Business class Launch [Double SC Promo - Ended 29 Feb 12]

[samh004]

I wonder if QF will also offer double SC

If they do I’m sure I’ll be disappointed, with most of my J flights prior to Australia Day

 

[dfcatch]

Only 4 guests now in the E190 J cabin -

• Exclusive leather seats in the first 2 rows of the aircraft
• 4 seats* – spread over 2 rows, with 2 seats per row (window seats only)
• 34 inches (85cm) of legroom

So... Premium Economy with the adjacent seat blocked...??

Like i said - some disappointed premium pax ex CNS considering the fanfare in the newspaper about "Business Class" now on all flights to SYD/MEL/BNE.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Only 4 guests now in the E190 J cabin -

• Exclusive leather seats in the first 2 rows of the aircraft
• 4 seats* – spread over 2 rows, with 2 seats per row (window seats only)
• 34 inches (85cm) of legroom

With regard to the window seats only, the DJ announcement said window seats had to be assigned for take off and aisle seats could then be requested from the FA.............that says to me, E90 J class won't even get the tray table that 737 PE used to have. Effectively, they get a shaddow, which many of us get as a courtesy anyway, even when flying saver!

I wonder if the seat issue is something as simple as they want the E90s to be a multipurpose aircraft, or whether it has something to do with the approved J seat availability from Embraer. It surely can't be price.

Im looking at taking advantage of the Double SC on Biz from 26th Jan - 29th Feb in the quest to final kick over to Gold.
I quickly pulled together a table on $ per SC for EX SYDNEY based on Biz Double SC Promo.

Perth

3

160

$1,399

$8.74

Great work, thanks......maybe your post, gwilli1, could be copied into the Virgin Status Run Master Thread for future easy reference!

Now is my memory playing tricks on me, or was SYD-PER in J last year only $1299? Price rise already :shock:

 

[serfty]

...

I wonder if the seat issue is something as simple as they want the E90s to be a multipurpose aircraft, or whether it has something to do with the approved J seat availability from Embraer. It surely can't be price.
...

See this thread: (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....a-e190-business-class-35369-2.html#post545245)

This now seems to be the case (as distinct from my "business" E190 flight last last month when I could select from 1A/C/D/F).

I just checked a booking for an upcoming E190 flight in business, here's the selectable seating:

I would hope so, or even better go 1x2.

I have a Business E190 flight in May with SWMBO.

This is what one sees if booking for 2:

View attachment 5394

I really hope they convert these to 1x2 ...

 

[markis10]

The seat assignment is temporary until new seats I suspect, my partner and I were assigned 1a and C for next weeks E190 flight.

 

[serfty]

The seat assignment is temporary until new seats I suspect, my partner and I were assigned 1a and C for next weeks E190 flight.

The second image is for the seat auto-assign on a dummy booking for 2 PAX with a flight this Sunday. That is, was 1A/F with no on-line option to sit together. (I could have chosen any combination of the four seats, including 1A/2F )

 

[777]

Seriously. How the hell have we managed to get through nearly 2 full days of this without a trip report?

Someone? Anyone?

 

[juliusg]

Seriously. How the hell have we managed to get through nearly 2 full days of this without a trip report?

Someone? Anyone?

Here's my pseudo report.

I was in 3C this morning on the 7.45 to Mel (ex Syd) when the guy in 3F got promoted to 2D (biz). So I could see him get a nice purple tray, with what looked like a croissant and condiments, and lots of attention. Water in a nice class, cup of tea (twice), and plenty of unhurried fawning from Number 5 crewmember.

There were 4 biz seats occupied. Looked the same on the 5.30pm Mel>Syd on the way home, whereas every other seat on the 737-800 is chocka. I looked online early today to change out my return flight as I was booked on the 5pm. The Flexi fares were over $300, mine was for $199 so I felt I could not swap without paying. As it was, I MISSED the 5pm (first ever missed flight) and the lounge angel in Melb just rebooked me on the 5.30. No extra to pay.

I am Gold.

I also had The Hotdog in the Melb lounge, along with a frosty cold beer.

Priority security queue and boarding worked ace, as did the Valet park and curb lounge entry in Sydney.

All we need now is a breakfast option, the Flexi fare meal offering was a Danish, muesli bar, and a fruity drink going down. Declined the return offer.

Gotta say, what a transformation we are seeing from the daggy beige uniforms, buy everything outfit of just EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

Four ticks.

 

[RBC]

Tonights 6pm BNE > SYD

Non refurbished plane - didn't get reg.
Certainly wouldnt have bee happy if I paid business fare for it.
Dedicated business host looked after them well onboard.

I was in 3C on Saver fare - looking forward to my complimentary wine or beer. However, it appears the way they go about serving the economy xabin has changed. As a result myself and other golds n plats towards the front of the plane received NIL service. For me that is 100% less service I received even having to pay for a beverage.

Hate to say it, but a truley underwhelming experience this evening for me. And likwise other platinums on savers sat near me.

Im hoping this is teething problems, I have another 2 flights next week to find out. If there is going to be nil service for elite passengers on flights that are comparative to QF fares, then this is an issue for me very quickly.

 

[jaspon]

Tonights 6pm BNE > SYD

Non refurbished plane - didn't get reg.
.

that was a 700, VH VBV

regards to the service not sure what happened on this flight, but the catering company who supplies virgin, gate gourmet, are having alot of issues in keeping up with the new changes and maybe that affected the service flow for crew.
either way still doesnt justify NIL service for you.
Did you query the lack of service?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I can't recall, but are the 700s going to be refitted or not? If not, surely they can't offer J on them!

 

[DSFlyer]

I can't recall, but are the 700s going to be refitted or not? If not, surely they can't offer J on them!

