Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[`X']

DJ 271 - MEL-CBR - 13:30 arr 14:35

Muppet did you fly that Sunday the 8th? If so... i think that was me you were sitting near in the lounge with the Giant Camera Bag (was in 3A on the same flight).

 

[lovestotravel]

I've just stepped off a SYD-MEL flight only to be told as we departed that gate gourmet forgot to load the catering.

That is simply not acceptable! It really isn't!

 

[`X']

Flights in J on Sunday 8th

DJ278 Canberra to Melbourne - E190 - Snack Flight (1700-1810)


Virgin Australia Business Class Afternoon Snack (the infamous Cheese Plate) by Kaell116, on Flickr

DJ351 Melbourne to Brisbane - 738 - Dinner Flight (1900-2110)

Was offered a sampling since I was the only one in J


Virgin Australia Business Class Dinner Sampling! by Kaell116, on Flickr


Virgin Australia Business Class Dinner - Shepheards Pie by Kaell116, on Flickr


Virgin Australia Business Class Dinner - Chickpea & Pumpkin Curry by Kaell116, on Flickr

Some comments:

IMO the cheese plate is definately enough for a short sector flight like MEL-CBR or CBR-SYD etc on a snack flight.

The meals out of melbourne heading north were not to bad. The Shepheards pie was a tad salty for my liking/taste and the cous cous was good if a little bland on its own. No ice cream sandwhiches loaded. these things have alluded me for EVER!

The crew on my two flights (same crew the whole way home) were AMAZINGLY good, they made the journey so much better!

 

[maninblack]

Flights in J on Sunday 8th

DJ278 Canberra to Melbourne - E190 - Snack Flight (1700-1810)


Virgin Australia Business Class Afternoon Snack (the infamous Cheese Plate) by Kaell116, on Flickr

DJ351 Melbourne to Brisbane - 738 - Dinner Flight (1900-2110)

Was offered a sampling since I was the only one in J


Virgin Australia Business Class Dinner Sampling! by Kaell116, on Flickr


Virgin Australia Business Class Dinner - Shepheards Pie by Kaell116, on Flickr


Virgin Australia Business Class Dinner - Chickpea & Pumpkin Curry by Kaell116, on Flickr

Some comments:

IMO the cheese plate is definately enough for a short sector flight like MEL-CBR or CBR-SYD etc on a snack flight.

The meals out of melbourne heading north were not to bad. The Shepheards pie was a tad salty for my liking/taste and the cous cous was good if a little bland on its own. No ice cream sandwhiches loaded. these things have alluded me for EVER!

The crew on my two flights (same crew the whole way home) were AMAZINGLY good, they made the journey so much better!

Your photos are wonderfully graphic and make the food presentation look just as woeful as it really is. Look at that green pea cough crawling all ove the Sheepherders Moussaka thing.

 

[Justinf]

Good lord, what is the green, mashy stuff on top of the shepherd's pie?

 

[Nigelinoz]

Oh my goodness that looks awful,as a trained chef I would be ashamed to serve something that looked like that at a pub let alone in J class on an aircraft.
Probably supposed to be mushy peas on the top but just looks horrible,I hope it tasted better than it looks.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Moopere]

Its mushy peas.

I've never seen so much added to a single dish though. I don't care for the flavour myself, but each to his own.

I don't mind the shepherds pie aside from the peas. It can get salty, I agree with other comments above. My suspicion is that this is an attempt to counter the loss of taste most people suffer at altitude. I'll certainly take a plate of this before any more cheese ... please, hold the cheese !! (and I usually love cheese, but enough is enough)

 

[Justinf]

Would a 5.45pm OOL-MEL J flight be a dinner service? Gets in at 8.10pm. You'd want something more than a cheese and grape plate?

 

[maninblack]

Would a 5.45pm OOL-MEL J flight be a dinner service? Gets in at 8.10pm. You'd want something more than a cheese and grape plate?

No.

Flew that flight a few weeks ago. Snack service. Risotto cake and a desert. Small.

 

[Justinf]

No.

Flew that flight a few weeks ago. Snack service. Risotto cake and a desert. Small.

