A trip to the dark... well purple side

[serfty]

... What was quite annoying was the lack of an aerobridge :shock: so it was a bit of a trek down the steps then up the steps in the terminal....

Disembarkation - this was not a happy ending and would be a deal breaker for me over priority boarding if it was like this every time.

At MEL to be fair, door 1L disembarkation to steps rather than an Air-bridge would be an exception - certainly I never have when travelling DJ. I did need to disembark from a QF 734 via stairs at MEL T1 "gate" 27 last year.

 

[oz_mark]

It was a nice enough breakfast - on a par with QF. I think it will be a better test tonight on the evening flight home (chosen for 18:15 to compare the offering to an evening meal on QF - and yes I know QF evening meals arent much chop but they are a baseline for comparison).

If you are expecting the evening food offering on a flexi fare to be a meal, I might suggest you lower your expectations :shock:

(unless something has changed recently!)

 

[LiamR]

So overall for a morning flight SYD-MEL it would be a marginal win to QF simply because of the lack of the aerobridge.

I have to say, I've neer disembarked without an Aerobridge at MEL. Ever. Maybe it's just me, but that's a rare event.

 

[simongr]

If you are expecting the evening food offering on a flexi fare to be a meal, I might suggest you lower your expectations :shock:

(unless something has changed recently!)

Oh

I was working off this:

Flexi guests receive a dedicated food & service – this includes a gourmet food package incorporating Luke Mangan products and complimentary beverages – including complimentary beer & wine daily on flights departing after 4pm.

Does this get me one of:

New York sandwich
Noodle salad
Beef pie
Veg Pie
Wrap

?

Or just actual snacks?

 

[oz_mark]

Mal reported crackers and salsa dip last week!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....my-flexible-fare-food-31314-3.html#post486012

 

[simongr]

The Lounge Redux

So after a fairly successful day in Melbourne it is back to the airport. A hoping for a litte more inspiration this time from the lounge. The ride to the airport is fine (it's always fine in a 7 series BMW) and fairly quick which will leave me plen of time in the lounge. The DJ/VA terminal is cluttered on entry and somewhat dark I feel. The LCC terminal feel I had earlier repeats itself.

The signage to the uncapitalised lounge isnt clear as it could be but then on reflection it is only because I need signage that I even think about it - I don't imagine the QF signage is any better - I don't have much need for it of course.

When I find the lounge (which isn't actually that hard) the welcome is good and the angels immediately offer to move me to an earlier flight. I decline as this timing works for me and I do want to experience the lounge (capitalized or otherwise). The feel is immediately better than the SYD lounge (sans nostalgia) - brighter more modern and less busy. The beer selection is impressive but the poor service lets them down a lot as I have to wait quite a while for service - certainly longer than ever in the QF J lounge.

The food selection could be straight out of the QP apart from the pre cut bread - I would suggest that they don't do that in the future as the bread has already dried out by the time I get to it. Given we are before security I think they could have knives to cut our own bread. Overall though the food is disappointing again based on the hype.

The wifi is good if slightly unnecessary for me personally. The other services are ok although half the sinks being out of order in the loos is poor.

A return trip for a beer meets the same poor service and it feels like the tables aren't being cleared as quickly as they could/should.

Overall this is a step up from SYD but again doesn't match the QF MEL J lounge experience.

In fact given that this isn't that great and given the hype about the wonderful DJ/VA lounges the expectation gap is really very high.

Son I am disappoint.

 

[simongr]

This is the End beautiful friend the End...

So after experiencing the lOuNgE it is time again to experience the flight. I have already had a few shocks today finding out that aisle preference in my preferences doesn't kick in until November and the "meal" on board isn't but let us soldier on. I am in 3A and hoping for an empty seat next to me.

Again DJ/VA deliver at the security screening and priority boarding.. So it is is matter of only minutes from lounge to seat. This time we are in an older Virgin Blue aircraft with PE rather than J. This feels like a 734 on QF but I am assured it is a 738. The PE seating lolook pretty average but probably the same as QF J on a 734. Thankfully I don't end up next to her eblowyness and do have the empty seat next to me.

Departure is on time thankfully - there is a hint of dizzy hostie syndrome and seriously do I need to know the names of all the crew? It is telling that the safety briefing is all spoken by the crew given the lack of IFE. Meal service is better than this morning but the meal is not - a cheese stick, crackers and some trail mix is not suitable for an evening flight and not being able to buy anything off the menu (I thought of grabbing a pie) is annoying.

I really don't like the LCC nature of the food service.

The remainder of the flight is uneventful but I do think on WF I would have gotten a second drink.

Overall I wouldn't choose DJ/VA for a similarly priced evening flight based primarily on the lounge and in flight food options. An 18:00 flight from MEL gets me home at aout 8:15 which is too late for dinner so I do rely on some in flight fuel after a couple of slices of pizza in the lounge. So the scores on the doors Isla please:

Security/Boarding - do I even need to comment?
Seating - even Stevens for a comparable QF aircraft
Service - despite the surly grumpishness QF will take this one out as surly service of something outweighs chirpy service of nothing
Dizy blonde hostie count - none that I would see - although most people got a welcome back mr insert name here but I didn't - I don't expect them to know I status matched...

