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I was fortunate enough to fly the new VA and QF A330 Dom J products back to back last weekend (01-03 July). VA PER-SYD and QF SYD-PER. Both flights were as a VA/QF WP, were dinner services and were operated with the latest J product. I have flown on both Dom 330 J products on numerous occasions before but this was the first time back to back.
I feel that this back to back comparison is a reasonable indication of the current offerings 'Coast to Coast' by VA and QF. What was interesting was the different levels of service offered by each airline. I am tempted to say that QF had a 'bad day' and as I am flying back to back J again next weekend to BNE (QF PER-BNE and VA BNE-PER), I will advise if this is the case.
Now for the comparison. Only things of interest have been noted below.
Boarding
Dual aerobridges were used at both PER and SYD to board the aircraft. However, QF in SYD boarded all of the PB Y passengers through the J door to the aircraft markedly increasing the 'traffic' through the J cabin. Also, the less said about the QF PB process in general the better.....
Seating
I personally prefer a reverse herringbone J layout (as used by VA) compared to a staggered J layout (as used by QF), so any comments here may be subject to that bias. I find the overall comfort, ambience and layout better on VA (also no sash seat belt) but the QF seat does offer more storage areas. All window seats are the same on VA also. The VA FA offer an orientation session on the J seats for newbie J travellers as well.
Pre-departure Drinks
On VA, the FA asks if you would like a pre-departure drink and you can select from a wide range of options. On QF, it is 'highly suggested' that you take one of the two options provided (water or a Maggie Beer sparkling 'wine'). I actually prefer a Coke Zero as a pre-departure drink and this was provided without question on VA (with ice in a proper glass as on previous occasions). On QF, my request was originally refused and told that providing a Coke Zero was 'not possible' but after some 'discussions' with the FA, a small wine glass of Coke Zero was 'provided'.
The Menus
Menus were provided on both flights. VA also provided a wine and other drink list (not pictured) and details of 'The Pantry'.
Pre-Dinner Drinks
QF use a cart in J to serve pre-dinner drinks (which is a bit old school and obstructs PAX access). VA did not use a cart (at any time). VA provided a ramekin of almonds with the drink. On QF, the FA opens an individual packet of pretzels and nuts and places this on a small plate for each PAX.
Meal Service
Prior to the meal service, the VA FA places the cutlery on the tray table for you with individual 'opera house' salt and pepper shakers. On QF, your cutlery is handed to you by the FA rolled up in the napkin along with the Y sourced packages of salt and pepper.
On wine, VA offered three white and three red options. QF offered two white and one red option. This would not be an issue if the single red option provided by QF was any good (which it was not to my liking unfortunately).
The meals selected are shown below.
Entree
Having had the VA entree on previous occasions, I found the QF entree better (but maybe because I had not had it before).
Main
In terms of quantity, the meat and three veg QF meal was more substantial. In terms of taste, the VA meal was far superior (and more a 'J like' meal). The aioli on the QF meal needs to be replaced with a more fluid 'sauce' or jus to moisten the chicken.
Dessert
There was a 67 minute wait between the main and dessert on QF compared to a 15 minute wait on VA (it took about 30 minutes to remove my plate from main on QF as well). QF offer a dessert wine which was not offered by VA. I have had better desserts on both airlines previously but the QF meringue was particularly cheap and nasty on this flight. QF dessert is offered on a 'trolley' which blocks PAX access again.
Entertainment
The fixed entertainment systems on both airlines are quite good with large screens and are very responsive. On VA, there is a selection of 59 movies in J. On QF, there is a selection of only 17 movies in J. It is interesting to note that if you bring your own tablet and have the correct app, on QF, you can access up to 40 movies via Qstreaming if you are on a 330 with Qstreaming in Y. This would indicate that on Qstreaming 330 aircraft, QF actually offer a better range on entertainment to Y PAX than to J PAX (without their own device).
Other Observations
Both flights were full in J. I was on a platinum upgrade on VA and a points upgrade on QF and noticed no difference in service to anyone else on the flight. Upgrades were both confirmed at time of booking however.
Hot towels were provided after take off and prior to landing on VA. Hot towels were not seen or offered at anytime on QF.
Snacks were offered from 'The Pantry' later in the flight on VA. Nothing was offered on QF (I believe cheese and crackers may be available however).
