Comparison VA and QF Trans Tasman Business Class

[ozflier]

Apologies in advance if I have erred in submitting this discussion in both QFF and VA forums.

I thought readers may be interested in comparing these 2 airlines J class during flights in the same week.

I won't go into any fancy analysis but suffice to say,
QF was used on the sector BNE-Queenstown and VA in reverse.

Both check in processes and boarding was really quite similar and no complaints.
However, things changed when I entered the cabin.

QR offers of choices of pre take off drinks ( I had the French Champagne despite it being a 0930 departure - a very drinkable )
VA offered water or orange juice ( for a 1235 departure) I asked for wine - no!

The QF seat had a footrest and good recline.
VA had neither - actually the seat felt quite stiff.

Post take off drink - QF offered more champagne , nil by VA until the meal service.

Entertainment -
QF back of the seat in front screen - good choice of movies .
VA offered an ipad looking device , minimal choice of movies . No adjustment for brightness - so poor viewing when windows open.

Meals
QF despite a breakfast flight , a surprising choice on offer - muesli, fruit salad , beef roll, bacon and eggs - very tasty.
VA had 2 offers
- a braised beef with various small and differently coloured pea or corn shaped things in some kind of insipid sauce - I had this - not too impressive after paying $1200 for the one way flight .
- a salad no fish to accompany or chicken

Maybe I would have been offered one of these "celebrity chef" type offerings on Qantas so hard to compare -
but why can't Virgin offer a piece of steak , Caesar salad ,NZ lamb etc?

Meal Drinks
QF had no cabernet sauvignon but the Shiraz was good
VA ,of course no sparkling, but their Cab Sav not bad.

Over all , I am not the greatest devotee of Qantas but they certainly have come in front from my point of view.
I got the impression that VA rows 1 and 2 are still being treated as if they were in the old Premium Economy whereas Qantas staff actually looked after as a premium travellers who paid a premium price and deserved special treatment.

Virgin would have to improve their value for money or substantially discount their fare ( say to 70% of QFs ) before I would give them another go!

 

[Tallfont]

Ozflier, that is a very good comparison between the two major airlines.

I can relate to everything you say! I fly PER>BNE>POM return regularly and a J fare is usually around $4,600 and there is usually somewhere in the region of $20-30 difference between QF and VA. They have far differing levels of service these days.

I have just returned to QF after a gap of six years during which I have flown almost exclusively with VA and enough to maintain Platinum each year.

QF has better lounges - the Business lounge at PER Domestic is very nice and far better than VA. The lounge at BNE International is again far better than the Plaza Premium.
QF generally have better aircraft. Now that VA have taken the A330 off PER>BNE>PER why would you pay the same price to fly on a 737 when it is generally still A330 on QF? Even the QF 737 in J is better than VA.
QF have better in-flight meals and service and I also find they are far more consistent than VA which can vary considerably.

VA do seem to have "lost the plot" IMHO. They would have to improve greatly before I would return back.