Best Y product between Australia & USA?

[wafliron]

I'm flying MEL-ORD return in Y later this year, and from a few quick searches it looks QF, UA, NZ & VA are all about the same price / travel time (or at least close enough that I don't care about the small differences).

Given this is my first trip to the USA, I'm wondering if anyone would mind sharing their opinion about which of these carriers offer the best Y product on their Aus-USA routes?

I'm QF WQ, VA WP and *A Gold so status benefits aren't a big part of the equation (except for the QF FLounge being in a league of it's own when departing MEL I guess). I have a minor preference for being able to credit SCs & points to QF or VA (in that order), but it's not a particularly big concern - would only influence my decision if I'm choosing between otherwise-equivalent options.

Thanks!

 

[The Rok]

As a VA Platinum you have a much better shot at an OP-UP than on QF.

 

[docjames]

UA is by far the worst.

QF 380 (or refitted 744) is pretty hard to beat, but agree if VA Plat, their Y product is on a par with QF's if you want to hope for an upgrade.

Oh, the combo VA to LAX and VX to ORD would be a good pick (AA Y is terrible and that's what you'll get booked through QF).

 

[wafliron]

As a VA Platinum you have a much better shot at an OP-UP than on QF.

Thanks for the info - do you say that based on personal experience , or is VA's op-up policy known to be more "generous" than QF's (I know QF's is "only if genuinely required", but not VA's)?

Just been reading a bit more, and looks like one downside to the Virgin option is no lounge access when flying VX for the internal USA flights (LAX-ORD and ORD-LAX) though :-(

 

[The Rok]

Thanks for the info - do you say that based on personal experience , or is VA's op-up policy known to be more "generous" than QF's (I know QF's is "only if genuinely required", but not VA's)?

Just been reading a bit more, and looks like one downside to the Virgin option is no lounge access when flying VX for the internal USA flights (LAX-ORD and ORD-LAX) though :-(

Its down to personal experience.

For the domestic USA flights fly Delta and I think you might have lounge access. In general US lounges are cough so it is not a deciding factor for my US flights. Half the US lounges dont even have showers which I think is the most important part of a lounge.

 

[Noob]

VA has the greatest seat pitch and width out of any carrier on this route at 32 inches and 18.8 inches respectively.

The cabin also feels more spacious and less bus like due to the 3-3-3 cabin configuration.

My preference order would be VA, QF, NZ, UA.

 

[wafliron]

UA is by far the worst.

Thanks, will scrub them off the list.

QF 380 (or refitted 744) is pretty hard to beat, but agree if VA Plat, their Y product is on a par with QF's if you want to hope for an upgrade.

Oh, the combo VA to LAX and VX to ORD would be a good pick (AA Y is terrible and that's what you'll get booked through QF).

Thanks again - good to see some consensus appearing here

Its down to personal experience.

OK, thanks. What sort of strike rate have you had on VA international?

For the domestic USA flights fly Delta and I think you might have lounge access. In general US lounges are cough so it is not a deciding factor for my US flights. Half the US lounges dont even have showers which I think is the most important part of a lounge.

Thanks, good to know - and agree re the showers. Is there some trick to getting a VA itinerary with Delta instead of VX for the domestic legs? I've tried a few searches on both WebJet and VA's own website, and in all cases it's only offering me VX for the LAX-ORD and ORD-LAX legs.

VA has the greatest seat pitch and width out of any carrier on this route at 32 inches and 18.8 inches respectively.

The cabin also feels more spacious and less bus like due to the 3-3-3 cabin configuration.

Thanks, great info re the seats. Isn't 3-3-3 normal on a 777 - as far as I can recall all 777s I've travelled on have been 3-3-3? Or did you mean in contrast to a A380 / 747 with QF?

My preference order would be VA, QF, NZ, UA.

Tah. Sounds like it might come down to how likely I think I am to get a VA upgrade, and/or how much I want to get into the QF FLounge

 

[MadFairlane]

Just don't fly the day I am from MEL to LA on VA...

You'll kybosh my op-up chances... HAHAHA

 

[Deewhy]

I've flown delta between syd and lax. Felt like a low cost airline rather when compared to say singapore air. That will get you VA points. I'd do it again if the price was right (cheaper than the others) otherwise id give VA or QF a go. Delta use the Air NZ Koru Club in Sydney. Didn't go into the lax delta lounge (I know others that have and apparently it isn't much to report about.

UA use old 747 and doesn't have personal video screens. Last time I flew that was 10 yrs ago and it seems like the same planes are being used. I remeber one of their execs being quoted last year as saying they need to update their Aus to US fleet or they will lose out to the competition. So I'd steer clear of the product for now.

 

[wafliron]

Just don't fly the day I am from MEL to LA on VA...

You'll kybosh my op-up chances... HAHAHA

Ditto!

I've flown delta between syd and lax. Felt like a low cost airline rather when compared to say singapore air. That will get you VA points. I'd do it again if the price was right (cheaper than the others) otherwise id give VA or QF a go. Delta use the Air NZ Koru Club in Sydney. Didn't go into the lax delta lounge (I know others that have and apparently it isn't much to report about.