Two toilets are available to the 20 J PAX on VA. Only one toilet is available to the 28 J PAX on QF.
The FA were more 'visible' after the meal service on VA than QF (but I have had the opposite occur on previous flights).
I feel that this back to back comparison is a reasonable indication of the current offerings 'Coast to Coast' by VA and QF. What was interesting was the different levels of service offered by each airline. I am tempted to say that QF had a 'bad day' and as I am flying back to back J again next weekend to BNE (QF PER-BNE and VA BNE-PER), I will advise if this is the case.
Now for the comparison. Only things of interest have been noted below.
Boarding
Dual aerobridges were used at both PER and SYD to board the aircraft. However, QF in SYD boarded all of the PB Y passengers through the J door to the aircraft markedly increasing the 'traffic' through the J cabin. Also, the less said about the QF PB process in general the better.....
Seating
I personally prefer a reverse herringbone J layout (as used by VA) compared to a staggered J layout (as used by QF), so any comments here may be subject to that bias. I find the overall comfort, ambience and layout better on VA (also no sash seat belt) but the QF seat does offer more storage areas. All window seats are the same on VA also. The VA FA offer an orientation session on the J seats for newbie J travellers as well.
Pre-departure Drinks
On VA, the FA asks if you would like a pre-departure drink and you can select from a wide range of options. On QF, it is 'highly suggested' that you take one of the two options provided (water or a Maggie Beer sparkling 'wine'). I actually prefer a Coke Zero as a pre-departure drink and this was provided without question on VA (with ice in a proper glass as on previous occasions). On QF, my request was originally refused and told that providing a Coke Zero was 'not possible' but after some 'discussions' with the FA, a small wine glass of Coke Zero was 'provided'.
The Menus
Menus were provided on both flights. VA also provided a wine and other drink list (not pictured) and details of 'The Pantry'.
Pre-Dinner Drinks
QF use a cart in J to serve pre-dinner drinks (which is a bit old school and obstructs PAX access). VA did not use a cart (at any time). VA provided a ramekin of almonds with the drink. On QF, the FA opens an individual packet of pretzels and nuts and places this on a small plate for each PAX.
Meal Service
Prior to the meal service, the VA FA places the cutlery on the tray table for you with individual 'opera house' salt and pepper shakers. On QF, your cutlery is handed to you by the FA rolled up in the napkin along with the Y sourced packages of salt and pepper.
On wine, VA offered three white and three red options. QF offered two white and one red option. This would not be an issue if the single red option provided by QF was any good (which it was not to my liking unfortunately).
The meals selected are shown below.
Entree
Having had the VA entree on previous occasions, I found the QF entree better (but maybe because I had not had it before).
Main
In terms of quantity, the meat and three veg QF meal was more substantial. In terms of taste, the VA meal was far superior (and more a 'J like' meal). The aioli on the QF meal needs to be replaced with a more fluid 'sauce' or jus to moisten the chicken.
Dessert
There was a 67 minute wait between the main and dessert on QF compared to a 15 minute wait on VA (it took about 30 minutes to remove my plate from main on QF as well). QF offer a dessert wine which was not offered by VA. I have had better desserts on both airlines previously but the QF meringue was particularly cheap and nasty on this flight. QF dessert is offered on a 'trolley' which blocks PAX access again.
Entertainment
The fixed entertainment systems on both airlines are quite good with large screens and are very responsive. On VA, there is a selection of 59 movies in J. On QF, there is a selection of only 17 movies in J. It is interesting to note that if you bring your own tablet and have the correct app, on QF, you can access up to 40 movies via Qstreaming if you are on a 330 with Qstreaming in Y. This would indicate that on Qstreaming 330 aircraft, QF actually offer a better range on entertainment to Y PAX than to J PAX (without their own device).
Other Observations
Both flights were full in J. I was on a platinum upgrade on VA and a points upgrade on QF and noticed no difference in service to anyone else on the flight. Upgrades were both confirmed at time of booking however.
Hot towels were provided after take off and prior to landing on VA. Hot towels were not seen or offered at anytime on QF.
Snacks were offered from 'The Pantry' later in the flight on VA. Nothing was offered on QF (I believe cheese and crackers may be available however).
Two toilets are available to the 20 J PAX on VA. Only one toilet is available to the 28 J PAX on QF.
The FA were more 'visible' after the meal service on VA than QF (but I have had the opposite occur on previous flights).
