doctork
Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2011
- Posts
- 110
I'm usually a QF flyer (WP in QFF, only PS in Velocity), but have flown VA a few times this year on price (flexi cheaper than QF flexi).
Over the past two days, I did SYD-MEL return on both VA and QF, both in business (but Z upgrade fares).
I'm posting about my VA experience, which was in short, excellent.
Sydney lounge - premium entry very convenient. Pity about the renovation but an excellent coffee from the barista downstairs. No coffee upstairs and no signage to say this, but it's a short walk down. Priority boarding works!
SYD-MEL on a 737 - like the new J seats. Breakfast was very nice. Offered a tablet entertainment device, but had work to do. Melbourne terminal clean and well kept.
MEL check-in: this is where things got really good. Am a Silver velocity member, and was on a Z fare, and was still able to Fly Ahead after explaining that I wanted to get home to my two small kids before their bedtime - got a business seat on a flight an hour earlier. Hot dog in the lounge (great idea, only beaten by the very nice curry I had in the OOL lounge in March), and priority boarding (worked again), and onto a J seat on the E190. Because I flew ahead, was CNA (catering not assured) so no hot meal, but offered choice of plated J-style snack anyway (prawn roll vs cheese plate - had the latter). Service excellent. Refill of a nice red wine.
There was one other J passenger, and due to someone being ill in the rear toilet, we were both individually asked if we would be happy to let a Y passenger use the J toilet. Of course we said yes, and I didn't expect to be asked, but it did show they wanted to maintain a travel class separation. Something that I don't necessarily believe in on a single aisle jet (and yes I use business class a fair bit).
In summary: everything I expected of a J (actually Z) class trip, and a lot of flexibility and consideration (and common sense) too. Will be trying out VA international business class later this year.
Over the past two days, I did SYD-MEL return on both VA and QF, both in business (but Z upgrade fares).
I'm posting about my VA experience, which was in short, excellent.
Sydney lounge - premium entry very convenient. Pity about the renovation but an excellent coffee from the barista downstairs. No coffee upstairs and no signage to say this, but it's a short walk down. Priority boarding works!
SYD-MEL on a 737 - like the new J seats. Breakfast was very nice. Offered a tablet entertainment device, but had work to do. Melbourne terminal clean and well kept.
MEL check-in: this is where things got really good. Am a Silver velocity member, and was on a Z fare, and was still able to Fly Ahead after explaining that I wanted to get home to my two small kids before their bedtime - got a business seat on a flight an hour earlier. Hot dog in the lounge (great idea, only beaten by the very nice curry I had in the OOL lounge in March), and priority boarding (worked again), and onto a J seat on the E190. Because I flew ahead, was CNA (catering not assured) so no hot meal, but offered choice of plated J-style snack anyway (prawn roll vs cheese plate - had the latter). Service excellent. Refill of a nice red wine.
There was one other J passenger, and due to someone being ill in the rear toilet, we were both individually asked if we would be happy to let a Y passenger use the J toilet. Of course we said yes, and I didn't expect to be asked, but it did show they wanted to maintain a travel class separation. Something that I don't necessarily believe in on a single aisle jet (and yes I use business class a fair bit).
In summary: everything I expected of a J (actually Z) class trip, and a lot of flexibility and consideration (and common sense) too. Will be trying out VA international business class later this year.
