Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[Jet L]

Late morning VA flight CBR, pretty normal milk run. For a change I was booked in J (D fare) thanks to a generous client. Only 3 of the 8 J seats on our 73H were occupied, I had selected row 2.

So our FA approaches me and asks if I would like a snack, but unfortunately they had run out and there was only one choice left. When the food came out only one J pax actually received a meal.

Is it acceptable that VA would only load a single meal (of that option) for J pax or dis they load several but the tech and cabin crew get first dibs and J pax take whatever is left?

Did your boarding pass have a Full Catering Not Assured sticker on it if not they should have offered you a bottle of wine and a serve of points. At least thats whats happened to me when they have run out of food without a Full Catering Not Assured sticker on my boarding pass (sticker normally added when upgraded late in the lounge)

 

[OzEire]

Did your boarding pass have a Full Catering Not Assured sticker on it if not they should have offered you a bottle of wine and a serve of points. At least thats whats happened to me when they have run out of food without a Full Catering Not Assured sticker on my boarding pass (sticker normally added when upgraded late in the lounge)

No, this was a full paid ticket and booked >24 before flight.

 

[QF WP]

IMO, then there seems to have been a snafu between either VA (in not advising correct load details or any load details) or from Catering (computers down, or missed delivery schedule to plane) at the port you embarked, based on your information. Considering VA's check-in systems load directly to Catering meal management system on-site, it seems unlikely, but hard to say without inside knowledge.

Pax are always served first, crew are last (and generally have their own meals anyway - being a snack flight I doubt they needed [or had the time] to eat anything). If no meal carts were delivered by Catering (and the oncoming crew had been warned), then perhaps the sole meal was from the last flights cart?

 

[Nexus9]

Melbourne - Brisbane VA437 6.00pm flight - Business 09/02/2017

Very disappointing choice of Pumpkin Soup or a Trio of Dips - after ponying up the better part of a grand for a seat, only to be given a choice of what amounts to an appetizer in any RSL in Australia is just penny pinching to the nth degree!
The FA was embarrassed by the offering to say the least, basically apologising for the meals before informing me what the choices were.

after being on the road from 4.30am that morning and foolishly looking forward to having something remotely substantial on the flight home - it was a real shock to receive such a piss-poor offering Virgin!
Not happy Jan!!

 

[Lemon_Party]

MEL-PER VA691 17:35 flight 9th February.

Apologies Nexus9, but looks like you got the rough end of the departing Melbourne stick...







I've had the chicken rice before and not been impressed so ended up with the Mozzarella salad, was pretty tasty. Washed everything down with a rather average pinot noir. Cheese plate as enjoyable as ever, two coast to coast flights in J recently, both been pretty good.

 

[PDog]

Had the cheese plate MEL-PER last week and agree it was fab, cheese was at the perfect temperature. I had the lamb gnocchi which was good, however my husband had barramundi which he declared the best he'd ever eaten, in they sky or or the ground. High praise indeed! No pics sorry, it was an emergency dash for a funeral and didn't even cross my mind.

Inflight service was solid- certainly has lost it's magic from our last trip 12 months ago. I know the product is no longer new, but a little disappointing that the passion and pride seems to have gone too? Return flight was breakfast, same good but not outstanding service.

 

[Pleb Status]

VA468 BNE-PER earlier this month. Another good effort overall on both food and service. UpgradeMe bid came through at minimum.

Looking forward to using my next four comp upgrades when my review period comes to an end in the next few days.

 

[Denali]

VA468 BNE-PER earlier this month. Another good effort overall on both food and service. UpgradeMe bid came through at minimum.
Looking forward to using my next four comp upgrades when my review period comes to an end in the next few days.

Same menu we had Dec 23rd. When do they change menus?

 

[PDog]

Same menu we had Dec 23rd. When do they change menus?

Last year when I asked this question they said there were about 6 menus which were on two week rotations amongst the east coast destinations. Not sure if that is still the case, but the Melbourne menu was different a couple of weeks ago.

 

[blackcat20]

Same menu we had Dec 23rd. When do they change menus?

I feel like we had that menu early November!

