Upper Class food – going backwards ?

[sxparkin]

Just a quick mention – have done several (8) flights to USA recently in UC return – service etc very good The stand out factor on the negative IMO is the UC food standard and choices which to me smack of VA trying to be too creative and in my case failing to impress.

Some examples which VA have acknowledged back to me and sent me some points – On the Tampa return the dinner and breakfast was inedible – other passengers left their dinner – as did I and we asked for PE or Economy food.

This week Miami to London – the Speedy supper was Mushroom Soup and a cheese toastie – or starters Beetroot Tartare or Smoke Duck (3 tiny pieces) then Grilled BBQ chicken – which was chicken breast with a BBQ sauce poured on to it (just looked like chicken with a bit of ketch up on it) or Lobster Clam Calamri or 4 Cheese Pasta then following the BA offering Port with American cheeses……..the presentation and quality IMO was poor for what you pay for the seat and by previous flights over the years.

No chicken burger (only vegan on 1 of the flights ) Tikka Masala or Chicken Satay for pre landing / mid flight snacks. Breakfast was odd too with ‘Mustard Scrambled ‘ egg (not great at 5am before landing!)

I may have just had poor experiences recently but thought it worthy of mention to check if you can and use the good food in the Lounge at T3 pre flight too of course – a crew member said an alternative as with BA – is order a special meal or ensure you preselect your meal before the flight….The food in LATAM (VA) lounge in Miami was unremarkable this week (with a special area for Air France passengers with more extensive food!)

[yonasl]

“No chicken burger (only vegan on 1 of the flights ) Tikka Masala or Chicken Satay for pre landing”

… thank god!

[AL]

Preselect generally works well – until they forget to load, in which case 10,000 VS Points is the standard compo. Of course, that’s a bit useless if you’re stuck on a tin can for eleventy hours with two packs of pretzels (harks back to my days flying Continental, who once – when told that I can’t eat teriyaki – offered me chicken teriyaki, instead of lamb teriyaki…).

Agree that the food could be simplified and improved. Wonder if you’ve had the new menu, versus the old one. New one came out maybe a fortnight (possibly less) ago?

[sxparkin]

Thanks for comments – interesting reading all of the negative reviews on Virgin UC food and seats on todays forum on the withdrawal of SAO PAULO – they echo the same issues….Seems to be a recurring theme – Great Service/Seats not great in most UC configs on planes / Food in UC awful – my flights were Feb/August/November in terms of menu – new or not – Hope some of this was useful. If not no worries.

[cin3]

What was wrong with the Lobster Clam Calamri?

[AL]

LAX-LHR on Friday. Duck, lobster risotto, chocolate mousse.
Lobster on a plane is adventurous, but it seems to work well – could do with a little more lobster meat, but I imagine they’re working it to a price.

Fry-up and fruit for breakfast (balance!). Massive hash brown got me excited. Excitement disappeared when I realised it was cold!