Business Class Coast to Coast: Bigger is Better

[notzac]

That is a SICK going rate for such a route and totally independent from the product! I'm used to UA asking ridiculous prices for domestic first intra U.S. but even a transcon is nowhere near that rate.

Welcome to the reality of J fares in Australia! IIRC, QF were charging a fair bit more than that in the not too distant past, on the basis that they could. Amazing what a bit of competition does..

I can't see myself paying for J in Australia and would be reluctant to use points; it's just not worth it in my opinion -- especially for what is a relatively short flight.

Having now flown J on the A330 service - its really very excellent. Probably the best short-haul J/F flight I've had (admittedly, from a fairly small sample). Kind of disappointing to see that the 737 service doesn't compare so well -- but not surprising either.

 

[Moopere]

I can't see myself paying for J in Australia and would be reluctant to use points; it's just not worth it in my opinion -- especially for what is a relatively short flight.

This is an often heard opinion, yet, most continental flights are going to be a similar time ... intra US, intra Europe, Middle East to Europe, etc, etc. Of course I agree that discomfort in Y, for me at least, increases exponentially with flight time so the long interncontinental flights are where J/F class really shines.

But for a 3hr+ flight I arrive in better condition in J than I do in Y and I've done several back to back transcon Australian domestic flights in both (with QF). As I mention above, 3K$ return is just silly asking money, particularly for the 737 or QF's 767 service, really, its laughable, but for $400 odd + 13,800 points, given all the inclusions it was an easy choice to make and I'd do the same again on DJ even given the shortcomings of the 737.

Having now flown J on the A330 service - its really very excellent. Probably the best short-haul J/F flight I've had (admittedly, from a fairly small sample). Kind of disappointing to see that the 737 service doesn't compare so well -- but not surprising either.

Indeed. I was very disappointed to lose the A330 flight. We shouldn't be surprised I guess, the widebody planes are always going to trump the narrow bodies with the seating configs that are popular today. Somewhat surprising though that both DJ and QF charge such a premium price for J in Domestic given that almost all the services are operated by the smaller planes .. the big international configured jets are so few in number, with so few flights assigned, that its almost a raffle win to get one - yet both airlines make a big deal about their A330 and 747 transcon service and wave it about with considerable pride. Smells a tiny bit like bait and switch marketing ... particularly when viewed from the perspective of the standard passenger who may not even know how to check which plane they will get on any given day/flight number.

 

[serfty]

After travelling each way last week between Perth and Sydney on the 330 I can add some more.

The SYD-PER flight had two business PAX in total, the PER-SYD flight had 8.

I departed from SYD at 5:30pm and from PER at 11:30am so received the "Dinner" service. There are separate catering services for the early morning (breakfast) and late night (supper) flights. I will include some menu information in a later post.

I had the same crew each way - they were close to (if not) the best I have experienced - on any flight I have undertaken in the last 10 years!

Pre-Departure I was offered Juice/Water/Champagne. I did not ask for anything else, simply taking the Lanson and some water each time - but guess that I could have had something different.

The food is interesting; some worked for me, some did not. More to follow

The IFE is interesting with about 6 movies to choose, but takes me back ten years to having to plan the program you wish to watch. (Can't pause the loop.)

The nosewheel camera shot has been mentioned; however, there is also a 'belly cam' showing an in flight image pointing straight down. Also, after the nose wheel camera goes away, it is replaced with a "Pilot's View" pointing straight forward.

Standard decade old style flight path is available as well. IFE is "gate to Gate" but keeps getting reset almost every time a PA is made and you need to switch back to video when that happens.

 

[serfty]

330 MENU's

Sydney to Perth

---

breakfast
flights
scheduled to depart 0401 - 0930

Juice

Fresh Orange Juice

Bakery

Croissant, wholemeal roll or sourdough roll served with a election
of preserves or Vegemite

Fruit

Seasonal fruit selection V

Mains

Classic hot breakfast

Potato breakfast hash, with pork chiplatas and cannellini bakes beans

Char-grilled eggplant and zucchini Croque Monsieur with roasted trussed
cherry tomatoes and chives V

Hot drinks selection

Coffee

Filter, Expresso, Cappucino or Latte

Tea

Madame Flavour Tea - Special Blend Black Tea, Earl Grey Twist,
Green Tea with Jasmine and Pear, or Mint Tisane

