Fiji Airways or Virgin - recent experiences?

[GCC]

Planning a family holiday to Fiji, 2 adults + 5 & 2 YO daughters traveling Y. For the outbound flight from SYD I have a choice of Virgin departing 10.45 and FJ departing 1.00PM.

FJ gives me QF lounge access and FF points, but not sure about seat selection etc as QF WP? Plane is showing as A330.

Virgin arrives earlier so better in that respect, I have 2 lounge passes as a Velocity silver member. Plane is showing as 734, which is the downside as we're a family of four.

Just wondering if anyone has recent experience on either flight that might help with the decision?

 

[snabbu]

Planning a family holiday to Fiji, 2 adults + 5 & 2 YO daughters traveling Y. For the outbound flight from SYD I have a choice of Virgin departing 10.45 and FJ departing 1.00PM.

FJ gives me QF lounge access and FF points, but not sure about seat selection etc as QF WP? Plane is showing as A330.

Virgin arrives earlier so better in that respect, I have 2 lounge passes as a Velocity silver member. Plane is showing as 734, which is the downside as we're a family of four.

Just wondering if anyone has recent experience on either flight that might help with the decision?

On QF391 next week, furthest forward I could select upon booking was row 21 on the 332. FWIW IME seating allocations on FJ metal using the QF codeshare NEVER stick.

 

[Ewing]

FWIW IME seating allocations on FJ metal using the QF codeshare NEVER stick.

I've had success in J, but in Y yes - the seating did not stick at all.

 

[Ansett]

I've had success in J, but in Y yes - the seating did not stick at all.

Have never had an issue always book QF flight number and do seat allocation on FJ website.

Personally the QF F lounge as a WP versus the VA Lounge is a no brainer and then again the FJ A330 with IFE and a bigger cabin vs a 737 and no IFE again no brainer for me.

 

[eric2011]

Planning a family holiday to Fiji, 2 adults + 5 & 2 YO daughters traveling Y. For the outbound flight from SYD I have a choice of Virgin departing 10.45 and FJ departing 1.00PM.

FJ gives me QF lounge access and FF points, but not sure about seat selection etc as QF WP? Plane is showing as A330.

Virgin arrives earlier so better in that respect, I have 2 lounge passes as a Velocity silver member. Plane is showing as 734, which is the downside as we're a family of four.

Just wondering if anyone has recent experience on either flight that might help with the decision?

I have recent activity with FJ and I like them. The 330 is a better option than the 737 IMO. My only concern would be there recent reliability problems. It only takes 1 mishap and it virtually cripples them for days.

 

[dodgeyhack]

I've had success in J, but in Y yes - the seating did not stick at all.

It's always been ok for me. Bassinet rows (so the front row) is blocked, but all else available for WP.
The 330 is way more pleasant than a 737 for me. This is partly because of the paired window seats, which is less of a benefit with > 2 seats booked.
Ensure you book with QF flight number for lounge access.

 

[clazman]

I found the food in Fiji J the worst I have experienced... something to keep in mind i was surprised at the size of the average Fijian trying to squeeze into Y

 

[GCC]

Thanks for the reports, hard to go past the A330 so long as it actually departs and arrives when it should.

FJ fares are substantially cheaper than the QF codeshare, especially as FJ have discount fares for children.

If I book myself on the QF code and the family on FJ tickets, what are my chances of being able to guest them into the F Lounge? They would technically be travelling on the same flight, even if not the same flight number.

 

[Fifa]

We flew to NAN in May.
QF codeshare and I was able to select seats 15A & 15B which stuck (booked in Feb).
The food was truly the worst airline meal I have ever had and went uneaten. Luckily we had enjoyed a delicious lunch in the F Lounge so no loss.

 

[MelUser]

QF Lounge staff in Sydney seem to get a kick out of excluding you if you are on a FJ flight number. One time I had to pull out the QF issued Etickets and show them that we were on QF code shares as this didn't show on melbourne QF domestic issued boarding passes.

Out of Melbourne - no brainer - VA wins due to mad FJ schedule - planes leave at midnight.

Word of warning - I just came back from Fiji last week on VA. If you are travelling with children in Y the back of the plane is better due to toilets. I and a number of other parents had an argument with the CSM.purser/whatever s/he is called about using the J toilets because of 3 trolleys and plane full and answer was no - VA company policy meant he couldn't let us use the forward toilet. Didn't help that one rear toilet became unserviceable.

