Virgin Australia - no food in economy.

[Icarus2001]

Please be advised that as of 25 March 2021 we have updated our food and drink offering on all flights.

As a result, guests will continue to receive complimentary water, with tea and coffee also provided. However, complimentary food will no longer be provided in our economy class cabin.

We understand you have purchased a fare inclusive of a complimentary snack. If you would still like to receive a snack, please make yourself known to cabin crew once on board and they will be able to assist.

A friend forwarded this to me yesterday. No "complimentary" food in economy anymore. Food available for purchase? Very light on detail. What about the fare paid that included a food component?

[wheels_down]

I wouldn’t even call it a token snack let alone ‘food’.

My last USA Dom flight I got a coffee and a mint.

[WipperSnapper]

A friend forwarded this to me yesterday. No "complimentary" food in economy anymore. Food available for purchase? Very light on detail. What about the fare paid that included a food component?



They announced this was happening 6 months ago, now it's news because they've set a date?

Answer to your question is in the text you quoted, if you purchased a ticket with food included then let cabin crew know so they can give you a complimentary snack.

[Icarus2001]

Six months ago they were still in administration and had not been purchased by a new owner. Now they are a fully fledged airline operating in a very competitive environment. In my humble opinion it is NEWS that they will not offer complimentary "food" in economy any more. You are of course free to disagree with my opinion.

[minigundiplomat]

I've flown quite a few times with VA and the lack of tea and coffee has annoyed me (usually at 6am); if they bring that back, I don't really care about a meal or snack.

[1A_Please]

Six months ago they were still in administration and had not been purchased by a new owner. Now they are a fully fledged airline operating in a very competitive environment. In my humble opinion it is NEWS that they will not offer complimentary "food" in economy any more. You are of course free to disagree with my opinion.
Nope, It was always expected that this would be the case once they finalised catering offerings for both Y and J. It is also unlikely they are paying any "celebrity" chef for J class meals going forward though we'll find this out tomorrow. I'm sure no one based their flight purchase on the very ordinary biscuit or chocolate bar they may have been given midflight. You wouldn't pay $2 for the awful cracker things QF try to inflict on it Y class pax.

[Global Aviator]

1A you don’t like the Byron Bay cookie?

[1A_Please]

1A you don’t like the Byron Bay cookie?
They're great if you want a quick tooth extraction otherwise no!

[AmarokGTI]

A friend forwarded this to me yesterday. No "complimentary" food in economy anymore. Food available for purchase? Very light on detail. What about the fare paid that included a food component?



They specifically said people who bought a ticket when the price included food can still get a snack, just to ask for it.

[Ken Borough]

What a way in which to treat 'guests'? Why don’t Virgin ditch this silly euphemism and call those who sit on their aircraft what they are: passengers? Or bogans. :E

[Sue Ridgepipe]

If you paid for the snack in the price of the ticket then it's not complimentary.

[didrechambers77]

Dare me to chime in with the truth? Or just sit back and drop banga's when you least expect it.

[ControlLock]

Don’t really call Qantas offerings a snack either.
Bring back the Bundaberg Ginger Beer.
Bring back the sandwiches or hot quiches.
Bring back the 5’o clock beers.
Then I’ll rank them higher than Virgin.

[SOPS]

I have a crazy idea. Make flying ‘ nice’ again.

Where people dress properly, a ticket costs more than a taxi fare to the airport, even in Y you have decent leg room.. and the whole experience is, well, .. nice.

( ok .. I will just go back into my cave).

[WipperSnapper]

Six months ago they were still in administration and had not been purchased by a new owner. Now they are a fully fledged airline operating in a very competitive environment. In my humble opinion it is NEWS that they will not offer complimentary "food" in economy any more. You are of course free to disagree with my opinion.
Sorry, 4 months, here's an article from over 4 months ago
https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/virgin-australia-buy-on-board-food-drinks-economy-class

[Seabreeze]

Happy to pay for food, but give me some reasonable options. FFS.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

We understand you have purchased a fare inclusive of a complimentary snack. If you would still like to receive a snack, please make yourself known to cabin crew once on board and they will be able to assist.
If you paid for the snack in the price of the ticket then it's not complimentary.
If you paid for it you shouldn't have to ask for it. If they can identify you enough to send you the letter, then they can identify you on the aircraft and provide you what you've paid for.

[galdian]

Surprised no-one's pointed out that this means V3 is competing with JQ, not QF.

With "support" from the mothership for JQ cannot see this will improve the prospects for V3, up to JH to prove otherwise.