Hot Chocolate

---

dinner
flights
scheduled to depart 0931-2229

Bakery

Your choice of warmed bread served with Luke Mangan's extra virgin olive oil
and dukkah dipping spice

Starters

Thai style salad with omelette, herbs and tamarind dressing

or

Zucchini, basil and parmesian soup V

Mains

Barbecue-spiced beef pie with sweet potato, peas and tomato relish

Barramundi fillet with Japanese mushrooms, snow peas, ginger and miso broth

Potato, capsicum and rosemary tortilla with ratatouille and pesto V

Salad

Mesclun and baby spinich with chardonnay vinegar and lemon oil dressing V

Cheese

Maffra ashed cloth cheddar, Gippsland, Victoria

Tarago River cream brie, Gippsland, Victoria

Old Telegraph Road Sapphire Blue, Gippsland, Victoria

Cheese accompanied by pear and hazelnut paste, grapes and crispbread

Dessert

Lemon merangue tart

Hot drinks selection

Coffee

Filter, Expresso, Cappuccino or Latte

Tea

Madame Flavour Tea - Special Blend Black Tea, Earl Grey Twist,
Green Tea with Jasmine and Pear, or Mint Tisane

Hot Chocolate

<Missed supper menu>

---

---

Perth to Sydney

---

breakfast
flights
scheduled to depart 0401 - 0930

Juice

Fresh Orange Juice

Bakery

Croissant, wholemeal roll or sourdough roll served with a election
of preserves or Vegemite

Fruit

Season fruit selection V

Mains

Classic hot breakfast

Tuscan breakfast frittata with pork chipolata, bacon and semi-dried tomato

Buttermilk pancakes with vanilla poached berries, creme fraiche and mint V

Hot drinks selection

Coffee

Filter, Expresso, Cappuccino or Latte

Tea

Madame Flavour Tea - Special Blend Black Tea, Earl Grey Twist,
Green Tea with Jasmine and Pear, or Mint Tisane

Hot Chocolate

---

dinner
flights
scheduled to depart 0931-2259

Bakery

Your choice of warmed bread served with Luke Mangan's extra virgin olive oil
and dukkah dipping spice

Starters

Cajun char-grilled chicken salad with tabouleh and lime dressing

or

Moroccan spiced chickpea soup with harissa and mint V

Mains

Braised beef short rib with parmesan and herbed potatoes, tarragon
and mustard butter and green beans

Atlantic salmon fillet with roasted fennel, pepperonata and cherry tomato dressing

Mushroom, spinich and cheddar cheese pie V

Salad

Baby spinach, rocket and radicchio with red wine vinegar and mustard dressing V

Cheese

King Island black label wax cheddar, Tasmania

Tarago River Shadows of Blue, Gippsland, Victoria

Old Telegraph Road triple cream brie, Gippsland, Victoria

Cheese accompanied by pear and hazelnut paste, grapes and crispbread

Dessert

Luke Mangan's Amaretto tiramisu

Hot drinks selection

Coffee

Filter, Expresso, Cappuccino or Latte

Tea

Madame Flavour Tea - Special Blend Black Tea, Earl Grey Twist,
Green Tea with Jasmine and Pear, or Mint Tisane

Hot Chocolate

---

supper
flights
scheduled to depart 2300 - 0400

Supper

White bean soup with garlic and rosemary croutons V

or

Greek salad with Persion feta, warmed lamb meatballs and tzatziki

Both choices are accompanied by Luke Mangan's Chocolate Macadamias

breakfast

Juice

Fresh Orange Juice

Bakery

Croissant, wholemeal roll or sourdough roll served with a election
of preserves or Vegemite

Fruit

Seasonal fruit selection V

Cerial

Luke Mangan's toasted muesli with Craisins, coconut, raisins and hazelnuts

Hot drinks selection

Coffee

Filter, Expresso, Cappucino or Latte

Tea

Madame Flavour Tea - Special Blend Black Tea, Earl Grey Twist,

Green Tea with Jasmine and Pear, or Mint Tisane

Hot Chocolate

---

 

[serfty]

Pre Departure Bubbles:



Lanson Gold Label Brut
1999 Vintage Reims, France

Pre Dinner Drink and Nuts - Tried the "Australian coughtail" 'by Luke Mangan'.

