Virgin Australia vs Delta in J, SYD-LAX

[doctork]

Hi all

Am booking a trip to the US (flying business class). QF/AA is AUD1200 more than UA, DL, VA. I have no *A status, so am looking into VA/DL.
Seems that I can get where I want to go (Indianapolis) on either the 0945 Delta flight from SYD, or the 1340 Virgin Australia flight. Coming back, I can only make the Delta plane.
For those with recent experience, what are the main points of difference between VA and DL in transpacific business class?

 

[IainF]

For pretty much every reason I can think of, absolutely go with VA. I have done both and I would make a point to never fly Delta if I could help it.
Va has far better seats, better food, better service.
If you book VA, see if you can snag row 5 window seats.
Its like having your own private cabin. At the risk of trolling, I would say VA J is a far superior product to QF.
The only other J product I would choose is NZ, but the stop over in AKL adds a few hours to the trip.

 

[lovestotravel]

I would say VA J is a far superior product to QF.

Nope I'd agree with that, and most on here know my "love" for Virgin domestic

The VA J cabin is great, whereas the A380 J cabin on QF feels like a big dormitory, so unless you get the mini J cabin at the front it's not that great... That being said the A380 is quiet... But even so VA J is far better than QF J

The only other J product I would choose is NZ, but the stop over in AKL adds a few hours to the trip.

Only if you get on the 777-300ER, as the product in the 777-200ER is getting quite old now and is nowhere near as nice!

As VA now have a pretty decent lounge at LAX there is no reason to avoid them

As for Delta - Don't do it, as IainF has said above, the food/drinks/service on VA is far far better

So to answer the question Virgin is the way to go

 

[Boris spatsky]

Agree that VA is the way to go - they actually provide a service! Great J product.

 

[drewbles]

Having not flown DL in J I can't say, but QF's J product is far superior to VAs. Not that VA has a bad J product but QFs new sleeper service is way ahead in terms of comfort and service. Of course, YMMV.

FYI row 5 on VA J is only available for pre selection by WPs.

 

[IainF]

Hi Drewbles, where do you think QF has the edge over VA ? I have flown both in the last year in J and the QF seat is too hard for my liking, even with the doona service. I even prefer VA over QF (old) F.
In order my preference is VA J, NZ J, SK J, EK J, EY J, QF J, TG J.
This is combined hard/soft product.

 

[Deewhy]

Can't vouch for DL never having used J, but my experience of service in the last 12 months puts VA ahead of QF.

 

[drewbles]

Hi Drewbles, where do you think QF has the edge over VA ? I have flown both in the last year in J and the QF seat is too hard for my liking, even with the doona service. I even prefer VA over QF (old) F.
In order my preference is VA J, NZ J, SK J, EK J, EY J, QF J, TG J.
This is combined hard/soft product.

I find the VA J seats on the 777 extremely uncomfortable. The lack of any kind of covering over the seat ensures I feel every lump and bump of joins in the seat. Also, whilst the service on VA is not bad, i've found that the QF J service has really picked up its game.

It may help that i've only ever been on the A380 in 'Emerald City' in J, but the CSM has really gone out of their way to make me feel special (almost a little too much so at times). The food on the 380 has also improved out of site. I love the Schnitzel Signature Sandwich they do in J now.

As for domestic, it's a complete 180º for me. VA J on the 330 (excluding XFA and B) is probably the best domestic J product i've flown on anywhere in the world. It's also streets ahead of any F service in the US on a 3 class bird.

 

[doctork]

Thanks for all the advice.
Although I'm QF WP, and would love to use the A380 via LAX (and cross fingers the points upgrade lottery came through to sample F), I can't justify the AUD1200 difference in fare to fly QF/AA (via LAX or DFW).
And though I'd love to try the NZ new J product, the timing of arrival into LAX precludes any same-day arrival connections into IND.
So I guess VA it is (outbound) and DL (inbound) though the latter is a mainly sleeping flight so hopefully won't notice the lower service level.
Ah, first world problem! Nice one to have.