Overall DJ/VA I would not be choosing you over QF for my evening flights as explained above. Not awful but most importantly not better and not much cheaper.

 

[simongr]

Mr Foreman Do you have a verdict?

If it would please your honour we do...

Well the verdict is in and to be honest the only part of the experience that was better than QF was the priority boarding - the rest was a margin call at best and a downright disappointment at worst.

I know people will think I have judged DJ/VA harshly on a bad experience but I have no vested interest in flying QF - I have only a vested interest in flying what is best for me.

I think the fact that an everyday flight without a problem was not a better experience is the key for me - this is what I can expect on most flights with DJ/VA and as such I have no wow factor to draw me to VA/DJ for either the in flight of on the ground experience.

On the upside I don't come away thinking that if I moved travel to earn through Velocity that my overall domestic travel experience would be awful and the package of benefits may be enough of a lure to rethink things.

I will see how the next few months pan out and what the plan for 2012 is and reassess my options. One thing going back to the relaunch of Velocity was whether the extras were enough for long term loyalty - the key one being the hotel program for me. That unfortunately because of the limited time offer is not a long term incentive.

 

[medhead]

I've never done it but in theory there is no reason you couldn't purchase something. My first new flexi flight I was asked about purchasing food before they distributed the flexi meals. That seems to have changed now with them doing the flexi meals then the purchase service. You could've have just asked when they did the purchase, I guess.

While I think the flexi meals need some work, for one I'd like to be able to reject them when booking, I rate DJ food equal with QF. Mainly because I see all current meals as a total waste of time for my flight patterns.

Oh great summary, thanks.

 

[simongr]

I've never done it but in theory there is no reason you couldn't purchase something. My first new flexi flight I was asked about purchasing food before they distributed the flexi meals. That seems to have changed now with them doing the flexi meals then the purchase service. You could've have just asked when they did the purchase, I guess.

I did ask to buy a pie and was advised that they don't have that on short flights.

 

[medhead]

I did ask to buy a pie and was advised that they don't have that on short flights.

Yes, that is a problem. Lucky that they have them on SYD-ADL, even if it is not 2 hours. I've had 2 pies, the first was really good, but the last one was only average. I did have the ham and sun dried tomato wrap a couple of weeks ago. It was ok.

 

[drron]

Thanks for the report.I am glad I am not alone.My flights on DJ are by no means bad but i had wondered what i was missing with all the DJ love around the place recently.

 

[TonyHancock]

Thanks for the report.I am glad I am not alone.My flights on DJ are by no means bad but i had wondered what i was missing with all the DJ love around the place recently.

I'm caught up in this DJ love at the moment. I am a cyncial, bitter, twisted and grumpy middle aged man who dislikes air travel, yet I find myself quite excited at the prospect of my Y+ flight to NTL. I can't explain it. :shock:

 

[drron]

I'm caught up in this DJ love at the moment. I am a cyncial, bitter, twisted and grumpy middle aged man who dislikes air travel, yet I find myself quite excited at the prospect of my Y+ flight to NTL. I can't explain it. :shock:

After messing with Formule1 in South america you would fall for anything!

 

[TonyHancock]

After messing with Formule1 in South america you would fall for anything!

LOL Another mouthful of Chateau Dan Murphy gone!! drron you never cease to make me LOL. Love it!!

 

[777]

Just a quick note on tripit - they do monitor DJ/VA flights - i use them all the time. Not sure what the snag was there.

 

[simongr]

Thanks for that - no idea why it wasn't monitored...

 

[dk4]

Great feedback for Virgin.

But I am left wondering if DJ's LCC configured (?) 737 galleys are up to the challenge of - hot meals to all flexis (and more?!) on a MEL-SYD dinner flight?

I think that it has been acknowledged before, that if Virgin wants churn - then they have to do better than Qantas, not simply match or undercut the roo. Getting dinner (and possibly brekkie) right for busy day trippers (who probably skip lunch) would seem an immediate priority?

Hopefully we can read more virgin DJ/QF comparison trip reports from QF matched customers soon!

 

[LiamR]

Great feedback for Virgin.

But I am left wondering if DJ's LCC configured (?) 737 galleys are up to the challenge of - hot meals to all flexis (and more?!) on a MEL-SYD dinner flight?

I think that it has been acknowledged before, that if Virgin wants churn - then they have to do better than Qantas, not simply match or undercut the roo. Getting dinner (and possibly brekkie) right for busy day trippers (who probably skip lunch) would seem an immediate priority?

Hopefully we can read more Virgin DJ/QF comparison trip reports from QF matched customers soon!

They are updating their galleys to Full Service at the same time they are refitting the aircraft with the new J/Y seats. So wouldn't surprise me if we see full service or hot meals within the next year or so. Especially on Transcon serves.

 

[simongr]

Especially on Transcon serves.

But the majority of pax are on the golden triangle rather than trans cons - the short flights...