A trip to the dark... well purple side

[simongr]

"We've come a long long way together,
Through the hard times and the good,
I have to celebrate you baby,
I have to praise you like I should"*

Well that is really what I would like to be singing abut QF - an airline I have had about 60 flights on over the past couple of years, an airline I know intimately and depend on to provide me with transport, comfort, security and rewards. Sadly as we all know the gloss on the QF shine is not so shiny of late - a malaise has crept into the frequent flyer dissatisfied with the offering, the promises and the tweaking. A frequent flyer who feels that they just aren't trying to make things better.

A harsher critic might say that QF are just trying to polish a turd (although I am not sure who the turd is) but I feel that at its core QF is a good airline with a strong tradition with a strong sentiment around it. Having said that though another airline seems to be trying harder to entice fliers - but it has to do this - it is smaller, has smaller market share, and it needs to woo people so tomorrow I am ready to be wooed.

In this report I will try and compare my experiences of a fairly standard SYD-MEL-SYD day trip as a DJ/VA Platinum flyer for booking to getting home. I have factored in extra time to experience the lounges in SYD and MEL and am doing the flights no differently to how I would do the flights for QF.

So we shall see by Wednesday (I don't plan to finish the trip report on Tuesday evening after a 16 hour day) if I have anything to celebrate...

*Copyright Fat Boy Slim - Praise You

 

[Simsy85]

I have an interesting trip coming up and will post a similar TR

Next weekend i'm doing QF DRW - SYD - CBR then VA - CBR - MEL - DRW

On both legs I'm going to try and change the connecting flights to a later/earlier flight to see how the respective companies go.

I'm also Platinum with each, so will be interesting to see what benefits each give me etc

Other thing will be SC given I think QF still wins there...

 

[simongr]

Before you fly

So the experience begins a little bit before the flight of course. About three weeks before the flight I found I had to go to MEL again (five weeks out of five coming up). This was about a day after the status match came through and I had enough existing bookings on QF to hit 2400 SCs this year (noting I am meant to be flying less now ) so I had nothing to lose or gain by experiencing the DJ/VA experience.

So much to the nervousness of my team ("What's going on boss? Are we all flying Virgin Blue now??? What about my Gold Status???") and to the confusement of my PA I asked for quotes (flexi) on both DJ/VA and QF. DJ/VA came up about $8 cheaper (thank god we aren't on a BFOD policy) at about $204 each way. So far so good (and by that I meant I can still justify flying flex on QF due to the small price differential ).

Next up it is time to check my bookings and pick my seat. Firstly let's get my VR number in the booking, click, click, click - done - no real difference there though I don't like the link in my VR account "My Bookings" which links to another link to "retrieve my bookings" - every time you have an extra click on a website a dolphin dies... Any way I now have the booking and I will just click on the link to email it to TripIt - oh wait you cant do that - you have to email the itinerary to my TripIt account and then email it to TripIt - this is a sort of en extra click or five - so that is a whole pod...

Next up to allocate my seat - in my life of OCD being able to know what seat I have allocated in a little safety blanket of snuggles to keep me safe at night. Looks like a sleepless night tonight then - no seat preallocation :shock:

Overall pre flight experience:

Pricing - draw
Website ease of use - one less dead dolphin on QF
TripIt integration - QF FTW* (not just the emailing of itineraries but TripIt doesnt track DJ/VA flights - at least that means less annoying smses from TripIt)
Seating - QF FTW

Overall a reasonable victory for QF driven mainly by my OCD need for seat preallocation.

FTW = For The Win

 

[simongr]

T-24 hours - prepare for blast off

OK we are just over 24 hours out so it is time to OLCI. Going through my VR account I trip over the extra click to get to the booking (bye bye Flipper), click on the booking then get presented with another booking selection page (bye bye Moko and end up on the booking finally.

So far not bad - I go to seat selection (in fact at this point the OLCI process is a little smoother). I am preallocated 3C (which is equivalent to my usual 4C - however to get 4C I generally have to check and recheck my booking so this is a good preallocation). I try to click on 1C and 2C and find that they are premium seats that I can't select - probably would be sleeker if these werent presented on this page to be honest.

