VA11 / VA12 - MEL-LAX-MEL J Ret - SS UNDERWHELMING

[moa999]

Agree in J no wine menu or wine guide is poor, but it doesn't a horrible trip make.

Equally I dont like QFs wine guide in J but no display of the wines.
It would not make much for a short announcement that wines are xx_ and xx_, or for the bottle to be clearly displayed (even with labels facing out) so you can look them up, but QF seems to prefer if you just ask for red or white. I like my wine and like to know what I am drinking.

 

[haydensydney]

Bummer about the flight, but thanks for giving me something to write about for my next 'Whingers of the week'

Whingers of the Week: Virgin Australia's Facebook Page | flymefunky.com

 

[anat0l]

How can you not count the copy of the in flight wine guide? IME, the wine selection will be represented in that booklet - it can be looked it up then.

How does the in-flight wine guide of a few dozen bottles tell you which 4-6 bottles have been loaded so you can make a choice?

To be fair, even VA C2C lists all the wines they may have available, but only 3-4 of them are actually available, and you have to ask which ones are available. On one of my C2C flights (too long ago), even the champagne was not available (mind you, it is mere Lanson peasant stuff, so nothing really lost there); dessert wine was not available on both flights. Shrug.........

I have no idea what QF do or don't do - I don't fly them.

But you have a F reservation with them coming up.............

What I do know is that SQ certainly list ALL wines in menus in ALL classes - I would have thought most International carriers would do same - if I am wrong happy to take that one back.

SQ doesn't list the wines in Y. The menus just say the type of wine available. It doesn't tell you where it comes from.

In fact, many airlines don't tell you what wines they serve in Y. A big aside, though - why do Y pax have to know in advance - there's usually only two choices, and on a handful of airlines, you're just hoping to have an option which isn't rocket fuel.

It would not make much for a short announcement that wines are xx_ and xx_, or for the bottle to be clearly displayed (even with labels facing out) so you can look them up, but QF seems to prefer if you just ask for red or white. I like my wine and like to know what I am drinking.

Announcements of the wines are both tacky and ridiculous. It's like being told on the spot except you get it upfront, in a lazy fashion, and you still have to remember them.

What is so difficult to just have a leaflet which you provide with the menu? The QF F menu has such a simple fold-sheet with the wines on it; surely it's not hard to ask for such an inclusion.

Plenty of airlines even include the wines with the menu. CX, SQ, OZ, KA, UA..... naturally most of them don't update their cellar all that often (probably with the season and the meal selections), but so there.


Overall, you're right though - a bad flight it does not make, let alone a bad premium cabin. It's probably up there with a FA which just hands you the hot towel via tongs rather than presenting it to you on a platter.

Most people don't enjoy a cold sausage......

True, but damn well hope at least it is cooked as a minimum!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

But you have a F reservation with them coming up.............

Does 12/09/2013 constitute coming up?

SQ doesn't list the wines in Y. The menus just say the type of wine available. It doesn't tell you where it comes from.

Hmmm - been a long time since I sat in Y on SQ - flying F on SQ MEL-PEK on Oct 8 - will grab a Y menu and check that point.

What is so difficult to just have a leaflet which you provide with the menu? The QF F menu has such a simple fold-sheet with the wines on it; surely it's not hard to ask for such an inclusion.

Thats kinda what I was hinting at - how difficult is it?

Plenty of airlines even include the wines with the menu. CX, SQ, OZ, KA, UA

Again that's kinda what I was getting at

 

[lovestotravel]

Given that VA's only REAL dedicated international route is LAX, everything should be perfect on these flights especially in J

 

[Bolthead]

Most people don't enjoy a cold sausage......

Is that a metaphor....

 

[Bolthead]

The other week my return flight in 'J' to Abu Dhabi with VA had a wine list both ways. I don't drink a lot of wine so no biggy for me, but in both trips the lady next to me asked twice for wines on the list and both selections were not available so they go a little peeved off...

 

[anat0l]

Does 12/09/2013 constitute coming up?

It's in your MMB and doesn't say "Cancelled", "Waitlisted" or "Voucher". Good enough for me.

Hmmm - been a long time since I sat in Y on SQ - flying F on SQ MEL-PEK on Oct 8 - will grab a Y menu and check that point.

Maybe they've changed since I last flew them in 2010 in Y (or 2011 in F but I did have a sticky beak in Y). They just say "Cabernet Sauvignon", "Shiraz" or so on, not the origin or winemaker.

