VA or Qantas to LA?

[cmon0005]

Yes $1,100 is a quite a bit of money.. If it was 1100 more just for one person then I would be weighing up my options..
But 1100 for 4 people is not that bad, the A380 is a dream to fly on and Qantas service Internationally definitely stands out as one of the best.

Also having Silver status on QF means you will get advance seat selection at no cost. On VA depending on the fare booked, you may have to pay to select seats or wait til checkin.

Whatever you choose do post back to let us know! Have a great trip!

 

[eastwest101]

I agree that you can do a lot with $1100 over in the USA so VA for me. As others have suggested - if you do decide to go with VA make sure you use family pooling and you could also help your husband get some points, status and upgrades with VA in the future. As others have suggested just make sure its on the VA B777 and not the DL B777 aircraft if you can - the Y seats on the VA B777's are ever so slightly wider and more seat pitch but its a small difference. Both QF and VA have high safety standards and experienced crews.

 

[Pinktommy]

I'm swaying to VA.......I'm thinking of the nice lovely Marc Jacobs handbag I can buy with the $1100 saving

However, I forgot too mention my hubby has Qantas Club membership.....BUT apparently in the US they will only let 1 child in addition with 1 guest (myself) so that leaves no admission for the other child???

thoughts?

 

[HarryB]

If it's a Qantas run lounge (and LA has one) then you'll get in with the same conditions re family that you do here. Partner lounges I don't think will allow more than one guest

 

[cmon0005]

However, I forgot too mention my hubby has Qantas Club membership.....BUT apparently in the US they will only let 1 child in addition with 1 guest (myself) so that leaves no admission for the other child???

If you goto the LAX QF lounge you should be ok.

Also with your hubby being a QC and Silver, seems like a no brainer, on QF you will get priority checkin at both ends, free advance seat selection, extra baggage (1 extra piece @ 23kg's each) good when you over shop , not to mention the 50% bonus points for the silver holder (almost an extra ~8000 points), and he will be on his way to Gold also I am guessing being silver he will already have 300+ status credits which he would only need another 200 to get a loyalty bonus of 8000 points(once you reach 500 SC's in a membership year).

 

[Pinktommy]

Thanks Cmon005.

So does hubby's Silver status allow all 4 of us the extra baggage allowance, advance seat selection and priority checkin? Or just him??

 

[cmon0005]

Thanks Cmon005.

So does hubby's Silver status allow all 4 of us the extra baggage allowance, advance seat selection and priority checkin? Or just him??

Yes all passengers on the same ticket get the benefits.

 

[mella2007]

Only for him. And it's only one extra piece of luggage and check in at the Premium Economy counter (not Business)...however VA are very good about people on the same itinerary all checking in together at the same counter, so you can all do that as well as if it's booked under him you MAY be able to all have seat allocation. Note that VA have gotten tough with exit rows and sometimes do not allow to pre purchase them online nor at the airport check in.

I've flown with VA to the US on numerous occasions in both economy and business. Friendly crew on board, food is quite tasty, seats are fine, IFE is good. so no complaints from me!

Thanks Cmon005.

So does hubby's Silver status allow all 4 of us the extra baggage allowance, advance seat selection and priority checkin? Or just him??

 

[cmon0005]

Only for him. And it's only one extra piece of luggage and check in at the Premium Economy counter (not Business)...however VA are very good about people on the same itinerary all checking in together at the same counter, so you can all do that as well as if it's booked under him you MAY be able to all have seat allocation. Note that VA have gotten tough with exit rows and sometimes do not allow to pre purchase them online nor at the airport check in.

That's incorrect, it is all passengers on the ticket, you get checkin at premium/silver if available otherwise you get business checkin.. I travel with my wife and sometimes a third person who are no status with no probs..

And yes you do get seat selection..all passengers on the ticket get silver zone seats. (only exit rows are charged).

