I flew Qantas

[kamchatsky]

I have been flying for work on a fairly regular basis a couple of months ago. I had a choice of QF and VA. At the moment I chose VA due to my existing EY Gold membership. For some flights I fly QF though.

I noticed that QF is probably slightly better than VA on food, however their prices are always higher to much higher than VA (I book the flights myself via our corporate portal). Actually I could pick QF over VA for all my flights but sometimes I cannot see why I should pay so much more for "better food". I would say though QF has better frequency of services than VA.

For entertainment, VA streaming is OK but doesn't have huge catalogue of movies/shows. QF is mixed as once i had the drop down TV showing something that I do not want to watch. With new Netflix feature of downloading shows it could become redundant.

All my colleagues flies QF so sooner or later I may have to switch to QF but gaining QF Gold or Plat is hard for travellers on short domestic flights like me. Maybe I should look for status match to one of the OW partners ....

 

[anat0l]

Geez this thread got rather nasty.

I will never board via the rear stairs if it involves walking across a noisy Tarmac. After 40+ years in the industry I have sufficient a/c noise related hearing loss without adding to it further. If this means a couple more minutes for the boarding process then tough!

How do you deal with flying in small planes (e.g. Dash 8, ATR 72s, Fairchild Metroliners), flying to smaller / remote airports or an unlucky occurrence at some larger airports (e.g. LHR, FRA, etc.)? These involve stairs or walking on tarmacs (in some cases a short distance into a waiting shuttle bus, but that's still external exposure)?

In addition, some of the smaller planes pack some pretty noisy engines.

 

[mannej]

When people choose to attack me simply because they are pro Qantas it is personal.

There have only been a handful of comments that have actually addressed the topic of point of differentiation.

So an attack like this is fine?

Oh so u work for Qantas, now I understand entirely.

 

[im.daniel]

I honestly don't understand why VA gets bagged when QF is basically the same (with less consistent service/aircraft/service). At least Wireless entertainment is on all 737 and E190's, you don't have a lottery of what you'll get. The only thing that QF has an edge is newer terminals.

This is coming from someone who was a Oneworld Emerald when I started flying domestic in Australia and I still flew Virgin and worked my way to get status.

So are you still Oneworld Emerald? QF Domestic J lounges are easily a notch above VA lounges domestically. Food at breakfast/lunch/dinner times on QF far exceed the VA pretzels, dwarf sized sandwiches. Service on QF and VA are both consistently inconsistent.

This is coming from someone who is a OWE/VA Plat.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Well if that's the case then Qantas did an even worse job of it-no headphones and as mentioned you can't see what's on the screens anyway-I honestly couldn't tell you what was even playing. Useless...

You are expected to collect the headphones from the bin-type thing at the boarding gate and carry them on with you.

 

[drron]

Geez this thread got rather nasty.



How do you deal with flying in small planes (e.g. Dash 8, ATR 72s, Fairchild Metroliners), flying to smaller / remote airports or an unlucky occurrence at some larger airports (e.g. LHR, FRA, etc.)? These involve stairs or walking on tarmacs (in some cases a short distance into a waiting shuttle bus, but that's still external exposure)?

In addition, some of the smaller planes pack some pretty noisy engines.

Only a problem at one end of the flight.Most of the places those planes fly to only have one plane on the ground at any one time so if you are boarding or deplaning the engine noise is of no concern.

 

[bosox76]

As you're going on about cheese and crackers, even in QF Y I have always been offered a choice of snacks on a jet, only single choices on the Dash8's but sometimes they can 'find something' if I ask what else is available.
Matt

On my regular MQL-MEL Flights I pray for cheese and crackers. Unfortunately I'm not a fan of the other options that rotate through but obviously others are. if the OP would like to send some cheese and crackers my way I'll happily take them

 

[serfty]

...

Well I flew VA last week and am not going to fly them again.
So 1 all QF vs VA.

Why? What did. Virgin offer that was less than Qantas? I can offer examples why I was dissatisfied.
...

See this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....velocity-points-expired-no-warning-79092.html

 

[serfty]

I am WP in both Velocity and QFF but find I mainly fly VA domestically.

The reason is "price" - with my purchasing habits, VA tends to be 10-15% cheaper than QF.

If travelling on a service for the first time, I would be researching my options - e.g. With VA you need to download and test for each of smartphones, tablets, netbooks and other devices to ensure it would work.

Same with QF.

Qantas had been trialling front and read dis/embarkation over the last year or so - I wonder where that went.

 

[samh004]

Really both airlines should just not bother with the snacks, I'd rather the few million they would save went to starving kids somewhere in the world.

I'll go against the grain here and say no to that idea.

While I think they or anyone else should still be donating to charities, I would prefer to eat a snack onboard to pass the time than miss out completely because you don't like snacks.

Last time I flew VA, I'll admit the standard was pretty similar. It was a snack service though.

 

[anat0l]

As someone who has no status in either, I'd say they're kind of neck and neck.

