VA Economy Service changes - "Staff will be able to assist"

[N860CR]

As for the no snack new dawn - should've happened years ago. They were not worth the trouble or expense.

Yep. They’ve always been a waste of time.

If I can get a VA ticket $30-40 cheaper than QF, and buy myself a half decent sandwich and acceptable mini bottle of wine onboard for $20, then as far as I’m concerned it’s a much better service than the competition.

 

[esquire]

Yep. They’ve always been a waste of time.

If I can get a VA ticket $30-40 cheaper than QF, and buy myself a half decent sandwich and acceptable mini bottle of wine onboard for $20, then as far as I’m concerned it’s a much better service than the competition.

Until the “sorry sir/madam.. we have run out ...or catering wasn’t loaded”.
For me I don’t want the hassle of another receipt or travel expense.

 

[Bagpuss]

Go Ms Hrdlicka - you can't make this penny ante, nickel and diming stuff up -

​ ​ Hi xx_, Please be advised that as of 25 March 2021 we have updated our food and drink offering on all flights. As a result, guests will continue to receive complimentary water, with tea and coffee also provided. However, complimentary food will no longer be provided in our economy class cabin. We understand you have purchased a fare inclusive of a complimentary snack. If you would still like to receive a snack, please make yourself known to cabin crew once on board and they will be able to assist. We look forward to welcoming you on board soon. Kind regards, Virgin Australia

Your ongoing attack on Ms Hrdlicka is a bit borderline offence, whilst I’m not a mod I think some things needs to be a bit better put.

Your reference around the cost of Wifi is a bit strange. Exiting voluntary administration isn’t clear cut so they have to renegotiate with a provider who of course will be cautious dealing with Virgin. Also, if it’s being offered free do they need to look at their fare bases. To add to this... How many planes don’t have wifi installed ? If not who pays for the installation? If it’s the lessor they may also be cautious on the outlay at the current time, they have also taken pricing reductions. If they do, what about “new“ aircraft entering the fleet which in the short term would be second hand jets. They would be thinking about maintaining a consistent product if it’s a pick n mix probably keep it off.
Wifi is one of many items under review and they have more pressing matters to address.

Your questioning of expanding VFF is also not overly thought through. If you canvas Qantas loyalist, I think you’d find people are more Qantas Frequent Flyer loyalists and totally reflected in the Qantas (and Velocity) financials.

On hold times to Velocity are massively better at the moment and that’s really due to all borders being open. The nature of border closures needs to be taken into account and affects many companies not just Velocity.

Overall if you don’t think the Virgin model is right, then that‘s your opinion. There is a choice of airlines after all and that’s what competition is all about. I don’t think if Virgin is $20 cheaper than Qantas, paying the Qantas fare is worth it just for a snack but each to their own. Hence the decision normally comes to Frequent Flyer membership ... Oh wait what was the comment about loyalty programs earlier ??

 

[ozstamps]

.
Well I predicted all along we'd simply get Tiger#2 when the dust settled but the Americans are promising the world in the PR spins by their American boss direct from Jetstar.

Reality is a different thing. Removing the $1 cookie just highlights their thinking.

Over hour long hold times this month 3 times after adding in a Platinum Velocity number. Two of the 3 times those calls timed out after an hour. Unacceptable.

No reason now for the middle level flyer to pay more to fly Virgin now over Jetstar.

Even Rex is starting to sniff blood in the water. Do they serve Biz Class pax doggie bags?

We flew Virgin Biz yesterday on a lunchtime flight, and to kill the boredom on the 2 hour flight, as there is no Wi-Fi anymore to save a few bucks, and no in-flight magazine, and no newspapers, resorted to reading the wording on the Business Class "meal" i.e. the infamous cardboard snack box.

"Made In The UK". Sad that Virgin cannot be bothered sourcing simple things like throw away cardboard boxes in this country, and keep some Australians in a job.

I am very keen to always buy Australian products if easily sourced. Savvy businesses should be too. The Feds gave airlines $ BILLIONS of lifeline this month to subsidise fares to keep tourism alive, and Virgin buy throw away boxes made in the UK. DUMB.

 

[Bagpuss]

.
Well I predicted all along we'd simply get Tiger#2 when the dust settled but the Americans are promising the world in the PR spins by their American boss direct from Jetstar.

Reality is a different thing. Removing the $1 cookie just highlights their thinking.

Over hour long hold times this month 3 times after adding in a Platinum Velocity number. Two of the 3 times those calls timed out after an hour. Unacceptable.

No reason now for the middle level flyer to pay more to fly Virgin now over Jetstar.

Even Rex is starting to sniff blood in the water. Do they serve Biz Class pax doggie bags?

We flew Virgin Biz yesterday on a lunchtime flight, and to kill the boredom on the 2 hour flight, as there is no Wi-Fi anymore to save a few bucks, and no in-flight magazine, and no newspapers, resorted to reading the wording on the Business Class "meal" i.e. the infamous cardboard snack box.

"Made In The UK". Sad that Virgin cannot be bothered sourcing simple things like throw away cardboard boxes in this country, and keep some Australians in a job.

I am very keen to always buy Australian products if easily sourced. Savvy businesses should be too. The Feds gave them $ BILLIONS of lifeline this month to subsidise fares to keep tourism alive, and they buy boxes made in the UK. DUMB.

Not too sure on your spin, she was also head of Qantas Loyalty.

Just because something is “Made In The UK”, it does not mean it’s not supporting Australian jobs. To get from the production line to an Australian consumer requires transport and logistics which is of course supporting Australian jobs. It’s also highly likely to be purchased from a local supplier, as I doubt they tendered for the product in the UK.

