Thanks QANTAS its been fun, but Im in love with someone else.

[QQF]

Hi All

I wanted to share my VAustralia experience SYD - LAX Business. It was excellent from Check in. I am not a fan of Virgin Blue so have been hesitant to consider VA. Also as platinum I always get upgraded on QF flights so like to keep my points up when travelling with them on overseas trips - every 5 weeks.

Im afraid it is time to defect. The service on VA1 was excellent, the plane new and clean, entertainment excellent, food excellent, small touches brilliant - was youthful, energetic and thoughtful in design of the whole experience. Malaysian Airlines lounge is not the QF first class lounge (which is still amazing) but it was very comfortable. Attention to detail was faultless. I would seriously recommend anyone who is a loyal patron of QF to try VA as I would love to hear if my experience is common. Im sure I will miss the lounge at LAX for QF having waited forever for QF's lounge to open and the VA lounge access will be interesting.

Im looking forward to finally spending some of my QFF points - that i have been hoarding for so long - on ridiculous things in the catalogue... Maybe I will wait to hear your thoughts before blowing the lot of them. Strangely I am attached those points that have taken me many years to collect.

QQF

 

[samh004]

All I can say is, if you’re just going to waste your QFF points, I’ll gladly take a couple JASA’s

But more seriously, I think making a big change based on one good or bad experience isn’t the way to go, especially if you’re at the top of QF and would have to start again to get to the top of Velocity… no need to throw it all away so easily

 

[BAM1748]

One flight does not make a trend.

Based on my own experiences, I'm more than happy with QF.

 

[cove]

Divided loyalty can work very nicely. Abandon nothing in haste.
I am with you on your thoughts Sam!

 

[munitalP]

Hi All

...Also as platinum I always get upgraded on QF flights so like to keep my points up when travelling with them on overseas trips - every 5 weeks.

QQF

Gidday QFF

Considering QF fly their most modern fleet, A380 on this route, I am surprised VA older AC have won you over. I also need to travel with you to jump in on the always upgrade thing...

(yes I know there are also some 744's flying the route...)

You know, someone who always gets upgrades, is a OWE and is happily throwing status away.... VA Y must be exceptional....

:-|

minitalP

 

[QQF]

I have been flying the LAX route often on the A380 and I do enjoy the top floor but seriously it was a price consideration that I flew VA and really liked it.

I am eager to hear others who may have flown on both and have returned to QF. If I had a choice of who to fly next trip it would be VA. I was resistant for so long but recently the price of QF on the LAX leg is too expensive.

As for OWE loyalty, its still there on other legs... for now (but it has made me consider Vatlantic for Europe trips).

As for the upgrades, my colleague and I are just as surprised, whether its on points or op-upgrades I always get upgraded - i dont know why because he doesn't and we are at same level.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I will be staying with the red rat!!!

SPRUCE

 

[Dave Noble]

FWIW so far it is the little things on QF that are too verbose to explain that keep me regarding it as a good carrier. Most people will say 'not the best', which is probably true. But still a very good carrier. But I'm also showing my inexperience with other premium products out there.

Ah, perhaps you should try some of the other premium products since otherwise how can you really say it is a very good carrier unless have compared with the others. Maybe try out the competition and then see if so addicted to using QF.

Dave

 

[docjames]

One flight does not make a trend.

Don't you believe in love at first sight??

 

[Dave Noble]

As soon as I posted about QF premium, I knew I had to get the cursory "you're wrong, wrong, wrong" post from you, Dave.

If comparing X against nothing, then how can it be said that it is very good if nothing to compare against? Someone may well try others and prefer Qantas but to say that it is good when compared against nothing seems flawed

 

[pauly7]

As soon as I posted about QF premium, I knew I had to get the cursory "you're wrong, wrong, wrong" post from you, Dave.

Haha well he was a lot slower to criticize than normal!!

Do what makes you happy mate, I've flown most of the J seats readily available (QF, NZ, Delta, V, United) and the A380 wins for me too as the best flight experience overall.

