"The Business" versus Garuda's J

[Ausbt]

Very pleasantly surprised to climb on board Garuda's A330-300 and discover a tan, olive and faux-wood veneer version of "The Business". I had no idea GA had fitted the same seat as VA, and having flown SYD-LAX in VA J only weeks ago felt I was in a position to compare.

Compared to VA's black, the colour scheme may date a little quicker, but I can't fault GA's service, Billecart-Salmon bubbles and Henri Bourgeois sav blanc. Or the food. Sorry VA, you might have that in-flight bar and better movies, but GA are all over you here. The seat is indentical save for colour and a mag rack in place of VA's funny little and sort of useless cupboard at right or left of head. The L'Occitane pack bests VA's amenity by a mile. Exceptional cabin service.

In relaxed recline mode only of course for the day flight SYD-DPS but I'll be testing that bed out on the return particularly with the tedious departure time of 0030 hours (of course provided I get the new fit out again and not an older bird). This return J cost $2K, that's a great price IMHO.

I would seriously love to take that fit out through to Europe, just a shame that the points and SCs aren't really helping me much (crediting to EY). Regardless, well done GA !

 

[LadyC]

Thanks for the mini review. Sounds like a good option for DPS (better than Jetstar anyway). Do VA fly 'the business' on this route?

 

[Ausbt]

No VA "The Business" to DPS. You get 737 J (I think - or maybe not anymore - maybe just Tiger now). So the comparison is a touch unfair admittedly. I wonder what J* charge for their 'business' on this route? Having flown J* 'starclass' to HKT and paying hmmm maybe $1,200 one-way for 9 hours of quasi-business, Garuda offering a real J class makes it a no-brainer ...at the right price at least. Anyway with QF supposedly back in the DPS game I guess that is the real comparison. I'm no expert on QF J, but geeze they'd be doing well to beat GA now.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I did a TR on our MEL-DPS flts a year back - whilst hard product a little different I suspect the soft product was very similar - ie nigh on perfect - info here - GA's J product stands up against almost all others nowadays.

 

[Ausbt]

Nice report CE. Certainly I've come away very impressed with Garuda. A little bit like Bali really - it was a place I said I would never go - and yet here for my second trip and loving it. How wrong we can be. But overall I think the seat, whether VA or GA, is a great one.

Skyteam lounge in Sydney prior to flight was quite ok, although needs another coffee machine (or a proper barrista actually). But I'm glad VA is going with the Etihad lounge in Syd rather than that. Wow though - the queue for the right-next-door Amex lounge on Sat 24th - crazy! Must have been packed in there.