Food on Virgin flight

[steve_rob]

While I've flown to Orlando a number of times, we normally go indirect, so our short trip in January is going to be my first on Virgin Atlantic - a Virgin virgin if you like!

Now it's time to pick my seats and I've consulted Seat Guru and V-Flyer to see what they say is good and what's not, but some of the comments on these sites have left me a little confused.

You see, I'm a rather fussy eater, so I like to be able to have a choice of what meals I get on the plane. Typically I'll ask for a seat nearer the front so that when the trolley gets to me, there's still options available. However, the comments seem to suggest that Virgin serve meals from the back of the plane first. Is this correct?

 

[mousette]

When we flew in May they served from the front, there was only one option left vegetable lasgane, yeuch!!!

We just snacked on stuff we had brought with us and ate the sandwiches which were served later.

My cousin however flew from Gatwick in August and the same thing happened to her and strangely enough she got offered veg lasagne too.
She was furious and demanded to speak to The cabin supervisor and after creating a stink was offered a choice of steak or duck from the upper class cabin.

So it pays to voice your opinion apparently.

 

[Goofyish]

We have always sat at the back on Virgin flights and always seem to be served first with all choices available. I think they start from the front galley and the back galley at the same time.
Whatever you choose it will taste the same anyway LOL

 

[UKDEB]

From what I recall, in the Economy cabin, they serve from each of the galleys working towards the back of the plane.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourfleet/index.jsp?type=8

 

[rpbert1]

we where in 45 hjk excellent seats and 2 windows at them, we had no problem with the food as everthing was available for us to choose from.

 

[richard_andmel]

DH is a pretty picky eater at times and doesn't always get on well with airplane food. We bring a few small things with us just in case... I think Virgin food is at least as good as any other airline meals I've had. Unfortunately when you don't like the choices it can't be helped.

 

[AnitaCB]

I hope the kids meals are ok - we have ordered them in advance. Otherwise I pity anyone sat near us on our flight. My youngest is a nightmare when hungry!

 

[UKPhil]

Have flown many times with Virgin and I would have to say the quality of the food and of their advance ordering system is very variable.

We are semi-vegetarian (will eat fish if we must but not meat) and always order vegetarian meals for the kids. Several times the've not had the right meals on board despite our advance order and confirmation at check-in. On one occasion the cabin crew had given my son's meal to someone else so they went and got it back even though the other boy had started eating it !

The adult meals we always take from the usual selection of 3. On a couple of occasions they've been very good. Other times they've been typical airline food - inedible glop.

My advice would be if you've fussy eaters in your party forget the airline food and cater for them yourself.

Just editing this to add that the breakfast on the return flight has always been fine.

 

[AnitaCB]

My advice would be if you've fussy eaters in your party forget the airline food and cater for them yourself.
QUOTE]

Can you do this at the moment?

 

[UKPhil]

A very good question to which I do not know the answer. I am assuming that things will return to normal in due course but that may not happen.

Still, we don't burn off many calories while just sitting so 9 hours without food shouldn't do any harm ...

I have to admit that the recurring battle with Virgin over food orders is one of the reasons we've decided to go with Globespan in October (assuming we go ... still undecided). With them you have the choice of ordering typical airline food in advance (and paying extra) or they carry a range of snacks such as pizza for sale on board. I think this will suit us rather better.

 

[steve_rob]

Just to clarify - I'm fussy, but not THAT fussy! Normally if I have all the choices available to me there's bound to be at least one dish I'll eat, but whenever it's got down to there only being one choice left on previous flights, it's ALWAYS the one I didn't want!

And yes, this is somewhat linked to the recent hand baggage limitations. You never know what the situation is going to be come January (a lot can happen in a week as we've all found out, let alone five months) and while I'd normally pack a snack or two just in case, it may come down to it that the meal is the only food going, and I'd prefer to be able to enjoy it!

 

[Dimplenose]

Last August we were at the back in economy and were served first - actually the first time we'd ever had any choice of meals with Virgin! It was also the first time I'd noticed them checking seat numbers for kids meals (I think a lot of passengers don't know they don't automatically get them with a child's ticket) as I'd seen them run out on previous trips.

I find the Virgin food acceptable but a little salty.

Libby