QF or DJ?

[ozrock]

I have something of a dilemma – not sure if others have started a thread on this or not (so apologies if going over old ground).
I have had a Qantas Platinum membership for two years, and will requalify next week by 5 SCs (and about 3 days) for year 3.
I have just received (after a couple of phone calls) the Virgin Platinum status match.
Most of my flying is domestic, and I can’t sustain maintaining both memberships.
I'm wondering whether to switch or to stay.
Things I like about Qantas are the relative ease of using points for international flights (I have taken my wife in business to Singapore 3 times in past 18months using points, while I have paid), Qantas First lounge (but would only use it a few times a year), wide body aircraft (I primarily fly Melb-Syd), and I think the business lounges in Mel and Syd are pretty good.
The ability to use oneworld lounges has also been a bonus.
I earned about 180k FF points last year, about 60% of which came from credit cards (so I’d need to change awards programs or cards if I was to switch my business to Virgin, to get value).
I have just joined the Optus rewards program, and could get up to 60k points per year from that too.
I have no problems with the Qantas product, but no undying loyalty either.
Has anyone in a similar situation switched carriers? Is the Virgin product up there with Qantas? Should I just stick with the Roo? I’m not sure what to do.
Ozrock.

 

[simongr]

Personally there is no compelling improvement flying Dj rather than QF on DOM flights - esp MEL/SYD. The only service improvement on DJ/VA is priority board but for me QF counter that with some food on board - not great food but something to eat at least so I dont have to wait until 8:30PM at home for some dinner.

There are lots of other considerations but in a straight cough shoot for flying experience DJ/VA is not in my opinion the second coming we were led to believe.

 

[mr_osborne]

I can't comment on the comparison between the 2, but one factor to consider, is that you would only need to get 800SC to retain platinum for DJ, so if you don't think you will fly as much in the future, then it may be a better option. (basing that on the fact that you only just qualified for WP this year)...

 

[Mike_m]

You spend $60k with Optus in a year? Is that a business expense or are you just on a very expensive plan?

 

[Mattg]

Personally I would stick with Qantas. IMHO they offer a superior service to virgin and you seem happy with them so I don't see why it would be worthwhile for you to make the switch. The extra Optus FF points could be useful for you too. But that's just my two cents.

 

[wattch]

+1 for sticking with Q. I took the status match offer and took my first flight with Virgin last night. I was disappointed; I had hoped they were going to impress me by looking after there freq fliers. It started off good. Priority check in, good seat selection, priority line through security and on to the plane. So were they went wrong: the new Brisbane lounge was.disappointing, they missed a real opportunity to differentiate themselves from Qantas. Similar food but only beer and wine. It got worse on the plane with wine fresh from the cask, and a salad wrap for dinner. (I'm starting to sound like a drunk ;-) Food service was very disorganized. After that luggage came nearly last. I'm sticking with Q.

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using AustFreqFly

 

[ozrock]

Thanks everyone for your comments (and Mike_m - its a business expense!).
It really seems there's no compelling reason to switch, other than the easier retain level (although with all the status matches, perhaps they will increase the level in due course anyway).
And wattch, to me the quality of booze is all important!!!

 

[BAM1748]

I'd stick with QF for the reasons others give.

Matt

 

[777]

I suspect the fact that you've asked the questions in the Qantas forum does skew the responses somewhat. There is no right or wrong answers. VA works very well for me and i wouldn't really consider going back to Qantas but in the interests of balance some pros and cons for both off the top of my head.

Reasons to go with VA:

• Easier to get/ retain status
• Free Platinum upgrades
• Priority boarding
• Better seating (furthest i've been seated back is row 5 in the last few years, and generally in row 3)
• Excellent award availability (J+F to London on EY or VA+EY available next week!)
• Less crazy strikes and disruptions
• If you fly to ports that QF have flicked to JQ often (eg. OOL and NTL) - not relevant to many but my original reason to switch.
• Excellent support around forums like these.
• They really appreciate and work hard for your business
• Happy, engaged staff that do actually go out of their way to help you (most of the time)

Reasons to go with QF

• More extensive lounge network in Aus
• More extensive regional network
• Spirits in lounge (bugs me to point this out - i'm with you guys on this!)
• Still holes in Virgin's partner/ redemption network
• Widebodies on main routes
• Virgin fares often don't include food/ meal etc.
• You will know the other reasons - i haven't flown much QF in years.

As for a couple of reviews here. I have never seen Virgin supply cask wine on a flight and i would encourage anyone who samples them to do so for more than one flight. I would hardly take complaints like my "luggage came nearly last" based on one flight as somehow indicative of anything much.

 

[Noob]

Hey, 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'...In other words if you are happy with QF why change?

In saying that, book a flight with VA now and then to try them out for yourself - I only fly VA now and haven't looked back Got to say I have never experienced casket wine on VA either :shock:

777, as always, makes some really good points above on either side of the fence.

 

[userlame]

I'm PS with both Virgin and Qantas, but have been trying to fly exclusively Qantas this year to get to SG but I'm now regretting that decision.

Here's why:

1) Lounges. I was a Virgin Lounge member and have visited the QP a few times. My impression is that the QP is over capacity - it's next to impossible to find a seat at peak times. I'm not going to pay for QP membership based on this.

2) State of aircraft. I fly SYD-ADL often. Qantas fly an 'old and busted' 737-400 with CRT televisions hanging in the aisle as the only form of entertainment on this route. Virgin have a cleaner aircraft with the seat back Live to Air.

3) Staff / Procedures. Because of the nature of my work, I can find myself finishing earlier than expected with 4+ hours to burn before my flight. When I fly VA I walk up to the priority desk (since they recognise my PS) and ask to be moved to an earlier flight. Nine times out of ten the staff member is all smiles and more than happy to accommodate me - I had this happen on my Virgin flight last night as a matter of fact, flying on a discount ticket. And I was given an exit row seat.