Thanks for the info. Probably better off booking the 2.55pm and getting home earlier and getting the same feed.

 

[lovestotravel]

Would a 5.45pm OOL-MEL J flight be a dinner service? Gets in at 8.10pm. You'd want something more than a cheese and grape plate?

As already answered, no!

It's cheese grapes, crackers and a small dessert

Not acceptable

 

[Justinf]

As already answered, no!

It's cheese grapes, crackers and a small dessert

Not acceptable

Was being a bit lazy and only just read through the whole thread, so yes it has been answered. For what it's worth, I agree with you. I think it's unacceptable too, especially with no Lounge at OOL at the moment.
I will have no hesitation to ask for something from the Y menu to supplement it if I am hungry, but it shouldn't need to be done.

 

[serfty]

Ok, so the information is starting to accumulate.

Eventually, I'm going to summarise this and incorporate into the first post.

So, the times are correct, and a flight departing out of designated meal time (such as 5:55pm departure) will get a snack (whether logical or not).

We have long flights which are over 3 hours which 'always' get a 'meal'.

So for the short flights:

What are the snacks? Morning? Afternoon? Evening?

What are the Meals? Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?


​

And for the long flights:

What are the Meals?

Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?​

I see cheese mentioned lots, as well as a Scroll. Rice Cake?

 

[Justinf]

what about cab sav at 8am?

 

[travelislife]

I haven't flown Virgin J, but this thread has been an interesting read. I find it amazing that they sent the meals by departure time, doesn't make any sense to me. Rather shouldn't dinner be served if the flight is in the air between certain hours? At least some flexibility as has been noted there really is some strange ones at the moment.

I think the other big thing to come out of this is the lack of consistency, the product is still young but you would have thought this would have been the easiest time with all J cabin crew having done a training course to get everyone up to speed, it would then fall off later you would think but it seems to have started pretty badly.

Finally, no peep in from the Virgin rep on this thread, has anyone notified via a PM, think it would be interesting their reaction as I think most of these things are quite an easy fix for a cabin only holding 8 people!

 

[dk4]

Eventually, I'm going to summarise this and incorporate into the first post.

Looking at what they serve, I have been considering – what they have to serve it on… A large plate, a side plate, a bowl and a condiment dish.

For lunch– large plate; filled full of a meal option, side plate; for bread, bowl; dessert, condiment dish; for dipping bread (may contain supplementary item)?

For snack– large plate; small serve of snack something, side plate; empty, bowl; dessert, condiment dish; supplementary item to either dessert or snack (e.g. salsa for savoury snack)?

For dinner– large plate; filled full of a meal option, side plate; for bread, bowl; salad, condiment dish; for dipping bread & salad dressing + chocolates?

For longer flights, lunch service become the same as dinner service & and dinner service has a separate dessert service after the tray is cleared?...

 

[serfty]

Posts about the rights and wrong of snack service times and comparison with other service provides moved here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....locity/6pm-departure-snack-service-38059.html

In this thread please stick to how DJ serve their business customers- what, where and when. Put the Why and How posts in that other thread.

 

[muppet]

Muppet did you fly that Sunday the 8th? If so... i think that was me you were sitting near in the lounge with the Giant Camera Bag (was in 3A on the same flight).

haha. Yep sure did.

 

[UA_SYD]

18Apr ADL-MEL Dep 16:10, Snack Service; Arancini Ball and Raspberry Cheesecake (reasonably tasty)

18Apr MEL-SYD Dep 18:30, Full Dinner Service; 2 choices - I chose Mushroom & Spinach Pie (surprisingly delicious!) accompanied with Oil/Dukkah dip for bread and soft leaf salad. Desert was Choc Macadamias. Alternative was Prawns in green curry.

28Mar MEL-SYD Dep 16:30, Offered Cheese plate but chose sandwich from main menu.

26Mar BNE-SYD Dep 17:00, Offered Cheese plate but chose sandwich from main menu.

 

[Lowjhg]

Had a flight on SYD-CBR 2 days ago in J class. Departure time was 1805. Had a selection of either couscous or pasta for dinner.


(ps. i don't know how my image turned upside down. it looks fine whilst it was still on my mac)