OK - I dont have any dangerous goods that I am going to declare and we are off to print a BP. I havent done this in a long time on QF (I switched to iPhone check in before NGCI and using my Card as a BP as soon as it was possible) and it will be great when DJ/VA have a better system than a paper BP.

One minor point on the BP given my DJ/VA pack hasn't arrived yet is the lack of obviousity* that I am a plat and have access to the priority boarding, lounge etc.

So at T-24 I would call a tie! - QF for a better BP solution but DJ/VA for a better first seat allocation.

So So at least at this stage I am not starting tomorrow morning like a bear with a sore head stuck in 47Q that I was sort of expecting given the lack of seat preallocation.

* Yes I do make up my own words if you hadn't noticed or read any of my prior reports - they aren't speeling errors

 

[connieguy]

Next up to allocate my seat - in my life of OCD being able to know what seat I have allocated in a little safety blanket of snuggles to keep me safe at night. Looks like a sleepless night tonight then - no seat preallocation :shock:

VR did say VA were in the process of changing this. It annoys me too. However many new VA WPs report getting a opup to PE on boarding. On my 4 VA flights so far, I didn't get opuped but maybe that was because I had booked a exit row seat.

But yes VA need the same level of online seating allocation as delivered by QF, JQ and even TT.

 

[TonyHancock]

One minor point on the BP given my DJ/VA pack hasn't arrived yet is the lack of obviousity* that I am a plat and have access to the priority boarding, lounge etc.

I'm watching this with interest. My foray into things VA/DJ will be in early October. I'm surprised that nothing is on the boarding pass to indicate status. I think that needs fixing.

 

[simongr]

I'm watching this with interest. My foray into things VA/DJ will be in early October. I'm surprised that nothing is on the boarding pass to indicate status. I think that needs fixing.

It is there just not obvious:

Gr/Simon Velocity number 622008008135 Plat

But it is in fairly small. Unlike on a QF BP:

8008135 QANTAS PLATINUM ONEWORLD EMERALD ALL BOW BEFORE MY IMPORTANTNESS

Or something like that anyway...

 

[medhead]

Look on the left of the main virgin Australia webpage, there are 4 tabs. Book, Manage, Checkin, Status. My tip would be to use the Check-in tab and save a few dolphins.

Also if you don't like the size of your status on the web check in BP*. Check in and then ask the lounge to print you a BP. The status is larger on that one, just have to put up with it being a shopper docket.

* I find it to be fine

 

[LiamR]

I'm watching this with interest. My foray into things VA/DJ will be in early October. I'm surprised that nothing is on the boarding pass to indicate status. I think that needs fixing.

It's always printed on a BP. Sometimes just a bit small....

If you have the compulsive need to have your status printed in as large a font as possible, grab a Boarding pass from a lounge.

 

[TonyHancock]

It's always printed on a BP. Sometimes just a bit small....

If you have the compulsive need to have your status printed in as large a font as possible, grab a Boarding pass from a lounge.

I like to have my status in Bold and Red! It helps identify me as a DYKWIA. (That way other passengers can avoid me and the crew can fawn over me! )

I'm getting excited now. Sometime today or tomorrow I'll be booking a DJ/VA trip. I'm just waiting to confirm exact dates.

....and another thing, whilst I remember, LiamR - do the staff at Sofitel know you have been taking pens from the hotel?

 

[simongr]

Just as a clarification - my concern is not other people's fawning - just about the obviousness of the status to gain entry to priority security and the Lounge.

 

[medhead]

Just as a clarification - my concern is not other people's fawning - just about the obviousness of the status to gain entry to priority security and the Lounge.

A staff member checks you into the lounge using your number, so no problems there.

Priority security in BNE does no checks. In SYD using the express entry involves check in to the lounge so no problem with status size there. Otherwise, I don't know.