[krismiler]

This is becoming the new normal in Europe and has been in the USA for sometime as far as short haul flights are concerned. Eat before you leave, buy onboard or bring a sandwich. Even if a meal is provided, with the current COVID precautions it will likely be not up to expectations anyway.

[MickG0105]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but wasn't pay-for-food the catering model that Virgin had for the back of the bus back in the good old days when they actually made money.

[Fliegenmong]

And I remember First & Business class early morning flights OOL - SYD, early 90's I would say....the second after the seat belt signs were off, the white linen was put down, full hot breakfast, bottomless coffee, until descent, then the linen was taken away try tables upright and into Sydney....fabulous indeed!

I am so pleased to have known that 'other' time...CX serving brandy after the meal service in Y class.....things were so much better until...'Our customer research has revealed what you want'....no it damn well has not!!

[havick]

I've flown quite a few times with VA and the lack of tea and coffee has annoyed me (usually at 6am); if they bring that back, I don't really care about a meal or snack.

Be thankful you miss out, after you’ve seen e water tests that come back from the water tanks on most jets.

[Mach E Avelli]

I don’t mind paying for proper food, but not junk food. Meantime Virgin should stop referring to its customers as ‘guests’ and call them what they are by definition - passengers.

[highflyer40]

A friend forwarded this to me yesterday. No "complimentary" food in economy anymore. Food available for purchase? Very light on detail. What about the fare paid that included a food component?



As your quote stated it’s very clear. If you paid for your ticket when meals were included make it known and you will get your free grub. Many airlines are doing this now.

[highflyer40]

I have a crazy idea. Make flying ‘ nice’ again.

Where people dress properly, a ticket costs more than a taxi fare to the airport, even in Y you have decent leg room.. and the whole experience is, well, .. nice.

( ok .. I will just go back into my cave).

And 75% of all pilots worldwide are made redundant. That will go over well on this site.

[SHVC]

75%? Where did you pull that figure from

[rattman]

I have a crazy idea. Make flying ‘ nice’ again.

Where people dress properly, a ticket costs more than a taxi fare to the airport, even in Y you have decent leg room.. and the whole experience is, well, .. nice.

( ok .. I will just go back into my cave).


Yes crazy, the vast majority of people dont want that ****, what I want from flying fast in and out of the airport and a seat on a safe plane and if flying longhaul in flight entertainment. I dont care what others wear, dont care about the ****ty snack on short haul. People who want to return to the "golden age of flying" pay for first class.

[Lookleft]

Is this part of the new world airline concept that JH was talking about? Where the back end is like Jetstar and the front end is like QF? Bogans at the back and business up the front? What happens is that the bogans still travel Jetstar because they don't feel out of place and business travels QF because they don't want to mix with the bogans even if it is in Y. Your new world airline just gets the brand loyalists and the crumbs.

[Epicurus]

A good percentage of domestic flights in Australia are less than 2.5 hours duration. It amazes me that people cannot go without a heavy feed for that amount of time? Most workers will go 4 to 5 hours before having a break which may include coffee and a snack, or lunch. And most workers can go 3 to 4 hours without having to take a sh#t also. But oh no, not when it comes to flying. Let’s say the plane departs for a 70 minute flight. By the time it hits cruise and the seatbelt signs are switched off people have been onboard for around 30 minutes average. But they rush for the onboard ****ter. A lineup of defecators who barely lasted 30 mins in their seat. WTF? Then there is the food - why why why, why do you need a feed? It’s a 1 hour flight. Crew are running about like blue arse flies to hand out mini bottles of water, OJ and a cookie. FFS, eat at home! The snacks on the aircraft (especially) the coffee are complete ****, and the airport is a ripoff!

So yeah, VA may be offering crap onboard, but nobody is suffering. It’s Stockholm syndrome all over. It’s like the wankers who speed up on the road when you finally get an overtaking lane. It’s psychological. They do 80 in a 100 zone and when you get to the overtaking lane they speed up to 130 so you can’t pass, and then drop back down to 80. Same same with flying, people just have to run for the dunnies when the seatbelt sign is removed. Here is a thought, take a pre-boarding crap in the airport. People then whinge they get crap food on a 50 minute flight. Here’s a thought - eat at home before you travel to the airport!!!

[didrechambers77]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but wasn't pay-for-food the catering model that Virgin had for the back of the bus back in the good old days when they actually made money.

