Has any QFF's switched over to Virgin, or may?

[greenfish]

Why AVOD? That's easy...

First, sometimes I travel with my 3 kids, and it is much easier having it already working and already in the plane, rather than trying to sort all 3 kids toys out. Also, the kids have played all their games, watched all their movies. There is always something new / different on AVOD.

Second, AVOD typically runs for far longer (i.e. starts and usually continues before takeoff, and works often right through landing)

I'm usually forced to keep my iPhone (now lost, sob) off until the seatbelt sign goes off, and turn it off again when the seatbelt sign comes on when landing. Even little things like having the travel display and forward facing or down facing cameras add real appeal to a flight (though don't know if QF has these things).

Third, AVOD doesn't go flat (though yes, it does sometimes crash).

Fourth, watching AVOD while eating a meal or having a beer is easy - try watching a tablet or iPhone while your tray is covered in food.

Fifth (and partially covered in 1 above), I like the exposure to things I haven't seen / listened to before.

The real question is why didn't DJ put it in their new planes, considering how cheap it is these days - a lot less than leather trim on the seats, I'd imagine.

David

 

[Noob]

New AVOD is yet to be revealed - it is rumored to be an updated version of RED used on V Australia and Virgin America. So hang in there!

 

[greenfish]

The new AVOD on the QF 737-800 is real AVOD, not loop. Has games etc. I played an entire game of Solitaire during the last part of descent and finished just as we taxied to the gate.

 

[connieguy]

Just a question then.. what airline has the best J seating on a 737 in your opinion? I only ask as I haven't seen anything outstanding.

I don't fly domestic J. Did get a opup recently but found the knee room less than in my normal Y exit row seating. Why anyone would pay 4 to 6 times the price of a -Y exit row seat for a domestic J seat is beyond me. As for sitting in row 4 (one of the supposed joys of being WP) in those convertible B and D seat with Ms PG is something you do only once. Of course she gets the window / isle and I get the cough middle seat. I gotta say it is such a joy being a WP and sitting in that seat. Sorry but QF has no respect for its domestic passengers. Anyone who flies QF domestic J has more money or ego than brains.

 

[connieguy]

In the day and age of smart phones and iPads I'm actually quite surprised that the presence of AVOD is an issue at all on a short haul flight. I've taken dozens of flights with and without IFE and to be honest I don't think I've ever once missed the lack of it. Where it's been available I've never used it, finding the contents of my iPad far more interesting. Although I do realise that most people think it should be standard fare on every aircraft. For the life of me, I can't figure why, since most of us carry a personal AVOD in our pockets or bags most of the time. Just catch any public bus or train to witness how geared up most people already are.

My latest laptop has a 8 - 10 hour battery and a 1 TB HD. Currently have 350 movies and 200 CDs. Why bother with a AVOD?

 

[greenfish]

My latest laptop has a 8 - 10 hour battery and a 1 TB HD. Currently have 350 movies and 200 CDs. Why bother with a AVOD?

At the risk of double-posting

- Can't spill beer on an AVOD
- Can use the AVOD for the whole flight (pretty much)
- Can use the AVOD while eating dinner
- Have trip progress and sometimes cameras for landing / takeoff
- Can see the AVOD (my laptop + large stomach doesn't offer a good viewing angle)

You're right, AVOD isn't must have, but I'd rather have AVOD than purple lighting and leather seats.

 

[connieguy]

greenfish wrote (-):


- Can't spill beer on an AVOD

No problems. I drink Shiraz red wine.


- Can use the AVOD for the whole flight (pretty much)

Not that addicted to the tube.


- Can use the AVOD while eating dinner

Never do that. Even at home. See answer above. However I will listen to a few CDs.


- Have trip progress and sometimes cameras for landing / takeoff

Got over that about 55 years ago. My first international trip was on a TWA Connie in the 50's. To me planes are just a noisy and somewhat uncomfortable taxi ride in a long and sometimes smelly aluminium tube. Give me a StarGate anytime.


