Breakfast Question....

I recently wrote a flight report detailing my VS028 flight in PE, returning to London from Orlando (25th May).

Some of you may recall that i quoted that the breakfast we were served was totally foul, it really was the worst breakfast I have been served on a flight, my husband also did not eat his, I noticed at the time of my report that a few people also commented on the fact of bad breakfast experiences (hard to keep a grilled breakfast tasting good etc).

I did write a short complaint email to Virgin Customer services and got a lovely reply and some complimentary flying miles (that have been gratefully accepted).

My question to yourselves is:

If an alternative continental style breakfast was offered would you prefer this (I certainly would), my idea was a small box of cereal (similar to the Kellogg's multi-pack ones you buy from supermarkets) a small carton of milk and maybe a warm pastry (croissant or similar) or some fresh fruit?

What are your thoughts on this? I think this would be quite easy for an airline to implement (and cereal such as coco-pops would be very popular with children passenegers)

Any thoughts?

Personally, I think it would be a great idea...

To create a full English for 5 people is hard enough, but 400 is almost impossible. The food will never be great, so why not do what a lot of Hotels do and offer a simple alternative.

Its the same as my theory when eating at a pub - I order something that is easy to make, that way its harder for the chef to mess it up.

If offered the choice I would have taken this over the normal breakfast.

what's the breakfast deli box that's served in economy? doesn't that replace the cooked breakfast on some/all flights now?

I'm not sure what it consists of but something simmilar in PE would probably be welcome

The last time I was on a BA flight from JFK (7 years ago) I remember being given a breakfast pack comprising of juice, fruit, carton of milk and a small tub of cornflakes. To be honest whenever I arrive in the morning in a haze no matter what is served to me I can't really face it, but I would definitely welcome more choice e.g. croissant/pain au chocolat.

I must admit I've never been offered an alternative on Virgin, but if BA can do it then it would be great if Virgin did also, Flyerz - that was exactly the type of thing I was thinking.....

We have flown in economy in last 2 years to USA but haven't been offered anything other than the usual grilled option.

Worst for me has to be the breakfast served ex-Mumbai in anything other than UC as you wake up. UC has nice proper full english. PE has 2 different veg options (which are better than the ones served 12 months ago I grant), it does give a interesting option to have the English Veg or Indian Veg breakfast - but which last time were somewhat undercooked, so was not nice. The box given ex-Orlando in Y is quite nice from my recollection when compared.

I'd note I got nothing for complaining about Mumbai last time in '13 - except they did improve it, so they did listen to feedback.

I don't fancy trying to eat cereal on a plane, but continental style would certainly suit me.
I think Danish pastries or muffins would be good options.

Dick D

My question to yourselves is:

If an alternative continental style breakfast was offered would you prefer this (I certainly would), my idea was a small box of cereal (similar to the Kellogg's multi-pack ones you buy from supermarkets) a small carton of milk and maybe a warm pastry (croissant or similar) or some fresh fruit?

What are your thoughts on this? I think this would be quite easy for an airline to implement (and cereal such as coco-pops would be very popular with children passenegers)

Any thoughts?

Absolutely agree.

In fact, I'm frequently astonished at how many people indulge in a cooked/fried breakfast in planes, hotels, etc.
it really is no wonder the UK has such high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

My breakfast is cereal, and occasionally toast. Plus coffee.

And that's what I will try and have when away from home too.

(I suspect that for some, it's the 'free' nature of the cooked breakfast, whether on a plane, or in a hotel breakfast buffet, that pushed people into the "well I may as well as it's included" camp, even if they wouldn't normally have a fry-up at home).

So yes, cereal, milk and a bread product would def be preferable to me.

Absolutely agree.

In fact, I'm frequently astonished at how many people indulge in a cooked/fried breakfast in planes, hotels, etc.
it really is no wonder the UK has such high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

My breakfast is cereal, and occasionally toast. Plus coffee.

I'm astonished such belief that the fried breakfast is the cause of obesity, diabetes and heart disease still holds true.

Indeed, its sugar and carbs which is more the cause of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Cereal and toast is actually likely to contain more calories, but more which causes the three named things.

Just saying.

But I thought the complaint was the quality... But there's always one on the incorrect "all you fatties" high ground.

Absolutely agree.

In fact, I'm frequently astonished at how many people indulge in a cooked/fried breakfast in planes, hotels, etc.
it really is no wonder the UK has such high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

My breakfast is cereal, and occasionally toast. Plus coffee.

I'm astonished the belief that the fried breakfast is the cause of obesity, diabetes and heart disease still holds true.

Indeed, its sugar and carbs which is more the cause of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Cereal and toast is actually likely to contain more calories, but are which causes the three named problems.

Just saying.

But I thought the complaint was the quality... But there's always one on the incorrect "all you fatties" high ground.

