What's the snack rule?

[cheapskate]

I suppose it doesn't really matter - after a drink and snack in the lounge prior to a flight, the snack and drink on board is a waste. But the option is nice. So, if I fly happy hour, I'm entitled to a snack and soft drink?. If my flight is delayed and my departure time falls within happy hour, that's too bad - back to water or juice.

I just don't get it. The goal posts seem to be forever changing. Why doesn't Virgin have one consistent rule - (free) snacks for all flights, or just stick to the juice and water? I don't really care, but I feel they're messing with my expectations.

 

[Justchecking]

Happy hour and snacks aren't related although they often coincide. As I understand it, snacks are offered on the major routes between SYD-MEL-BNE-OOL-CBR & ATR flights all day, but happy hour only happens between certain times. The snack varies, could be a biscuit, muesli bar, pretzels etc with no way of telling what to expect. I'd say if eating is important to you then bring your own or eat in the lounge.

 

[toowongman]

I keep a few ziplock bags in my travel case, and use them to contain a sandwich made in the lounge which is eaten inflight.

 

[cheapskate]

I keep a few ziplock bags in my travel case, and use them to contain a sandwich made in the lounge which is eaten inflight.

Ha. And I thought I was the cheapskate. That's an awesome tip.

 

[JohnK]

Consistently inconsistent is the best way to describe the service.

 

[toowongman]

Ha. And I thought I was the cheapskate. That's an awesome tip.

Indeed it is. Or the wife sends me off with something nice. Nothing like pulling out your own lunch in J, funny stuff.

 

[carwashhair]

Indeed it is. Or the wife sends me off with something nice. Nothing like pulling out your own lunch in J, funny stuff.

Ask them to plate it up for you! Ceramic plates, bit of garnish...

 

[toowongman]

Ask them to plate it up for you! Ceramic plates, bit of garnish...

TBH I think they're a little relieved that I can feed myself. I categorise the J crew into three types:
1) Blindly think everything is awesome "Oh look we have two fabulous choices for dinner Mr. T...."
2) Those that care about their job but are embarrassed about the food "Dinner? Err... we have ... this couscous thing.... sorry"
3) Those that don't care "Oh you brought your own food [thank fk for that I can get back to reading New Idea] do you want a drink later?"

We do BFOD now and mix it with just enough VA to requalify Gold. Anyhow I digress.

As others will say everything is consistently inconsistent.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Agreed with the inconsistent approach.

SYD - MEL snack and then MEL - NTL nothing.

I just find it weird

 

[Boof1]

What I find weird is this:

HBA - MEL = Snack
HBA- SYD = Tough
HBA -BNE = Tough

ADL - MEL = Snack
ADL - SYD = Tough
ADL- BNE = Tough


OOL - SYD = Snack
OOL - MEL = Tough

When the snack service was expanded away from the golden triangle to other cities only the short legs got the snack service. If VA are going to bring in something like this, then they should bring in another "focus city" at a time and at least give the snack to all routes connecting to the three golden triangle cities.

I laughed to myself last week when a dear old lady in her 70's or 80's got some help from a VA cabin crew member to get seated and asked them if they were providing snacks on this flight as she can never work out what they are doing!

cheers,

Boof

 

[aaflyer]

Consistently inconsistent is the best way to describe the service.

This is the Virgin Forum, John, not QF

 

[Jousams]

Syd-ool
ool-syd

no soft drink

ever

 

[Captain Halliday]

HBA - MEL = Snack
HBA- SYD = Tough
HBA -BNE = Tough

ADL - MEL = Snack
ADL - SYD = Tough
ADL- BNE = Tough


OOL - SYD = Snack
OOL - MEL = Tough

You are a tough bunch to please. So the snacks are a bit random. Keeping you guessing is like a game for VA.

But I understand VA are considering two changes to make things fairer and simpler. There will be snacks on all flights, but the destination will be random.

 

[Jousams]

but the destination will be random.

Would a coke be included in this?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Would a coke be included in this?

Coke will only be available to those seated in odd numbered rows. Water or coffee for the evens.

The engineers are still working out hot to get rows 1-15 to OOL and rows 16-30 to HBA.

 

[JohnK]

This is the Virgin Forum, John, not QF

Don't worry I am in the right place.

VA has managed to perfect the consistently inconsistent much better than QF.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I laughed to myself last week when a dear old lady in her 70's or 80's got some help from a VA cabin crew member to get seated and asked them if they were providing snacks on this flight as she can never work out what they are doing!

I hope you told her none of us can ever work out what they're doing.

I'd love to see a video on the IFE of the board room conversations where the F&B gurus give their spiel to the decision makers over this plan.......it'd have be similar to a Monty Python skit where they only get the approval because no one at the table even remotely understood what the plan was and were only sold on the punch line...."and for desert, we have a machine that goes BING"!

 

[Princess Fiona]

TBH I think they're a little relieved that I can feed myself. I categorise the J crew into three types:
1) Blindly think everything is awesome "Oh look we have two fabulous choices for dinner Mr. T...."
2) Those that care about their job but are embarrassed about the food "Dinner? Err... we have ... this couscous thing.... sorry"
3) Those that don't care "Oh you brought your own food [thank fk for that I can get back to reading New Idea] do you want a drink later?"

We do BFOD now and mix it with just enough VA to requalify Gold. Anyhow I digress.

As others will say everything is consistently inconsistent.

This made me laugh out loud because for the most part it's true.
Don't suppose that's quite the impression that VA want us to have of their J class service though

 

[Bundy Bear]

I do a bit of east west flying where I am happy with what Virgin offer, the food in economy is ok; i don't need a lot just something to eat with a beer or 2 to wash it down with and a few runs with water.

I am not sure why they don't just offer a drinks only service around the east, do people really need something to eat on a flight less than 3 hours.

If they really wanted to offer something they could offer a drink with a biscuit pack or a nuts type packet size snack. If you want something more substantial then buy it before hand.

The items for purchase could just confuse people, I think a good idea is having beer, wine and spirits available for sale for flights after 12pm.

Another option could be a breakfast, lunch and a dinner pack.
So you know yes you will get a drink (water, tea or coffee), but you can purchase a meal pack.
Example first flight to 12pm; breakfast, roll with bacon and egg. 12pm to 5pm; lunch, a roll with a choice of drink. evening a roll with a choice of drink which could include your choice of beer or wine, or soft drink.

I would happily be a Virgin secret flier, I could fly around the network telling them what to do, East - West is fine don't touch anything, even business class is good, being able to pay around $500 for an airfare for the flexible booking and then upgrading to business for 9,900 points is a bargain.

 

[Warks]

SYD-TSV is 2:15 to 2:25 and you're lucky to get a poke in the eye.

I always eat well in Teh Longue before flying north and on the return (thanks to NO VA lounge in TSV) I buy the biggest ham salad roll from a takeaway ($7) and consume it with gusto in front of my fellow pax staring mournfully at their soggy $10 wraps.