Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[MooTime]

I've only ever seen 1A to 2D.

Flying next week on J, if was a window in row 2 I would've taken it & see.

 

[dk4]

He mentioned he’d recently transferred from the LAX 777’s...

I was wondering about this, with the "naming" title of the lead flight attendant seemingly changing every flight.

On B737s, it always use to be a C.S. (Cabin Supervisor), but I know on long haul they had 2 "named" flight attendant positions, IIRC I think one was a "manager" and the other was a "leader", so if those staff have been pulled back to working on B737s, but kept their titles, that would explain why I am so utterly confused as to what the lead F.A. should be called these days!

On some of my recent flights the lead F.A.s (or what ever the terminology is these days) seem to be trying to take meal orders before take-off when possible. I even had one check if there were any vegetarians onboard before taking orders (presumably to ensure they got the vego option). I assume they double cater return flights, which seems to translate as: on the outbound first leg, everyone gets what they want, it's the second return leg where things can get tricky if you sit in the wrong seat... but, the lead F.A. does have quite a bit to work with in terms of service recovery, from both the pantry and buy on board menu (if required). (They certainly don't use the Qantas customer service mantra of "computer says no", or "have some pretzels, that's all I've got").

 

[RickyT84]

I know there was mention of this before when it comes to which row is served first. Now days I select row 1 so I dont miss out on a choice of what is available.

But sundays flight my partner and I where in row 2 due to the 9am flight being cancelled a month earlier. Surprisingly when it came to getting the orders we where asked first. Not sure why but put it down to both being platinum. But then on the way home I was in economy and noticed they served row 2 first again. If it is quiet next time I will ask if the opportunity arises.

I was seated in row 1 on my recent SYD-OOL-SYD flights and I was served second on the way up (was in 1C) but served last on the way back (was in 1F) so it was mixed bag.

Only problem with being served last was that there were no choice of meals on the flight back (as everyone wanted to have a meal) but it didn't bother me too much since I wanted to try the sandwich anyway (as I had the vegetable tart on the flight up).

 

[danielt25]

BNE/CNS 8:45am service

Choice of ham and cheese croissant or vegetarian frittata with spinach and tomato. Frittata was very salty though.

Also offered some snacks from pantry afterwards. Quite attentive service.

 

[oz_ally]

I've only ever seen 1A to 2D.

Flying next week on J, if was a window in row 2 I would've taken it & see.

I'm flying J from ROK-BNE Friday next week sitting in 2D. Will try to remember to take note of how they take orders.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Flight MEL-SYD last week was 1A to 1F, then 2F to 2A. No choice for either me or my partner despite both being platinum. Bummer! The vegetarian bibimbap was tasty though.

Suspect most of that cabin was platinum upgrading Choice fares.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Flew on VA942 BNE-SYD yesterday. 11:05 departure. Only option available was a leek and Gruyère quiche, came with a side of spinach leaves and cheese & crackers. It was delicious and just enough for a mid-morning snack.

I was in 2D and had my order taken after row 1 but interestingly I was the first to be served the meal, then 2F. Not sure if it was a status thing or just the way VA are doing things these days.

Only negative was that the CM went down the back for about 10 minutes, which is a long time on a 1 hour flight when Business pax are waiting for service, but I was able to get one more vodka and lemonade on descent.

 

[hydrabyss]

Flew on VA942 BNE-SYD yesterday. 11:05 departure. Only option available was a leek and Gruyère quiche, came with a side of spinach leaves and cheese & crackers. It was delicious and just enough for a mid-morning snack.

I was in 2D and had my order taken after row 1 but interestingly I was the first to be served the meal, then 2F. Not sure if it was a status thing or just the way VA are doing things these days.

Only negative was that the CM went down the back for about 10 minutes, which is a long time on a 1 hour flight when Business pax are waiting for service, but I was able to get one more vodka and lemonade on descent.

On those short flights I wish they would do a drink service first as I find theres not a lot of time for more than two drinks.

