No more free food on Virgin Australia flights

After the disaster of 2-minute noodles in business class, Virgin is overhauling its in-flight food in business and economy. But not everyone’s going to be happy.

Virgin started serving complimentary food as it too the airline upmarket in an attempt to compete with Qantas.

Free food will disappear from Virgin Australia’s economy cabin from Thursday, in the first big change for passengers since the sale of the airline to US private equity firm Bain Capital.

Although passengers who purchased economy fares prior to March 25 will still be eligible for a complimentary snack “on request”, others will be invited to buy from the on-board menu.

The scrapping of free food in economy is part of the carrier’s shift to a “mid-market” position first flagged by Bain Capital last year.

Other changes include a reduction in the number of domestic lounges from 12 to seven, while the jury is still out on the airline’s VIP lounge known as The Club and on-board Wi-Fi access.

Complimentary snacks such as mini-muffins and finger sandwiches were first introduced to the economy cabin in 2011 following the airline’s transformation to a premium carrier, in an effort to take on Qantas.

Virgin Australia’s in-flight food is being overhauled in the wake of last year’s controversy over the service of 2-minute noodles in Business Class.

An email sent to customers on Wednesday said “be advised that as of March 25, 2021, we have updated our food and drink offering on all flights”.

“Guests will continue to receive complimentary water, with tea and coffee also provided. However, complimentary food will no longer be provided in our economy class cabin.”

The message went on to say “we understand you have purchased a fare inclusive of a complimentary snack”.

“If you would still like to receive a snack, please make yourself known to cabin crew once you are on board and they will be able to assist.”

A Virgin Australia spokesman said their focus continued to be delivering some of the best value airfares in the market, alongside products and services that guests valued the most.

“That is why tomorrow (Thursday), we will reveal a new and fresh Business Class menu and Economy buy on-board menu,” he said.

Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka. Picture: Sarah Marshall

“Our new Economy buy on-board menu will feature tried and tested menu items that we know our guests love such as cheese and crackers and great Australian wine.”

Details of the new business class menu were being kept under wraps until Thursday, but were expected to see a return to plate service rather than meals in a box.

Celebrity chef Luke Mangan who previously devised menus for the airline was one of the victims of Virgin Australia’s financial collapse last year with more than $7bn of debt.

Shortly after the airline emerged from administration following its $3.5bn sale to Bain Capital, business class travellers were alarmed to be served 2-minute noodles on transcontinental flights for which they had paid more than $1500 a fare.

Images posted by travellers on social media went viral, as Virgin Australia went into damage control, and cabin crew took sick leave to avoid abuse from furious passengers.

In an effort to capitalise on Virgin’s changes, Qantas recently announced an upgrade to its economy cabin meals, with a hot option to be offered for breakfast and dinner.