BNE - MEL - BNE Thoughts

[Tejas]

Yesterday I flew BNE - MEL - BNE

Fare down was Economy (i was in 3A). The biggest issue I had was not long after the meal service I needed to use the bathroom. Because the front ones are for Business only, it basically meant that I was unable to use the bathroom whilst meal service was happening as the aisle was blocked by the staff giving the service - perhaps an unintended consequence of keeping the front bathrooms for business, but annoying none the less. Luckily I didn't need to go THAT bad, but I'm glad I was travelling solo and not with my kids.

Fare back was business (and I'm glad it was - after Federer destroyed his round 1 opponent i was at the airport at 5:00 for my 8pm flight so i chilled in the lounge). the service was attentive and quite good. The food (some sort of shredded lamb parcels) was quite tasty and was just enough (probally because i ate plenty in the lounge)

wrap up: would i fly virgin again? Honestly, after the issue with the bathrooms i'm on the fence.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The bathroom issue is in no way unique to VA and you'd have the same problem on QF, assuming they actually enforced the front toilet for J only thing. Jetstar or Tiger though you'd have free reign if you paid for a seat close to the front...

I've never had a problem going back for the bathroom during service if the desire to go was urgent. The F/A's can move the cart around to let you through - sometimes they ask I remain at the back until they are finished service which I'm happy to do.

However I know what I am getting myself in to when getting on a flight and if the opportunity to visit a bathroom on the ground is there then it is far more preferable to a cramped airplane loo.

 

[Happy Dude]

So you'd choose your carrier on the basis that it might be slightly more problematic to get to the toilets?

There's one the marketing team probably hadn't thought of.

 

[Denali]

Our preferred seats are 1D & 1F and pretty sure every flight theres been at least one person that has used the J toilet because the meals trolley was in the way.

 

[knagelli]

Our preferred seats are 1D & 1F

On a different note , just wondering why not 1A/1C as the preferred seats.

 

[Denali]

On a different note , just wondering why not 1A/1C as the preferred seats.

Usually VA 1A & 1C overhead have FAs bags, newspapers, other paraphernalia up there and I dont want to fight for space for my carry on/hubbys backpack.ve

 

[knagelli]

1A & 1C overhead has FAs bags, newspapers, other paraphernalia up there

Completely forgot this point

 

[mannej]

I would have thought that the toilet situation is an issue more generic to narrow body aircraft rather than airline specific?

 

[jase05]

Usually VA 1A & 1C overhead has FAs bags, newspapers, other paraphernalia up there and I dont want to fight for space for my carry on/hubbys backpack.

Yep, we are 1D & 1F if possible not only because of your reasons but Mrs Jase always has the window and I’m fairly dominant on my right hand side so am more comfortable grabbing my drink/phone etc from the centre

 

[Inlander]

Welcome to the land Of The narrow bodies and all their inherent restrictions. Stay tuned because we are getting a few A330 wide bodies between BNE-MEL in April

 

[Silvia]

I have found that within reason, the FAs would use some common sense and allow it if they are seeing a genuine need to use the front toilet. At least has happened in my limited experience flying VA and also with QF when going through meal service.

 

[Jack_OC]

I have found that within reason, the FAs would use some common sense and allow it if they are seeing a genuine need to use the front toilet. At least has happened in my limited experience flying VA and also with QF when going through meal service.

In my experience, QF don't make any effort to enforce this rule. VA do tend to enforce it for the most part, but they seem to generally display some flexibility for kids, elderly people etc.

Like many things it's a tricky one - the dedicated toilet for J becomes completely meaningless if it's a free for all, and to make matters worse it can result in people hovering around the J cabin waiting for the loo, which can be irritating for those up front. I'm near the front of Y most of the time on domestic flights BTW, so I'm not saying this out of self interest!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

At least you could buy econX or get into that, even though there is the side squeeze, and the toilet "issue", you at least have stretch room up forward.
On QF, you have to either buy J/subclass of it, or get lucky to have a shadow.
I pick to fly VA because of the ability to buy econX, and also at elevate level of SC, sometimes the fare is only $30/$35/$45 more, for which I can bear.
You buy it, you have it.
Unlike QF, where you have to buy comfort seat booking, or not knowing of the seat next to you as empty until "the last cabin door is now closed", and the seat next to you is still empty, and assuming they don't plonk someone/staff or others, into that seat, talking about "the shadow".
VA could improve, (**IF it brought all its call centres into one, based in Australia, I would happy), and put itself ahead of QF if it really wanted to, but its still better than QF in some regards.
Even if you were down the back, there is still no surety you will have toilet use, as some people seem to use it as a way of passing time, up and loo time, up and loo time.
Many times I have sat in 29A on QF and its the same people using loo, bladder problem, nakkakism, most likely opportunity to walk about.

 

[Happy Dude]

What are you on about @AustraliaPoochie? The OP was in Yx (3A) and is grizzling that because he could neither use the J loo or get past the service cart to get to the back loos, he/she may not use VA again. Seems like a rather obtuse reason. Not sure I'd let something like that influence my decisions or ruin my day, but we're not all wired the same. Also, what's nakkakism? I only have a work computer and that sounds NSFW.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Nakkism is some peoples habit of saying no to everything.

 

[hydrabyss]

In my experience, QF don't make any effort to enforce this rule. VA do tend to enforce it for the most part, but they seem to generally display some flexibility for kids, elderly people etc.

Like many things it's a tricky one - the dedicated toilet for J becomes completely meaningless if it's a free for all, and to make matters worse it can result in people hovering around the J cabin waiting for the loo, which can be irritating for those up front. I'm near the front of Y most of the time on domestic flights BTW, so I'm not saying this out of self interest!

For me its not who uses the toilet but as you mention it's the fact people start to gather around the front waiting for the toilet.

 

[hydrabyss]

Nakkism is some peoples habit of saying no to everything.

I tried to find anything relating to that word and came up empty.

 

[Carrots]

On the flip side, on your return flight in J, how would you feel about a queue of people waiting to use the front toilet?

 

[Ade]

he/she may not use VA again. Seems like a rather obtuse reason. Not sure I'd let something like that influence my decisions or ruin my day, but we're not all wired the same

My thoughts exactly !!

IMHO, I believe the inability to access the toilet during meal service, when seated in YX (having paid that extra $$ for that seat or was a perk of Platinum), and can't use J toilets, is not as strong enough a reason to rule out flying with a certain carrier

With only a 3rd person's view on this, I may suggest using the restrooms prior to the flight (I'm assuming here that the OP is not having any medical conditions that necessitates frequent use of the facilities) , Or, walking up to the meal cart and politely asking to be let through and whispering it's urgent (again, I'm assuming that the OP was in an urgent need to use the facilities) - am sure any FA would happily oblige

If I had to rule out flying with a carrier only on the basis of access to facilities, then I'm not sure if I'd ever be able to fly with anyone