docjames
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2007
- Posts
- 9,502
- Qantas
- LT Gold
Only a brief TR here but thought I'd compare a recent MEL-OOL (VA) to BNE-MEL (QF) about a week apart. No pics - sorry.
Both in Y, travelling with minidoc and mrsdoc. Gold status with both.
Booking:
Both booked online. Both have fees to pay with CC.
QF not an option to OOL, VA price about the same as JQ (slightly higher), but better flight time (and didn't want to "risk" a JQ delay/cancellation on only a 6 day turn-around (plus meeting others on the Gold Coast so would have been messy if massively delayed). QF having to stop in SYD price good but didn't want to have to stop (when travelling with minidoc nonstop is better!).
The return VA prices were quite high and QF were on sale, so easy choice.
VA I got row 7, no block of 3 to move as departure approached so stayed in 7.
QF initially row 11, at T-80 got row 6. 4DE opened up but stayed in 6 to have three together.
Checkin/Lounge:
Straight to counter, bps issued, VA lounge in Mel is being renovated so fairly full on a weekday afternoon (albeit school holidays). Food selection so-so. But almost identical to QF's in Bne, lounge there was busy too. Kids area in QF lounge with movie for minidoc to watch was excellent, bottles of water in fridge there too . VA had nothing like this but he was fascinated watching the planes load / unload. The copilot waved to him as the plane at the nearest gate was backing out (a nice touch!). Lounge staff seemed friendlier at VA.
VA let us gate check the stroller.
QF don't - a massive win for VA there.
Seats:
New BSI 737-800 both aircraft.
Seat back system with over ear headphones on QF, own device with wifi for VA. Both had good selection. Over ear headphones much better for minidoc, and less juggling of stuff.
VA seat definitely was more comfortable for us with my knees NOT jammed into the seat in front (unlike QF). Very noticeable.
Food:
VA - we bought a Twix ($3), had eaten in lounge and had water with us plus snacks for minidoc. My opinion is they should have a limited selection of free drinks and charge for food.
QF - midday flight so supposedly "lunch" - but lunch was a half soggy/half crunchy potato and chorizo pastie - terrible. Dont know why they bother - but then they need to for differentiation (from JQ). But the "meal" food is so hopeless now it's almost worse than nothing. Embarrassing really for QF that they offer something so awful. Soft drinks free. We got an apple for minidoc.
I noted the CSM come with manifest and say hello to a couple of WPs in rows 4&5. Got one a crown from J.
Both flights essentially on time (VA arr 5 mins early, QF arr 10 mins late - weather in MEL).
Baggage:
Three checked bags - VA in the first 10 bags out, QF first 30. QF quite slow to start delivery. Stroller came with oversize luggage on VA (very quickly), on belt with QF (also quickly).
Why does QF have 4 carousels in Mel and then have 4 flights all on one, with one each on two and none on the other? Pax formed a better scrum than the Wallabies.
QF also had three staff sitting at the oversize counter doing seemingly nothing (other than talking to each other).
Overall:
Not much to choose between them.
Which in a way is good as a consumer - I can choose on price and schedule and have decent experience on both. But all else equal the marginally better seat pitch (I'm 6'4") and the happier staff edge virgin in front. But it's so line ball - VA have made a lot of ground in a short time.
VA allowing gate check of strollers is a massive advantage when travelling with young children.
The VA staff seem happier and more genuine in their engagement with the pax - QF staff seem a bit less engaged and more trying to stay "on script" rather than being warm or genuine. It does vary between specific staff (not saying you cant get the opposite result) but overall that was my (and mrsdoc's) impression. That may be why some reports on here of inconsistencies in VA occur.
If you've made it this far - well done and I'm happy to take questions!
Both in Y, travelling with minidoc and mrsdoc. Gold status with both.
Booking:
Both booked online. Both have fees to pay with CC.
QF not an option to OOL, VA price about the same as JQ (slightly higher), but better flight time (and didn't want to "risk" a JQ delay/cancellation on only a 6 day turn-around (plus meeting others on the Gold Coast so would have been messy if massively delayed). QF having to stop in SYD price good but didn't want to have to stop (when travelling with minidoc nonstop is better!).
The return VA prices were quite high and QF were on sale, so easy choice.
VA I got row 7, no block of 3 to move as departure approached so stayed in 7.
QF initially row 11, at T-80 got row 6. 4DE opened up but stayed in 6 to have three together.
Checkin/Lounge:
Straight to counter, bps issued, VA lounge in Mel is being renovated so fairly full on a weekday afternoon (albeit school holidays). Food selection so-so. But almost identical to QF's in Bne, lounge there was busy too. Kids area in QF lounge with movie for minidoc to watch was excellent, bottles of water in fridge there too . VA had nothing like this but he was fascinated watching the planes load / unload. The copilot waved to him as the plane at the nearest gate was backing out (a nice touch!). Lounge staff seemed friendlier at VA.
VA let us gate check the stroller.
QF don't - a massive win for VA there.
Seats:
New BSI 737-800 both aircraft.
Seat back system with over ear headphones on QF, own device with wifi for VA. Both had good selection. Over ear headphones much better for minidoc, and less juggling of stuff.
VA seat definitely was more comfortable for us with my knees NOT jammed into the seat in front (unlike QF). Very noticeable.
Food:
VA - we bought a Twix ($3), had eaten in lounge and had water with us plus snacks for minidoc. My opinion is they should have a limited selection of free drinks and charge for food.
QF - midday flight so supposedly "lunch" - but lunch was a half soggy/half crunchy potato and chorizo pastie - terrible. Dont know why they bother - but then they need to for differentiation (from JQ). But the "meal" food is so hopeless now it's almost worse than nothing. Embarrassing really for QF that they offer something so awful. Soft drinks free. We got an apple for minidoc.
I noted the CSM come with manifest and say hello to a couple of WPs in rows 4&5. Got one a crown from J.
Both flights essentially on time (VA arr 5 mins early, QF arr 10 mins late - weather in MEL).
Baggage:
Three checked bags - VA in the first 10 bags out, QF first 30. QF quite slow to start delivery. Stroller came with oversize luggage on VA (very quickly), on belt with QF (also quickly).
Why does QF have 4 carousels in Mel and then have 4 flights all on one, with one each on two and none on the other? Pax formed a better scrum than the Wallabies.
QF also had three staff sitting at the oversize counter doing seemingly nothing (other than talking to each other).
Overall:
Not much to choose between them.
Which in a way is good as a consumer - I can choose on price and schedule and have decent experience on both. But all else equal the marginally better seat pitch (I'm 6'4") and the happier staff edge virgin in front. But it's so line ball - VA have made a lot of ground in a short time.
VA allowing gate check of strollers is a massive advantage when travelling with young children.
The VA staff seem happier and more genuine in their engagement with the pax - QF staff seem a bit less engaged and more trying to stay "on script" rather than being warm or genuine. It does vary between specific staff (not saying you cant get the opposite result) but overall that was my (and mrsdoc's) impression. That may be why some reports on here of inconsistencies in VA occur.
If you've made it this far - well done and I'm happy to take questions!