Guess those brown bag deals with DGL's really paid off then

[LapSap]

A good percentage of domestic flights in Australia are less than 2.5 hours duration. It amazes me that people cannot go without a heavy feed for that amount of time? Most workers will go 4 to 5 hours before having a break which may include coffee and a snack, or lunch. And most workers can go 3 to 4 hours without having to take a sh#t also. But oh no, not when it comes to flying. Let’s say the plane departs for a 70 minute flight. By the time it hits cruise and the seatbelt signs are switched off people have been onboard for around 30 minutes average. But they rush for the onboard ****ter. A lineup of defecators who barely lasted 30 mins in their seat. WTF? Then there is the food - why why why, why do you need a feed? It’s a 1 hour flight. Crew are running about like blue arse flies to hand out mini bottles of water, OJ and a cookie. FFS, eat at home! The snacks on the aircraft (especially) the coffee are complete ****, and the airport is a ripoff!

So yeah, VA may be offering crap onboard, but nobody is suffering. It’s Stockholm syndrome all over. It’s like the wankers who speed up on the road when you finally get an overtaking lane. It’s psychological. They do 80 in a 100 zone and when you get to the overtaking lane they speed up to 130 so you can’t pass, and then drop back down to 80. Same same with flying, people just have to run for the dunnies when the seatbelt sign is removed. Here is a thought, take a pre-boarding crap in the airport. People then whinge they get crap food on a 50 minute flight. Here’s a thought - eat at home before you travel to the airport!!!

spot on.

funny how the people that hunt around for a $49 fare because they think flying is overpriced are happy to fork out another 15 bucks because they can’t possibly last 50 minutes without a glassful of Shiraz and 3 biscuits with cheese....
Same people would balk at paying 12 bucks at DMs for a whole bottle!

[1A_Please]

And I remember First & Business class early morning flights OOL - SYD, early 90's I would say....the second after the seat belt signs were off, the white linen was put down, full hot breakfast, bottomless coffee, until descent, then the linen was taken away try tables upright and into Sydney....fabulous indeed!

I am so pleased to have known that 'other' time...CX serving brandy after the meal service in Y class.....things were so much better until...'Our customer research has revealed what you want'....no it damn well has not!!
What rubbish! I first flew to Bali in 1982 and the return fare at the time was $1080. Adjusting for inflation, that would make a return Economy fare to DPS today as over $3700. Be grateful about how much cheaper flying has become. If you want fancy food, go to a proper good restaurant with all the money you have saved from cheaper airfares.

[MissChief]

And you Australians have the audacity to moan about "whingeing Poms?". This is pathetic coming from some of you.

Flying is now cheap. Food on aircraft is generally rubbish. And pricey. Buy a nice bloody sandwich and a bun to take with you.

It won't cost you much, either.......Sheesh!

[ACMS]

Ha funny, don’t ever recall seeing any hot food in Economy in VA on all my flights over the years, chips and pretzels mostly.....even over dinner flights so this is hardly new.

[Icarus2001]

Update: My friend flew today and tells me that they could only manage cold drinks, water and juices. Not even the tea and coffee promised in the VA email. On a nearly four hour sector. What a circus.

[cattletruck]

I can't believe so many people on here like airline food. :yuk:
To be fair to the people that prepare and dish it out, when it comes to feeding people 10k in the air there is a lot that needs to be compromised.

If you want a good meal, eat at home or at a restaurant at the airport, works all the time. If allowed, carry your own lunch box.

[Blueskymine]

I wonder if V4 will gain some traction and market share under Bruce Buchanan’s leadership.

Might be hard once Rex starts flying 330s across the Tasman.

[unexplained blip]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but wasn't pay-for-food the catering model that Virgin had for the back of the bus back in the good old days when they actually made money.

As SLF who flew VA domestically from the Blue days onwards enough to keep a good FF status for many years: they seemed to me to be adjusting the catering model every few months. Good riddance to the pitiful offering in the year or so pre-COVID -- e.g., a tiny pack of three crackers and a micro-sized dip -- it achieved nil except annoyance value, and it was truly embarrassing for the company. My own preference was for the old VB days. If you wanted food there was a reasonable sanga and a drink for $10 or so. Otherwise they left you alone, with (IIRC) just one fairly cheery announcement before takeoff then they'd STFU for the rest of the flight. Latter day VA was as bad as QF with the pointless chatter but at least QF didn't seek to fake full service with a 25g pack of nothingness.

So to me it's good news that they might revert to their old ways (and which might have been more profitable too)

[Beer Baron]

It doesn’t effect me so I may well be wrong but just to empathise with some of the busy corporate “guests” for a moment.

Perhaps business passengers who are getting up at 4:30 in the morning to get the 6am flight to MEL/SYD/BNE/ADL don’t want to get up any earlier to buy their breakfast at the terminal. They want to use the dead time on the plane to eat so they can get off at the other end and head straight to their 8am meeting.

