MarkD
Established Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2011
- Posts
- 1,274
- Qantas
- Silver
- Virgin
- Platinum
BNE-MEL-BNE J Class
Thought I would share my recent J class Status run with youall.
BNE-MEL Business Class
737-800 refit VH-VOZ
I’m not a usual J class traveller, however with Virginsrecent batch of J sales; I grabbed a $200 each way BNE-MEL-BNE ticket androcketed to Platinum J
Quite good value, 120SC for $400, and the opportunity to tryout what is described here as a refined product by some, ordinary by others.Took my 8 year old along as well, which will kick start my renewal of Platinumfor next year, as I pooled his credits to me.
The day started at the Virgin BrisbaneValet Parking, although not actually Virgin, Its BAC, it’s still very good and quick;basically I consider it good value, compared to stuffing around finding a parketc. Dropped car at 9.35, I was inside terminal at 9.38. I wandered up tosecurity, being a Long weekend, right in the middle of the school holidays, itwas a nightmare. Wandered around to priority security, there was a VA stafferthere guarding the line, and seeing my gold tags, welcomed me through to an emptyline. I even avoided the explosives test for the first time in about 5 years,thought to myself “It’s going to be a good day”. I made my way up to theLounge, as usual, no issues there, and the staff are excellent as always usualskinny cappuccino, which was pretty good, then a fatty muffin, Don’t know why Ibothered with the skinny cappuccino ????
Sort of over lounges at the moment,so didn’t stick around long, and with the weather warming up wandered into the terminalfor a spot of people watching, which I might add was quite exceptional today J
A late gate change, and then someother problems saw boarding called around 15 minutes late, as is the case mostof the time, priority boarding worked well, and the priority line was enforced.
Took up my seat in 1B, there wereonly four of us in the J cabin, was offered water or Juice prior to takeoff.
At this point everything wasexceptional, however, after takeoff, when meal service was to start, the LCCreared its head, there was nothing loaded for “Lunch Meal service” This was a2.25 hr flight scheduled to depart at 11.55am, actual depart 12.15pm, and wasnot considered a lunch flight. The cabin crew were good, with the supervisorapologising, and you could tell he was embarrassed that this was being sold asBusiness Class.
Lunch provided to 8 YO.
Galaxy TAB
Meal and TABs on the trays together
The crew were great, attentive, anddid the best with what they had, but the fact remained, and was obvious to atraveller who spends 99% of their travel up the back, any meal / food we gotwas unwrapped economy stuff served on a plate. They tried their best to sweetenit up, but a New Yorker is still a New Yorker, and a packet of nuts / pretzelsis still that, even when served in a bowl. It’s not a Business class meal, andit never could be.
Drinks were topped up as required,and eventually, I reclined and they left me alone.
On Landing, the Business classcabin was blocked, we left the plane, and then economy class was allowed toleave.
Summary of this trip
Cabin crew 9/10
Lounge 9/10
Priority Boarding / Security 10/10
Value for money (Based on full fareJ) 5/10
Return Flight,
B737-800 BSI VH-YFJ
Security was a breeze at MEL andagain, there was a VA staffer there to enforce entitlements, again, noexplosives test, woohoo. Wandered up to the gate, and again a gate change, butwe still boarded on time, and departure was 5 minutes late.
Again the cabin crew werefantastic, better than the crew on the way down, but again, even if they arethe best crew, if they are not provided the goods they cannot deliver, andcatering really is substandard for the premium of a J fare.
We were offered a pastry scroll andsome strawberry thing, both of which were OK for a snack, however this was a5-7.15pm flight and really should have been dinner service, again that’s justmy humble opinion, and maybe I’m expecting too much.
Was handed Galaxy Tabs on thisflight and they are actually OK, content is not what I would watch, and I foundmyself looking out the window a short time later, but that’s a personal thing,and what I find uninteresting, the bloke next to me will find awesome, theywill never please everyone with content, and today was my day at not liking anyof the content L
The flight in general was great, Ijust love the BSI 737’s almost as much as a 767J,and the flight was over after the obligatory 15 minutes over Beaudesert in aholding pattern
In summary, my personal views ofBusiness class on Virgin……. The crew are great, the aircraft are modern, cleanand well presented, the ground side of things is excellent in every way, theseats were comfortable, legroom sufficient for domestic flights, the food /catering was terrible.
So it does appear they are nearlythere, a small bit of cash invested in decent catering and they would have awinner.
Would I fly J again on Virgin? For $200,hell yeah, for the points SC and nice seat. For $815 as the current BNE-MELfare is, not a chance
I have more images of the food, will upload those when I can work out how to reduce the size of the images
Thanks for reading
Thought I would share my recent J class Status run with youall.