Thanks for the reports, hard to go past the A330 so long as it actually departs and arrives when it should.

FJ fares are substantially cheaper than the QF codeshare, especially as FJ have discount fares for children.

If I book myself on the QF code and the family on FJ tickets, what are my chances of being able to guest them into the F Lounge? They would technically be travelling on the same flight, even if not the same flight number.

 

[dodgeyhack]

QF Lounge staff in Sydney seem to get a kick out of excluding you if you are on a FJ flight number. One time I had to pull out the QF issued Etickets and show them that we were on QF code shares as this didn't show on melbourne QF domestic issued boarding passes.

Yeah, last time we went, the lounge staff seemed to make a really big deal about checking that we had a QF flight number.
They also called the flight so late that we were the last on board and the gate looked pretty much closed when we got there.

 

[GCC]

Our last Fiji trip was around three years ago, and traveling on the FJ flight number we were denied access to the F Lounge, but politely told that as a WP we could use the J lounge. My understanding though is that this has since changed, and regardless of FF status there is only lounge access if you are on the QF code. Is that correct?

My other question, If I am WP and traveling on the QF code share flight can I bring a guest into the lounge who is traveling on the same flight but booked on a FJ ticket?

 

[snabbu]

Have never had an issue always book QF flight number and do seat allocation on FJ website.

I'll remember that for next time!

Allocated myself 19D straight after making the booking, at check in given 30B. Asked if there were any of the middle aisles left, was given 35G, ugh.

Goes without saying the deplaning/immigration process was not fun nor quick.

 

[dodgeyhack]

FWIW IME seating allocations on FJ metal using the QF codeshare NEVER stick.

This has now struck me - hadn't happened in the past.

For both travelling parties (on two separate tickets), I can select seats and they stick for the person selecting, but not for the other person.
The seat for the second person does show as occupied however - both on QFF MMB and expertflyer. So I'm not sure if the allocation is working, but the subsequent querying isn't, or what.

According to Qantas, there's a glitch in the system which is something to do with seats being marked a particular way.
But this must be time dependent. Seat selection worked fine when we first booked. It's just closer to the date it's now not working.

Haven't been able to select seats on the FJ site with either PNR. The button is greyed out.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I don't think anyone has mentioned yet that VA have no lounge access in NAN.
You could pay to use the FJ lounge but as it only opens to service the FJ/QF flights it probably won't even be open while you're waiting for a VA flight.
It certainly wasn't when I was there.

 

[MarkD]

Paying for lounge access is not good value unless you have a decent stopover and need a shower. Even then only if it long haul

 

[dodgeyhack]

This has now struck me - hadn't happened in the past.

For both travelling parties (on two separate tickets), I can select seats and they stick for the person selecting, but not for the other person.
The seat for the second person does show as occupied however - both on QFF MMB and expertflyer. So I'm not sure if the allocation is working, but the subsequent querying isn't, or what.

According to Qantas, there's a glitch in the system which is something to do with seats being marked a particular way.
But this must be time dependent. Seat selection worked fine when we first booked. It's just closer to the date it's now not working.

Haven't been able to select seats on the FJ site with either PNR. The button is greyed out.

Some additional data.
Qantas MMB has one of us in the newly selected seat, and one of us with no seat selected.
Expertflyer is showing the newly allocated seats as occupied (and it's definitely us in there because I can move us around and see it reflected in EF).
Fiji air thinks we are still in our originally allocated seats.
I really hope this doesn't turn pear shaped when we get to the airport...
Not such an issue for my family as we'll be checking in early due to a domestic transfer, but our friend whose meeting us in Sydney and who I was supposed to be helping to select seats.

 

[Altair]

Just got off a FJ flight on Sunday.
In WHY I would use FJ, especially on the A330, over VA, I even thought the vegetarian meal was one of the tastiest meals I had on a plane in WHY. I had no problem accessing the QP or the lounge in Nadi, but beware there is very little in the way of food there.
In regards to the seating on a 737 with kids, I always choose the last couple of rows due to the toilet access issues and trolleys. If I am travelling by myself I am generally in J and get really annoyed when WHY passengers come forward to use the Business Class toilets.

 

[wanderer_au]

FJ's IFE is woeful. If your daughters are 5 and 2, then before you leave home, load up lots of stuff onto your tablet if you have one. Esp. for Miss Two.