 

[docjames]

Melbourne - Brisbane VA437 6.00pm flight - Business 09/02/2017

Very disappointing choice of Pumpkin Soup or a Trio of Dips - after ponying up the better part of a grand for a seat, only to be given a choice of what amounts to an appetizer in any RSL in Australia is just penny pinching to the nth degree!
The FA was embarrassed by the offering to say the least, basically apologising for the meals before informing me what the choices were.

after being on the road from 4.30am that morning and foolishly looking forward to having something remotely substantial on the flight home - it was a real shock to receive such a piss-poor offering Virgin!
Not happy Jan!!

I have to say that's pretty poor for a 6pm flight (I can understand at 3pm say). You need to provide feedback on that one.

 

[Pleb Status]

Same menu we had Dec 23rd. When do they change menus?

From a quick flick through my phone, I have ten VA J menus recorded since Feb 2016 and luckily never received the same one twice. There are some menu components which are the same however. On the J flights where I have not recorded the menu, I cannot recall a double up (but cannot confirm this without doubt).

In comparsion, I had exactly the same menu five times in a row on QF (and it was poor as well).

 

[Denali]

..... luckily never received the same one twice. .....

We had exact same menu SYD>PER on 23.12.17 and PER>SYD 27.12.17.

PER>SYD was much better plated up/appealing and tasted better.

 

[Pleb Status]

VA468 BNE-PER at the end of February. UpgradeMe bid at minimum. It must of only just made it as the J cabin was full and it was not accepted until 36 hours out when I have been getting them accepted at the 75 hour threshold.

Still not exactly the same menu but getting very close as I had the trout last time and have had the starter previously. The famous chocolate and caramel covered popcorn not shown.

The 'dreaded' 73H J next up (as part of an international itinerary so not much I can do about that....).

 

[QLDOOL]

I experienced yet another VA fail with the J class lunch offering... (I believe the offerings at all meal times has been degrading for some time).

VA740 28/02/17 OOL to MEL 13:50 depart. My understanding within the lunch service window. 6/8 in J.

CS arrives I am in 2D and the last offered, option mushroom soup or something from 'the cart'. No explanation as to why this is all that is offered. Opted for a drink or 2 followed later with a request for a tube of the cheddar and biscuits, these arrived.

Didn't really think much about until returned from MEL to OOL with a request to fly ahead, the lounge staff in MEL very helpful. I was advised that I may not get full service and explained what occurred on the way to MEL. Lounge rep was shocked at the offering on the inbound leg and was going to lodge a comment with Guest Relations. This triggered me to then lodge a request for details from Guest Relations to explain what had occurred. Advised that I was offered an 'afternoon refreshment' although the CS thought it was lunch, and as such should be happy with what I was offered. I was advised that as of March 1st there are changes to ensure that there is more of 'other options loaded' rather than just soup loaded and that it will be at a lower ratio.

Advised I should be satisfied with the response and 'please rest assuredyour individual comments and specific concerns have been shared with ourProduct and In-flight Experience management team for internal review and toprevent any such recurrences'.

My problem with the copy and paste response from Guest Relations is that they don't really care nor understand the customer and what occurs on flights. The cost of J seats continues to rise and yet the service level continues to decline IMO.

Sorry about the rant but getting very tired of VA excuses for what they offer as a full service carrier.

 

[Plutonus]

Had a baba ganoush with feta snack the other day OOL-SYD, probably the best afternoon snack on VA I've had in a long time. Except half the bread was so dry it was like bread chips. But yes, the other option was soup...

 

[zig]

Had a baba ganoush with feta snack the other day OOL-SYD, probably the best afternoon snack on VA I've had in a long time. Except half the bread was so dry it was like bread chips. But yes, the other option was soup...

Also enjoyed the baba ganoush, feta, and pomegranate dish, but agree the bread was a major fail.

 

[JK1964]

Totally agree. Last flight OOL-MEL was lamb & couscous and it was disgusting. The whole experience is becoming increasingly underwhelming.

 

[QF WP]

My VA MEL/PER flight last night in an A332 was impeccable.

Drinks Menu





Unfortunately no photo of dinner menu as my upgrade had cleared only 45 mins prior to departure and I was "Catering Not Assured", so had eaten in the VA Lounge just in case

 

[QF WP]

My VA MEL/PER flight meal consisted of an entree of pea soup that was brilliant with a depth of flavour that made me ask for more (sadly not available)



The other option was Duck which I was glad I had missed out getting.

Main was Salmon (only option) - again, beautiful flavor and had me eating slowly



Dessert - cheese plate (only option)