 

[simongr]

Thanks - I wasn't sure how the entry process worked in SYD.

 

[AdMEL]

T-24 hours - prepare for blast off

OK we are just over 24 hours out so it is time to OLCI. Going through my VR account I trip over the extra click to get to the booking (bye bye Flipper), click on the booking then get presented with another booking selection page (bye bye Moko and end up on the booking finally.

So far not bad - I go to seat selection (in fact at this point the OLCI process is a little smoother). I am preallocated 3C (which is equivalent to my usual 4C - however to get 4C I generally have to check and recheck my booking so this is a good preallocation). I try to click on 1C and 2C and find that they are premium seats that I can't select - probably would be sleeker if these werent presented on this page to be honest.

OK - I dont have any dangerous goods that I am going to declare and we are off to print a BP. I havent done this in a long time on QF (I switched to iPhone check in before NGCI and using my Card as a BP as soon as it was possible) and it will be great when DJ/VA have a better system than a paper BP.

One minor point on the BP given my DJ/VA pack hasn't arrived yet is the lack of obviousity* that I am a plat and have access to the priority boarding, lounge etc.

So at T-24 I would call a tie! - QF for a better BP solution but DJ/VA for a better first seat allocation.

So So at least at this stage I am not starting tomorrow morning like a bear with a sore head stuck in 47Q that I was sort of expecting given the lack of seat preallocation.

* Yes I do make up my own words if you hadn't noticed or read any of my prior reports - they aren't speeling errors

Virgin do have a better system than a BP - for flights between MEl, SYD & BNE, you can check in using their mobile web page. I haven't used it yet, so can't comment on its functionality.

It's always printed on a BP. Sometimes just a bit small....

If you have the compulsive need to have your status printed in as large a font as possible, grab a Boarding pass from a lounge.

Interesting post, Liam. I have never seen a real Virgin Aus/Blue BP - didn't think they existed! Have only ever seen the shopper docket style BP's!

 

[LiamR]

Interesting post, Liam. I have never seen a real Virgin Aus/Blue BP - didn't think they existed! Have only ever seen the shopper docket style BP's!

They do exist, originally I was told that the Shopping docket BPs were on the way out to be replaced by card ones. But that never seemed to happen at capital cities.

 

[LiamR]

I like to have my status in Bold and Red! It helps identify me as a DYKWIA. (That way other passengers can avoid me and the crew can fawn over me! View attachment 3749)

I'm getting excited now. Sometime today or tomorrow I'll be booking a DJ/VA trip. I'm just waiting to confirm exact dates.

....and another thing, whilst I remember, LiamR - do the staff at Sofitel know you have been taking pens from the hotel?

Something like this? I didn't write that.... I was explaining to the gate agent it was my first time as a gold, and, since my friend was crewing the flight. I wanted him to know I hit Gold. She made it very clear I was a Gold.

Was kinda awkward when I realised he wasen't on the flight. Looked like a total DYKWIA then!!

 

[simongr]

The Lounge - so good they capitalized it?

Well the day dawns (at least it dawned on the way to airport as the pick up was still in the dark) and it is off back to T2 at SYD for the first time in a long time. I used to be an Ansett flyer but after the collapse most of my flying was actually to regional NSW so I was quite familiar with T2 a while ago.

My sense of trepidation is building - will the experience live up to the hype? So as we arrive at T2 the traffic is shocking - not sure if this bad timing or a T2 issue. Finally I get dropped off and walk up to the Business/PE/Gold direct lounge entry - I assume platinum can use this as well . I am not sure what the process is here so I queue behind 2 people, have my BP checked and straight through the express security (did get a bomb check though) and into the lounge...

It is here that my first real disappointment kicks in - I am not sure what I was expecting but this was just like the QP that I walk through to get to the Biz lounge in MEL - it was full, food on offer was basic and I couldn't actually get to the toaster. I dont drink coffee so no real upside there.

So I milled around and overall had a bit of a meh experience - certainly didn't match the hype or the QF J lounge.

