QF v VA Premium Econ

[Muzfly]

Sorry if this has been done to death before, but am heading to Las Vegas for a Conference in late January flying out of Brisbane. Thinking go going Premium Econ and am wondering what people think of Qantas v Virgin. Am 6'4" tall so every bit of space is appreciated. In the past I've flown QF Business but the $ saving going Virgin Premium Econ is very tempting.

 

[SamR]

I can't vouch for the VA product, but QF Y+ is good. With your height you should go for a bulkhead, which would give you the leg space you need. I've done QF Y+ in a bulkhead and found it nicely roomy.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I did VA Y+ in 2009. Was very nice. Was gifted a whole middle row on the way over but full on the way back.

The noise cancelling headphones were nice and the food was a real step up from Y. Best pancakes in the air

Hopefully it hasn't deteriorate since.

Their recent $2K return sale was a bargain. If you can get for that price I'd say jump at it. The usual $3K+ fare is starting to get a bit expensive for what is not that much extra room and certainly not the greatest recline.

 

[clazman]

Ball and chain did PE with CP and only comment was couldn't lift arm rest .... but everything else was magic

 

[Denali]

We were very happy with VA PE, booked again and got an upgrade but if we didn't upgrade, would have been reasonably comfortable in PE.

 

[serfty]

With VA Bulkheads in PE should be avoided by anyone over 165cm; other than that it's a good service.

QF PE is OK as well - but some bulkheads are better than others.

 

[james4321]

Muzfly - at your height you will appreciate the extra space in PE. For me - if someone else is paying then of course I'll take it, but if I am paying its not worth the money.

 

[wandering_fred]

As well Cathay also have PEY...
Even on their A330s.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[mannej]

As well Cathay also have PEY...
Even on their A330s.

Happy wandering

Fred

But you fail to mention they are reducing the number of PE seats on their 330, so not as successful as to what they were hoping.

 

[wandering_fred]

But you fail to mention they are reducing the number of PE seats on their 330, so not as successful as to what they were hoping.

At least to Australia reducing NOT removing. Seems the Middle East is the only area where it (W) doesn't attract passengers.
Given that the A330s are smaller than the 777s, I wondered why they decided to have the same number of seats in the W cabin...

The side issue in Australia is that the overall level of airfares (say compared to exUSA) is rather too high. I haven't checked recently but earlier this year when I did the W cabin PER -> USA was about AU$4500. USA--> PER something less than US$3000. Well the exchange rate altercations :shockerr alterations) seem to be on their way to fixing that though I don't see it hitting 1AU$ = $0.67US$. I suspect the standard Y fares will roughly match the percentages though exUSA the fares will be in "higher" Y fare classes.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[ckck]

I am yet to fly VA PE but I loved QF PE. If you can find a QF PE fare on special it is deinitely worth it IMHO.

 

[clazman]

can you lift the armrest in QF PE?

 

[ckck]

can you lift the armrest in QF PE?

No, the arm rests are fixed with your tray table stowed on one side and your entertainment unit in the other.

 

[24601]

Would like to second the warning against bulkheads in VA premium economy. The legroom is very restricted.

 

[Zampari]

Friend recently flew VA PE LAX-BNE. Said it wasn't worth the money unless you could get it cheap.

 

[PaulST]

can you lift the armrest in QF PE?

Nope, think of the arm rests like domestic J arm rests with that little table on them.

I haven't flown VA's PE but have flown QF's PE three times in 747s and have been mostly impressed. Here's a photo of my seat which had a huge amount of leg room (I'm sure it was similar to my J seat in an Emirates 773 last year.)
I've put together a video of two recent PE flights:
QF 21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCVeh0VETH8
QF 63: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_15VBLIxGEA

Here's a photo of my most recent PE seat (note the arm rest) and the leg room I had in a bulkhead.

 

[Denali]

Friend recently flew VA PE LAX-BNE. Said it wasn't worth the money unless you could get it cheap.

Whereas I would say, if you cant afford J then PE is worth the extra leg room and seat width/comfort. VA PE is a 40 person cabin, so you are in front of 150+ other people to get off the plane/immigration ect and the toilets less hectic.

VA is 2 4 2. One of the arm rests in the middle seats lifts but the rest didn't so even if you got a row to yourself, you cant stretch out. We had 2 on the side. I appreciated the extra leg room, seat width and comfort.

My co-worker flew QF and complained about the noise but considering it was her first ever flight, I dismissed her complaint.