Thats kinda what I was hinting at - how difficult is it? Again that's kinda what I was getting at

Well, point proven it ain't difficult to do, but that said I'd postulate that the lack of such a list contributed only a minor transgression to your overall disappointing experience.

 

[serfty]

How does the in-flight wine guide of a few dozen bottles tell you which 4-6 bottles have been loaded so you can make a choice?
...

You ask the FA! Once all options are confirmed you then research the wines in the guide and use that to make your choice. It should have been obvious - and little different from what you posted here:

...
To be fair, even VA C2C lists all the wines they may have available, but only 3-4 of them are actually available, and you have to ask which ones are available. ...

... On one of my C2C flights (too long ago), even the champagne was not available (mind you, it is mere Lanson peasant stuff, so nothing really lost there); dessert wine was not available on both flights. Shrug...... ...

What defines 'peasant stuff'? Price? I am long past wondering about what costs what - if I like it then fine.

It would be annoying for such a glitch to occurs - I hipe you were properly compensated.

I personally find the Lanson quite drinkable - generally better than many other French bubbles that have crossed my palate.

Aside from that - what do the competition provide? (Assuming all catering is properly provisioned.)

 

[wallacej]

I hope they have it sorted by November!


....sent from the place closest to the airport I just arrived at.

 

[lovestotravel]

I hope they have it sorted by November!

DJ/VA's "problems" really just come down to the crew/CSM on the day it seems!

Bad crew = Bad service

As for the LAX lounge - Who knows

 

[anat0l]

You ask the FA! Once all options are confirmed you then research the wines in the guide and use that to make your choice.

Right.... and what's wrong with having the same thing the FA would say except in a small leaflet, just like they do in F? Then perhaps a choice could be made before the FAs approach you for the first time?

It should have been obvious - and little different from what you posted here

Of course it was obvious - unless you went up to the galley and inspected it yourself.

The point made is that why can't this information be provided with the menu, rather than having to harass the FAs for this information. Also, when I was flying VA and found they had 6-8 wines advertised, I thought, "Great, this beats QF". I selected one and got told that it wasn't available, chose another one, no dice.... then got told the 3 or so they had on board. Going through that rigmarole is rather embarrassing if you ask me.

What defines 'peasant stuff'?

...

I personally find the Lanson quite drinkable - generally better than many other French bubbles that have crossed my palate.

Mere white sour grape juice with CO[sub]2[/sub] thrown in is not champagne.

But therein is the difference between you and me, in that I don't regard Lanson as having any respectable taste to speak of. Probably the only one worse than Lanson is Deutz. Even Dom Perignon NV, which I don't particularly enjoy (well, DP in general), is better than Lanson. I was using the clause 'peasant stuff' to express that if you are interested in something fizzy that gets you drunk, then you're at least probably imbibing one of the better labels to do so.

Aside from that - what do the competition provide? (Assuming all catering is properly provisioned.)

True - I don't think on C2C QF have their normal Charles Heidsieck (and no idea what they have on J international now). But, like I said - and it's a point of difference between you and me - but VA have Lanson, so it's as good as nothing to me (unless you mix it, so big deal).

 

[serfty]

...
Mere white sour grape juice with CO[SUB]2[/SUB] thrown in is not champagne.
...

Are you implying Lanson is not Champagne?

 

[anat0l]

Are you implying Lanson is not "Real Champagne"?

No - it was made in Champagne, can't argue with that.

Look, to me it is a very poor choice of bubbles; that's what I'm saying. I wouldn't try and associate the label with the descriptors I used if I only felt it was slightly inferior.

 

[serfty]

No - it was made in Champagne, can't argue with that.

Look, to me it is a very poor choice of bubbles; that's what I'm saying. I wouldn't try and associate the label with the descriptors I used if I only felt it was slightly inferior.

Poor choice of bubble or not (and I disagree with that anyway¹) it is still Officially Champagne!.

You CO[SUB]2[/SUB] comment surprised me as you don't get much wrong factually, but that statement indicated you did not know it was indeed Champagne., even if you feel it was much more than slightly inferior.

Anyhoo -this is getting off topic.

It seems to me C/E's FA's should have said from the start the beverage was unfortunately warm and would take some time to chill.

¹ then again some consider me a heathen as I generally prefer most type of Rose Champagne.

