Virgin’s new inflight menu features this viral “cheeseburger toastie”
The business class menu for winter draws inspiration from a cosy corner cafe or bistro.
By David Flynn, May 6 2026
There’s nothing quite like the simple comfort of a toasted ham and cheese sandwich on a cold winter’s day, and this doesn’t only apply to corner cafes and airport lounges.
Virgin Australia sells nearly a quarter of a million ham & cheese toasties to economy passengers every year.
The airline’s new winter 2026 menu is taking that up a notch with the debut of a Cheeseburger Toastie, which itself has become something of a viral hit online.
Virgin describes its Cheeseburger Toastie as “filled with 100% Australian ground beef, melted cheese, ketchup, mustard and a pickle, then finished with a cheesy sauce.”
This Cheeseburger Toastie lands on the Buy On Board menu for $14 – the same price as the regular Ham & Cheese Toastie, Chicken Tender Wrap and Falafel Wrap.
Selected dishes from Virgin's refreshed business class menu for winter.
Alas, the Cheeseburger Toastie doesn’t feature on the more upmarket business class menu, and Virgin says business class passengers can’t swap their complimentary meal for a toastie without ponying up $14 (or 2,800 Velocity Points).
But here’s some of what high flyers can expect when the new business class menu launches from 27 May, 2026.
Selected dishes from Virgin's refreshed business class menu for winter.
Breakfast
- Pistachio & coconut oat balls
- Egg and corn fritters with bacon & beans
- Scrambled egg with shakshuka sauce, chorizo and pitta
- Ricotta chocolate hazelnut filled crepes with banana custard
- Crumpet French toast with spiced apple & mascarpone
- Greek yoghurt with spiced stone fruit and granola
- Spiced bircher muesli with pepita seeds and strawberry
- Chia pudding with spiced fruit
A sweet start to the day: ricotta chocolate hazelnut filled crepes with banana custard.
Lunch & Dinner
- Chicken with spiced cauliflower, couscous and honey mustard dressing
- Grilled chicken with miso roasted sweet potato, brown rice, quinoa and edamame beans with Japanese style dressing
- Butter chicken with cumin rice and raita
- Mexican style chicken parmi with sweet potato wedges
- Beef cottage pie with broccoli
- Truffle mac & cheese bake with roasted vegetables
- Korean style sweet potato noodles with stir fry vegetables
- Beef with mustard jus, creamy polenta and broccoli
- Smokey pulled beef with garlic crushed potato and tomato basil pesto salsa
A hearty lunch or dinner: beef with mustard jus, creamy polenta and broccoli.
Dessert
- White chocolate mud cake
- Date, apple & crumble cake
- Coconut cake
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1280
We call it mince not ground beef. I hate creeping Americanisms.
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 63
You missed the "ketchup". Apparently tomato sauce isn't good enough either.
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 404
Except ketchup and tomato sauce are similar, but not the same thing
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 72
You’d be hard pressed to tell them apart in a blind taste test.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2016
Total posts 72
TheBigM: it is ketchup, not tomato sauce. Ketchup originated as a British word, not American.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Apr 2011
Total posts 19
And tomato sauce, not Ketchup
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 72
My exact first thought when I read this article. The American influence is there with Honey Mustard too. Hideous!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 866
Looks very, very good, but they're going to need more seats in 'Business' (or extend the menu's availability to Economy-X).
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1090
I agree B-T, I wonder what marketing they will come up with to combat the 20QF Business Seats
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Feb 2014
Total posts 31
Not sure why they can't cater for Celiac's when a lot of those meals in J class sounds like they are. Not fun when you get a bag of chips in J class to DPS!
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1090
Interesting — the meal I had on the Nadi to Sydney flight was prepared in Nadi: a very mild chicken curry, 10/10.
03 May 2013
Total posts 711
Wow Qantas and Virgin are really upping the stakes with their culinary prowess options. All of which you can get at any fast food outlet in the world.
16 Oct 2012
Total posts 62
*sighs* (mostly) more variations on chicken in Business class. Although one should be thankful for small mercies - it appears the inedible “Chicken Tenders” have been taken off the menu.
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 72
Right with you. I’ve gotten used to both VA and QF’s menu tricks of putting the cheapest (and most woke) options first. I read their menus from the bottom up and guess what’s first? Red meat!!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 95
I feel ill just looking at that thing! Nice one Virgin.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Nov 2012
Total posts 135
Their J offering is getting worse and worse (as opposed to QF which seems to be getting better), the portions are child sized now, even the FA apologised this morning as she put the meagre breakfast tray down. I actually wouldn’t mind if something decent was offered in J like that toastie
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 229
But look at their low J fares compared to QF. For that price I don't complain.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2016
Total posts 72
That meal option looks absolutely revolting.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 402
Wow! Oh so premium.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin’s new inflight menu features this viral “cheeseburger toastie”