Article: Virgin Business Class Better Value than Qantas in 2022?

[AFF Editor]

Virgin Business Class Better Value than Qantas in 2022? is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Virgin Business Class Better Value than Qantas in 2022?

In early 2021, I wrote that Qantas in-flight catering was miles ahead of Virgin Australia. But Virgin Australia has massively improved its Business Class

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Do you agree (or not)? You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Gary T]

It’s a no brainer. Calling QF can cost you hours for a fare that’s way overpriced.
Virgin's call centre is usually quick with problems handled quickly for a fare that’s at least 1/2 the cost of what has become an arrogant QF.

 

[fox81]

i recently flew syd-per on qantas and then per-mel on virgin in business for both, and there is no comparison. i know its referenced in the article, but the virgin business product is garbage compared to qantas for these routes. as for the meals, there were 7 pax in business on my virgin flight (including one virgin staff), and i didnt get a choice of meal, so only got a salad in what should have been a dinner service.
the lounge in perth was dire with one staff member serving, and barely any food.
i will say the service from virgin crew on the plane was great, but there was nothing else to recommend it

 

[aikman]

I agree that the product is pretty much the same and VA is hands down better value. QF however still has that intangible attraction of QFF status which I think for a lot of people is more important than actual dollar savings.

 

[Kezza21]

Long haul Qantas business meal products have also deteriorated. On a recent Heathrow to Darwin flight, the food was inedible. Overcooked, tough lamb with grey brussel sprouts. I am still in awe about how they managed that! Neil Perry should hand in his chef's hat.

 

[winston]

Qantas is rapidly losing me as a customer- due to very poor service on 2 recent business class trips Cns to Mel and return on 737.
Catering inedible, no choice of meal by the time they came to row 3, virtually no cabin presence from the crew (who on the return leg sat in the galley, masks hanging below their noses, chatting amongst themselves) not a single beverage top up, empty glasses sitting on our trays 2+ hours only cleared for descent- why pay a significant premium for such coughe service? Time to give the competition a try

 

[aaronm]

VA's pricing has had me picking up paid domestic J tickets for the first time (previously it was all awards and upgrades). $299 BNE-MEL is great value, and the SC earn is very helpful in retaining status. Service is on par with QF, and certainly better value overall.

 

[stm1sydney]

I think that VA Business is both better and better value.

 

[justinbrett]

It's ridiculous you can get a Gin & Tonic on VA & JQ but not QF - not even in J.

I really don't understand their objections to spirits (they cut them from sale in Y years ago - but were happy to sell them on JQ. Makes no sense).

I stick with QF due to oneworld status but these days I enjoy flying AA domestic far more than flying QF domestic. Definitely feels like QF is taking its customers for granted.

 

[Zulu0929]

Virgin Business Class Better Value than Qantas in 2022? is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Virgin Business Class Better Value than Qantas in 2022?

In early 2021, I wrote that Qantas in-flight catering was miles ahead of Virgin Australia. But Virgin Australia has massively improved its Business Class

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Do you agree (or not)? You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

A continuing story about how bad QF is with regard to the attitude towards their customers. Long wait times on the phone hearing the same message for the past decade, poorly trained customer service people overseas, J class standards when compared to Virgin and so on. The CEO never has to do any of that so why would he care.
However, they have got most people by the you know what because of the FF Points and Status. Until the customers say they have had enough and make the break, QF will continue. I've just booked with Virgin again mostly because of poor QF service and in line with much of what is mentioned in Matt's article.
One point with regard to the Virgin J class cabin, quote "....a proper divider between Business & Economy (Virgin uses a magnetic rope), the Virgin Business Class cabin feels more private. In my experience, the flight attendants on Virgin are also much better at turning away Economy passengers who try to sneak into the Business cabin or use the Business toilet".
I am fortunate enough to travel at the sharp end and not at company expense either, but some of the precious types must understand that when the Y class aisle is blocked with the trolley it is very difficult to get to the back of the bus in a hurry and when you gotta go.......etc. Ease up, it is only a toilet and when all is said and done, it is exactly the same as the one at the back, no carpet or special mirror!

 

[MooTime]

Imo in short, VA has lifted their J game by price & food while QF have dropped their J game with no spirits & continual no J/Y divider.

Price difference is massive, ppl shop at Aldi to save $10 per shop so to save hundreds, well goes without saying where people will walk to.

 

[justinbrett]

Imo in short, VA has lifted their J game by price & food while QF have dropped their J game with no spirits & continual no J/Y divider.

Price difference is massive, ppl shop at Aldi to save $10 per shop so to save hundreds, well goes without saying where people will walk to.

I'm not sure that many people flying QF J are paying for the seats out of their own pockets.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm not sure that many people flying QF J are paying for the seats out of their own pockets.

Agree - and this point always always gets overlooked.

No one pays QF retail.

And VA has very few business accounts left, so most people pay VA retail.

So value is completely warped when you chuck price in.

A better comparison is literally 'assume same price' but even then that is hard because all of QF's soft status benefits pre-plane are far superior (lounges etc).

 

[jakeseven7]

i recently flew syd-per on qantas and then per-mel on virgin in business for both, and there is no comparison. i know its referenced in the article, but the virgin business product is garbage compared to qantas for these routes.

Yes - but VA2 lost all their widebodies when they collapsed, so QF is always going to win transcon period with their A330's flat beds and service.

You can only really compare 737 v 737 to be 'fair' I guess?