 

[anat0l]

Poor choice of bubble or not (and I disagree with that anyway) it is still officially Champagne!.

You CO[SUB]2[/SUB] comment surprised me as you don't get much wrong factually, but that statement indicated you did not know it was indeed Champagne., even if you feel it was much more than slightly inferior.

I made my comment in the same light as people who say Jetstar is not an airline, when we know that it is (it has an AOC, it consists of an air fleet etc.), it's just that many choose not to recognise the validity of its existence because of its inferiority.

I'm well aware of Lanson, as Virgin Atlantic use the same bubbles both on board in Upper Class and in Clubhouses (at least the LHR one). Hell didn't like it then; I got reminded last October when flying VA and the next glass was mixed with orange juice.

It seems to me C/E's FA's should have said from the start the beverage was unfortunately warm and would take some time to chill.

To be honest, I'm surprised at this too. If you were someone who was told at least twice that the Champagne you served was not cold enough, wouldn't you test what's going on? Instead, the FA brought back an inferior glass a few times, at least according to the OP. Seems quite unusual.

 

[serfty]

I made my comment in the same light as people who say, when we know that it is ...

Not really - to stat that "Jetstar is not an airline" on this board is so obviously incorrect as to be metaphorical. On the other hand to state "white sour grape juice with CO[SUB]2[/SUB] thrown in is not champagne" in reference to a product implies some knowledge - ergo Lanson is one of those sparkling wines not made in the correct region of France.¹ i.e. It is not obviously incorrect - and indeed may give someone not into their bubbles the wrong idea.

... To be honest, I'm surprised at this too. If you were someone who was told at least twice that the Champagne you served was not cold enough, wouldn't you test what's going on? Instead, the FA brought back an inferior glass a few times, at least according to the OP. Seems quite unusual.

Going back to look at post #4, to not indicate up front it was not cold could have saved a litany of issue. Order - wait 10 minutes - check with galley - served unchilled etc. etc. - It was only after a thirty minute taxi and take off the reason for the unchilled drop was revealed. It should have been mentioned at the very first Order.

¹ Don't get me wrong - there some fine sparking wines available the "run rings" around some of the French products, some of the Croser drops spring to mind.

 

[BVT]

Agree in J no wine menu or wine guide is poor, but it doesn't a horrible trip make.

Equally I dont like QFs wine guide in J but no display of the wines.
It would not make much for a short announcement that wines are xx_ and xx_, or for the bottle to be clearly displayed (even with labels facing out) so you can look them up, but QF seems to prefer if you just ask for red or white. I like my wine and like to know what I am drinking.

I always ask the FA to tell me what the are offering and occasionally might inpsect the bottle before making a choice (in QF J). DJ J they always tell you what they have IME.

Very funny trip report!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Jeez VA just gets worserer and worserer.

Went to their web site yesterday morn searching for email address to send them info re my dissatisfaction.

No direct email address - you need to fill out complaint form - which I duly did and hit submit button.

Apparently after you submit complaint form you should receive email acknowledgement of same and receive a queue form with a number on it - kinda reference number I guess.

I received no response after I hit submit - and as of 12:30pm today hear nothing from VA.

So I call them - finally get through to a human and explain situation that I want direct email address so I can advise of my dissatisfaction.

She proceeds to run me through above process and explains how this should happen.

I still cannot get a direct email address nor a direct phone number to 'Customer Service' or any such department - instead she gives me this number - 07 3295 5642

Process now is I must call this number and leave a recorded message explaining what has happened so far and that I have received no response and I should leave my contact details and they will call me back.

So 2 times I have tried to call this number - 2 times I get fax machine on line - just about over this VA.

Now where is that Virgin Australia guy who has been so pro-active and so useful on AFF in past? Wanna drop me a pm mate so I can contact you?

What a comedy of errors - I am not angry - disillusioned and quite surprised YES - as I have stated over and over I am a loyal WA / DJ man - have had fabulous experiences MEL-LAX-MEL on VA in past - but jeez this tests even my patience.

 

[IainF]

I have seen posts where John Borghetti responds to direct emails and I am sure he would like this sort of feedback. I assume his email would be along the lines of "[email protected]" although I may be incorrect.
I am doing J Bne-lax return in December and would be disappointed if I had a similar experience.
That being said, a bad day on VA is still better than a good day on a LOTFAP Legacy carrier.......