At the end of the day they want to head to the airport and get on a plane, spending the absolute minimum time in the terminal. So if they haven’t eaten at work, or in the taxi, or in the security queue or waiting for boarding to start, or while squeezing 180 passengers on to a 737.... now they are kinda hungry and they don’t want to have to find food at the other end as they really just want to get home. So getting some edible food would make good use of the otherwise wasted time sitting in a pokey seat, wishing you were home already.

It’s not super important but it just may be a big enough deal to make you spend another $40 of your employers money to fly with a carrier that will feed you (even if it’s crap).

[highflyer40]

It doesn’t effect me so I may well be wrong but just to empathise with some of the busy corporate “guests” for a moment.

Perhaps business passengers who are getting up at 4:30 in the morning to get the 6am flight to MEL/SYD/BNE/ADL don’t want to get up any earlier to buy their breakfast at the terminal. They want to use the dead time on the plane to eat so they can get off at the other end and head straight to their 8am meeting.

At the end of the day they want to head to the airport and get on a plane, spending the absolute minimum time in the terminal. So if they haven’t eaten at work, or in the taxi, or in the security queue or waiting for boarding to start, or while squeezing 180 passengers on to a 737.... now they are kinda hungry and they don’t want to have to find food at the other end as they really just want to get home. So getting some edible food would make good use of the otherwise wasted time sitting in a pokey seat, wishing you were home already.

It’s not super important but it just may be a big enough deal to make you spend another $40 of your employers money to fly with a carrier that will feed you (even if it’s crap).

You obviously don’t fly business much. They can get their breakfast for free in the business class lounge. Always going to have time as you are going to have at least 45-60 minutes before your flight.

[tdracer]

This is becoming the new normal in Europe and has been in the USA for sometime as far as short haul flights are concerned. Eat before you leave, buy onboard or bring a sandwich. Even if a meal is provided, with the current COVID precautions it will likely be not up to expectations anyway.

Exactly! As with COVID precautions, even First Class is getting a simple box of snacks. I flew First Class in early January - 'meal' was a choice of three different boxed snacks (with things like cheese, hummus, nuts, and crackers of some sort - not horrible, but well short of the hot meals pre-pandemic. Drinks were bottled water, beer, or wine - all served in sealed containers. In coach, they got bottled water...

By the time it hits cruise and the seatbelt signs are switched off people have been onboard for around 30 minutes average. But they rush for the onboard ****ter. A lineup of defecators who barely lasted 30 mins in their seat. WTF?
30 minutes from the time they got in line to board to pushback, 10 minutes taxiing around and waiting for TO clearness, 20-30 minutes to climb to cruise and turn off the seat belt sign - so easily an hour since they had bathroom access. Wait until you're in you 60's or 70's with prostate issues. Unless I intentionally stay dehydrated, going more than 60 minutes without taking a leak can be a major challenge :sad:

[DJ737]

Good : pay $200 for a flight and get a meal and seat allocation.
Bad : Pay $150 for the same flight with a different airline plus $10 for seat allocation and $20 for food.

I know who I am flying with and will spend the extra $20 in the pub.

[Agent_86]

Won't be long until Ms Jayne has the CC doing the onboard cleaning between sectors with the StickVax and Wipes. If a buck can be saved by Bain they will do it. ;)

$5 for a 4 finger KitKat is taking the piss.

[Flyer517]

You obviously don’t fly business much. They can get their breakfast for free in the business class lounge. Always going to have time as you are going to have at least 45-60 minutes before your flight.

And having travelled many years for business for quite a few different companies, they rarely if ever spring for business class seats. It is always economy and the cheapest, most inflexible fare.

The very large company I presently work for stipulates that you must fly economy, for the cheapest possible fare at all times, irrespective of airline or how ungodly that hour might be. Only the C suite get to travel business or better.

If you try and book a flight and the system detects you could have flown cheaper, your 2-up manager gets an alert and you have to explain yourself to them and it always gets rejected and you have to rebook.

This is the same for most if not all of my colleagues and friends who work for other large corporates in Australia, so I am not alone.

So yes, being able to eat onboard when it is the only down time you have all day has its attractions, regardless of how mediocre that food might be..

[Robot Jones]

Won't be long until Ms Jayne has the CC doing the onboard cleaning between sectors with the StickVax and Wipes. If a buck can be saved by Bain they will do it. ;)

$5 for a 4 finger KitKat is taking the piss.

VA Cabin crew have ALWAYS cleaned the aircraft between sectors, no chance of Bain ever forking out for cleaners. Why would they when they can force the crew to do it. I’m told cabin crew already work up to 12 hours without breaks, and the new EBA will see them working up to 14 hours, for less money, less days off, and still no guarantee of getting a break while at work.

