Virgin Blue embarks on brand overhaul

[Dee Thom]

However, I don't think there is a need for a celebrity endorsement until they offer proper J class service and food.

Maybe Luke's endorsement of the new Menu is the prequest for the soon to be released J menu

Cheers Dee

 

[Virgin Australia]

$15 for a pie and beer?

I don't care if the pie is made by Luke Mangan. There's no excuse for that unless it's actually made of Luke Mangan.

$15 for a hot chunky gourmet beef pie MEAL - pie, tomato relish, AND your choice of beer or wine. The pie can also be purchased separately.

Why do we need a celebrity chef to endorse a whole heap of stuff that still comes out of a packet?
Apart from a couple of paninis (and pretty much every cafe in Melbourne has similar sort of things, so you don't have to be a genius to work out a combination of ingredients to stick between bread) what else has the chef really "created"?

The endorsement is because it has been designed in his kitchen!
The Panini, Noodle Salad, Beef pie, Vegetarian meal (Capsicum & Pumpkin Frittata) and Braised beef have all been designed by an internationally renowned chef, and I can assure you are incredibly tasty!

I hear the Luke Mangan-designed M&Ms will blow your mind.

That's how those damn internet rumours start!

 

[stuartfaz]

$15 for a hot chunky gourmet beef pie MEAL - pie, sauce, beer or wine.

I'm a member of 6 sporting clubs, in the sporting capital of the world...so I know an overpriced pie when I see one

 

[bossreggie]

I am more looking forward to the J Class menu from Luke!!

The prices are certainly not cheap... But I have seen worse. I think Luke is a good choice for a chef tie-in with DJ.

I do think it is a step in the right direction and I am keeping an open mind.

 

[concorde71]

Who is Luke Mangan???????:mrgreen:

 

[notzac]

I am more looking forward to the J Class menu from Luke!!

Sneak peek available here:

Gallery: Virgin Blue's new inflight meals by Luke Mangan - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Nigelinoz]

Well the paninis can't be any worse than that which was served to my girlfriend on QF recently,she described it as a "revolting" which is pretty strong words from her,in fact she said that she had tasted better in a JD Wetherspoons pub in London-and having worked in such an establishment myself it must have been pretty bad.:shock:
Not travelling on DJ in the near future but when I do I'll be sure to try one:!:
Cheers
N'oz

 

[jsd]

Well the paninis can't be any worse than that which was served to my girlfriend on QF recently,she described it as a "revolting" which is pretty strong words from her

I had those word spokens to me on the phone yesterday by Mum's partner, said it was like eating soggy cardboard.

He was not impressed with the attitude of the crew or the condition of the 744 and how it was flown either :evil:

 

[pshepvic]

Maybe Luke's endorsement of the new Menu is the prequest for the soon to be released J menu

Cheers Dee

Oh definitely agree with that, but I personally would just rather see it all released at once. Blow people away with a big bang approach, rather than in dribs and drabs. Whilst I'm sure the food is an improvement, and I'm sure they are nice paninis etc, I think I'm going to be wowed more by the celebrity chef when the J product is actually released, than on a Y class menu.

 

[pshepvic]

The endorsement is because it has been designed in his kitchen!
The Panini, Noodle Salad, Beef pie, Vegetarian meal (Capsicum & Pumpkin Frittata) and Braised beef have all been designed by an internationally renowned chef, and I can assure you are incredibly tasty!

Don't get me wrong - the new menu is definitely an improvement! I'm really waiting to see the J class menu, that's what will excite me more!

 

[kamchatsky]

Now where is Luke Mangan's Chicken Instant Noodles?!

But yes, the the last pasta served by domestic QF is revolting. I think I would prefer a decent meat pie and drink.

The noodle salad box meal looks interesting.

 

[Dee Thom]

I think I would prefer a decent meat pie and drink.

Have to agree with that, nothing like a steak pie with "red" sauce washed down with a chilled xx_X Gold.

Cheers Dee.

 

[samh004]

In the race to win business travellers, everyone’s reinventing the whe… er, pie/pizza, providing their own take on it, in some cases charging far too much for it, and generally forgetting that simple is best.