Please don't get in an argument about which breakfast has the highest calorie content, which one is healthiest etc. yes you are correct my original post was regarding the quality or lack of it..

I was curious as to other peeps opinions regarding the taste and quality of the airline breakfast, I've emailed the lovely lady that replied to me from Virgin Customer services and suggested that they look into offering an alternative continental style breakfast, so fingers crossed......

Until then I think I may be packing some cereal bars in my hand luggage....

UC breakfast last week was fine. Had the choices of anything. I had the fried. It was fine, no complaints there...

It all depends on the route as to what is offered in Premium and Economy.

Have you tried to speaking to the crew? I have always found them to be very accommodating, if you aren't happy with the premium breakfast I have asked and 9/10 been given an economy box instead. In one instance I was offered cereal from Upperclass.

Upperclass breakfast has a very good choice! Many options! Just my opinion.

I agree with a lot of what has been said so far.
Some times I just fancy something "simple" like a coffee and a croissant/muffin.
Im I mistaken in thinking that this continental option is/was available in UC on certain routes? Im pretty sure I had a continental last time in UC on route to NRT.

To be honest after looking at pictures on the internet and virgin brochures I actually think that we were served an economy breakfast anyhow, as the container was plastic and it looked nothing like it should have done, this was my main reason for contacting customer services.

If I had know that economy got offered a "continental" type box breakfast I would have asked for that, we flew Economy to San francisco (2012) and also returned from LA (2012) and we weren't given a choice then than vegetarian cooked or normal cooked (only thing missing was a sausage)......This was the first time that we had flown PE so I was expecting a little better.....

Now that I have more information into options, I will know to enquire more, I don't like to trouble the staff too much after a night flight, but i will ask in future.

To be honest after looking at pictures on the internet and virgin brochures I actually think that we were served an economy breakfast anyhow, as the container was plastic and it looked nothing like it should have done, this was my main reason for contacting customer services.

The premium economy hot breakfast is always served in a plastic "economy" type container. I believe a hot breakfast was brought in about 2 years ago after pax complaints about not having a hot breakky!

Another vote for cereal / fruit / pastry here!

Bacon roll for me. I don't like the fry ups and always forget that when I'm asked what I want.

Pastries are too sweet and I'm not a huge fan of croissants. Neither do I drink milk, so the cereal is a no go. Bread and ham/cheese a la continental style would suit me.

I did once have a delicious omelette (served rolled up) with melted cheese inside. Now that was nice but I can't recall which airline….edit - it was Wardair. Shows how long ago it was.

I love a full English when done properly and I think that's the real issue here, not whether it's good for you or included.

Hotels rarely do it very well even if you are first down in the morning it always seems a few hours old.

I'll probably only cook one at home a couple of times a year but if we ever travel down to the west country we make a point to stop off at 'Route 303' who do an excellent full breakfast.

So while I do enjoy a good cooked breakfast, my vote is still firmly with a continental one on the plane.

Dick D

Depending on the brand, cereal is one of the least healthy breakfast options available. It's full of sugar, one of the key contributors to diabetes etc.

Bread isn't great but OK in moderation.

Fruit juice is also often deemed to be healthy, but is a high sugar content item.

I had a reasonable English breakfast in PE when we flew home from Newark, certainly wasn't offensive.

The BA WT+ Breakfast box we got when we flew home from Tampa was basically diabetes in a box. A croissant with jam, cereal bar, craisins and orange juice. Exactly what I don't want when I've got a 2 hour drive home.

I'm pretty sure having flown both UC and PE on the VS26 that the Full English offered is identical - with the only difference being it's been removed from the foil tray and placed on a china plate. Bacon Roll all the way if in UC.

Indeed, its sugar and carbs which is more the cause of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Cereal and toast is actually likely to contain more calories

Hahaha... fantastic!

Fry-up = 1000 calories and 75g fat.
And you think cereal and toast has MORE calories?

I never said sugar and carbs weren't extremely relevant in nutrition. In fact they are probably the main problem due to their high consumption in almost every meal class.

I'm not judging "fatties". It's not my fault that eating 75g fat for breakfast will make you fat. Your choice.

... my idea was a small box of cereal (similar to the Kellogg's multi-pack ones you buy from supermarkets) a small carton of milk and maybe a warm pastry (croissant or similar) or some fresh fruit?

This was what I got on my most recent VS flight in upper. A Kellogg's box of corn-flakes, and the offer of fruit etc.

Don't see why this couldn't be offered in PE or even Y? Cost presumably; I wonder how many pence per portion the breakfast you described is produced for?!

I'm easy to please; don't wake me for breakfast.

If I happen to wake whilst service is still running, then a bowl of fruit, some yoghurt and a couple of cups of coffee will get me to the Revivals Lounge, or the hotel.

This is what I got in Y on Etihad a few weeks ago. Plus a few glasses of complimentary fizz.

And it was delish and I, god bless my stomach, ate everything.