- Can see the AVOD (my laptop + large stomach doesn't offer a good viewing angle)

Don't have that problem.


- You're right, AVOD isn't must have, but I'd rather have AVOD than purple lighting and leather seats.

Leather seats are OK. As for the Purple lighting, there we do agree.

 

[nlagalle]

I don't fly domestic J. Did get a opup recently but found the knee room less than in my normal Y exit row seating. Why anyone would pay 4 to 6 times the price of a -Y exit row seat for a domestic J seat is beyond me. As for sitting in row 4 (one of the supposed joys of being WP) in those convertible B and D seat with Ms PG is something you do only once. Of course she gets the window / isle and I get the cough middle seat. I gotta say it is such a joy being a WP and sitting in that seat. Sorry but QF has no respect for its domestic passengers. Anyone who flies QF domestic J has more money or ego than brains.

I'll take Row 4 on a 737-800 any day of the week, heaps of legroom there.. I'm assuming you are talking about a -400 with the convertible seats though. I've even sat in 4B (on the -800) and it was fine.

I've flown plenty of times in J domestically, and i don't have much money so i must have a big ego then! :shock:

 

[nlagalle]

I was going say every flight I take has AVOD since I got ipad.

Is it really AVOD or loop IFE on the new qantas aircraft?

It's proper AVOD, and really with technology now, why would you have loop IFE? I'd be similar or the same as the ones in the A330-200's.

Personally on the shorter flights I preferred AVOD, as I can usually watch it gate to gate, whereas the iPad I can't. Plus easier to eat and watch TV for me!

 

[redslert]

The AVOD is live! Pretty flight attendants walking up and down the aisle.

 

[medhead]

It's proper AVOD, and really with technology now, why would you have loop IFE?

I don't know. just asking as I wasn't sure.

Personally on the shorter flights I preferred AVOD, as I can usually watch it gate to gate, whereas the iPad I can't. Plus easier to eat and watch TV for me!

I practice the dying art of reading on takeoff and landing.

 

[TonyHancock]

I practice the dying art of reading on takeoff and landing.

You may have to explain that one to the teenagers medhead!

 

[connieguy]

I'll take Row 4 on a 737-800 any day of the week, heaps of legroom there.. I'm assuming you are talking about a -400 with the convertible seats though. I've even sat in 4B (on the -800) and it was fine.

I've flown plenty of times in J domestically, and i don't have much money so i must have a big ego then! :shock:

It was a -400 and I was in 4D. If you like domestic J, that is fine. As for me I can't see the advantage of a QF domestic J seat over a Y exit row seat. Especially as I'm WP. Your mileage may vary.

 

[connieguy]

I practice the dying art of reading on takeoff and landing.

Ditto. And during the flight as well.

 

[Justchecking]

It was a -400 and I was in 4D. If you like domestic J, that is fine. As for me I can't see the advantage of a QF domestic J seat over a Y exit row seat. Especially as I'm WP. Your mileage may vary.

The J on a QF 400 is basically the same as DJs PE, so yes I can understand why you are calling it a Y+ product, it is. But that is not the J QF offer on the majority of it's fleet, nor is it the one pictured in this thread.

 

[pshepvic]

Having flown in 1D in Virgin's new 738 with proper J class, I can confirm the seats do feel wider than the new QF J seats, along with wider armrests. I also noticed that the aisle seems quite narrow through the J cabin (probably as a result of wider seats!) - I noticed people really struggling to wheel through their trolley bags, when normally on a 738 it's quite easy.

My opinion that despite the leather (I'm a fan of leather in my car but not on planes - I guess I've got more control over the air conditioning in my car for hot days!) I prefer the new DJ J seats over QF. The Qantas legroom is getting smaller despite what the stats might say - I'm sure the millennium seats have more space than the new ones (although I've only been on the new seats in an A330).

 

[serfty]

... I'm sure the millennium seats have more space than the new ones (although I've only been on the new seats in an A330).