 

[JohnPhelan]

Only for him. And it's only one extra piece of luggage and check in at the Premium Economy counter (not Business)...however VA are very good about people on the same itinerary all checking in together at the same counter, so you can all do that as well as if it's booked under him you MAY be able to all have seat allocation. Note that VA have gotten tough with exit rows and sometimes do not allow to pre purchase them online nor at the airport check in.

Totally incorrect. Provided you are all on the one PNR (ticket), all of you get your husband's benefits on QF - advanced seat selection, preferred seating, priority check-in at either Qantas Club or Y+ counters. Re lounge access, you'll be fine in Australia and at LAX (because QF operates the lounge at TBIT at LAX).

 

[mannej]

Totally incorrect. Provided you are all on the one PNR (ticket), all of you get your husband's benefits on QF - advanced seat selection, preferred seating, priority check-in at either Qantas Club or Y+ counters. Re lounge access, you'll be fine in Australia and at LAX (because QF operates the lounge at TBIT at LAX).

But what about the luggage? Doesn't that only apply for the status holder?

 

[cmon0005]

But what about the luggage? Doesn't that only apply for the status holder?

The website is not clear in that respect, but I have anecdotal experience with it and it has applied to all on the 1 ticket.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I usually go with the guys that look after me the most. Currently that's QF.

Safety is not a differentiator here IMHO

 

[mella2007]

Totally incorrect. Provided you are all on the one PNR (ticket), all of you get your husband's benefits on QF - advanced seat selection, preferred seating, priority check-in at either Qantas Club or Y+ counters. Re lounge access, you'll be fine in Australia and at LAX (because QF operates the lounge at TBIT at LAX).

I was talking about VA, not QF.

 

[yo yo ma]

BUT apparently in the US they will only let 1 child in addition with 1 guest (myself) so that leaves no admission for the other child???

I was able to take my wife and 3 kids into LAX and JFK without any issues (I was Gold at the time).

 

[yo yo ma]

I was talking about VA, not QF.

The confusion was due to the OP saying her husband is silver with QF.

 

[Deborah66]

I fly this route regularly and had the same question - so I tried Virgin out at a time when there was a ridiculously significant price difference to Qantas. The flight is an hour longer with Virgin (it is a Virgin 777 vs others) - 14 h 40 vs 13 hr 30 door to door. Seats on Virgin were old style compared to Qantas newer planes, so if you are lucky to choose the Qantas Airbus flights, you will be more comfortable (beware some of the Q flights don't have Airbus at the moment as 2 are in service) I am a member of Virgin as well as Qantas, but there can be challenges getting the US side to acknowledge the Australian side for FF and vice versa. If you are going on from LA to somewhere else, they will not check your bags through at all or give you a boarding pass for your internal US next flight, so you have to re-check (of course, on all flights you have to collect baggage for customs purposes but here you have to physically go out, get your new boarding pass and recheck your luggage so time can be an issue for connections ) They say that Virgin Australia and Virgin America can not talk electronically yet. I am always happy with the Virgin staff and the quality of the food is OK. It comes down to price and comfort - I have a bad back from a previous accident so I am much more aware of the seat reclining and comfort issues - Premium Economy on Virgin is not good for me - Qantas is marginally better. Qantas Business can not be bettered. NEVER consider United for this route. You only make that mistake once......

 

[file51]

The cost difference is less when you factor in the potential $160 for seat allocation on VA

(4 x $20 each way)

Plus the added benefit of priority check in, and potential lounge access make it a easy choice IMO

Having flown both QF & VA on the SYD-LAX sectors, I find the QF economy and premium economy
product much more comfortable, again this is a personal opinion, I found the VA seats far too firm.

If flying J then they are both equal...

 

[yo yo ma]

The cost difference is less when you factor in the potential $160 for seat allocation on VA

(4 x $20 each way)

Plus the added benefit of priority check in, and potential lounge access make it a easy choice IMO

And the cost of not getting lounge access before the VA flights

 

[serfty]

DH's PS status saves the $200 cost of selecting seats on QF - there's now only $900 to justify.

Lounge access - how to Quantify?