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Another cut for J service?

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2008, 22:42
by Bill S
I have just heard a rumour that the number of meals being loaded for J has been cut.
Has anyone had any problem getting their choice lately? Or had to accept a W meal?

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2008, 23:21
by Scrooge
Well there was the debacle for the Tokyo Bitches and the bento boxes.

On 3 of my last 4 UC flights I have ended up eating a W meal because, well frankly the UC meal was s**t, worse than school lunches [:0].

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 04:17
by mcmbenjamin
So VS is giving all the trendy marketing things away. Cool. The new round of marketing hype will be FUN, right...

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 06:36
by n/a
If they'd just do two things really nice, I could live with a meat main and a veg main in J. But do them right and make them special!

GJ

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 07:12
by slinky09
Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
If they'd just do two things really nice, I could live with a meat main and a veg main in J. But do them right and make them special!

GJ


I think the OP meant the number, not the choices GJ [;)]. VS usually load more than the number of pax to allow for some choice if one option proves unusually popular, seems that this will now be cut back.

Since VS pay pennies for these meals, it seems awfully short sighted. However, it'll be one to pull out the old 'Au FC members get first choice' [:0].

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 09:35
by Bill S
Sorry if the original post was not clear - SL has it right.
VS usually load a few extra meals so that pax can get their choice from the menu.
It is impossible to predict exactly how many of each choice will be selected by pax - particularly in smaller cabins such as LGW J.

If they cut down on that number then it is much more likely that they will run out of particular items and those at the end of the order will get no choice.

They used to allow extras to go to flight crew - no more - they are not allowed spare J any more.

Get your orders in early!

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 13:31
by mike-smashing
Wouldn't at all be surprised, given the nadir that VS in-flight service seems to be dipping to.

ISTR that slack in the loaded food was cut back when the catering was switched entirely to LSG, so it was already very tight. Heaven knows how bad it is now.

To me, it sounds like someone in an office somewhere has too much time on their hands, groping around for desperate ideas like not warming the service flatware.

You have to ask yourself if VS would save more money cutting this individual's job, rather than cutting the service.

Mike

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 14:47
by slinky09
Originally posted by mike-smashing


You have to ask yourself if VS would save more money cutting this individual's job, rather than cutting the service.

Mike


Tou-effin-che!

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 17:56
by SurferGirl
Originally posted by Bill S
I have just heard a rumour that the number of meals being loaded for J has been cut.
Has anyone had any problem getting their choice lately? Or had to accept a W meal?



No UC customer would ever be asked to have a W meal. I find the J menu great and all the feedback seems to be good also. Anyone got anything good to say for once?

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 18:00
by HighFlyer
Originally posted by SurferGirl
No UC customer would ever be asked to have a W meal.


Oh I dont know .... I seem to recall a crew member on our flight to NRT offering us the contents of the Economy bento boxes to make up the shortfall in our orders [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 18:25
by Decker
Originally posted by SurferGirl
Anyone got anything good to say for once?


checkout the myriad positive TRs if you're feeling unloved [;)]. I haven't taken a flight with the latest menu cycle I don't think - haven't flown VS since Easter. But I have flown NZ a lot and I can happily tell you that their food and wine in BP is significantly better than VS in UC.

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 18:27
by Decker
actually Sarah you haven't disproved Surfergirl's point - she said W not Y [}:)][:w]

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 18:43
by n/a
Originally posted by slinky09
Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
If they'd just do two things really nice, I could live with a meat main and a veg main in J. But do them right and make them special!

GJ


I think the OP meant the number, not the choices GJ [;)]. VS usually load more than the number of pax to allow for some choice if one option proves unusually popular, seems that this will now be cut back.

Since VS pay pennies for these meals, it seems awfully short sighted. However, it'll be one to pull out the old 'Au FC members get first choice' [:0].


Slinkster -- I totally got what the OP was going at...my unclear argument was this:

If VS cut back on the # of options they offer, maybe they can afford to load enough extras to make sure people get their first choice. Seems to me (though I am no bean counter) that they could eliminate a couple mains and just load enough of the remaining choices. I do not hear as many complaints of 'you don't have the type of meat I want' so much as 'they did not have my choice.'

Fewer choices = more chances for VS to get it right.

Of course, ISTBC.

Carry on.

GJ

PostPosted: 02 Jul 2008, 23:08
by slinky09
Good man GJ dude. As I said, if it happens to me I'll go into full DYKWIM mode!!!

PostPosted: 03 Jul 2008, 00:34
by n/a
Originally posted by slinky09
Good man GJ dude. As I said, if it happens to me I'll go into full DYKWIM mode!!!


More effectively, simply set your wine glass down, fix the cabin steward with your most icy and direct gaze, and gravely utter: Mannion.

Works every time. If they're out of beef, they'll land the damn plane, butcher a cow, and serve you the finest cut. Make no mistake...that word is the most powerful force known on earth.

GJ