I came back on a 700 tonight which had the first row removed on the left hand side of the aircraft (starts with row2) and the new bulkhead in place at the front. It also had some drop down dividers from the overhead bins to give the impression of a separate cabin, however the seats were still the old premium seats and the rest of the plane had not had any refit. There were only 6 seats in premium

 

[lovestotravel]

So double Velocity points....

So on a J fare, that would be 10 points per $1 AND then a 50% bonus for Silver ?

 

[RBC]

either way still doesnt justify NIL service for you.
Did you query the lack of service?

No didn't query it. There was nobody around to query it with in all honesty. They served 2flex passengers in row 3, and they were gone for the rest of the flight stating they will serve non flexi customers after... until 'prepare cabin for landing'. Maybe flexi is the new tier above Plat

Previously flight had a trolley going through serving flexi, followed directly behind serving drinks and paid for items. On this flight both appeared to be dedicated purely to flexi...and spent most of their time stuck at the back of the plane.
Only person present at the front was the J host, who was busy and deicatedcin front galley preparing and serving meals for the 3 J passengers (shepards pie).
I'm happy to maybe put this down to teething problems, but really is a case of under delivery on a promise with all the hype they have made about it.
The J product looks good, it has to be said...but if im going to start using it I will definately not want a 700

 

[Jack Melon]

I can't recall, but are the 700s going to be refitted or not? If not, surely they can't offer J on them!

There is around 13 or 14 737-700's left in the fleet. Only 2 will be re-configured and I think they already have been which is VH-VBY and VH-VBZ. All the rest are ending there leases around about now, they wont bother re-configuring them, its pretty obvious and it has been stated and posted elsewhere on several occasions. Same go with the few leased 737-800's.

 

[Moopere]

J passengers (shepards pie).

Mmm. I've had that and it was good

I'm happy to maybe put this down to teething problems, but really is a case of under delivery on a promise with all the hype they have made about it.

Late December I flew a flexi on DJ and got a fairly mediocre Mediterranean 'wrap'. I also remember hearing that they would look after the Flexi's first and then serve paying customers (or whatever the blurb was). As per your anecdote above though I don't ever remember seeing the crew again. It was a red-eye, perhaps thats the reason? Or, perhaps the expectation is that you'll press the call button and then an FA will serve you? If the latter it might be worth their while actually telling people this.

 

[Moopere]

There is around 13 or 14 737-700's left in the fleet. Only 2 will be re-configured and I think they already have been which is VH-VBY and VH-VBZ. All the rest are ending there leases around about now, they wont bother re-configuring them, its pretty obvious and it has been stated and posted elsewhere on several occasions. Same go with the few leased 737-800's.

Good to know though. I'll keep a watch out and not book those.

I had forgotten about the end of lease and would have assumed that the rollout ot J is complete as of the 18th and all planes selling J would be fitted with J.

 

[lovestotravel]

Good to know though. I'll keep a watch out and not book those.

I had forgotten about the end of lease and would have assumed that the rollout ot J is complete as of the 18th and all planes selling J would be fitted with J.

Indeed I do remember being heavily criticized by a few on here when I gave VA a serve for announcing bits and pieces of their new product A330/IFE/Menu etc etc, and I was told that VA likes to announce things once it's been FULLY rolled out..........

Now on quite a few flights I was looking at booking business class, they are on 737-700's so that means no business class....

Let's say 12 of these operating, that's STILL about 20% of their 737 fleet

That being said, by the end of this year business will be on all 737's but the lack of IFE is still a sticking point for me....

Finally, even with all that I will be Platinum on VA by April so even the lack of IFE can't worry me that much LOL

 

[MarkD]

Mmm. I've had that and it was good




Late December I flew a flexi on DJ and got a fairly mediocre Mediterranean 'wrap'. I also remember hearing that they would look after the Flexi's first and then serve paying customers (or whatever the blurb was). As per your anecdote above though I don't ever remember seeing the crew again. It was a red-eye, perhaps thats the reason? Or, perhaps the expectation is that you'll press the call button and then an FA will serve you? If the latter it might be worth their while actually telling people this.

Regardless of what the reason, or the flight, they are advertising free tea and coffee, I would have thought even a run through to serve what they advertise as free, would not be expecting too much. It wasn't an issue with turbulence/ seatbelt sign on for some reason was it? Just throwing that out there to be fair

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Regardless of what the reason, or the flight, they are advertising free tea and coffee, I would have thought even a run through to serve what they advertise as free, would not be expecting too much.

I'm tending to think they must not have had food loaded. I've dove lots of the BNE-SYD and OOL-SYD hops and I've never experienced a no food/beveridge offering although I can once recall being down the back of the bus (pre status) and having the trolley sevice finish before reaching me. It may be plausible that they delayed/prolonged flexi food delivery simply because they knew they had no other food to offer.


Without wanting to sound like a broken record, ife with ordering/payment options would go a long way to resolving this. I did note on my MEL-BNE on Tuesday that the FAs were becoming quite skilled in the delivery. From row 3, I could observe 3 FAs......FA 1 attended to PE (J) predominently, FA 2 organised the flexi meal hand out to FA 3, who did the delivery up the aisle. The coughpit crew were attended to by FA 2 with FA 1 acting as door guard for her whilst FA 3 was up the aisle delivering flexis. It all went very well. I was impressed and it meant the trolley was starting very quickly. I assume FAs 4&5 did a similar routine to FAs 2 &3, but down the back of the bus. If ife had ordering facility, the flexi method displayed could be replicated for the purchases and the tea/coffee offered after that as walk through with the coffee/tea pots and it'd all work so well.