VA v QF in PE to LAX

[bobe]

Any comments on flying VA v QF to LAX in PE ? the dif in price for Sept is about $700, is going QF that better ?

 

[drewbles]

Whilst I have flown both, I fly VA these days based purely on price. The service ain't bad either.

As far as hard product goes, I find the QF seats superior, and the food is a notch above VA, but not hugely.

For $700 i'd save it and fly VA personally (as VA is usually $3300-3500 AU-LAX return in W).

 

[bobe]

Pardon my ignorance but " W " is that the same AS PE ?

 

[eastwest101]

Pardon my ignorance but " W " is that the same AS PE ?

Yes correct - I have seen people use W instead of PE for premium economy - can be a little confusing!

 

[Mak404matt]

Pardon my ignorance but " W " is that the same AS PE ?

Yes

As an aside, have a look at premium economy pricing ex AKL, it can sometimes be excellent value!

 

[drewbles]

Sorry yes. W = Premium Economy (as to Y = Economy, J = Business and F = First). I talk in codes. It's a problem

And as Mak404matt mentions, pricing ex AKL can often be better (and in NZD; paid with a 28 degress card and you could do quite nicely, just no FF points from the purchase).

 

[serfty]

What is the in flight product like.

Is there a really a 'stand up' bar in VA PE on the 77W?

What can one expect for service during a the course of a VA flight in W?

 

[stomplad]

Any comments on flying VA v QF to LAX in PE ? the dif in price for Sept is about $700, is going QF that better ?

I have not flown VA but have flown QF in PE twice. It is a great product. In all my research QF is described as a Business light product and VA as Economy plus product.
A big issue is the VA layout, being 2-4-2. Air NZ seems to have a great product, but not on all flights and you have to transit in AKL.

Review- Here is a good review of PE products to USA The best premium economy seats from Australia to the USA - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller
Experience- At the end of the day is price more important than the experience? I would go for the beter experience.
Frequent Flyer Status- You are already a QF Silver will this flight help you get to Gold as well as earn you more points? Is status important to u?

Are you going on from LAX to anywhere else in the US? I found including domestic sectors that QF was cheaper than VA, also u can fly QF PE all the way to NYC or back.

Look forward to finding out what you choose.

 

[drewbles]

What is the in flight product like.

Is there a really a 'stand up' bar in VA PE on the 77W?

What can one expect for service during a the course of a VA flight in W?

Stand-up bar yes. It's a very very narrow area and you won't want to hang around it. It's a 'grab a drink and a snack' area to take back to your seat.

(The bulkhead on the right of that photo is the front of the PE cabin; note it's not stocked with decent booze like the photo may imply either)

As for the in-flight product, it's not bad but not wonderful. It is definitely economy plus not business minus. The service is exceptional though. The food/drink is so so. There's plenty of photos of the meals out there.

 

[drewbles]

I have not flown VA but have flown QF in PE twice. It is a great product. In all my research QF is described as a Business light product and VA as Economy plus product.
A big issue is the VA layout, being 2-4-2. Air NZ seems to have a great product, but not on all flights and you have to transit in AKL.

Review- Here is a good review of PE products to USA The best premium economy seats from Australia to the USA - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller
Experience- At the end of the day is price more important than the experience? I would go for the beter experience.
Frequent Flyer Status- You are already a QF Silver will this flight help you get to Gold as well as earn you more points? Is status important to u?

Are you going on from LAX to anywhere else in the US? I found including domestic sectors that QF was cheaper than VA, also u can fly QF PE all the way to NYC or back.

Look forward to finding out what you choose.

$700 will get you a huge chunk towards WP on AA flights in the USA, depending where you're going of course

 

[bobe]

If I fly QF i wont make gold, I have flown twice in PE from SYD- LaX with Qantas and was VERY inpressed ( A380) also we are in the QC, was just ckecking out other airline prices, also is there any airlines you get lounge access if flying PE,Iwill be flying back to LAX from VAN then back to SYD

I have not flown VA but have flown QF in PE twice. It is a great product. In all my research QF is described as a Business light product and VA as Economy plus product.
A big issue is the VA layout, being 2-4-2. Air NZ seems to have a great product, but not on all flights and you have to transit in AKL.

Review- Here is a good review of PE products to USA The best premium economy seats from Australia to the USA - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller
Experience- At the end of the day is price more important than the experience? I would go for the beter experience.
Frequent Flyer Status- You are already a QF Silver will this flight help you get to Gold as well as earn you more points? Is status important to u?

Are you going on from LAX to anywhere else in the US? I found including domestic sectors that QF was cheaper than VA, also u can fly QF PE all the way to NYC or back.