Most of your post is recycled comments and you’re fully aware of the current offering so I‘ve no idea why you are surprised.

Can you supply a source that the Feds gave them $ BILLIONS. Last I heard was a year ago it was rumoured they asked for $1.6 billion as a “loan” ( Which is less than $ BILLIONS which would mean more than $2 billion ). Recently I’ve heard about Aviation Keeper / half prices airfares on selected routes ( Billion-dollar tourism package includes 800,000 half-price airfares ... $1.2 billion across multiple airlines) which isn’t giving them money for nothing.

 

[ozstamps]

Just because something is “Made In The UK”, it does not mean it’s not supporting Australian jobs. To get from the production line to an Australian consumer requires transport and logistics which is of course supporting Australian jobs. It’s also highly likely to be purchased from a local supplier, as I doubt they tendered for the product in the UK.

Virgin PR have a job waiting for you, if you have such a twisted view of reality.

I always was annoyed at how much New Zealand wine choice there was in Virgin AUSTRALIA Lounges.

1000s of cases a month nationally being lost to local suppliers.

I guess using your unique view the struggling Barossa and Hunter Valley and Margaret River AUSTRALIAN wine producers all somehow made heaps from that dumb decision too?

You may have zero interest in supporting Australia businesses where that is readily possible and the price point is the same - that is your personal call. Luckily for the economy, not everyone has the same view.

Virgin want you to apply ASAP. Do it fast though .. .they may not have too much time left the way these nickel and dime, race to the bottom, decisions are going.

 

[odysseus]

A number of nervous Nellies, or just perpetual cynics, but I wouldn't be surprised if the substitute is in some cases better than the previous 'snack' would have been. Of course they're not going to state specifics as it takes away flexibility, plus it's a generic email and the food offerings change by different craft and route as well - and there's no need to be specific.

Or maybe they still have some Fantastic noodles boxes left over.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Surprised the menu hasn't leaked out, at least for economy...

 

[ozstamps]

maybe they still have some Fantastic noodles boxes left over.

They I hear are the new Business Class thought bubble.

 

[jakeseven7]

Maybe there will be a special code on your BP to indicate you're owed a snack?

It's what they do a JetStar and we all know where Jayne came from.

Why couldn't they just do that for all the people they have charged food for? Instead of making the poor customer beg the FA for a cracker? Seriously?

Or - they just should do an auto-refund of everyone who booked a fare with them prior to this announcement of $5-10 bucks.

Seriously lazy, very budget and clearly not caring about the customers who took a punt to try and support them again....

 

[jakeseven7]

"Made In The UK". Sad that Virgin cannot be bothered sourcing simple things like throw away cardboard boxes in this country, and keep some Australians in a job.

I'm hoping that once VA2 starts running properly they focus more on things like sourcing locally again.

It was a focus for them before the collapse, so hope that is one thing that survives.

 

[milehighclub]

"Made In The UK". Sad that Virgin cannot be bothered sourcing simple things like throw away cardboard boxes in this country, and keep some Australians in a job.

I really don't see the big issue with a box from the UK. VA had to very quickly find a provider for snacks. That provider is employing Australians, who buy Australian products. The head office of this company is in the UK and distribute worldwide. Obviously it costs them less to bulk make them in the UK and ship around the world.

Also given the number of aircraft, the number of business seats and the fact that travel has been very restricted, I don't think VA buying a few boxes locally would have been the saving grace for box manufacturing jobs. If anything, that would be one industry doing ok given all those in hotel quarantine eating from disposable containers everyday.

I have no doubt that once they announce the new catering arrangements, it will be with a proper catering provider, and VA will have full control again over what they offer.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Why couldn't they just do that for all the people they have charged food for? Instead of making the poor customer beg the FA for a cracker? Seriously?

Or - they just should do an auto-refund of everyone who booked a fare with them prior to this announcement of $5-10 bucks.

Seriously lazy, very budget and clearly not caring about the customers who took a punt to try and support them again....

To me, that’s the biggest part of the issue - having to reassert your purchase.

It would be hilarious if they ran out of stock on the flight.

I wonder whether this email is enough to get around ACCC and/or Fair Trading issues.

 

[TMP]

Why couldn't they just do that for all the people they have charged food for? Instead of making the poor customer beg the FA for a cracker? Seriously?

Or - they just should do an auto-refund of everyone who booked a fare with them prior to this announcement of $5-10 bucks.

Seriously lazy, very budget and clearly not caring about the customers who took a punt to try and support them again....

Is it really that important? Did anyone actually enjoy the soy crisps or the protein ball?

 

[jakeseven7]

To me, that’s the biggest part of the issue - having to reassert your purchase.

It would be hilarious if they ran out of stock on the flight.

I wonder whether this email is enough to get around ACCC and/or Fair Trading issues.

Agree, they should have built a simple web page where consumers could choose a refund or select 'I will self-request' on board.

I wonder also how the FA knows what fare type they have bought?

 

[milehighclub]

 

[Happy Dude]

This. At a time when QF is upping the offerings in terms of onboard service? Aiming rather low it seems.

 

[BAM1748]

Are free cancellations available? How good is Bain at giving back money? Captive audience?

That middle bit is a joke I take it.

 

[oz_mark]

Is it really that important? Did anyone actually enjoy the soy crisps or the protein ball?

Gotta laugh don't you? The snacks were often more packaging than food.

Agree, they should have built a simple web page where consumers could choose a refund or select 'I will self-request' on board.

I choose refund on my protein ball. I want my 20c back...

 

[jakeseven7]

I choose refund on my protein ball. I want my 20c back...

You can't - thats not an option sorry