QA or VA Sydney to Perth

[jadekatz]

Hi all
I'm a frequent flyer overseas but have done very little domestic travel. With price and frequent flyer programs not being a factor is there much of a difference between QF Boeing 737 or VA A330-200 when flying economy. I am taking 2 children with me on this trip.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Hi all
I'm a frequent flyer overseas but have done very little domestic travel. With price and frequent flyer programs not being a factor is there much of a difference between QF Boeing 737 or VA A330-200 when flying economy. I am taking 2 children with me on this trip.

737 seating is 3 and 3; so on the Qantas 737 you would have one side of the aisle.

Qantas will serve the better food, but it will depend on price and time.


The Virgin A330 and Qantas will have similar IFE, but will depend on what is available.

If price is the same go with Qantas.

 

[NZflygirl]

I have to admit I choose plane type when price and timing are neither here nor there although these can be subbed. I prefer the A330 over the 737.
I think I read somewhere QF have stuck an extra row of seats beyond row 16? I sat in a seat recently beyond row 16 and the leg room is friggin' awful!! It was bad enough in the rows ahead of 16 but beyond is almost a nightmare.
I guess you'd be choosing between the 3-3 seating on QF and a bit of a view to entertain the kids or the 2-4-2 on VA where you might take the middle 4 seating. If VA did sub in a 737 I actually prefer their seats to QF's so wouldn't be too fussed.

If food concerns you bring something else along in case you don't like what's served. It's been a while since I've done Y on VA's A330 but agree I like the little boxed snacks on QFs flights although I guess you're likely to get a meal on that length of flight. I don't remember VA's food.

 

[jadekatz]

Thanks the food doesn't really matter. We are flying evening and the kids aren't fussy. Comfort level is what we are mostly interested in. Can I ask why u prefer the A330?

 

[Glider_]

I recently did PER-SYD-PER on VA in economy, in their older 737's not realising they ran two aircraft types on this route. I'm not sure if the spacing is different in the older version but it seemed to have pretty good knee-room and I was right up the back. Food was poor to average, but at least it's included for this 'long haul' domestic route.
Very important to note there's no screens in the back of the chairs nor power available on those aircraft, so bring your fully charged phone/tablet/laptop. They have a wifi app providing entertainment streaming onto your device which isn't a magnificent buffet of entertainment but does the job.

If the price was the same I'd probably go Qantas but it's much of a muchness.

 

[cory]

Take the A330 always, more toilets and more space in general.

 

[stoneman]

Definitely the 330 !

 

[NZflygirl]

Thanks the food doesn't really matter. We are flying evening and the kids aren't fussy. Comfort level is what we are mostly interested in. Can I ask why u prefer the A330?

A couple of reasons

My biggest concern flying is actually turbulence (which actually isn't really that bad 97% of the time) but if it does occur I think the bigger planes weather it better and are pushed around less. If it's gale force winds then it's going to be a coughpy ride no matter what but sometimes a bigger plane can turn a bit of turbulence into something less noticeable than on a smaller plane. Something I would take into account with smaller kids.
Because it's a bigger plane I feel like there's more space yet others may feel more cramped because there's 8 across instead of 6 like a 737 but I feel cramped because it's a smaller tube.
True there are more toilets and aisle access for the A330. On the 737 they discourage you from using the forward business loo's if you're from economy although it does happen.
There are seat maps etc for seat pitch but just speaking from experience I feel like there's a bit more space on the A330. I haven't read through the seat pitches of all aircraft but I figure I don't need to because I know my knees haven't grown! And as stated previously, don't sit down the back of QF!

There are differences between VA and QF so it does come down to the nitty gritty whether it's check in, lounge or aircraft type, or past good and bad experiences. Aircraft type is a big one for me but other less paranoid flyers may choose other factors to differentiate. These are just some of mine.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think mattg did a nice back-to-back comparison & review flying both QF and then VA to/from Perth. Can't find it at the moment - hopefully he or someone can find and post the link.

 

[Mattg]

I think mattg did a nice back-to-back comparison & review flying both QF and then VA to/from Perth. Can't find it at the moment - hopefully he or someone can find and post the link.

I think this might be what you're thinking of: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s/qantas-virgin-jetstar-tiger-same-72356.html

I flew both Virgin and Qantas on that day, but not to PER.

I do recall that Pleb Status did a back-to-back PER-SYD trip, flying VA outbound and QF on the return, although that was in Business class. Here's a link to that review: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-and-trip-photos/va-qf-dom-a330-j-77007.html

For what it's worth, I generally find that Qantas provides better service (as well as meals/entertainment etc.) than Virgin. But I do find the A330 to be a more spacious aircraft and would generally choose that over a 737. Is a Qantas A330 flight an option?

 

[Comoman]

It's also not unheard of for VA to swop an A330 with a 737 - especially on weekends.....

 

[pauly7]

It's also not unheard of for VA to swop an A330 with a 737 - especially on weekends.....

Very common actually - buyer beware!

If you can get yourself on a QF A330 - best of the lot, far superior and far less likely to be bumped to a 737.

 

[Moopere]

Ill take a wide body any day. Even the old (old!) QF 767's were better than the 737 in my view.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Recently flew QF on this route and was very happy with product.

 

[jadekatz]

It's also not unheard of for VA to swop an A330 with a 737 - especially on weekends.....

Thanks for letting me know. I had no idea they switched.

 

[jadekatz]

Unfortunately the only QF A330 is early afternoon and as we want to spend the day in Sydney it doesn't suit us. When people are saying the 737 is cramped at the back do you mean the seat pitch or too many seats together? All in all it sounds like the A330 is a better choice.

 

[Moopere]

I just find the 737 a small cramped experience no matter where you sit - even in J when its offered. I did 6.5 hours in a 737 HKT-Per years ago and I strongly remember making some promises to myself about never doing that again.

Though the travel time has reduced over the years, PER to the eastern big cities is still a fair haul imho, i take as much care as one can to always do it in a wide body, even if in Y.

Did a 45 minutes hop from SIN to KUL a few days ago on MI and for that they are fine. in-out, bottle of water and you're landing again before you know whats happening.

Incidentally, I found it interesting that the config on this plane looked, from a snapshot view through my weary eyes exactly like the VA config on 737's including the business section and weird mini half-wall dividers to the Y cabin. Different colour scheme of course but otherwise identical.