[Agent_86]

VA Cabin crew have ALWAYS cleaned the aircraft between sectors

Depends on the duration of the aircraft downtime between sectors as to whether the CC will give the a/c a cursory clean. Bain haven't completely dumped the cleaning contracts with Swissport yet.

I was more referring to the CC being responsible for all the cleaning.

[Derfred]

You obviously don’t fly business much. They can get their breakfast for free in the business class lounge. Always going to have time as you are going to have at least 45-60 minutes before your flight.

You obviously don’t fly business much, They can check in with their mobile phone in the hire-car en-route to the airport, move their flight forward or backward 15 mins depending on the arrival time at the airport which Google Maps will give them, accurate to the minute based on real-time traffic flows, get through security and walk through L1 door 5 minutes before it closes. They haven’t had 5 minutes for a doughnut all day. They want a decent feed, and a glass of nice red. And leave the bottle. It’s been a big day.

Oh, sorry. This is a Virgin thread.

[anonfly]

You obviously don’t fly business much, They can check in with their mobile phone in the hire-car en-route to the airport, move their flight forward or backward 15 mins depending on the arrival time at the airport which Google Maps will give them, accurate to the minute based on real-time traffic flows, get through security and walk through L1 door 5 minutes before it closes. They haven’t had 5 minutes for a doughnut all day. They want a decent feed, and a glass of nice red. And leave the bottle. It’s been a big day.

Oh, sorry. This is a Virgin thread.

You had me until you said leave the bottle.
That sure as 💩 doesn’t happen in any airline in Oz. RSA and all.... Good to dream though. Also if you can’t fit a Krispy Creme in your day you ain’t living. Especially considering you would literally walk past one on your way to your Buisness Class seat 🤷‍♂️

[Superman1]

And having travelled many years for business for quite a few different companies, they rarely if ever spring for business class seats. It is always economy and the cheapest, most inflexible fare.

The very large company I presently work for stipulates that you must fly economy, for the cheapest possible fare at all times, irrespective of airline or how ungodly that hour might be. Only the C suite get to travel business or better.

If you try and book a flight and the system detects you could have flown cheaper, your 2-up manager gets an alert and you have to explain yourself to them and it always gets rejected and you have to rebook.

This is the same for most if not all of my colleagues and friends who work for other large corporates in Australia, so I am not alone.

So yes, being able to eat onboard when it is the only down time you have all day has its attractions, regardless of how mediocre that food might be..

Your ruining this forum where pilots gets to proclaim they are the most hard done by underpaid employees in the world and management are the evil ones who only target them to be screwed over!

Please dont let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[Robot Jones]

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/virgin-australia-business-class-meals-menu


“science and algorithms” 😂😂😂🤪🤪🤪

[chookcooker]

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/virgin-australia-business-class-meals-menu


“science and algorithms” 😂😂😂🤪🤪🤪

did you laugh for 25 minutes solid again?

[Fliegenmong]

Originally Posted by Fliegenmong View Post (https://www.pprune.org/showthread.php?p=11015361#post11015361)
And I remember First & Business class early morning flights OOL - SYD, early 90's I would say....the second after the seat belt signs were off, the white linen was put down, full hot breakfast, bottomless coffee, until descent, then the linen was taken away try tables upright and into Sydney....fabulous indeed!

I am so pleased to have known that 'other' time...CX serving brandy after the meal service in Y class.....things were so much better until...'Our customer research has revealed what you want'....no it damn well has not!!

What rubbish! I first flew to Bali in 1982 and the return fare at the time was $1080. Adjusting for inflation, that would make a return Economy fare to DPS today as over $3700. Be grateful about how much cheaper flying has become. If you want fancy food, go to a proper good restaurant with all the money you have saved from cheaper airfares.

What do you mean What rubbish?, I experienced it, many many times!

[Robot Jones]

did you laugh for 25 minutes solid again?

Yes I did.

[Fliegenmong]

I have a crazy idea. Make flying ‘ nice’ again.

Where people dress properly, a ticket costs more than a taxi fare to the airport, even in Y you have decent leg room.. and the whole experience is, well, .. nice.

+1 ........ if you want to turn up in boardshorts & singlets & thongs, take the bus!!

[jrfsp]

+1 ........ if you want to turn up in boardshorts & singlets & thongs, take the bus!!

and a lot less pilots?

[morno]

+1 ........ if you want to turn up in boardshorts & singlets & thongs, take the bus!!

Ever tried paying for a whole family to fly? I’ll take the board short wearing bloke next to me over airfares that make it impossible to fly with your family. Ohh and I don’t have to stay a Saturday night to get the cheapest fares.