V Australia Business Class and Premium Economy Products

[pauly7]

I have only one thing to say... Leather?!!

I was certain they would try and distance themselves from Virgin Blue domestic... GRRR.

The rest just looks pretty average, not bad, not great. Was expecting more.

 

[crazydave98]

If it is the seat I think it is then it is both shorter and narrower than the QF Skybed.

No Mainblack it's not the seat you think it is (you mentioned Weber in an early post). The manufacturer is SICMA of France, who also do the South African seat (ours is called the Majesty and is a development of it). It is actually an inch longer than the Qantas Skybed Mk II.

simongr, standby for photos without sheets. I'm having to establish an online photo account so that I can paste links.

cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[milehighclub]

It is actually an inch longer than the Qantas Skybed Mk II.

Actually it's 4 inches shorter than the Skybed Mk II when they are both in bed mode

 

[ANstar]

Hi Crazydave, do you know if veloity have any plans to allow points upgrades etc for the Y+ and J cabins?

 

[maninblack]

No Mainblack it's not the seat you think it is (you mentioned Weber in an early post). The manufacturer is SICMA of France, who also do the South African seat (ours is called the Majesty and is a development of it). It is actually an inch longer than the Qantas Skybed Mk II.

simongr, standby for photos without sheets. I'm having to establish an online photo account so that I can paste links.

cheers
CrazyDave98

Aha. Well that is a good seat. I have been on variants on a couple of airlines, but it is produced in different lengths and widths. According to the V Aus website the bed will be 188cm (6'2"), this is 10cm shorter than the QF Skybed.

 

[crazydave98]

Actually it's 4 inches shorter than the Skybed Mk II when they are both in bed mode

Actually we're both wrong - I was mistakenly basing measurements against the MkI Skybed instead of MkII. On the B747-400 and A330 which will remain the majority of Qantas long haul fleet for many years yet, the slopey SkyBed Mk I was 77 inches. The new A380 Mk II bed is claimed to be 80 inches. Our flat beds will be 78 inches. So it's 2 inches difference. On width, Qantas claims 21.5" wide for Mks I & II, while ours will be 20.5".

Anyway, some more photos of the bed here....hope you like the colour of the PJs!

 

[simongr]

Interesting pics - thanks (a tad wide though - yes I am incredibly picky). It doesnt lok modern for some reason - not sure what it is that isnt quite right for me but I wont be discounting VAustralia as a future option.

S

 

[serfty]

Thanks for those; they give a far better idea of the seats.

 

[dot]

Thanks for the pics crazydave98. I am curious about a few things though...

1. What are the holes near the base of the light stalks for? They dont look like you could get a water bottle in there...
2. I hope the PJs are a trial colour to judge customer opinion - with those colours, they are on a par with the baby poo brown SQ first class PJs. Nobody will want to were them out of embarrassment.
3. Is that pillow really the size V-Australia are going with? QF's pillows would be a quarter of the size and some airlines (AC) have cut them out to save costs.
4. I wonder if the length (78" - 192cm) includes the plastic (metal?) footrest or it is just the padded parts?

Thanks, Dot

 

[crazydave98]

Thanks for the pics crazydave98. I am curious about a few things though...

1. What are the holes near the base of the light stalks for? They dont look like you could get a water bottle in there...
2. I hope the PJs are a trial colour to judge customer opinion - with those colours, they are on a par with the baby poo brown SQ first class PJs. Nobody will want to were them out of embarrassment.
3. Is that pillow really the size V-Australia are going with? QF's pillows would be a quarter of the size and some airlines (AC) have cut them out to save costs.
4. I wonder if the length (78" - 192cm) includes the plastic (metal?) footrest or it is just the padded parts?

Thanks, Dot

1. General storage - haven't tried to get a bottle in there myself.
2. Sorry, that's it, but the colour balance of the photos is terrible so maybe withhold judgement until you see them in the flesh?
3. Yes - a real pillow. Also someone called the coverging a "sheet" - it's actually a lightweight quilted duvet/doona.
4. If you look carefully at the photo (sorry for quality) you can see that there is in fact a padded piece folded up - it extends to cover the metal footrest that you can see. So length is all padded.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[JohnK]

So what are we getting down the back of the bus

I think they are more interested in showing off their business class and premium economy products. Who cares about the cattle?

