Has the cheese trolley died a death?

[preiffer]

Juuuust wondering...

The last 5 flights I've had since April, the trolley of doom has (thankfully) been removed. Instead, the crew have (out of choice?) served the cheese course the old-fashioned way, on a plate, delivered to your seat.

Has anyone seen the trolley recently? Maybe I've just been lucky, but even on the VS23 last month, the afternoon tea farce was present - the cheese trolley was not...


Hopefully it's not a fluke, and the concept has been buried deeper in history than my poor little red pillows....?


Or maybe it's a crap viral attempt like the case of the "missing diary"?

Did you check if it was in the amenity kit? :w

It was very much alive on our recent VS7 & VS20 flights....and we loved the cheese trolley!

Sadly it was on the VS42 last week, although I do bypass it due to my European habit of cheese after main course (and ask a nice crew member for an advance plate).

I could see the point of it if it were proper cheese not just pre-chunked blandness.

was on VS005 on 10/06/12. really got in the way, and I was in the A zone... people did get a plate of cheese before it came round though if they didn't want to wait.

[preiffer]

I've always asked for cheese after my main too...

We had the cheese trolley on VS023 three weeks ago. Wasn't on the VS024 last week though, possibly because people wanted to bed down quite quickly after dinner service.

Don't forget that it's not part of the official service on some flights. Link

[preiffer]

Don't forget that it's not part of the official service on some flights. Link

Yup - but I'm referring to ones where it is...

Got off flight this morning VS074 ... No dinner menus, no entertainment menu, only 2 cheeses on trolley, no chutney and no Port!

Got off flight this morning VS074 ... No dinner menus, no entertainment menu, only 2 cheeses on trolley, no chutney and no Port!

Was this in UC?
If so, that isn't good.

I have noticed recently that they seem to run out of things on the inbound flights. This is not my imagination - I have been paying attention. hey seem to load up in London and then if it runs out that's tough !
I believe they changed caterers recently and I wonder if that has something to do with it - maybe they have not worked out what they need on each flight yet ?

[preiffer]

I have noticed recently that they seem to run out of things on the inbound flights. This is not my imagination - I have been paying attention. hey seem to load up in London and then if it runs out that's tough !
I believe they changed caterers recently and I wonder if that has something to do with it - maybe they have not worked out what they need on each flight yet ?

Definitely not your imagination. My VS20 the other week ran out of all but one red wine after the first drinks round, and by 2 hours into the flight had completely run dry.

[mitchja]

Isn't this because VS still insist on just loading catering in the UK for both the outbound and inbound flights?

But I have to say that this does maintain a consistant quality and style - not all airports are able to meet certain styles of food.
For example when I fly TG from HKG-BKK the first leg food is much better than the return.
When I get on VS I know what to expect which is why I am there.
VS bashing may be fun but they are still way better than many airlines.

Catering for the inbound sector only happens on havana flights, on all other routes virgin are catered at destination. Alcohol always come from the uk and we dont pick up anymore but I believe that is to do with customs ( but I stand to be corrected). Things like menus, equipment etc all comes from the uk too.

But surely, if you can only guarantee the service in any class as advertised on certain routes this should be explained on booking and reflected in the price?

On a few of my recent flights they seem to have had the trolley set up in the galley, but they actually plated the cheese there and brought it individually to people.

I still rather like the trolley, but I also still think that it will not last very long.

Having flown on so many airlines, you know one of the things I actually liked about VS was that food was NOT served from a trolley, but by a human.

Long live individual service, long die the trolley!

Having flown on so many airlines, you know one of the things I actually liked about VS was that food was NOT served from a trolley, but by a human.

Long live individual service, long die the trolley!

I am quite surprised by what you say, slinky -- the point of the trolley, or so I am led to believe, is to encourage interaction with the crew. This has certainly been my experience -- even if all the interaction has been to have a good laugh at the trolley!

But seriously -- trolley/human is a false dichotomy. After all, the cheese doesn't leap off the trolley onto your lap unaided, does it?

Got off flight this morning VS074 ... No dinner menus, no entertainment menu, only 2 cheeses on trolley, no chutney and no Port!

Was this in UC?
If so, that isn't good.

Yes it was UC

I did VS19 and VS4 and the cheese trolley was used on both.....and it didn't cause problems as they were efficient with the service! I like it an hope it stays!