the snack where not everyone did... I didn't know what the difference was really though, I understand gradual roll-out, but why not just give a box of cheese and crackers to everyone on the SYD/OOL leg....

What didn't help was the reduced serving/consumption time from when the crew should finally serve as the seat belt sign went off well into cruising altitude on the short SYD/OOL leg - Or some of the most unpleasant crew members I've come across in awhile...

Glad I ate well(?) in The Lounge too - They are defiantly snacks, not meals... Not that the Flexi meals were really meals anyway... Meh

 

[bullerdude]

Flew ADE-MEL-SYD over the weekend and received some free cheese and crackers on the MEL-SYD leg - they were nice.
Felt sorry for the people in front of me who ordered and paid for the cheese and crackers from the menu, only to then be given the free ones 10 minutes after receiving the paid-for ones.

Why didn't they give out the complimentary snacks prior to the doing the paid service???

 

[docjames]

And why didn't they advise that the complimentary snack was coming (and was the same)?

 

[blackcat20]

Why didn't they give out the complimentary snacks prior to the doing the paid service???

On my Sunday flight the free snacks were given out during the paid service. The FA regularly checked his print-out and made sure everyone got what they were meant to, while processing transactions for other pax.

 

[Matthew Herbert]

This has me baffled. I almost always travel on flexi tickets. Is there meant to be a difference between the snacks that one gets on flexi compared to saver? Everything has been handed out all at once.
If there's not meant to be a difference, this could potentially be a downgrade. Sometimes I used to get really high quality sandwiches etc. but on my last flight I got given a single muffin that had a used by date 12 months away. What on EARTH is in a muffin that makes it last 12 months?!!! Gross.

I've also had the corn chips and salsa... very yummy.
The Tasmanian cheese with crackers was, although reasonable quality, very "lowest common denominator".
I had an apple and small sweet noughat slice, which was surprisingly the pick of the bunch. Great slice and a crisp, sweet apple.

 

[williamsf1]

.
. but on my last flight I got given a single muffin that had a used by date 12 months away. What on EARTH is in a muffin that makes it last 12 months?!!! Gross.

.

You will find that the muffins are baked, then frozen .. then defrosted before served with a note on the packet to say " consume withing 48hrs of defrost and do not refreeze" . This is very common for airline food

 

[JohnK]

Flew ADE-MEL-SYD over the weekend and received some free cheese and crackers on the MEL-SYD leg - they were nice.
Felt sorry for the people in front of me who ordered and paid for the cheese and crackers from the menu, only to then be given the free ones 10 minutes after receiving the paid-for ones.

Why didn't the crew tell them they were going to receive complimentary snack similar to what they were purchasing?

And why wouldn't the complimentary service be before the paid service or are they done together?

 

[davek]

The crew did mention the complementary snack over the PA after the seat belt sign was switched off, but in reality who listens to when over half the plane deploys their iWhatsits and headphones while the announcement is taking place?

 

[jaspon]

This has me baffled. I almost always travel on flexi tickets. Is there meant to be a difference between the snacks that one gets on flexi compared to saver? Everything has been handed out all at once.
If there's not meant to be a difference, this could potentially be a downgrade.

so my understanding of the new service is -

BNE-SYD vv
SYD-MEL vv
MEL-BNE vv

these flights will receive a complimentary snack on at all times of the day regardless of the fare type. (saver lite, saver, flexi etc)
Also the pay on board menu is available , but there are no sandwiches available on the triangle routes

other flights like BNE-PPP or SYD-HBA only the flex guest will receive a small snack.
pretty sure all VA flights now offer free tea, coffee, h20 and juice.

the happy hour has now been extended from mainland capital cities to all flights under 2hr 45, mon -fri, 4pm-7pm (except some ATR/regional flights i believe) this includes beer, wine and soft drinks)

i think thats the jist of it, but still quite confusing

 

[bullerdude]

I agree that it is a little confusing but my guess is that eventually VA will do the following:

Flights under 2hr 45
- Snack service every flights
- Complimentary alcohol between 4-7pm

Flights over 2hr 45
- Meal service every flights

The type of snack service may vary for mainline, capital connect and western Australia flights etc, but at least there will be consistency across their network.

 

[Intra]

The service still needs some works, or the crew need some training. How they didn't manage to serve everyone a Choc Moose & Drink on BNE/SYD just landed is beyond me - Why then the Supervisor congratulated the crew over the intercom as they were taking there seats on landing is.... Wow....
To be fair, it looks like a full flight on a 738 - Maybe too many complicated coffee orders? Was slow though even starting from Row 3/4/5.

The Choc Moose itself too was half-empty - What gives?!

 

[MarkD]

Damn those moose, I always find them tough. How was the mousse ? Any better than the moose?

 

[MarkD]

A moose

Chocolate mousse

 

[JohnK]

On a 6:30pm BNE-SYD flight this evening. Is it strictly 1 beer or is it possible to ask for more?

 

[bullerdude]

Can't hurt to ask - there is nothing I can see on the VA site which says only one drink allowed.