You are correct; the recaro pitch would be bad enough for a PE product, let alone "Business Class".

 

[777]

BTW, did anyone mention that the wifi works in the VA lounge pretty much all the time? I've been Gold with DJ for about three years and i have had problems making an acceptable connection to the wifi in lounge exactly ... once.

 

[rlarosa]

Being able to accrue KrisFlyer points will well and truly have done it for me once I can next week. The sooner VA hurry up and join Star Alliance the better!

 

[connieguy]

BTW, did anyone mention that the wifi works in the VA lounge pretty much all the time? I've been Gold with DJ for about three years and i have had problems making an acceptable connection to the wifi in lounge exactly ... once.

For QF to fix this is very simple. That they do not choose to do so is, in my opinion, just another example of the same corp disease that prevents them from fixing domestic Boarding at Convenience, not passing out customs Express passes outbound or inbound unless you ask for them, the upgrade lottery, etc. QF just don't seem to give a damn, even when these issues are brought to their attention. Standard answer seems to be "We are looking into that" but nothing happens other than the accountant telling us we should be proud that QF is the only investment grade airline in the world.

It is like we are told, "You don't really know what you want, nor do you understand the issues QF are facing, so you need to trust us to look after your investment ($ we spend on QF flights) in QF and appreciate the wonderful benefits we choose to give you, even if we don't deliver on all of them. Oh BTW do not stop doing that investment as you are a loyal QF FFer and Aussie to boot."


Oh BTW QF, Ms PG and I are really looking forward to our first DJ corp flight Adl/Syd Aug 4 and Syd/Adl Aug 6 and using our shiny, new DJ Gold cards.

I know I'm a naughty boy, causing trouble in class, asking WHY all the time, not just accepting what I have been given is the best it will get and that you probably think I'm a nothing. Well you may be right or you may be very wrong and a lot more of my old school QF class mates have done already and more will do, as I have done. Taken out an each way bet. I do note some have walked away from the old school entirely.

And I was so proud when I made PG and asked the simple question on this forum "Whats beyond 2,400 SC?". I guess I should have never asked as that question and what followed has changed the way I look at QF forever. To me there was never a better feeling than walking on a QF aircraft, anywhere on the planet and feeling I was HOME and that my journey back to Oz would be a safe one.

As I now see it, you are taking advantage of that trust and QF/Oz loyalty, under delivering on my stated benefits, chopping back my benefits, increasing the costs of your flights, just giving lip service to valid complaints and reducing the service delivery, both on the ground and in the air. Sometimes just little things but overall they do paint a picture of a developing corp change that may destroy what I have come to value and trust in.

Will I pay more for the OLD QF customer service and respect. For sure. Will I pay more for what I see now and into the future? What I call the NEW QF customer service. No way.

I suggest you come to Adelaide and watch the expressions on the faces of most of you customers as they are subjected to your new cost saving robots. Watch them when they walk away and shake their heads in disbelief at knowing they just paid more for their QF ticket and got server by a robot when they expected to talk to a human as part of their travel experience. NGCI may have won awards from techies but from talking to my friends, they hate it and wonder when the QF flight crews will become robots or all the food and drinks will be dispensed by a machine in the aircraft galley, next to the toilet or the in flight snack will be passed out to them as they pass the BP scanner. I mean it is simple to install monitors in each seat to ensure the seat belt is fastened, the seat back is upright and the window shade is raised. Then tie that sensor to a big RED flashing overhead light and hey who needs FAs? Call it Next Generation Flight Assistant or NGFA for short.

Then computerize the flight systems and get rid of those pilots who just keep making problems for the NEW NGQF (Next Generation Qantas).

In short, flying is not romantic or fun but it is a human experience that we need to share with other humans, passengers, ground staff and air staff. So why have I started the move to DJ? Because they are still a human airline that understands what humans need, appreciate, respect and respond to. Human to human delivered service with compassion, humour and respect. Something that I doubt a accountant understands.