VA "The Business" v QF "Business Suite"

[Nizar]

Hi guys,

I am thinking about checking out Perth as never been and wondering which product is best out of the two. The things most important to me, in order of decreasing priority are.

1/ Hard product in terms of look and feel of the seat, design and comfort etc
2/ Food
3/ IFE
4/ Service
5/ Lounge

Probably looking at a midday departure on the way up and the redeye on the way back to MEL.

Thanks

 

[TomVexille]

1. VA
2. VA
3. draw
4. VA
5. QF

 

[Nizar]

1. VA
2. VA
3. draw
4. VA
5. QF

Which is exactly what it looks like from the pictures and reviews though.
I would have thought QF might have been ahead on food though.

 

[Buzzard]

Whilst I have not tried VA "The Business" I have flown QF's Business Suite.
Based purely on other QF/VA business experiences, I flew QF because VA was rather underwhelming.

This topic has been previously discussed so if you do some searching you should be able to find it.

 

[TomVexille]

Which is exactly what it looks like from the pictures and reviews though.
I would have thought QF might have been ahead on food though.

Not even close on the food IME

 

[Denali]

My concern would be if they change aircraft. I think Saturday flights are often changed to the 737 (edit VA flights) so check flight tracker for the pattern.

Refer my VA post #2210 on this thread, same menu both ways but different results on the plate (Perth>Syd was much better).
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ess-class-catering-38257-211.html#post1574992

 

[Nizar]

My concern would be if they change aircraft. I think Saturday flights are often changed to the 737 so check flight tracker for the pattern.

Refer my post #2210 on this thread, same menu both ways but different results on the plate (Perth>Syd was much better).
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ess-class-catering-38257-211.html#post1574992

Who's more likely to change aircraft ? VA or QF ?

 

[Pleb Status]

Having spent more than 150hrs BIS time in both seats, I would rate the following =

1, VA
2, VA
3. VA
4. VA
5. QF (Dom J lounge)

See my back to back comparsion trip report for more detailed information -

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-and-trip-photos/va-qf-dom-a330-j-77007.html

 

[Denali]

Who's more likely to change aircraft ? VA or QF ?

Sorry, VA. Ive read a few complaints about people booking A330 The Bus and getting the 737 bucket seats.

 

[Nizar]

Sorry, VA. Ive read a few complaints about people booking A330 The Bus and getting the 737 bucket seats.

Wow, this is a very serious concern, especially when paying $1099 per way "Mates rates" lol.
Almost throws them out of the running.

 

[TomVexille]

Wow, this is a very serious concern, especially when paying $1099 per way "Mates rates" lol.
Almost throws them out of the running.

I think it's more of a BNE problem, but do have a quick search

 

[blackcat20]

Which is exactly what it looks like from the pictures and reviews though.
I would have thought QF might have been ahead on food though.

No way is QF ahead on food; the "chicken kiev" I had was a tough lump of chicken with soggy crumbs and not a speck of buttery filling to be seen...

 

[Pleb Status]

Wow, this is a very serious concern, especially when paying $1099 per way "Mates rates" lol.
Almost throws them out of the running.

My QF flight PER-BNE next week was originally an A330 when I booked it (and I upgraded to J) and that has now been downgraded to a 73H (and I have dropped back to Y). The only reason I booked QF was for the A330 J and now I am paying more for a worse seat than I could of had flying VA on the same day.

Equipment changes happen on any airline and it is just a risk you need to take on board.

Also, PER-MEL is too short for a proper dessert on QF so you will get a Maggie Beer paddlepop instead.

 

[Nizar]

Equipment changes happen on any airline and it is just a risk you need to take on board.

I don't disagree but I need to reduce the risk as much as possible and practical by avoiding selected routes and flight numbers that have historically shown to be particularly susceptible to equipment changes.

 

[pauly7]

Hi guys,

I am thinking about checking out Perth as never been and wondering which product is best out of the two. The things most important to me, in order of decreasing priority are.

1/ Hard product in terms of look and feel of the seat, design and comfort etc
2/ Food
3/ IFE
4/ Service
5/ Lounge

Probably looking at a midday departure on the way up and the redeye on the way back to MEL.

Thanks

Be very very careful of VA swapping in a 737 when they don't sell enough seats on trans con. You have been warned.....

 

[Jurahn]

Be very very careful of VA swapping in a 737 when they don't sell enough seats on trans con. You have been warned.....

I think this is what's happened to me - booked PER-SYD months ago as part of an international itinerary in J, flight is coming up in a few weeks. Deliberately avoided the weekend and booked Monday mid-morning departure to get the A330, which has now been subbed out for a 737 - not happy at all, especially as I wasn't notified, only found out by accident when I received a re-issued eticket in January due to (yet another) change of one of my domestic US sectors.

I assume it must be due to not selling enough seats, as that flight has also been subbed out to a 737 on Thursday the same week, as well as Tuesday and Friday of the previous week, and I think on several other dates as well.

 

[Jet L]

Best bet to get 332 is to try to get on the busiest routes and full planes

Also wasn't there a good will of 10,000 points at some point if a J seat on a 332 got subbed for a 73H

 

[Nizar]

Be very very careful of VA swapping in a 737 when they don't sell enough seats on trans con. You have been warned.....

Does flying QF carry the same risk too ?
Or lesser risk ?

 

[TheInsider]

Does flying QF carry the same risk too ?
Or lesser risk ?

Lesser risk, just try and fly during a busy day and you should be okay. Saturdays there are quite a few 737s doing these runs. Weekdays, less so.

 

[serfty]

If you want to experience the best with the least risk, fly VA midweek to/from SYD ....