JQ A321LR vs VA 737

[xt_20]

Flying from PER, final destination Byron Bay, looking for a cheap-ish flight but not unbearable either.

Cheapest I've found is flying JQ on their A321LR from PER - BNE, then drive down to Byron Bay. How does this compare with Virgin Australia's B737-700?

From my research:
Jetstar: Larger plane. Most seats still available to select. Very hard seat and poor seat pitch.
Virgin: Older plane, 50% seats already taken. Better seat. Free water/tea/coffee.

Which would you pick? Or is there a better option? Unfortunately QF is double the price flying 737s.
Do either of them provide blankets or pillows for the red eye?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mwenenzi]

Considered paying extra for an exit row/more leg room?
Looked at PER-OOL? A little closer to Byron Bay

JQ Airbus A321neo LR - AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

The Jetstar Airbus A321neo LR is configured 232M

www.aerolopa.com

Economy​

232 Recaro BL3710 light-weight slimline seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration and featuring a flip-down smartphone and tablet cradle​

Seat width: 18"​

Row pitch: 28.3" (rows 2 to 17); 34" (rows 18 and 19); 28.3" (rows 20 to 28); 28" (rows 30 to 39). Seats in row 29 have greater legroom​

VA Boeing 737-700 type 2 - AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

This, the two class version of the Virgin Australia Boeing 737-700 is configured 8C 120M. In Economy class, there are four rows marketed as "Economy X" which offer additional legroom. These are identified in the seat map with dark grey accents

www.aerolopa.com

no seat details​

VA Boeing 737-800 type 1 - AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

Hola > Virgin Australia > Boeing 737-800This version Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 is configured 8C 168M and is equipped with Boeing Sky Interiors, Boeing Space Bins, and mood lighting. In Economy class, there are five rows marketed as "Economy X" which offer additional legroom. These are...

www.aerolopa.com

Economy ​

168 leather upholstered Collins Pinnacle slimline seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration, featuring a 4 way adjustable headrest and a tablet holder​

Row pitch: 34" (rows 3, 4, 5); 38" (rows 13 and 14); 31" other rows​

Seat width: 17.5"​

​

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

 

[Forg]

The Airbus Neo series have quieter engines don’t they?

I can’t comment at all on JQ’s interior in them; I’m guessing they’re no less squeezy than their older A320’s where the seats felt slightly wider than a VA or QF 737 but your knees were jammed harder into the back of the seat in front? So if you’re under, say, 5’10” then you’re not touching the seat in front with your knees on either, and extra side-to-side room adds more comfort than extra knee-room when your knees aren’t touching anyway?

 

[OATEK]

The Airbus Neo series have quieter engines don’t they?

I can’t comment at all on JQ’s interior in them; I’m guessing they’re no less squeezy than their older A320’s where the seats felt slightly wider than a VA or QF 737 but your knees were jammed harder into the back of the seat in front? So if you’re under, say, 5’10” then you’re not touching the seat in front with your knees on either, and extra side-to-side room adds more comfort than extra knee-room when your knees aren’t touching anyway?

My daughter recently flew on the JQ Neo to/from Bali and said the Y seats were "thin" and uncomfortable for a longer flight (more than an hour).

 

[xt_20]

Considered paying extra for an exit row/more leg room?
Looked at PER-OOL? A little closer to Byron Bay

Unfortunately all extra leg room seats on the JQ flight is taken.
Original plan was PER-OOL but that's $400 more. Would rather use the $400 for something else.

The Airbus Neo series have quieter engines don’t they?

I can’t comment at all on JQ’s interior in them; I’m guessing they’re no less squeezy than their older A320’s where the seats felt slightly wider than a VA or QF 737 but your knees were jammed harder into the back of the seat in front? So if you’re under, say, 5’10” then you’re not touching the seat in front with your knees on either, and extra side-to-side room adds more comfort than extra knee-room when your knees aren’t touching anyway?

Under 5'10" but there is definitely a difference!

My daughter recently flew on the JQ Neo to/from Bali and said the Y seats were "thin" and uncomfortable for a longer flight (more than an hour).

That's my concern. The NEO seats are worse than the already bad JQ A320 seat.

Yes this is the B737-700 type 2 with no seat pitch details on aeroLOPA.

Appreciate your responses so far!

 

[Forg]

I reckon that if you don’t have back or leg pain issues, and you don’t see the value in the exit row &/or extra-room seat, the trade-offs & similarities are such that the choice should prolly be based on timing, price, or the quality of the inflight snacks to purchase.

 

[xt_20]

value in the exit row &/or extra-room seat,

Sorry don't get me wrong - Extra leg room seats on JQ would solve the problem but 1ABC are sold out, and I'm travelling with kids so can't use exit row seats. I really don't care about inflight snacks, and timings are similar. However if the flight is likely to be half empty, perhaps seating at the back might get me an empty seat next to me?

 

[Forg]

True, how busy IS the red eye, I guess you know when picking seats … is there a way to predict now?
BNE used to use the rear stairs for VA but not QF, 15 years ago; which I found useful ‘cos 2nd-last row seats were easy to obtain as everyone went for as far forward as possible; dunno about now (I’ve seen QF using the rear stairs at SYD recently when they didn’t then).

 

[xt_20]

True, how busy IS the red eye, I guess you know when picking seats … is there a way to predict now?
BNE used to use the rear stairs for VA but not QF, 15 years ago; which I found useful ‘cos 2nd-last row seats were easy to obtain as everyone went for as far forward as possible; dunno about now (I’ve seen QF using the rear stairs at SYD recently when they didn’t then).

When picking seats on both - the JQ flight seemed rather empty, while the VA flight seems 1/2 full.