BNE-MEL Business Class
737-800 refit VH-VOZ
I’m not a usual J class traveller, however with Virginsrecent batch of J sales; I grabbed a $200 each way BNE-MEL-BNE ticket androcketed to Platinum J
Quite good value, 120SC for $400, and the opportunity to tryout what is described here as a refined product by some, ordinary by others.Took my 8 year old along as well, which will kick start my renewal of Platinumfor next year, as I pooled his credits to me.
The day started at the Virgin BrisbaneValet Parking, although not actually Virgin, Its BAC, it’s still very good and quick;basically I consider it good value, compared to stuffing around finding a parketc. Dropped car at 9.35, I was inside terminal at 9.38. I wandered up tosecurity, being a Long weekend, right in the middle of the school holidays, itwas a nightmare. Wandered around to priority security, there was a VA stafferthere guarding the line, and seeing my gold tags, welcomed me through to an emptyline. I even avoided the explosives test for the first time in about 5 years,thought to myself “It’s going to be a good day”. I made my way up to theLounge, as usual, no issues there, and the staff are excellent as always usualskinny cappuccino, which was pretty good, then a fatty muffin, Don’t know why Ibothered with the skinny cappuccino ????
Sort of over lounges at the moment,so didn’t stick around long, and with the weather warming up wandered into the terminalfor a spot of people watching, which I might add was quite exceptional today J
A late gate change, and then someother problems saw boarding called around 15 minutes late, as is the case mostof the time, priority boarding worked well, and the priority line was enforced.
Took up my seat in 1B, there wereonly four of us in the J cabin, was offered water or Juice prior to takeoff.
At this point everything wasexceptional, however, after takeoff, when meal service was to start, the LCCreared its head, there was nothing loaded for “Lunch Meal service” This was a2.25 hr flight scheduled to depart at 11.55am, actual depart 12.15pm, and wasnot considered a lunch flight. The cabin crew were good, with the supervisorapologising, and you could tell he was embarrassed that this was being sold asBusiness Class.
Lunch provided to 8 YO.
Galaxy TAB
Meal and TABs on the trays together
The crew were great, attentive, anddid the best with what they had, but the fact remained, and was obvious to atraveller who spends 99% of their travel up the back, any meal / food we gotwas unwrapped economy stuff served on a plate. They tried their best to sweetenit up, but a New Yorker is still a New Yorker, and a packet of nuts / pretzelsis still that, even when served in a bowl. It’s not a Business class meal, andit never could be.
Drinks were topped up as required,and eventually, I reclined and they left me alone.
On Landing, the Business classcabin was blocked, we left the plane, and then economy class was allowed toleave.
Summary of this trip
Cabin crew 9/10
Lounge 9/10
Priority Boarding / Security 10/10
Value for money (Based on full fareJ) 5/10
Return Flight,
B737-800 BSI VH-YFJ
Security was a breeze at MEL andagain, there was a VA staffer there to enforce entitlements, again, noexplosives test, woohoo. Wandered up to the gate, and again a gate change, butwe still boarded on time, and departure was 5 minutes late.
Again the cabin crew werefantastic, better than the crew on the way down, but again, even if they arethe best crew, if they are not provided the goods they cannot deliver, andcatering really is substandard for the premium of a J fare.
We were offered a pastry scroll andsome strawberry thing, both of which were OK for a snack, however this was a5-7.15pm flight and really should have been dinner service, again that’s justmy humble opinion, and maybe I’m expecting too much.
Was handed Galaxy Tabs on thisflight and they are actually OK, content is not what I would watch, and I foundmyself looking out the window a short time later, but that’s a personal thing,and what I find uninteresting, the bloke next to me will find awesome, theywill never please everyone with content, and today was my day at not liking anyof the content L
The flight in general was great, Ijust love the BSI 737’s almost as much as a 767J,and the flight was over after the obligatory 15 minutes over Beaudesert in aholding pattern
In summary, my personal views ofBusiness class on Virgin……. The crew are great, the aircraft are modern, cleanand well presented, the ground side of things is excellent in every way, theseats were comfortable, legroom sufficient for domestic flights, the food /catering was terrible.
So it does appear they are nearlythere, a small bit of cash invested in decent catering and they would have awinner.
Would I fly J again on Virgin? For $200,hell yeah, for the points SC and nice seat. For $815 as the current BNE-MELfare is, not a chance
I have more images of the food, will upload those when I can work out how to reduce the size of the images
Thanks for reading
