"The Business" on Coast to Coast - Amenity Kits?

[jordanva]

hi everyone,

flying SYD-PER tomorrow with VA in J !! (little bit excited to finally see the new product!)
Just wondering if they give out amenity kits in J now on the coast to coast service?
From memory they don't?

 

[Pleb Status]

Re: VA Business class

I have never received/offered one when departing late afternoon/early evening. They may do something for the red eyes however.

 

[Mogul]

Re: VA Business class

I believe they are available if you ask for them.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: VA Business class

They were once offered on all flights but now only red eyes afaik

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: VA Business class

No amenity kit when I did PER - SYD about 2 years ago either, in VA J (upgrade me bidding succeeded).
But the lounge access (at that time, good, now PER VA lounge best), food on board the 330 was great, I didn't ask for wine with the evening meal though, but a whole J seat to myself, window view, wow...
If they don't do an equipment swap, and you are on the 330 its a great experience.
I did the old lounge at PER T3 visit at that time.
Pity you are not doing the PER - east coast flight, would be great to try out the newest VA lounge, ie, not retrofitted, ala MEL/SYD/BNE.
Anyway, with the 330, have a great trip. If you close your mind to it being a domestic trip, you can "dream big"!
I always look forward to having a wide body plane on my flights.
If you get swapped to a 737, have a cry for me on the plane (!!!)...
Don't laugh, it happened to me with me with a VA partner, I was really hoping for a Y seat on the 777 SYD - AKL about 18 months or so ago, and got swapped to a NZ 737!

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: VA Business class

They wont be offered, but mention that youd like one to brush your teeth and freshen up before arrival and the crew will be happy to fetch you one

 

[cove]

Re: VA Business class

We flew Perth to Sydney tonight on VA in J. No we weren't offered an amenity kit but we didn't need one either. The plane seats were comfortable and the onboard service worked well.
The problem with landing at 10pm is the Sydney airport shuts down which is ridiculous. The bus transfer service had stopped and we took the last Rydges Hotel bus around to the international side of the Sydney airport.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Re: VA Business class

I was provided with an amenity kit on my recent PER-MEL red-eye flight, and also on the return MEL-PER evening flight over the Australia Day long weekend. Fantastic product and service. For the red-eye they even laid down a mattress topper and dooner - just a shame that because of the strong winds, the PER-MEL flight ended up being under 3 hours long which meant not too much sleep was had.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re: VA Business class

I was provided with an amenity kit on my recent PER-MEL red-eye flight, and also on the return MEL-PER evening flight over the Australia Day long weekend. Fantastic product and service. For the red-eye they even laid down a mattress topper and dooner - just a shame that because of the strong winds, the PER-MEL flight ended up being under 3 hours long which meant not too much sleep was had.

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I also got this amenity kit on day flights PER-MEL and MEL-PER just after the new seat was launched. Not a bad little kit. Didn't have to ask, but I was the only one in the cabin and the crew were being extra special with me. Ask for one and they will certainly deliver!

It's a really great seat and the service is brilliant. Should be fun! Enjoy!

 

[subichow]

Re: VA Business class

I'll be doing the opposite trip tomorrow, Perth to Sydney in business haha! I'm hoping for a long flight, it can be disappointingly short at times going east.

 

[Milefest]

Re: VA Business class

Been meaning to try out the new business class but I have no reason to fly west. Looks like a great experience though

 

[cove]

Re: VA Business class

Mrscove did not like the menu but I did fine. You just cannot ever please everyone it seems especially a Qantas girl.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Re: VA Business class

Been meaning to try out the new business class but I have no reason to fly west. Looks like a great experience though

I wanted to try out the new PER terminal so that's happening in a few weeks. Will be really interested to see what The Business is like now that the honeymoon period is over.

 

[LadyC]

Re: VA Business class

Flying MEL-PER J return next month with VA (first time VA J), so looking forward to trying out their product.

 

[drewbles]

Re: VA Business class

Mrscove did not like the menu but I did fine. You just cannot ever please everyone it seems especially a Qantas girl.

VA have entered a rotating menu system now that changes weekly. I've taken the trans-con flight 6 times over the past 4 months, and every time i've had the same menu thanks to rotten timing. I sent VA a long email about it and they replied with an equally detailed explaination of how the menu roster works. Unfortunately it changes mid-week meaning my Friday out Sunday back flight schedules result in me getting the same meal both directions. I would have hoped they'd have them rotating from each end of the flight not over the entire network.

 

[Moopere]

Re: VA Business class

I wanted to try out the new PER terminal so that's happening in a few weeks.

I had my first taste last week. Overall, in one word, I was disappointed.

Using more words hehe :

Pro's
- New/fresh/clean

Con's
- Only 1 bored looking lady looking after checkin (she was great though!). All the computer checkin kiosks were surrounded by clouds of people wondering how to make it all work. Is this one lady now the 'premium' check-in agent? There were signs up indicating that she was it ... standard check-in didn't appear to have an agent assisted option at all.
- The lounge is certainly huge! In the same vein as MEL but not as nice as its pretty much just one big space.. thats fine and better than the mingy old one, but still nothing doing catering wise. I enjoyed the pancake machine, but my mrs went hungry - she not really into sandwiches.

- Not really a minus, more an observation, but given the size and seating capacity of the lounge area, the toilets seem far too tiny ... clean as a whistle which is always appreciated, but if the lounge were at capacity PAX wise I doubt the loo's would keep up.

Will be really interested to see what The Business is like now that the honeymoon period is over.

Given the above there doesn't feel like much of a premium experience ... however on board, 'the business' is holding up well now the first flush of newness has passed.

Oh, as an aside which I think others have mentioned but I missed when I first tried it. If you go long term parking and grab the bus to the terminal, get off at T2. T1 is, of course, still directly outside the international area and is quite a walk to the VA domestic bit of T1.

 

[Milefest]

Re: VA Business class

- The lounge is certainly huge! In the same vein as MEL but not as nice as its pretty much just one big space.. thats fine and better than the mingy old one, but still nothing doing catering wise. I enjoyed the pancake machine, but my mrs went hungry - she not really into sandwiches.

- Not really a minus, more an observation, but given the size and seating capacity of the lounge area, the toilets seem far too tiny ... clean as a whistle which is always appreciated, but if the lounge were at capacity PAX wise I doubt the loo's would keep up.

Yeah they need to implement some new design ideas. I also think they should segment off a dining area with actual tables and chairs.

 

[cory]

Re: VA Business class

I got an amenity kit flying Syd-Perth back in December, was the 8pm (give or take) flight out of Sydney if I remember correctly.

 

[PDog]

Re: VA Business class

I got a kit because I asked for one wanting some handcream, but sadly none in there. I was also given a bottle of champagne (which I did not ask for!) & my husband was given chocolate as he loved that!
We too had the same menu on both flights, sounds like a fair few pax comment on that.

 

[i_hate_the_tulla_freeway]

Re: VA Business class

Everyone got them without asking the other night on a delayed east - west flight. As it turned out, didn't even crack the plastic bag and left it behind.

And a big shout out for the chocolate raspberry brownie with creme fraiche. Nice FA brought me three serves. Would be open to brownie doggie bags instead of more miniature bottles of moisturiser. Could munch on them in car to hotel.