That said, I’m sure I’d have to try the meals to give a verdict… but they do seem a little on the pricey side.

 

[docjames]

Are we comparing local prices, or prices at an airport (which I guess is the "competition" for DJ / JQ etc)?

The pricing is designed for you to buy on board rather than at the airport (I cant believe that many people buy food as opposed to snack/junk food in advance and bring to airport) so I'm sure it's priced that way, in addition to the extra costs involved in providing it on board vs on the ground.


FWIW I think the new menu looks good. Perhaps (note: perhaps!) the DJ reps can advise - how often is the offering likely to rotate. If they succeed in getting more business (as opposed to business class) flyers, the lack of variation could be problematic. Think of those doing weekly commute (in Sun/Mon out Fri)? The lack of variation will get old very quickly (QF suffer the same issue but do seem to rotate the offerings reasonably well).

 

[spaceboi]

In the race to win business travellers, everyone’s reinventing the whe… er, pie/pizza, providing their own take on it, in some cases charging far too much for it, and generally forgetting that simple is best.

That said, I’m sure I’d have to try the meals to give a verdict… but they do seem a little on the pricey side.

Ultimately, One's decision is most likely going to be based on travel time and personal scheduling. For me, a BNE to SYD trip often does not warrant any food as i'm more inclined to have a meal or snack beforehand. But for something a bit longer (BNE to MEL) ... maybe so (assuming i can eat it without any side effects).

In this day and age, considering the mass increase in food allergy cases/awareness, i am surprised that DJ has not (yet???) offered proper allergy warning information on the actual NEW menu,. ..... I do not consider the first page fine print "some" of these foods "may" contain traces of..blah blah blah.. as sufficient ....that's nothing short of being lazy, in my opinion, and food providers really need to step up their game in this department...

Take a McDonalds or HJacks menu (on their websites) and they fully detail whether a product contains traces of: egg, nuts, milk, fish, soy and so on.
With airline food being mass produced the way it is, surely they know precisely what goes into what (wouldn't that be part of product costing?)

In my experience, simply asking the person who is serving you the food offers no guarantee of accurate information .. they ultimately have no idea of the exacting ingredients, and on a plane it's not like they can go back to the kitchen and ask the chef ...... unless Mr Mangan is on speed dial

Still, the new DJ offering does indeed look a step up from what QF offers, and no doubt by omitting the food from the price of the plane tix helps on overall costs to all.
Afterall, don't most people just take the meal on QF because they're offered it, and not because they want/need/like it??

However, I did think the J tassie-fish looked quite tasty.

spaceboi

 

[oz_mark]

$15 for a pie and beer?

I don't care if the pie is made by Luke Mangan. There's no excuse for that unless it's actually made of Luke Mangan.

Maybe so, but when choosing flights I use a measure I call TCF (Total cost of flying), which will factor this into my decision making

 

[mannej]

He was not impressed with the attitude of the crew or the condition of the 744 and how it was flown either :evil:

Probably o/t but worth a TR.




Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[oz_mark]

I had those word spokens to me on the phone yesterday by Mum's partner, said it was like eating soggy cardboard.

He was not impressed with the attitude of the crew or the condition of the 744 and how it was flown either :evil:

I've heard people complain about attitude, I've heard people complain about the condition, but this would have to the first time I have heard having an issue with the way a plane was flown :shock:

 

[docjames]

I've heard people complain about attitude, I've heard people complain about the condition, but this would have to the first time I have heard having an issue with the way a plane was flown :shock:

Yes, "how it was flown" needs further details please :shock:

 

[Justchecking]

That said, I’m sure I’d have to try the meals to give a verdict… but they do seem a little on the pricey side.

For comparison....

A salad from the terminal will set you back $12.95, just the salad
A pie meal involving soft drink only from pie face is about $8
I'd challenge you to find any kind of sandwich for under $7.50, a panini in the airport will set you back $10.00
The only place you can get a meal for under a tenner is maccas

It makes lounge membership look like better value all the time, provided you fly regularly enough.