HKT-PER on VA in J - what to expect?

[cosi]

Mrs C & I are flying for the 1st time on Virgin from coughet to Perth in J class.

As this will be our first experience with VA, (all our flying is normally with Oneworld), I would appreciate any feedback on what we can expect on board.

For example, am I correct in presuming the 737 will have the new business class seats.

Is there any IFE?

What can one expect for the meal and wines?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[hummel]

I flew this route two weeks ago.

1) IFE is Samsung tablets, bring your own.

2) TG lounge isn't anything flash but much better than the terminal.

3) it's a long time in a 737 but I had something to eat, a beer and promptly got as comfortable as I could and grabbed about 3 hours sleep.

Enjoy the flight, I've got another trip booked for June.

 

[jetlagger]

Mrs C & I are flying for the 1st time on Virgin from coughet to Perth in J class.

As this will be our first experience with VA, (all our flying is normally with Oneworld), I would appreciate any feedback on what we can expect on board.

For example, am I correct in presuming the 737 will have the new business class seats.

Is there any IFE?

What can one expect for the meal and wines?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Can't comment on the VA flight experience, I fly Silk, though as hummel mentioned the TG lounge in HKT airport was also IMO very underwhelming, tired seats & dirty carpets abound & limited platters of sandwiches & watered juices, though a reprieve from the zoo of the remainder of the terminal.
I still enjoy coughet & I'll be back as an always boganless travel experience.

 

[AviatorPJ]

Mrs C & I are flying for the 1st time on Virgin from coughet to Perth in J class.

As this will be our first experience with VA, (all our flying is normally with Oneworld), I would appreciate any feedback on what we can expect on board.

For example, am I correct in presuming the 737 will have the new business class seats.

Is there any IFE?

What can one expect for the meal and wines?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

I did this flight in J in Oct 2012. My suggestion would be an inflatable pillow. I think I was provided a blanket in the amenities kit. My comfort disappointment was the lack of a footrest in the J cabin sets overnight. This is also the longest VA " int'l short haul" on a 737-800, some 6hrs+. I would try the afternoon flight (I think 2 days a week) if possible, rather than the evening one. The TG lounge in HKT is very basic IMHO. Have dinner before. Also, no more than 100mls of D/T liquid was allowed on board. (Not 1000mls). Would I do it again? As a status run, HKT-PER it credits well - just over the miles tier level. Here's a related thread. Nothing startling in food or wines. But i did have a wonderful CSO, pleasant, knowledgeable and experienced. Samsung tablet then for IFE.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....lia-velocity/seats-mel-per-per-hkt-45861.html

cheers, PJ

 

[notzac]

I think the big thing in regards to IFE is to bring your own decent headphones - the Samsung tablets are fine, they just have a fairly limited selection of content. What truly lets them down is the atrocious bargain basement headphones they give you along with the tablet - add your own noise cancelling headphones to the mix and the tablet seems about a million times better by comparison.

(Written with the assumption that they don't give you noise cancelling headphones on this route - I don't know as I've never flown it.)

 

[hummel]

I think the big thing in regards to IFE is to bring your own decent headphones - the Samsung tablets are fine, they just have a fairly limited selection of content. What truly lets them down is the atrocious bargain basement headphones they give you along with the tablet - add your own noise cancelling headphones to the mix and the tablet seems about a million times better by comparison.

(Written with the assumption that they don't give you noise cancelling headphones on this route - I don't know as I've never flown it.)

You are correct.. however I've always found the Samsung tablets pretty ordinary with their selection.

 

[cosi]

Thanks for your reply

TG lounge isn't anything flash but much better than the terminal.

Yes, I agree very poor, small lounge. NO wine available, only beer. All the airlines use this lounge.

it's a long time in a 737

In the old days, when QF was using 737-400 on the east-west flights, in winter, it could take 6+ hours to fly from Sydney to Perth!

 

[cosi]

I would try the afternoon flight

Yes, we are leaving on 4:20pm arriving into Perth at peak hour 00:30am.

No, I am not doing it for any status run - the appeal was the direct flight back to Perth at the end of our 2 week holiday.

 

[cosi]

[/B]You are correct.. however I've always found the Samsung tablets pretty ordinary with their selection.

I always make sure I have a good book