General queries on in-flight service

Hi all - my first post,

I've flown with VS on a number of occasions over the past few years, either in economy or premium economy.

I noticed on my most recent trip, LGW-MCO-LGW both legs in economy, that there was no pre-dinner drinks service. Drinks were served at the same time as the food. Is this now to be expected on all VS economy flights, or only those from LGW/MAN? If so, not exactly good news.

I've always been quite pleased with the number of drinks rounds and the general level of service in premium economy, so I hope this hasn't changed?

Thanks for your responses!

J

[Neil]

Hi and welcome,

I know on our recent Y and PE flights, on the outbound daytime flight we got a separate drinks round prior to the meal service, but on the return night flight, drinks were served with the meal, i imagine to speed the service up so people could get to sleep sooner.

We do have a few crew members who post on here, so hopefully they will be able to clarify what the actual policy is.

Neil.

There is no separate drinks service on departures after 7pm. All other flights should have a drinks service before the meal.

Is this true for all VS flights e.g. VS200?

Speaking of VS200, I am booking this flight next month from LHR-HKG (and returning on VS201), What kind of service can I expect? I know questions of this sort have been asked a million times here, but I was wondering if anyone can give me an answer specific to this flight (flying in Y).

My main questions are:

- what type of meal services can I expect? Are there snacks in the galley to help yourself to? I never sleep on flights so will be awake for the duration!
- do VS only serve alcoholic drinks when doing a drinks run, or can I ask at the galley for a beer? How many bar runs are done on the flight? (not juice/water runs). Does it depend on the crew, or are there a specific amount of times they are instructed to bring the bar around?

Thanks for the info guys!

Yes true for all VS flights. But you can get a drink at any point in the flight - press your call bell, ask one of the crew or stop by the galley.

[Neil]

Just to add, there are no snacks for you just to go get. There are snacks available to buy at any time though.

Thank for the info. Am having a look at the Y product for QF, BA, VS and NZ and then I'll decide who to book with. The VS marketing department are doing a REALLY good job at making me want to book VS, but from what I have read, their product might not be as good as others.

Mr disco

Remember to consider that in reviews and trip reports (there are several on the LHR-HKG-SYD route on here) in all cabin classes. People will write about what is important to them and their preferences re seat/ food / IFE etc might not match your own.

People's expectations are also different and in reality they could have had an absolutly superb flight yet because their expectations were set so high they were dissapointed.

What I'm saying is read reviews in the round and don't pick on one aspect to the detriment of others. Above all airpline marketting is just that - marketing.

Just to add, there are no snacks for you just to go get. There are snacks available to buy at any time though.

From memory there are snacks in the galley on HKG flights.

[mitchja]

There's been no separate drinks round on either of my last 2 Premium flights departing LHR well before 7pm.

I have definitely noticed a decline in the Premium Economy service on my last couple of flights.

If I had a choice of NZ or Virgin I'd choose NZ without hesitation.

If I had a choice of NZ or Virgin I'd choose NZ without hesitation.

It's a bit moot of me to say, since I try to avoid commenting on Y since I never travel in it, but if I was looking anew, and in economy, I'd look at QF or NZ and not Virgin. But then only on QF or NZ's modern planes ... they also have old product.

If it were a choice in PE where NZ and VS compete, e.g. LAX or HKG, and I wasn't chasing miles and TPs, then I'd also go for NZ.

Oh, and ... bring on the new NZ business!

Much as I love VS it's hard not to have one's eyes diverted by what the competition are doing, and a lot of it looks good.

Interesting comments here - all it seems to warn VS (or any other airline) not to be complacent in any way - not saying they are, it just appears to me that complacency is one of the biggest threats to customer perception...

I should clarify that my comment above was related to NZ versus Virgin in economy, I've never flown NZ Premium or Business so won't compare!