 

[AIRwin]

Flew on VA942 BNE-SYD yesterday.

You just missed the Pride Flight VA946 an hour later...

 

[Notyourbag]

Has anyone flown a SYD/MEL/BNE-PER or visa versa in J? Interested to see if it's the same offering.

 

[jase05]

Has anyone flown a SYD/MEL/BNE-PER or visa versa in J? Interested to see if it's the same offering.

Not since the good old days and not on a 737 for some time. I too would be interested to see the offerings

 

[BNEFlyer]

You just missed the Pride Flight VA946 an hour later...

I know, I had some friends on it. The rotunda was awesome, like a day club haha.

 

[dk4]

Has anyone flown a SYD/MEL/BNE-PER or visa versa in J? Interested to see if it's the same offering.

Not for almost a year - but I doubt the basics have changed too much. So for a non-breakfast flight, I would be expecting 4 service items - Mains and cheese&crackers, plus a dessert, plus an antipasto. Look back in this thread to here - Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

IME all flights after breakfast service seem to be based on the same criteria:
short flights: 2 items - mains and cheese&crackers.
long flights: 3 items - mains, cheese&crackers and dessert.
PER-BNE/SYD/MEL vv : 4 items - mains, cheese&crackers, dessert and antipasto/entree.

Plus there is always "pantry" available on any flight, but you need to ask for it - although the lead flight attendant may do a snack basket service later on during PER services (which is basically them putting the pantry items into a basket, and offering them around to guests)...

And you can buy from the onboard menu as well.

 

[MooTime]

Not for almost a year - but I doubt the basics have changed too much. So for a non-breakfast flight, I would be expecting 4 service items - Mains and cheese&crackers, plus a dessert, plus an antipasto. Look back in this thread to here - Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

IME all flights after breakfast service seem to be based on the same criteria:
short flights: 2 items - mains and cheese&crackers.
long flights: 3 items - mains, cheese&crackers and dessert.
PER-BNE/SYD/MEL vv : 4 items - mains, cheese&crackers, dessert and antipasto/entree.

Plus there is always "pantry" available on any flight, but you need to ask for it - although the lead flight attendant may do a snack basket service later on during PER services (which is basically them putting the pantry items into a basket, and offering them around to guests)...

And you can buy from the onboard menu as well.

Basket service def better than basket case!

 

[AIRwin]

On the return flight later in the afternoon, I was offered the toasted chicken panini.

Same on the aircraft with new seats:

 

[RickyT84]

Same on the aircraft with new seats:
View attachment 272948

Interesting you were offered a bag of nut mix with your drink but it was not offered with my drink.

Suppose the two sandwiches were similar but it looks like you had some tomato based (red) sauce on the bread which I am fairly not on mine.

 

[BNEFlyer]

VA977 SYD-BNE 18:30 departure last night. Choice of chicken cacciatore with rigatoni or a mushroom bowl (a large mushroom used as a bowl with some kind of filling). Had that with a few vodka and lemonades (the CM later mentioned she’d been using a whole mini bottle per drink. Don’t know if that’s SOP but I wasn’t complaining).

Was in 1C, order taken and served after 1A this time. The CM took great care of a full J cabin. She also went around and let everyone know individually that we were holding due to weather in BNE and going to be delayed.

 

[zig]

HBA - MEL
Reuben sandwich
I was in 1A and served first.



MEL - NTL
Katsu chicken
I was in 1A. Bill Shorten in 1D. 1D and F served before 1A and C.

 

[MooTime]

HBA - MEL
Reuben sandwich
I was in 1A and served first.

View attachment 273061

MEL - NTL
Katsu chicken
I was in 1A. Bill Shorten in 1D. 1D and F served before 1A and C.

View attachment 273062

Not seen the Reuben, nice for short trip.

Blinky Bill eh, labour using VA..... Value customers.

 

[BNEFlyer]

I've heard good things about the katsu chicken. Haven't seen the Rueben before. It looks a bit basic but it probably tasted great, and is definitely enough for a short flight.