Report on VA1/2 experience in J

[Deewhy]

Recently traveled this route in December and thought I'd post some impressions.

This was my first VA long haul experience in any cabin.

VA1 SYD-LAX

Highlights:

• fantastic service onboard. Flight manager took the time to talk and hear me out about check in issues (see below). FA's superb in anticipating and servicing. Nothing too much trouble at all. Made you feel like you were being treated like valued customers.
• food I thought was great
• I like the bedding "mattress" and sleep blanky
• nice PJs and amenities
• row 5 - I've read about it, but to experience it was fantastic - like a private suite!

Lowlights:
- checkin service at SYD was horrendous:

• Agent insisted on weighing our 1 carry on, and taking things out of it and carry it separately despite the fact we were entitled two pieces each! Meanwhile 6 other pax checkin without the same questioning...
• Had seats switched on us from the original seat allocation via the Call centre. Was very rude when I asked for others and denied any requests to move. I had to go to the CSM to redo the boarding passes and magically got row 5!
• had to ask for the express customs pass.
• we had a connection to VX at LAX but didn't get told we can drop our bags, so had to carry them from T5 to T3...no biggy... just a 10min walk in the *fresh* Cali air.

VA2 - LAX-SYD

Highlights: pretty much consistent with VA1. Service was great. Half full flight so FA's lending a hand everywhere! Could not fault the service. Checkin was a much nicer experience than Sydney. No hassles. Seats I wanted (row 5) were allocated.

Lowlights: none!

Overall, great consistent service in both directions. Let down by Toll ground staff wearing VA uniforms at Sydney Airport. They need to work on that. I've provided feedback and got an apology and told they will refer it to management for action

This is definitely worth a look if you haven't considered it as an option. When comparing to my last Qantas flight in J SYD-HKG in September, I could definitely say the VA experience felt like a different class of service (maybe that's just my experience). Got off the plane and got me thinking when the next VA J long haul experience will be! I'll follow up with some photos.

 

[robd]

Recently traveled this route in December and thought I'd post some impressions.

This was my first VA long haul experience in any cabin.

VA1 SYD-LAX

Highlights:

• fantastic service onboard. Flight manager took the time to talk and hear me out about check in issues (see below). FA's superb in anticipating and servicing. Nothing too much trouble at all. Made you feel like you were being treated like valued customers.
• food I thought was great
• I like the bedding "mattress" and sleep blanky
• nice PJs and amenities
• row 5 - I've read about it, but to experience it was fantastic - like a private suite!

Lowlights:
- checkin service at SYD was horrendous:

• Agent insisted on weighing our 1 carry on, and taking things out of it and carry it separately despite the fact we were entitled two pieces each! Meanwhile 6 other pax checkin without the same questioning...
• Had seats switched on us from the original seat allocation via the Call centre. Was very rude when I asked for others and denied any requests to move. I had to go to the CSM to redo the boarding passes and magically got row 5!
• had to ask for the express customs pass.
• we had a connection to VX at LAX but didn't get told we can drop our bags, so had to carry them from T5 to T3...no biggy... just a 10min walk in the *fresh* Cali air.

VA2 - LAX-SYD

Highlights: pretty much consistent with VA1. Service was great. Half full flight so FA's lending a hand everywhere! Could not fault the service. Checkin was a much nicer experience than Sydney. No hassles. Seats I wanted (row 5) were allocated.

Lowlights: none!

Overall, great consistent service in both directions. Let down by Toll ground staff wearing VA uniforms at Sydney Airport. They need to work on that. I've provided feedback and got an apology and told they will refer it to management for action

This is definitely worth a look if you haven't considered it as an option. When comparing to my last Qantas flight in J SYD-HKG in September, I could definitely say the VA experience felt like a different class of service (maybe that's just my experience). Got off the plane and got me thinking when the next VA J long haul experience will be! I'll follow up with some photos.

Hopefully one day I'll get to experience the J service (only done Y & Y+) on this flight. I had my seat allocation changed on checkin on the return flight and had to argue hard to get it back, but eventually did. I'm interested to know if you have status with VA? Which seat did you originally have before they changed it?

 

[lovestotravel]

VA J is the best way to get to the USA from Australia!

I did it a few years back and couldn't really fault it and most on here are aware of my dislike for Virgin domestic in J......

I hope VA continue to fly their own equipment to/from the USA, some have said in a few years they will flog off their 777's and just leave Air NZ and Delta to fly for them

That would be a big shame!

 

[under the radar]

....there's always pics of people in QF PJs...ive never seen pics of VA ones..
always good to read a TR..thanks for sharing

 

[Deewhy]

Hopefully one day I'll get to experience the J service (only done Y & Y+) on this flight. I had my seat allocation changed on checkin on the return flight and had to argue hard to get it back, but eventually did. I'm interested to know if you have status with VA? Which seat did you originally have before they changed it?

CertainLy was a great experience. I was gold on both flights. Had allocated row 2 seats, after working hard to secure them both e and 1 day beforehand. Fronted up at chckin and told the agent I wanted to confirm seats before she issued the bp's. The reply was "which seats do you *think* you have. I was shocked. Very disappointing experience but was saved by the csm. I almost gave up but decided to double bck and see the csm. Lucky I did!

 

[mella2007]

Loving the use of the word "blanky"

I would be sending an email to them via your treatment in Sydney...not good enough..

 

[robd]

CertainLy was a great experience. I was gold on both flights. Had allocated row 2 seats, after working hard to secure them both e and 1 day beforehand. Fronted up at chckin and told the agent I wanted to confirm seats before she issued the bp's. The reply was "which seats do you *think* you have. I was shocked. Very disappointing experience but was saved by the csm. I almost gave up but decided to double bck and see the csm. Lucky I did!

Yes, pretty much the same as my experience. I only had silver status, but checked my seat the day before and earlier on the day of departure. I made sure I fronted up 3.5 hours before the flight and was told I was now in 14E or something (mid cabin). I stuck to my guns and argued successfully (NOT in a DYKWIA way) but it did sour the experience.

Looking forward to seeing your pics.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Was the champers cold?

 

[Deewhy]

Loving the use of the word "blanky"

I would be sending an email to them via your treatment in Sydney...not good enough..

Yeah, the sleep linen reminded me of kids and their "blanky/cuddle thing". Like a comfy sleeping bag I guess.

I provided web feedback and have received the response thanking me for the feedback (positive and negatives given), apologising and that they'll pass it on for appropriate action. Funny thing was the flight manager mentioned that she reckoned she knew who the issue was and I wasn't the first person to experience that sort of service. She mentioned that all ground staff are Toll dnata except for the two CSM positions. I was surprised - normally used to seeing Toll people in Toll uniforms/ Toll badges - but they are all VA uniformed.

 

[Deewhy]

Was the champers cold?

This time it was! (I think I've read the other non-cold experiences in other threads )