Look forward to finding out what you choose.

 

[drewbles]

If I fly QF i wont make gold, I have flown twice in PE from SYD- LaX with Qantas and was VERY inpressed ( A380) also we are in the QC, was just ckecking out other airline prices, also is there any airlines you get lounge access if flying PE,Iwill be flying back to LAX from VAN then back to SYD

When you say VAN do you mean YVR (Vancouver)? VAN is in the middle east

Depending on your plans whilst in the USA (and assuming you easily make the 4 QF flights in your QFF membership year), why not consider doing an AA YUPP trip? You'll quite possibly get SG without too much effort. Of course it does depend on how long you have in the USA and where you're going, but on some routes it's a good option (and the $700 you save by flying VA would offset most if not all of it). It's quite easy to get status credits for under $2/SC flying AA (in First).

 

[bobe]

Thanks for interest, sorry yes YVR, this year i will get about 450 SCs and when my next year starts in Oct I will have one way from SIN-PER, then the big one next year wich we are talking about , whilst we are in the US we will be flying from YVR into Alaska return then like I have mentioned YVR -Lax



bles;812758]When you say VAN do you mean YVR (Vancouver)? VAN is in the middle east

Depending on your plans whilst in the USA (and assuming you easily make the 4 QF flights in your QFF membership year), why not consider doing an AA YUPP trip? You'll quite possibly get SG without too much effort. Of course it does depend on how long you have in the USA and where you're going, but on some routes it's a good option (and the $700 you save by flying VA would offset most if not all of it). It's quite easy to get status credits for under $2/SC flying AA (in First).[/QUOTE]

 

[swordfish]

I've only flown VA PE and I was extremely happy with the service / food / seat.

 

[Fifa]

also is there any airlines you get lounge access if flying PE,Iwill be flying back to LAX from VAN then back to SYD

JAL W includes lounge access.
Flights are via NRT to various US ports and also YVR and prices are quite competitive.
And of course you receive QF SCs which would add up flying via NRT.
The seats are definitely not as comfortable as QF but the service is superb with interesting meal options.

 

[bobe]

How could I start off putting a rout and price together from Per - Lax ? using Jal

JAL W includes lounge access.
Flights are via NRT to various US ports and also YVR and prices are quite competitive.
And of course you receive QF SCs which would add up flying via NRT.
The seats are definitely not as comfortable as QF but the service is superb with interesting meal options.

 

[Gogo65]

I have flown both qantas and VA PE twice each, I always find the service on VA much better than qantas, however the food is better on qantas. Seats are both similar to me for comfort. For $700 I know who I would be flying!

 

[timbods]

We flew JAL PE to Europe a few months back, and whilst the planes were immaculate (showing their age a little) and service was good, the seats were narrow and hard. The lounge access wasn't part of the consideration as we are all QF SG or WP. I personally would fly QF economy on an A380 or refurbed 747 over JAL PE any day. The inflight mag mentioned that they were upgrading their seats across all cabins, but the PE didn't seem much different.

 

[serfty]

Can anyone summarise the difference in in flight soft product for PE between QF, VA (& JL)?

- Pre Departure Beverages?

- Meal Services (Dinner, Breakfast, Mid flight Snacks)?

- Beverage Services

- Pillows, Blankets, Quality?

- Amenities Packs?

- Anything else of note?

 

[NM]

Can anyone summarise the difference in in flight soft product for PE between QF, VA (& JL)?

- Pre Departure Beverages?

- Meal Services (Dinner, Breakfast, Mid flight Snacks)?

- Beverage Services

- Pillows, Blankets, Quality?

- Amenities Packs?

- Anything else of note?

Can't comment on VA, but have flown both QF and JL Premium Economy products. JL was on their 777 overnight service NRT to SYD. It was a while back (18 months) so the memory is a little clouded. But my thoughts at the time was that it was more akin to BA's PE and a little behind QF. I do not recall any pre-flight beverage service. The meal was basically a Y meal. There was no amenity kit per se, but a FA pushed an amenities trolly through the cabin offering things like mask, ear plugs, socks etc from the trolley. Pillows and blankets were provided and were adequate. I found the seats less comfortable than QF's PE seats. But it was certainly better than being in Y for a long overnight flight. There was no on-board recognition of OWE status.

i was able to combine a cheap discount Y fare for the daytime northbound journey with a discounted PE fare for the overnight southbound trip, resulting in a good value ticket. But I was expecting a little more from JL's PE. It certainly would be described as Y+ and certainly not J-. But if given the choice and equally convenient flight schedules, I would route using QF in PE next time.