Who has best Premium Economy seats, service, price?

[jenzbiz]

Hi All!

I just found this site 30 minutes ago and I'm hooked! Can imagine spending considerable time here. So here I go...

Have flown QF premium economy before and was fairly happy with the extra space but thought the meal service could have been better and price quite high.

We are planning on RTW with VA/VS. Any comments would be appreciated. How does it compare with QF in seat comfort, room and meal service? I know it is quite a lot cheaper. Only going RTW as it seems a cheaper option to get to LHR - our final destination from Sydney. No stopovers on the way over planned.

Would you recommend any other airlines?

Happy to join in and receive your wisdom.

Thanks heaps!
Jen

 

[straitman]

Hi All!

I just found this site 30 minutes ago and I'm hooked! Can imagine spending considerable time here. So here I go...

Have flown QF premium economy before and was fairly happy with the extra space but thought the meal service could have been better and price quite high.

We are planning on RTW with VA/VS. Any comments would be appreciated. How does it compare with QF in seat comfort, room and meal service? I know it is quite a lot cheaper. Only going RTW as it seems a cheaper option to get to LHR - our final destination from Sydney. No stopovers on the way over planned.

Would you recommend any other airlines?

Happy to join in and receive your wisdom.

Thanks heaps!
Jen

jenzbiz,

Welcome to AFF.

Travel Guru has travelled V Australia Y+ and gives it a very good wrap-up.

The opinions about QF Y+ vary but consensus seems that the V Aust product is better.

 

[dajop]

Haven't flown VS/VA, but I have in Air NZ - if price on them was competitive I'd seriously consider using them again. Seating on 777 is narrower - but more leg room, however the menu /food service was almost identical to that of business class (dessert was different) - I know this because one one sector I was upgraded to J, leaving my partner back in Y+ - and came with a good dose of Kiwi informal attentiveness.

 

[RB]

I was impressed by QF Y+ in 2009 LHR-SYD and will be trying VA Y+ to LA in May so should be able to supply some updates then. Our May fare with VA was much cheaper that the available QF Y+ fare for same dates.

 

[jenzbiz]

Haven't flown VS/VA, but I have in Air NZ - if price on them was competitive I'd seriously consider using them again. Seating on 777 is narrower - but more leg room, however the menu /food service was almost identical to that of business class (dessert was different) - I know this because one one sector I was upgraded to J, leaving my partner back in Y+ - and came with a good dose of Kiwi informal attentiveness.

Thanks dajop,

Food on QF was same as cattle and we didn't get our first choice on one sector! Screen also no go on one sector. I am tall and it was worth it for the extra leg room and comfort.

 

[jenzbiz]

jenzbiz,

Welcome to AFF.

Travel Guru has travelled V Australia Y+ and gives it a very good wrap-up.

The opinions about QF Y+ vary but consensus seems that the V Aust product is better.

Thanks Bill. I have heard similar comments. Must say the leather seats do sound comfy!

 

[straitman]

Thanks Bill. I have heard similar comments. Must say the leather seats do sound comfy!

No personal experience unfortunately. The closest was a Y+ booking on QF but upgraded to J.

 

[AussieTim]

Thanks dajop,

Food on QF was same as cattle and we didn't get our first choice on one sector! Screen also no go on one sector. I am tall and it was worth it for the extra leg room and comfort.

Strange in regards to food, all the times I have flown QF Y+ I have found the food to be a fair bit better than regular economy.

I also book Y+ based on comfort not the food, recently tried Y+ on JAL - as someone who is 6ft tall on a good day, the shell seat was designed for someone much shorter than I..

 

[haydensydney]

Done Y+ on VA and QF.

Personally I thought that QF was a little better than VA, though I liked the VA "personality" and atmosphere.

Theres a trip report or two on here that show VA's Y+ product that you might be interested in checking out...!

 

[dajop]

Strange in regards to food, all the times I have flown QF Y+ I have found the food to be a fair bit better than regular economy. ..

I can't comment as haven't flown QF - but have heard two comments - 1 better than Y but not as good as J and the other comment Y food that's been plated and presented better. Not sure which is true. Also, on NZ you get to use the J toilets, whereas (my partner tells me) explicit instructions were given not to use J class toilets on QF , have not flown either, but my partner who flew both was certainly a much bigger fan of NZ.

Now my general opinion on Y+ - if pricing is keen, go for it, but if it is like I have seen for flights to Europe (eg y+ on QF for $4.5k return), I'd be seriously looking at other carriers J class (for example I have seen J class on carriers such as TG at different times around the $5k mark, and frankly I think the extra $500 would be well worth it), or alternatively getting to Asia in Y and doing the longer sector in J from Asia.