Having said that none of mentioned are really that bad anymore! It's quite a good route for J IMHO...

V still feels a bit budget... Looks and feels a bit cheap the furnishings and food etc - staff were ok, a few ex Ansett and QF which was better than the usual brainless 'flair'

The new united is much better than the woeful product that preceded it but their food is even worse than V...

 

[QF029]

My opinion still stands. Whether you think I should be denied the right to an opinion is up to you.

I don't think Dave is trying to deny your opinion - he's challenging it which I don't think is the same thing. Although you me disagree with me!

 

[Timtammi]

I am eager to hear others who may have flown on both and have returned to QF

The above would be me. I'm interested to hear the OP comments as I very recently flew VA1 and VA2 in Y+ and have to say I was not overly impressed when comparing to QF Y+. Maybe J was that much better?

I thought the plane was nice, hated the hard and uncomfortable leather Y+ seats, thought the food sucked compared to QF and although service was friendly it was almost too cutesy for me and I thought the whole soft product a bit disorganised and almost unprofessional.

To the poster that said it still feels a bit LCC I would agree.

Also, T3 where VA departs from LAX is seriously awful. I would take T4 or TBIT anyday. The boarding from T3 was a fiasco with everybody just crowding to get on and no way for any premiums to get through for priority boarding.

Cheers

 

[samh004]

Don't you believe in love at first sight??

I do, but I also believe that if you dig a little your opinion might change

I don't think Dave is trying to deny your opinion - he's challenging it which I don't think is the same thing. Although you me disagree with me!

I’d agree with that, it can just seem that way as Dave has an unwavering stance that sometimes seems a bit like a broken record.

I would agree though, try other premium services, try them multiple times and see if things change over time, because basing it off one experience probably wont be truly representative.

 

[Jobu]

I have been flying the LAX route often on the A380 and I do enjoy the top floor but seriously it was a price consideration that I flew VA and really liked it.

I am eager to hear others who may have flown on both and have returned to QF. If I had a choice of who to fly next trip it would be VA. I was resistant for so long but recently the price of QF on the LAX leg is too expensive.

As for OWE loyalty, its still there on other legs... for now (but it has made me consider Vatlantic for Europe trips).

As for the upgrades, my colleague and I are just as surprised, whether its on points or op-upgrades I always get upgraded - i dont know why because he doesn't and we are at same level.

First class is downstairs on the 380, that is, if you always get upgraded. Or do you book Y and get upgraded to J?

 

[NM]

First class is downstairs on the 380, that is, if you always get upgraded. Or do you book Y and get upgraded to J?

Or Y to Y+, or Y+ to J ... plenty of options.

 

[Ewok]

FWIW so far it is the little things on QF that are too verbose to explain that keep me regarding it as a good carrier. Most people will say 'not the best', which is probably true. But still a very good carrier.

QF are good, and always feels like home to me...

I've flown J on EK, AF and SQ A380's (keep missing the QF A380's). EK and SQ are a step up from QF in my experience.

 

[Jobu]

Or Y to Y+, or Y+ to J ... plenty of options.

Yeah but when comparing to VA J class, should be apples for apples.

 

[openseat]

I am a bit surprised by the reaction in this thread to QQF's good experience on VA and his decision to fly them in the future. Also the overreaction to Dave's statements. I, for one, find Dave's questioning of the QF love-in opinions refreshing.

Hasn't the world just seen and experienced enough as the result of 'group think' in the last 10 years? Much better to bring in the alternative opinion that identifies that the emperor has no clothes.

 

[JohnK]

A friend has tried VA SYD-LAX return in economy and he was happy with the product but his emphasis is on "cheapest" rather than status and loyalty to an alliance.

I have no need to go the USA in a hurry (and if I did it would more than likely be on a Oneworld award) but I do not see any need to try VA in a hurry if I am reasonably (although not entirely) happy with my current choice.