UA use old 747 and doesn't have personal video screens. Last time I flew that was 10 yrs ago and it seems like the same planes are being used. I remeber one of their execs being quoted last year as saying they need to update their Aus to US fleet or they will lose out to the competition. So I'd steer clear of the product for now.

Thanks Deewhy - another vote for VA or QF. Re UA and no VOD - ick, that's pretty pathetic in this day and age. No wonder UA were the cheapest of the bunch!

 

[docjames]

Thanks, great info re the seats. Isn't 3-3-3 normal on a 777 - as far as I can recall all 777s I've travelled on have been 3-3-3? Or did you mean in contrast to a A380 / 747 with QF?

NZ (777) are 3-4-3 in Y. (As are EK and many others).

A380 and 744 (QF and UA) are 3-4-3.

VA and DL 777s are 3-3-3.

 

[Deewhy]

One other option is NZ Y with sky couch. They charge $200 if you have the 3 seats already, otherwise 50% for a third seat if you have purchased two seats. That is only on the akl-us segment. Maybe worth a look depending on how many pax you have.

 

[Alanslegal]

Choose QF Y and enter the J upgrade lottery. Worse case is earn quite a few frequent flyer points as a WP.

 

[notzac]

If purely in terms of service and seat comfort - for me it's either VA or QF (but only on the A380 - the 747 service is sub-par IMHO .. I don't know if the 747 is getting the refitted Y seats either :?.

NZ is definitely an option, but transiting through AKL isn't something I'd choose voluntarily. I wouldn't go out of my way to fly with a US carrier trans-pacific, but that's just me. DL would definitely be better than UA if you weren't ruling them out.

I think I've probably made things more confusing

 

[wafliron]

NZ (777) are 3-4-3 in Y. (As are EK and many others).

Righto, thanks - most of my 777 flying has been on SQ and Thai, who are both 3-3-3. I had flown an EK 777 before but must've forgotten it being 3-4-3.

One other option is NZ Y with sky couch. They charge $200 if you have the 3 seats already, otherwise 50% for a third seat if you have purchased two seats. That is only on the akl-us segment. Maybe worth a look depending on how many pax you have.

Thanks for the suggestion, but only one pax so no-go.

Choose QF Y and enter the J upgrade lottery. Worse case is earn quite a few frequent flyer points as a WP.

I did consider that, but I'll be in discount Y so likely in a non-upgradable fare class. Also, even if I'm in an upgradable fare class the upgrade cost is pretty hefty from disc Y -> J (about 110k return after deducting points earnt on flight)... all in all if I want to do this I'd probably be better off trying to get QF to release a couple of extra J award seats for me.

If purely in terms of service and seat comfort - for me it's either VA or QF (but only on the A380 - the 747 service is sub-par IMHO .. I don't know if the 747 is getting the refitted Y seats either

).

If I go QF I'll be OK with 747, as if it's not A380 (via LAX) it'll be one of the SYD-DFW 747s - so I'll either get a non-refit which means a PE seat on a Y ticket, or a refit (which does get new Y seats AFAIK).

NZ is definitely an option, but transiting through AKL isn't something I'd choose voluntarily. I wouldn't go out of my way to fly with a US carrier trans-pacific, but that's just me. DL would definitely be better than UA if you weren't ruling them out.

I think I've probably made things more confusing

It sounds like and consensus is QF or VA anyway, so I won't bother with NZ either. Thanks for your input

 

[wafliron]

As a VA Platinum you have a much better shot at an OP-UP than on QF.

Just been doing some checking on EF, and assuming current loadings are typical I do like the op-up chances (as a genuine op-up, not just because they're being nice to premium pax).

Had a look at availability and seat maps of MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL for the next few days, and in most cases (according to seat map) the Y and Y+ cabins are chockers but quite a few spare seats in J, and they're still listing Y and Y+ availability (suggesting they'd like to sell more Y/Y+ and op-up a few pax I assume).

 

[trooper]

NZ's 744 (AKL-SFO) has a seat pitch of 34"...

Not sure how VA's 32" is better than that!

+1 on UA being the worst choice....

 

[The Rok]

Just been doing some checking on EF, and assuming current loadings are typical I do like the op-up chances (as a genuine op-up, not just because they're being nice to premium pax).

Had a look at availability and seat maps of MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL for the next few days, and in most cases (according to seat map) the Y and Y+ cabins are chockers but quite a few spare seats in J, and they're still listing Y and Y+ availability (suggesting they'd like to sell more Y/Y+ and op-up a few pax I assume).

That and the fact that VA have a history or randomly upgrading status PAX gives the OP his best chance of a bed for the flight.

 

[clifford]

NZ's 744 (AKL-SFO) has a seat pitch of 34"...

Not sure how VA's 32" is better than that!

+1 on UA being the worst choice....

Hi Trooper,

I agree, NZ's 744's would be a good choice, as long as you received some FF points.

And from what I have heard, VA will only serve you one drink for the entire flight, and grudgingly at that. What kind of airline is that?

I'd put it behind UA, but they have taken away my 100% mileage benefit.

So just fly the cute one.

 

[notzac]

And from what I have heard, VA will only serve you one drink for the entire flight, and grudgingly at that. What kind of airline is that?

Been a while since that was in place - AFAIK you can get as many "complimentary coughtails" in whY as RSA says you can consume...