 

[serfty]

I have flown Y+ on both QF and NZ.

Firstly, food on QF Y+ should be better than that offered in QF Y (possibly it's a subset of the J menu and is served on china rather than foil/plastic).

As far as carrier differences go, In every way I have found NZ Y+ much better than QF Y+ - including the seat. [The only difference between NZ Y+ and NZ Business is the seat (and lounge access for non statused PAX). Same food, blankets, pillows, drinks, etc..]

 

[Captain Zero]

I flew PE on the Qantas A380 to LA. On the way over I secured an upgrade to BC in one of the new lie-flat shell seats - Very nice.
PE on the return.
PE is on the upper deck at the rear of the aircraft. Seat configuration is 2-3-2. The seats are notable better than EC (see Seat Guru for more specific information)
There are a total of 32 seats in this class and we were served by two dedicated attendants. There are two bathrooms in the rear so no problems here.
You are offered a pre-drink before takeoff and given high quality NR headphones and an amenities kit. Meals are better than EC but definately not the same as BC.
So having flown both classes during this trip, I would definately fly PE again. I am not a big person and the extra legroom and seat comfort make for a good journey. With only 32 seats on offer, you need to book early.
Please note also, seat layout varies from plane to plane. Check before you fly to avoid disappointment.

 

[tuppaware]

I have flown Y+ on both QF and NZ.

Firstly, food on QF Y+ should be better than that offered in QF Y (possibly it's a subset of the J menu and is served on china rather than foil/plastic).

As far as carrier differences go, In every way I have found NZ Y+ much better than QF Y+ - including the seat. [The only difference between NZ Y+ and NZ Business is the seat (and lounge access for non statused PAX). Same food, blankets, pillows, drinks, etc..]

I agree I did a LAX-BNE back in NZ Y+ upper deck 747-400 almost the same meals as J, they served you like a waiter - constant topups of wine . Friendly staff , there was only 5 of us on the upper deck Y+... I didnt get as much sleep as when I have done Y... but then cost difference!

 

[smithy]

i have booked premium economy for my last 4 international flights but on each occasion I was upgraded to business using my points.

 

[aus_flyer]

There are quite a few QF routes where Y+ pax actually sit in the back part of the downstairs J section.

Skybed for Y+ ticket is a good deal!

 

[Foreigner]

So which airlines offer PE ex Australia, including code share? I'm interested in SYD to Europe flights in October.

I understand Air France does with QF, via SIN. Anyone else other than QF and V Australia?

 

[TonyHancock]

So which airlines offer PE ex Australia, including code share? I'm interested in SYD to Europe flights in October.

BA have PE (World Traveller Plus) on its 777 service to LHR via SIN and on its 747 service to LHR via BKK.

Typically it has worked out about 20% cheaper than QF for me. However the food is the same as Y and the seats are not as comfortable as QF........and of course you get BA service!

 

[browski]

Would you recommend any other airlines?

Well, if you are a bit adventurous (and if you can handle the the odd flight delay), then flying the premium seats on budget carriers will be a better overall experience than any Premium Economy seats.
Dajop and I discussed this recently on this thread:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rnational-airfares/emirates-sale-s-29005.html

So for example, you could fly
MEL-SIN Jetstar Starclass return for $1000 (this is a sale price, $1500 typically)
SIN-KUL Sri Lankan Airlines Business class for $400 return
KUL-London (Stansted) Air Asia Premium Seat $2300 return
Total: $3700

Seems much better value and a better way to travel than $5500 in PE on Qantas.
On the above flight options, you would even have Business Class lounge access in MEL, SIN and KUL - which would give you access to food, drink, showers and internet.
But once again remember that these flights will most likely have poor connections (at KUL, you would need to change airports) and will ofter be delayed.

 

[Mal]

I believe QF have cut PE catering costs in the last few months (not sure when).
This is based on QF11 recently:

Champers - no more. Instead "Sparkling wine" from Adelaide.
Menu appears to have been reduced and portion quality also affected.
The "snack" menu has been made simpler ... And that doesn't benefit the pax.

Wines are still good, decent range of spirits, all the PE trimmings are still there - I just think they've cut costs.

 

[browski]

So which airlines offer PE ex Australia, including code share? I'm interested in SYD to Europe flights in October.

I understand Air France does with QF, via SIN. Anyone else other than QF and V Australia?

I've heard that Thai Aiways offers PE on their B747 flights from Bangkok to Copenhagen and Stockholm. According to Seat Guru, they offer a whopping 42" pitch.