One advantage of Qantas I can think off top of my head is that in Y you have a slightly wider range of drinks to choose from (without paying extra money on board).

As I frequently don't watch much TV, the IFE is also (mostly) wasted on me (this includes in J and F), however I recognise that is extremely atypical and most want and/or need the entertainment. I usually BYO otherwise I have other ways of passing the time.

The snack is of no consequence to me, irrespective of the airline. Rating them on that is almost a waste of time. That said, I try my best to aim for meal flights, particularly dinner. In that respect, there is a clear difference.

I am probably going against the grain here, but all scores tallied up and adjusted for numbers, I enjoy the service on QF better than VA. The staff seem much more professional. They may not "look as good" as their counterparts on VA, and yes I'm no prize winning look myself at all, but to me that is not important and I think rather less of people who regard FAs as walking candy pushing the trolley.

 

[vandy]

Had a similar experience recently with an 11:30am domestic flight from Melbourne. Was expecting a small lunch meal but only got a cookie.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Had a similar experience recently with an 11:30am domestic flight from Melbourne. Was expecting a small lunch meal but only got a cookie.

For lunch, you need a flight that departs after 12 noon.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Old thread but maybe relevant.

I have never flown VA!

I have an upcoming flight MEL-SYD and QF is wanting $140, VA - $115. I can buy an XL seat on VA and pay the same price all up as QF. I will be connecting in SYD to TG, with a four hour buffer. I'm tempted to go VA. The only thing slightly putting me off is the long lines I always see at VA's check-in (avoided with QF priority). And that they might weigh my hand luggage.

The only difference is that with QF I have silver.

Any other disadvantage of VA?

 

[serfty]

I am platinum in both but normally end up flying VA domestically because it is cheaper.

VA's catering in economy is generally worse than QF's but really not an issue for what is effectively a shuttle flight.

 

[farstar]

On VA I have been given very mini muffins even during breakfast time 7-9am. QANTAS usually something more substantial at those times in Y.

 

[anat0l]

Old thread but maybe relevant.

I have never flown VA!

I have an upcoming flight MEL-SYD and QF is wanting $140, VA - $115. I can buy an XL seat on VA and pay the same price all up as QF. I will be connecting in SYD to TG, with a four hour buffer. I'm tempted to go VA. The only thing slightly putting me off is the long lines I always see at VA's check-in (avoided with QF priority). And that they might weigh my hand luggage.

The only difference is that with QF I have silver.

Any other disadvantage of VA?

I don't see how you have outlined any disadvantages of VA in your post.

Just because VA "has long lines" doesn't make it a disadvantage IMO (or at least enough to make it a go/no-go factor in most situations). Just sucks when you don't have status and you have to check in a bag (if you have no checked bag, there would be no need to queue up).

In fact, IIRC VA usually have separate desks for online check-in / bag drop only, so that cuts down some time.

If they weigh your hand baggage, so be it. QF may do the same at any given time, which you can only cunningly avoid perhaps because NGCI doesn't involve too much interaction with humans that may mean your bag being scrutinised, but they can still insist on weighing it at the gate. Again, not a prima facie disadvantage.

If you're not going for status on QF or any oneworld programme, and you've used up your Silver lounge passes, just take VA and pocket the $25.

On VA I have been given very mini muffins even during breakfast time 7-9am. QANTAS usually something more substantial at those times in Y.

What do they serve for breakfast on QF now? Last time I flew, it was breakfast box of yoghurt and muesli (and maybe a piece of fruit).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't see how you have outlined any disadvantages of VA in your post.

Well - the major disadvantage is the long lines! I've seen them stretch outside the domestic VA area at MEL airport. Having to wait for what seems like a long time would be a major disadvantage over QF where at least I'd have access to priority check in if required.

I've never had my bag weighed on QF, so if it was a frequent occurrence on VA that could swing my choice of carrier (or I pack differently and put some stuff in my suitcase which I take out in SYD before the international flight). Airlines that weigh cabin bags are a bit of a pain. If I have a choice I fly with carriers who don't weigh (like BA, AA etc). I appreciate others have a different view and applaud airlines policing carry on.

I have a lounge pass for QF, but it's a waste for the MEL QC. So in that respect VA and QF would be same same (no lounge considerations).

 

[grubbidok]

What do they serve for breakfast on QF now? Last time I flew, it was breakfast box of yoghurt and muesli (and maybe a piece of fruit).

Last time I flew on QF on a breakfast flight they served a bowl of cereal. Doesn't matter how much more substantial it was than VA, doesn't change the fact that I hate cereal so I ended up with nothing anyway!

 

[pauly7]

Last time I flew on QF on a breakfast flight they served a bowl of cereal. Doesn't matter how much more substantial it was than VA, doesn't change the fact that I hate cereal so I ended up with nothing anyway!

Flew yesterday and Thursday the options were a breakfast box which included a greek yoghurt with berries, a granola muffin and a bite size (VA meal size lol) muesli bar OR the hot option was a breakfast burger which the person next to me had, bacon, tomato Relish, egg, lettuce and toasted muffin.