 

[pauly7]

I think they are more interested in showing off their business class and premium economy products. Who cares about the cattle?

Still for DJ cattle will be very important! They seem to be hiding economy.... gulp. I am booked in J tho so for me, Meh!

 

[Mr Nobody Inparticular]

V Australia Seats

The Business Class seat is supplied by Sicma in France, the Premium Economy Seat and Economy Class seats are supplied by Weber USA. Both are companies of Zodiac. I understand that they were the only supplier at the time with spare capacity. With regard to the quality of their seats, they are pretty much a standard platform therefore have had very little investment in their design or customisation. The colour scheme though... sheesh! Zodiac are capable of working with customers to develop and refine products to a fair degree. I think V-Aust may regret not differentiating their product more or smarter than they have. With regard to Qantas, I think it is a case of chalk and cheese. If you compare both companies products you will note that...they simply don't compare. Qantas did get value for money on its A380 product investment and Marc Newson design. V-Australia went with what they could get for very little budget and what ever was available at the time in a capacity strained marketplace. Qantas Skybed which has been heavily revamped for the A380 is light years ahead of the Sicma Business class product. If I were to travel to the USA I know whose product and service I would much rather prefer. With experience and time comes wisdom and refinement. Not even money can buy that to out class Qantas.

I am worried for V-Australia, not to mention Virgin Blue. No doubt Richard will be upbeat and be a part of the marketing push but I think even he knows that for V-Australia to perform will require a minor miracle to get value out of a fleet he tried to pull out of too late in the game.

 

[Globetrotter]

If I were to travel to the USA I know whose product and service I would much rather prefer. With experience and time comes wisdom and refinement. Not even money can buy that to out class Qantas.

Thanks! I was debating which airline to fly BNE/LAX/BNE later this year in J class, your post helped make my decision. QF it is!!!

 

[cjg]

An interesting product. But my preference would still be for Qantas' J seat - which is a very well designed and comfortable seat/bed, and I've found has plenty of storage space.

However, if V Australia's entry into the route brings prices down, and they were to be cheaper than Qantas, then I could be tempted to give their product a trial.

 

[ANstar]

An interesting product. But my preference would still be for Qantas' J seat - which is a very well designed and comfortable seat/bed, and I've found has plenty of storage space.

However, if V Australia's entry into the route brings prices down, and they were to be cheaper than Qantas, then I could be tempted to give their product a trial.

If I was paying with my own money I would choose VA.

$5999 return inc tax Vs something like $12,000 return with QF....

Is the QF seat REALLY worth double the price? QF's PE price is just under that!

 

[cove]

Have Virgin fixed their low air quality issues that caused our Wildcat team to go Qantas?
My son has been unwell following 2 flights with the domestic group...one from the air and the second from a sandwich I suspect.
4 or 5 hours is one thing but 13 hours would seem like an eternity if these guys dont get it right in V Australia.

 

[NM]

If I was paying with my own money I would choose VA.

$5999 return inc tax Vs something like $12,000 return with QF....

Is the QF seat REALLY worth double the price? QF's PE price is just under that!

Exactly my thoughts. For a 50% saving (or even 30% if you can get a good QF fare or use a Circle Pacific or similar fare), if spending my money I would be willing to give VA a try.

 

[oz_mark]

Exactly my thoughts. For a 50% saving (or even 30% if you can get a good QF fare or use a Circle Pacific or similar fare), if spending my money I would be willing to give VA a try.

Even if I were spending someone elses money, for a 50% saving VA would be worth a go, if that's who they said to go with!

 

[NM]

Even if I were spending someone elses money, for a 50% saving VA would be worth a go, if that's who they said to go with!

Indeed! Would make a significant difference to any travel budget. I wonder how long that fare will remain available and what will be the long-term fare diff between VA and QF. I seem to recall Mr Godfrey suggesting they will try to remain around 20-25% below QF, but that may not have been for VA trans-pacs??? Can't remember the context of his comment.