It will be interesting to compare in MEL this evening as I will have more time and will want food and drink but so far this is not a win for DJ/VA...


Overall ratings:

Direct entry from the curb - bloody good work DJ/A this I love
Express security - great and a much better experience than anything on QF
The Lounge itself - bleh mix with meh and frankly after the hype on here about the wonderful lounges with lots of space I found it small, cramped and no free pods to sit at without sitting next to someone else

Overall I am afraid that this lounge lost badly to the QF J lounge.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting perspectives of a platinum member comapring the two offerings. Good stuff simongr.

 

[serfty]

...
The Lounge itself ... I found it small, cramped and no free pods to sit at without sitting next to someone else ...

Maybe there were more than a few punters enjoying anytime access?

 

[simongr]

Up, up and away...

And we're off now for the real deal, the main event the actual flight!

So feeling slightly down about the lounge I trudge off to the gate - thankfully it is gate 31 so not far to go. I remember the little escalator down from the lounge from when it was the Ansett lounge . It is sort of strange seeing how much this has changed since my regional travel days - even the macdonalds has gone!

At the gate the queue is HUGE but not so for me!!! Priority boarding works well. It is a little embarassing walking past everyone and having the staffer stop other people for me but I like it! I hadn't remembered that DJ/VA doing boarding from both doors but linking PB with the two doors meant no queue on board. Seat 3C was great with huge leg room - much more than 4C on QF. This was a new aircraft so had the purple screen between J and whY. Overall a nice fit out. However even though only 2 of the six seats in row 3 were occupied ALL of the overhead up to three rows back were full! I had to put my bag in the J bins. I havent had this experience on QF where generally I am able to get my gear over head. I couldnt put my bag under the seat in front due to the hard shell . Thankfully (for me not for John Borghetti) J was completely empty the whole flight :shock: so I wasn't stealing anyone else's space.

Finally seated (and did I say how good the leg room was?) and I don't think it was narrower width than QF and maybe the woman next to me was more elbowy than normal...

We had a long wait to get away (pushed back on time) so we were about 15 mins delayed leaving SYD

The crew were all very professional during the safety briefing but as I boarded they did put me offside by saying welcome back Simon rather than welcome back Mr Gr - it might be the time I spent in Germany but my friends call me by first name - to everyone else I am Mr Gr.

After some time they came through asking if people wanted to buy any food which I found took the product very much into LCC territory. I was on a flexi ticket so they brought me tray of food separately. It was a nice enough breakfast - on a par with QF. I think it will be a better test tonight on the evening flight home (chosen for 18:15 to compare the offering to an evening meal on QF - and yes I know QF evening meals arent much chop but they are a baseline for comparison).

Knowing we would be a little late was then turned into knowing we were going to be 30 mins late overall as we went around for a circuit.

Finally we landed - I was up first and straight to my bag in J so was the first pax to disembark... eventually. Due to the set up of having people disembark from the rear of the a/c we had to wait at the front until they had roped of the engines to stop the gumbies from falling in and injuring themselves. What was quite annoying was the lack of an aerobridge :shock: so it was a bit of a trek down the steps then up the steps in the terminal. It certainly felt like we were arriving into an LCC terminal with the number of families and looking at the inbound security structure it looked cheap/messy as well but I will opine on that later when I go back the other way.

So the overall ratings:

On time arrival (I don't care OTD) - I wont comment on this here - yes there was a delay but I have been delayed on QF. I would need a much bigger sample (10+ at least) to see if there was a pattern.
Priority Boarding - FTW!!!!!1111!!! I think DJ/VA might just edge QF here
Dizzy unprofessional hosties - no sign of any of that - very professional and friendly (too friendly for my liking but that is a personal preference)
Food - meh breakfast on board is never going to set me on fire
IFE - non existent but not a consideration for me
Disembarkation - this was not a happy ending and would be a deal breaker for me over priority boarding if it was like this every time

So overall for a morning flight SYD-MEL it would be a marginal win to QF simply because of the lack of the aerobridge.