I've tried this trick at the Qantas desk when in the same predicament, where I'm told to go speak to the Sales desk. The dragon at the sales desk usually has the attitude of 'buy a new ticket or leave me alone'. Even when I bring up my recently delayed QF flights and how they can do me a favour.. or mention that I'm only going to spend 4 hours in the QP drinking their wine, they really don't seem to give a damn either about their customer, or their company.

4) Reliability. I know flights can be delayed or cancelled for a number of reasons. It's how it's handled that makes the difference. On QF you're left to guess what's happening and then wait around for however many hours it takes to find a new plane. On DJ they've actually bought me a QF ticket so that I can get to my destination on time. I didn't ask for it or cause a fuss, it was offered to me immediately. Well done to DJ - shame I couldn't get SC on the QF flight though.

I'm back to Virgin while this strike nonsense is going on - I can't afford to play Qantas Roulette on business trips.

My 2c at least.

 

[browski]

I'm still of the opinion that if your travel is weighted towards domestic travel, then fly Qantas. If you fly internationally frequently, then fly VA on your domestic legs and credit to Velocity for now (and then Krisflyer/ANZ later.)

 

[Alanslegal]

I'm PS with both Virgin and Qantas, but have been trying to fly exclusively Qantas this year to get to SG but I'm now regretting that decision.

Here's why:

1) Lounges. I was a Virgin Lounge member and have visited the QP a few times. My impression is that the QP is over capacity - it's next to impossible to find a seat at peak times. I'm not going to pay for QP membership based on this.

Welcome to AFF userlame

Hang around long enough, and you will realise that the Qantas Pubs are always overcrowded because QF Platinums are using the lounges "anytime" when flying other carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Emirates ....... oh wait, I forgot that those Any Time Access benefit is now long obsolete.

 

[777]

Hang around long enough, and you will realise that the Qantas Pubs are always overcrowded because QF Platinums are using the lounges "anytime" when flying other carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Emirates ....... oh wait, I forgot that those Any Time Access benefit is now long obsolete.

I left "anytime access" off the list of reasons to fly Virgin, didn't I?

 

[eastwest101]

I think 777 and userlame have pretty well covered this.

For what its worth - I am maintaining QF Silver QP and VA + Virgin Lounge at the moment, and am also seriously having trouble justifying QP membership as its up for renewal. The points about "Jetstarization" of some of the QF domestic network also count against QF as well as the industrial dispute and delays.

But I'm maintaining a foot in each camp for the moment. Maybe the OP should consider this as it may not be impossible for them to maintain Gold on both QF and VA?

 

[Blackadder]

For me as a SG with QF, have no desire to jump ship to DJ.
Flying domestically the price is inclusive of everything, not select a price that includes additional extras.
Domestically checking in at the airport the option to move to a earlier flight.
Seat selection both domestically and internationally, I have no problems with.
100% upgrade success for flights to/from LAX
Flying with in the US, points/sc/no luggage fees with AA and access to their lounge facilities.
Priority Luggage
Additional Luggage allowance
Bonus Points
More opportunities to earn points with non airline partners.

 

[sydstar]

I'm a bit of a fence-sitter on this one - I don't have an issue with either QF or DJ - in fact, I think we've got 2 pretty good domestic airlines in this country!

But for me, QF works better, however, I'll happily fly DJ. I get access to a QP membership through a coroporate scheme at a very competitive rate, and considering I usually fly domestically with carry-on only, after a quick wave of the card past the pole I'm checked in and on my way to the lounge. Food is reasonable, bar set-up is quite good. QP is still good value (for me) in terms of what lounge access both domestically and internationally it affords.

I recently tried the new DJ lounge in MEL and loved it! - but for ~$60 an entry? NO. Atmosphere was good, but food selection average, and no spirits? I wouldn't fly enough to reach gold, so considering the cost of a Lounge membership only entitles access to 6 domestic lounges (plus NZ) doesn't add up for me. Considering NZ's increasing ownership in DJ (and the SQ hook-up), I, like others, would like to think *A is down the track. Their international network still seems too 'patchy' for me - built up of different carriers here and there, with reports of inconsistencies in elite entitlements and lack of IT intergration (I'm not saying QF is innocent here either!)

For future international trips, I'm seriously looking at building up *A status or just using EK (always good experience) even if skywards is average. Domestically, I'll stick to my QP meaning QF/JQ :shock:, but if DJ did join *A would jump ship in an instant for domestic and international

 

[Daggs01]

I believe the key thing to consider is the services each carrier provides to everyone of your frequent destinations.

If one services most of them better than the other, that's the carrier to fly with. QF or DJ. It's all about the service!


- Darren Allatt

Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[Alanslegal]

I left "anytime access" off the list of reasons to fly Virgin, didn't I?

You're not a supporter of ATA? That's Ok too

This had been done to death on the relevant threads (esp. by me) but I am just having a go at Qantas for spinning ATA as a cause of over-crowding in their QPs, especially when WPs fly SQ or EK and then selling cheap QPs immediately after ATA removal. Oh and even after ATA was removed, QPs are still packed to the rafters.

 

[777]

You're not a supporter of ATA? That's Ok too

This had been done to death on the relevant threads (esp. by me) but I am just having a go at Qantas for spinning ATA as a cause of over-crowding in their QPs, especially when WPs fly SQ or EK and then selling cheap QPs immediately after ATA removal. Oh and even after ATA was removed, QPs are still packed to the rafters.

I'm a very big fan of ATA. I'd just forgotten that QF doesn't have it!