A few more from me with a trip on the weekend:
VA654 SYD-CBR 19/4
J load 1/6 only (2F) on E90 (first time in a refitted E90, and the first E90 flight in a while - damn they're fun and agile, especially when the wind is blowing a gale!)
First part of a SYD-CBR-BNE leg I did Friday afternoon. I've not done that flight before, wow it's a short sector, only 30 minutes flight time- I'm surprised they bother trying to give a full service and I can't imagine it working if you had more than a couple in the cabin.
Ann was outstanding, offering pre takeoff drinks (water/mocktail), then the paper, and very quickly brought me the 'afternoon snack'. I chose the prawn rice paper rolls (over the cheese plate), and was drinking a Rymill "mc2" - Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc. Very drinkable. On the tray was a vanilla ice cream which I didn't have (Ann highly recommended it, and then said she was going to have to keep it for herself later), and a warm roll which I did (not pictured). Roll wasn't too hard.
Only complaint about the rice paper rolls was that there was a bit too much vermicelli, could have done with more greenery inside and was a bit chewy.
Offered tea and coffee pretty much on descent but declined. Crazy fast flight.
A quick stint in the CBR lounge (very nice new facility, I had water but didn't eat anything as had another flight to get on, but they were serving what looked like hot dogs...) before getting on a different E90 for:
VA1225 CBR-BNE 19/4
J load 3/6 (2F) on E90. Mocktail or water offered pre-takeoff.
I don't remember the Cabin Supervisor's name, but she was very friendly and efficient. 1A and myself both took the warm option, which was a "buffalo mozzarella panini" which came with some roasted eggplant inside. A bit of a messy dish, not really able to be eaten with knife and fork and pretty oozy for a pick-up panini, but the flavours were very good. Plenty more of the Rymill mc2 flowing and the sweet (I think an orange cake) was pretty tasty. Soy/linseed roll offered even though I already had bread on my tray, this was dinner so I accepted and enjoyed.
The other option was a chicken and (something I forget, maybe pumpkin?) cold salad.
The only thing I found strange about this flight was the First Officer came out after the meal service and chatted with the FAs for about 20 minutes until descent. Something I hadn't really seen before.
Had a great weekend in Brissie, and then this afternoon flew:
VA962 BNE-SYD 21/4
J load 3/8 (2A) on 738. Mocktail or water offered pre-takeoff.
Lara was great, very bubbly and friendly. She hadn't tried the red (again the same Rymill mc2) and we had a chat about tasty reds, but I was happy to keep drinking that one.
Choice of afternoon snack again, was either a cold hokkien noodle salad with pork and vegetables, or the cheese plate. The couple in 2D/F both chose the cheese plate, and I went the noodle salad. It was tasty enough, maybe could have done with a bit of dressing or some herbs on top. Warm roll offered and a "Hokey" ice cream on the plate, which was very tasty.
Drink was kept nice and full and I definitely was feeling the platinum love, Lara made sure I was kept watered and fed, and offered me cheese "or anything else" as well after I'd finished the salad, which I declined as I was having dinner at home.
On the whole, three great flights, three pretty decent (IMO) "afternoon snack" options, +120SCs and an awesome weekend in Brissie. A great weekend as a newly minted VA Platinum member - now where's my card and kit, damnit (my "poor" bag is still adorned with the gold bag tag, don't you know who I am?
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