V-Flyer

As posted on vtravelled..

http://blog.vtravelled.com/introducing- ... l-service/

Highlights include a new 'Graze' menu, Cheese and Port trolley, and afternoon tea service, complete with your own mini cake stands..

From what I can see it seems rather nice - though the true test will obviously be experiencing it first hand.

Beat me to it !

New glassware (am NOT a fan of the 'boob' champers glasses - so tacky and not classy) but the other glasses look good

'Freedom' menu gone to be replaced by 'graze'

Cheese course to be served from a trolly

Ditto the afternoon tea

tontybear wrote:Beat me to it !

New glassware (am NOT a fan of the 'boob' champers glasses - so tacky and not classy) but the other glasses look good

'Freedom' menu gone to be replaced by 'graze'

Cheese course to be served from a trolly

Ditto the afternoon tea

Oh I dunno, I kind of like the retro feeling of the new champers glasses - I guess they'll be more sturdy during turbulence too!

Will they fit on the little shelf though like the current ones?

And in turbulance there is a bigger surface area to generate a wave effect and so more spillages possible even if the glass itself may be more stable.

I love a champagne coupe, very stylish, but I do agree with you Tonty, not only in turbulence, but with wobbly legs they do lead to spillage ...

All the same, bravo VS for these changes, there's been a subtle but noticeable improvement in food and wine quality, now these additions will make the whole more enjoyable. I am looking forward to seeing the graze menu especially.

As for the cheese - I tend to the continental in having cheese after my main, then pudding, which when the cheese was plated was always easy for the crew to bring, I hope the trolley doesn't make it difficult!

Liking the cocktail shaker s&p pot!

But negated by the wider base and lower centre of gravity.

slinky09 wrote:I love a champagne coupe, very stylish, but I do agree with you Tonty, not only in turbulence, but with wobbly legs they do lead to spillage ...

All the same, bravo VS for these changes, there's been a subtle but noticeable improvement in food and wine quality, now these additions will make the whole more enjoyable. I am looking forward to seeing the graze menu especially.

As for the cheese - I tend to the continental in having cheese after my main, then pudding, which when the cheese was plated was always easy for the crew to bring, I hope the trolley doesn't make it difficult!

Liking the cocktail shaker s&p pot!

Of course we must welcome any service improvements and increasing quality of the food etc.

Slinky I assume you just blanked out the 1/2 cherry tomato that was pictured?

tontybear wrote:Slinky I assume you just blanked out the 1/2 cherry tomato that was pictured?

I breathed deeply, and scrolled fast ...

Unless I have misunderstood it appears the Graze Menu is only available on selected flights but they haven't announced which ones?

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere:

http://blog.vtravelled.com/introducing-virgin-atlantics-best-ever-upper-class-meal-service/

Looks on paper like a positive step forward.

Jacki wrote:Unless I have misunderstood it appears the Graze Menu is only available on selected flights but they haven't announced which ones?

It sounds like it's available on the flights that used to have lighter bites. But, you make a good point, I was a fan of freedom to dine when wanted, and if this has been removed I will not be as happy as I was.

Welcome to V-Flyer.

As there is already a topic running on the new menu, I have merged the two threads to prevent confusion.

Nick

Looks good! Now I wonder who will be the first VFlyer to try out the new menu and report back?!

Nottingham Nick wrote:Welcome to V-Flyer.

As there is already a topic running on the new menu, I have merged the two threads to prevent confusion.

Nick

Why not just delete the other topic - it added no value?

McMaddog wrote:Why not just delete the other topic - it added no value?

It is going off topic, but it was just out of courtesy really. It doesn't give a welcoming message to a new member, if their first post on a forum is deleted by a moderator.

Nick

Lets hope the majority of these improvements are extended to us poor LGW upper flyers. It worrys me when I see "available on selected flights"

I could understand when there a substantial price differential in an upper fare ex LHR compared to LGW a few years ago that there might have been a different service, but that has vanished lately and indeed an upper fare to MCO is hovering around £2300 for a Z which is not a lot of difference from an upper fare ex LHR.

David

I'll be travelling in Upper to JFK on the 5th March so I can report back! - Although it'll be my first time so I have nothing to compare it to!

slinky09 wrote:

tontybear wrote:Slinky I assume you just blanked out the 1/2 cherry tomato that was pictured?

I breathed deeply, and scrolled fast ...

I think it is just a lightly roasted piece of red pepper, so no harm done

On a different note, I'll be trying both the old and the new menus in fairly quick succession. Heading out to SYD in Feb and back in March. I'll try to do an objective comparison, although those smart looking champagne "boobs" look awfully easy to refill!

I guess we'll just have to hurry up and help them "dispose" of the old salt and pepper shakers.

Also sorry to drag this slightly off topic, but did anyone read the comments in the blog?

Tinuks wrote:I guess we'll just have to hurry up and help them "dispose" of the old salt and pepper shakers.

Also sorry to drag this slightly off topic, but did anyone read the comments in the blog?

Some of the same people have made the same comments on the FB page - almost always nothign to do with the issue just using it as a way to vent off their gripes.

Ok, so I've flown to Jamaica and Vegas in Upper, so I've no idea what a normal LHR to JFK is likely to be (or back) which I'll be going over on this month (old service) and coming back next month (new service). So forgive me if this stuff isn't currently available on the JFK route...

Dessert appears to have disappeared on the east coast flights now? (or was it ever there, see above), or is it now an either or (it seemed an either or when I flew before). And full english (ditto)? I suppose that can be made up with revivals...

Maybe I'm just being cynical after being burned on the lovely Eurostar Leisure select class being 'improved' be be appalling...

Still, seems a lot of complaints about the food here, I've not had a problem with the food on my flights...

Smid wrote:Dessert appears to have disappeared on the east coast flights now? (or was it ever there, see above), or is it now an either or (it seemed an either or when I flew before). And full english (ditto)? I suppose that can be made up with revivals...

Desserts have not disappeared and they always have been on flights. There will just be a separate cheese service now on certain flights.

Seems to be:

- New salt shakers

- Cocktails now available (never asked for them, I assume they'd be able to do some of them before, ie: a black russian).

- Renamed the freedom menu to something different. I don't think its ever been on any of my UC flights (LGW)...

- Only a light meal 'express' on shorter night flights? This could reflect demand though, people eating in Clubhouse normally.

- Cheese trolley on longer flights.

- Afternoon tea is now a trolley. I wonder if the savoury mini burger has now disappeared making is a cake/sandwich only option.

- Express breakfast, not sure what this involves. Cold options 'right up until you land' sounds like people might expect a bit.

- Full english customisable. Hmmm, could be ok.

I doubt I'll really notice the difference... Well, as long as its not drop in service, I'll be happy.

One of the things I like about UC service is they don't use those awful trolleys to serve it. The UA ones are like a frieght train thundering down the isles. Hopefully VS will do a nicer version.

David wrote:Lets hope the majority of these improvements are extended to us poor LGW upper flyers. It worrys me when I see "available on selected flights"

I could understand when there a substantial price differential in an upper fare ex LHR compared to LGW a few years ago that there might have been a different service, but that has vanished lately and indeed an upper fare to MCO is hovering around £2300 for a Z which is not a lot of difference from an upper fare ex LHR.

David

I suspect the "on selected flights" refers to the shorter overnight flights like BOS/JFK?EWR etc. There are already differences in the menu on these flights compared to SFO/LAX/LAS