"Our new signature coughtail is a delicious aperitif, with the hue of an Australian sunset and the fresh lively flavours of our country. A blend of white spirits, cognac and cranberry juice, freshened with a ginger and lime syrup. A delicious way to begin your culinary journey today."

I found it a little too sweet and went back to the Lanson.

 

[serfty]

Meal hits and misses (mainly Hits)

After the pre-dinner drinks and nuts, entrees were served with a choice of bread, ML extra virgine olive oil and dukkah dipping spice.

This was the same both ways and quite nice.

Having had soup in the SYD Virgin Lounge before the flight I decided on the other starter option:



"Thai style salad with omelette, herbs and tamarind dressing"

I wish I'd had the soup. The egg slices were rubbery and basically tasteless and the 'tamarind' in the salad overpowered everything else.

Moving on with the personal service I went for the "Barramundi fillet with Japanese mushrooms, snow peas, ginger and miso broth".

I was served this:



What on Earth! :shock: The fish, mushrooms etc. were literally swimming in the miso.

This dish simply did not work for me! I regard miso as a side dish an accompaniment, not the crux. It was weak tasting and the fish had become overcooked sitting in the miso. I fished the Barramundi and vegetables out and ate them separately.

FWIW, SWMBO has advised me she would have loved a dish like that - the sort of meal that's right up her ally... oh well ...

On the return the menu was different.

I tried the "Cajun char-grilled chicken salad with tabouleh and lime dressing".



It looked strange to me in presentation, but tasted wonderful.

The "Braised beef short rib with parmesan and herbed potatoes, tarragon
and mustard butter and green beans" was a winner as well.




Along with the meals were served a side salad of green stuff with a dressing as described. Both different dressings were interesting and quite nice.

The meals were both finished off with a choice of Dessert or a Cheese Selection from a trolley Port, Cognac, Baileys were available as well as coffees, teas etc.

I had no dessert, but the cheese selections were brilliant!

 

[serfty]

Here's a cabin view looking back from near 1A:



Seat 1A:



Head Phones:



Nose Cam:



After take-off, this gets (eventually) replaced with "Pilot's View":



There's also a "Belly Cam": (Crossing from land over to St. Vincent Gulf)

 

[MarkD]

Now this is what j should be like on all dj flights, thanks for sharing, if they can get the product like this across the board it will be a winner

 

[Moopere]

Now this is what j should be like on all dj flights, thanks for sharing, if they can get the product like this across the board it will be a winner

Having experienced the 330 myself now I heartily agree.

There is no comparison between the 737 of any flavour and the 330. To my mind, the J price for the 330 is about right and acceptable (to me), the narrow body experience is quite a bit lower and I'd struggle to pay the asking price for that one (and its about more than the food) - as a J reward though the 737 J is generally ok when they don't drop the ball on the overall service level.

 

[Greggsy]

I tried the C2C A330 service last night in J.

I rate it better than QF, especially against the new QF A332's with their new JQ star class/PE seats.

Greg.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Moopere]

I tried the C2C A330 service last night in J.

I rate it better than QF, especially against the new QF A332's with their new JQ star class/PE seats.

Ahh, DJ565? 3 hours late departure from SYD? I was on that one. Exceptional on board service - once we finally got into the air it was all good and I agree with your comparison with QF ... but only on that 332 service.

 

[Greggsy]

Ahh, DJ565? 3 hours late departure from SYD? I was on that one. Exceptional on board service - once we finally got into the air it was all good and I agree with your comparison with QF ... but only on that 332 service.

Which seat were you in?


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Moopere]

Which seat were you in?

Prolly the one next you you, haha, whats the chances?

2J ... where were you?

Did we chat?

 

[Greggsy]

Prolly the one next you you, haha, whats the chances?

2J ... where were you?

Did we chat?

I was 1C, fat bloke with a red shirt.

I even had my new AFF tag hanging out of my bag in the locker.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[markis10]

I was 1C, fat bloke with a red shirt.

I even had my new AFF tag hanging out of my bag in the locker.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

Did you Stowe your tazer?

 

[Greggsy]

Did you Stowe your tazer?

I have a special, secret holster for that.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Thanks dk4.

 

[Moopere]

I was 1C, fat bloke with a red shirt.

I even had my new AFF tag hanging out of my bag in the locker.

I have to get one of those tags. In 1C you'd be too far away for me to see your tag without my glasses.

Was a good flight once we finally managed to actually take off