Had not set foot on them prior to Plat status match in latish 2011. Since then I've flown 24 flights domestically with them versus 11 on QF and 3 on JQ (these were JQi tag legs between MEL and SYD). I'm not an overly frequent flyer compared with many here.
I seriously wanted to give them a go after the match (return the favour), and given their stated intent to provide serious opposition to QF.
Early flights were great.
I really like the 4 comp plat upgrades from flexi to J. I have a lot of friends in PER and have utilised these upgrades for flights there and back (as opposed to QF JASA). Service on the first couple of return transcons in J was brilliant, but with very lightly loaded cabins. Next time, we had a J cabin with ~16 people (still quite a way from full) and the FAs appeared under a lot of pressure and many small mistakes were made...I hope that's just part of a learning curve and they have got better (am trans-conning again in a few weeks so may get the chance to find out). All staff in both classes (and at the lounges) were very enthusiastic in the early days and really appeared to be wanting to be there doing their job. Could not have faulted them. Some cracks have appeared in recent times, and it'll be interesting to see whether it gets better.
I love the way they get PB right, where QF seemingly cannot, or just will not (at least not consistently).
Pricing generally good, and points redemptions have been quite competitive.
On the negative side I do not like buy on board (acknowledging that QF charges domestically for alcohol - with exceptions). As long as VA maintain that then I won't be happy, hopefully in future they will not. I can cope with not having a meal or a snack or whatever on shorter flights, I just don't like having to get my wallet out on board.
I hate how many IVR menu levels I have to go through to speak to someone at VA.
One or two of VA's lounges are quite nice (specifically BNE and OOL), but in general I prefer QF's lounges.
VA not being part of an alliance is a potential bugbear. It doesn't affect domestic flying per se, but could well influence whether I fly with them domestically.
Being self-funded leisure travel, maintaining status in both is difficult (I've only had VA for 2 years with some help from the airline) and I suspect in the short term I'll plump for QF. But I may be able to maintain VA Gold rather than Plat. Who knows?