Virgin business class - 737 vs A330

[StevePER]

I just had a pleasure of PER-SYD return with both legs in business class. Great service on both flights. It was my first time in business on the 737 so I noted down some of the differences. The specific aircraft were VH-XFB and VH-VOM.

• Seating (obviously). My main issue with this was the lack of recline on the 737. This may be OK for a short flight but for a 5 hour evening flight it is a bit poor.
• Pre-departure drinks - no champagne on the 737. The cranberry and ginger juice was lovely though.
• Nuts - warm on the A330 but not on the 737. And on the 737 they also contained pretzels.
• Amenity kit - slightly different offerings for some reason. The A330 kit was better presented and contained a fragrance (which I'll never use) and had hand cream, lip balm, and a larger toothpaste. The 737 kit contained headphones in a little case and an inflatable pillow. Presumably there are male and female variants of the A330 kit.
• Menus - none on the 737.
• Entrees - two choices on the A330, one on the 737. The soup was tasty in both cases.
• Main course - three choices on the A330 (one vegetarian), two on the 737 (one veg). But they only loaded two of them on the A330 so the extra choice wasn't available. The food was presented better on the A330, but tasted better on the 737 (but that's personal preference).
• Dessert - served with the tray on the 737 (coated macadamias and Toblerone), offered as a separate course on the A330 (cheese and something else).
• Fewer alcohol choices on the 737 - no dessert wines or coughtails.
• No noise cancelling headphones on the 737. That was a bit disappointing.
• Limited IFE options on the 737 - digiplayers. Not that the quality of shows on the A330 was any better, a Tim Allen show about chimps was one of the better options so that's not good.

Amenity kit comparison:

 

[ms1]

Are the digiplayers something you have to ask for when sitting in J? I didn't realise till after the flight that it was never offered to me. FYI this was a PER-SYD flight on the A330.

 

[jazza1971]

Actually one small thing that I would have enjoyed on my coast to coast 737 run last weekend was a real pillow, not some blow up one......

 

[Jamesl]

Are the digiplayers something you have to ask for when sitting in J? I didn't realise till after the flight that it was never offered to me. FYI this was a PER-SYD flight on the A330.

Digiplayers are only offered on the B737 as the A330 has inbuilt IFE.

 

[Major]

Has anyone actually used those ear plug things from the amenity kit ?

I always used them in RAAF aircraft but have never used them commercially.

 

[777]

Has anyone actually used those ear plug things from the amenity kit ?

I always used them in RAAF aircraft but have never used them commercially.

Never on the plane but i have fished them out at home. Amazingly effective at dealing with a screaming toddler.

 

[serfty]

Has anyone actually used those ear plug things from the amenity kit ?

I always used them in RAAF aircraft but have never used them commercially.

Frequently - last use was in 80K on QF94 (BYO).

Previous on the same trip was in 6A on an AA 738 - 12:50am departure from LAX to ORD, board, hit seat, get eye mask, plugs ready and off to sleep as soon as I can recline the back row seat.

I also use them when trying to sleep in terminals! :shock:

 

[Fifa]

Thanks for the comparison, StevePER. Great pic of the amenity kits!
We'll be flying J on an A330 next May so looking forward to it.

 

[lovestotravel]

Great comparison

In a perfect world, an all A330/787 fleet running the MEL/SYD/BNE-PER route would blow Qantas out of the water

For now all we can do is pick the A330 flights and hope for no equipment subs

 

[Hvr]

Has anyone actually used those ear plug things from the amenity kit ?

I always used them in RAAF aircraft but have never used them commercially.

All the time when sleeping. In fact when I give friends and family unused amenities packs I always keep the ear plugs.

 

[StevePER]

Never on the plane but i have fished them out at home. Amazingly effective at dealing with a screaming toddler.

I've done the same thing!

 

[LiamR]

Amenity kit comparison:
View attachment 8364

That amenity kit on the left (737) is exactly the same one I received on Premium Economy SYD-LAX last week, only thing it's missing is the Gown Hand Creme.

 

[Mogul]

Great comparison

In a perfect world, an all A330/787 fleet running the MEL/SYD/BNE-PER route would blow Qantas out of the water

For now all we can do is pick the A330 flights and hope for no equipment subs

I would say VA will make all flights MEL/SYD - PER on the A330 in the not too distant future.

 

[TirEoghain]

Would love to see an A330 service on the BNE - PER service somtime soon. Not that I can see that happening really..

 

[Jamesl]

Would love to see an A330 service on the BNE - PER service somtime soon. Not that I can see that happening really..

VA is waiting for the infrastructure to be built...

 

[Major]

Would love to see an A330 service on the BNE - PER service sometime soon. Not that I can see that happening really..

That would certainly save the OOL/BNE-SYD connection