 

[MooTime]

Yes - but VA2 lost all their widebodies when they collapsed, so QF is always going to win transcon period with their A330's flat beds and service.

You can only really compare 737 v 737 to be 'fair' I guess?

Then again how many QF passengers are stooged before flying, having booked an A330 J only to see aircraft changed to 737.
Not sure of % of transcon flights are in an A330, but far from all.

 

[JackMiles]

Yes - but VA2 lost all their widebodies when they collapsed, so QF is always going to win transcon period with their A330's flat beds and service.

You can only really compare 737 v 737 to be 'fair' I guess?

At least with VA you know you'll get the 737, no disappointment possible, versus booking with QF, carefully booking the A330 flight then suffering the crushing dismay of having it changed to a 737. That trauma stays with you!

 

[aaronm]

Then again how many QF passengers are stooged before flying, having booked an A330 J only to see aircraft changed to 737.

This has happened on 100% of QF A330 flights I’ve booked in the last two years. Get excited about a nice widebody J seat only for disappointment when the inevitable plane swap occurs. IMO it’s almost a completely different product so the downgrade always hurts.

 

[oz_ally]

At least with VA you know you'll get the 737, no disappointment possible, versus booking with QF, carefully booking the A330 flight then suffering the crushing dismay of having it changed to a 737. That trauma stays with you!

Well I have to disagree there - twice in the last few weeks I have had my flights changed from a J booked 737 to a bloody Fokker. Thankfully the last one I flew on March 14 magically changed back to a 737 so I was able to keep my seat up the front. However, today I got a text and email asking me to call VA "ASAP" due to a flight reschedule regarding a return J flight I only booked last Friday . Just got off the phone with VA. The flight times are barely different but all planes that day between ROK - BNE (and back) have changed from 737s to Fokkers. I actually already knew of the plane downgrade by a notification from Award Wallet - who always seem to let me know things before VA does. But due to what happened with the change back last time I was going to leave it in case the Fokker became a 737 again. Looks like it's possible it won't happen as I've already had the price difference of Business to Economy refunded to Travel Bank (that's how I paid).

But I do get what you mean regarding the A330s. Before the Covid Apocalypse I took a flight from ROK - PER via BNE. The BNE - PER flight was an A330. Fantastic plane even in economy. Hardly anyone on it so everyone stretched out in their own row once the door was closed (I had nobody sitting next to me anyway). On the way off the plane I saw those Business class pods and thought oh wow if I get an offer of "bid for an upgrade" on the way back I am going for it. I'd never flown J before. I was still a n00b to all the lessons to be learned on this site too. The flight back - was a 737 I was still a lowly VA red and being able to spend hours in the lounge was a Godsend (checked out of motel by 12 noon - flight not until 10 something later that night) - everything else about the experience - including "Priority" check in was disappointing. Priority check in - the computers were down - my first time lining up in the fancy line and yeah I would have gotten through bag drop etc faster by lining up in the regular line - even with 100 people there It was a lesson learned - always check the type of aircraft first. Then Covid hit and no more A330s for VA

 

[JackMiles]

Well I have to disagree there - twice in the last few weeks I have had my flights changed from a J booked 737 to a bloody Fokker. Thankfully the last one I flew on March 14 magically changed back to a 737 so I was able to keep my seat up the front. However, today I got a text and email asking me to call VA "ASAP" due to a flight reschedule regarding a return J flight I only booked last Friday . Just got off the phone with VA. The flight times are barely different but all planes that day between ROK - BNE (and back) have changed from 737s to Fokkers. I actually already knew of the plane downgrade by a notification from Award Wallet - who always seem to let me know things before VA does. But due to what happened with the change back last time I was going to leave it in case the Fokker became a 737 again. Looks like it's possible it won't happen as I've already had the price difference of Business to Economy refunded to Travel Bank (that's how I paid).

But I do get what you mean regarding the A330s. Before the Covid Apocalypse I took a flight from ROK - PER via BNE. The BNE - PER flight was an A330. Fantastic plane even in economy. Hardly anyone on it so everyone stretched out in their own row once the door was closed (I had nobody sitting next to me anyway). On the way off the plane I saw those Business class pods and thought oh wow if I get an offer of "bid for an upgrade" on the way back I am going for it. I'd never flown J before. I was still a n00b to all the lessons to be learned on this site too. The flight back - was a 737 I was still a lowly VA red and being able to spend hours in the lounge was a Godsend (checked out of motel by 12 noon - flight not until 10 something later that night) - everything else about the experience - including "Priority" check in was disappointing. Priority check in - the computers were down - my first time lining up in the fancy line and yeah I would have gotten through bag drop etc faster by lining up in the regular line - even with 100 people there It was a lesson learned - always check the type of aircraft first. Then Covid hit and no more A330s for VA

Aha, well, I did not realise VA had those in their fleet, being a solely transcon flyer (or, in the past two years, a grounded ex-flyer). So although I think it's fair to say you can't get lower than the 737 going transcon, I humbly must qualify my comment - disappointment is indeed possible on other routes. Thanks for the correction!

 

[MooTime]

Aha, well, I did not realise VA had those in their fleet, being a solely transcon flyer (or, in the past two years, a grounded ex-flyer). So although I think it's fair to say you can't get lower than the 737 going transcon, I humbly must qualify my comment - disappointment is indeed possible on other routes. Thanks for the correction!

I was on the Alliance Fokker few days ago from ROK to BNE, old piece of metal, 30yo ours was. Was fine, but I'd avoid it if possible.

So their not in their fleet, it's some deal / partnership with Alliance.