Just flew J on new A332

[Shy180]

No. Assume that's more likely to be similar

 

[mannej]

No. Assume that's more likely to be similar

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6055118033_95d312ca7e.jpg

 

[Shy180]

Snap......

 

[ChrisCunard]

Were you the really really tall guy on the 12:30 out of per-syd?
I was also on the new a330 flight yesterday and was absolutely delighted. Elana our attendant was perfect in every way and Shannon the supervisor made us feel like royalty. The rest of our trip to Europe is in first but the service food and hard product on this flight will be hard to beat! Thank you virgin, look forward to my trip back in a couple of weeks! What a great start to our 10 year wedding anniversary. My wife even said I had finally done something right booking this flight lol!

Lol yes that was me. We're you in front of me with your wife? Have a wonderful anniversary.

 

[ChrisCunard]

I'm sure one was offerred ... with Cognac and/or Baileys ... after most everything else ...

Indeed it was

The leg room doesn't look good compared to the Skybed Mk 1.

Actually it was equal to on my opinion. The angle is deceptive as there is a big space under the seat. Plus I had my iPad etc. in the storage pouch making the space look cluttered.

Excellent stuff.
What looked (in your opinion) to be the best seat? I have been browsing the threads on this aircraft in J and there seems to be a massive differing of opinion as to whether row 1 or 2 is better.
I have a flight coming on on Friday week (DJ685, MEL-PER 1pm) and was allocated 1A, but went to change and 2C, 2D and 2G have all been taken. So I changed mine to 2H (aisle).
I am led to believe row 1 might have more legroom, but the IFE is mounted on the wall? Should I change back to row 1 (perhaps 1C - I am not a window person) or stick with 2H? The flight is showing only 4 people in J so far - me in 2H, and the rest of row 2 filled apart from the window seats.
Would it even be worth moving to row 3 and not have to have a seat buddy who might want to climb out past me? I am a bit sad I missed the chance to grab 2D when I could.
Of course, knowing my luck it will get substituted for one of the older A330s or god forbid, a 738.

Row 1 looked to me to have the most space. In The Lounge I was asked of I wanted to move to Row 1 for extra leg room. I preferred to sit at 3A for the window view. Only 8 pax in the cabin so could have really say where ever I wanted.

--

Having flown Skybed Mk II it's more spacious than the VA Domestic J but that said I stand by my comment that the new Dom J is the best Dom J in the sky. International style service. Amazing.

I flew back on a QF 763 last night and the seat back was broken and uncomfortable (not just on my seat), service was slow and they forgot my water requests twice and I'm still waiting for that scotch and coke I ordered with dinner.

That said the QF J cabin was full - no spare seats. So maybe loyalty seems to lay with points rather than service

 

[serfty]

...
Having flown Skybed Mk II it's more spacious than the VA Domestic J ...

Well, Skybed MkII does indeed have 33% more pitch (80").

... but that said I stand by my comment that the new Dom J is the best Dom J in the sky. International style service. Amazing. ...

My experience late last year with this would have me completely and utterly in agreement.

 

[shane2603]

Hi Chris, yep that was me. I think row 3 or 2 doesn't matter Justin. Went syd-bkk in Thai F and the drink options were more limited than virgin J lol. You gotta love the buggy, fast track and porter. Out of bkk airport within 5 mins of arrival looking at the one hour customs wait for everyone else. Spoke to a qf chairmanship lounge guy on the flight who has moved everything to Thai. He said the whole company now flys Thai F versus QF J and they are still saving money lol.

 

[dk4]

Australia's Best DOMESTIC BUSINESS CLASS - the new Virgin A330

WOW, if you want the best, and you aren't flying Virgin, then where the bloody hell are you?

cabin panaorama

The view from row 2 & close up on the bits and pieces

Comparing Widebody Domestic Configurations between airline companies. DJ - the new A330, QF a (very) old 767

Virgin Domestic Widebody - row 1 (3 windows and a cut out for feet, plus dedicated reclining space)

Qantas Domestic Widebody - row 1 (2 windows, no cut out for feet, recline into passenger behind you)


Virgin Breakfast MEL-SYD A330

 

[Must...Fly!]

Re: Australia's Best DOMESTIC BUSINESS CLASS - the new Virgin A330

No brainer. Poor QF...better get their cough in gear...

Really hope I get one of the new aircraft on at least one of my flights to MEL in a few weeks. I've little desire to sit in the older ex-EK seats (after having sat in them on EK)...especially after seeing these new seats!

 

[wob.geek]

Re: Australia's Best DOMESTIC BUSINESS CLASS - the new Virgin A330

I reccommend the port with the cheese platter - a bloody good drop!!

I do tend to agree with the OP with regard to the headrest - at 187cm it's difficult to get in right position, mind you after a few cognacs you don't really care

My wife is not impressed when I do the MEL-PER run on a Friday night - last time I got completely trolleyed!!?!

 

[smit0847]

Re: Australia's Best DOMESTIC BUSINESS CLASS - the new Virgin A330

WOW, if you want the best, and you aren't flying Virgin, then where the bloody hell are you?

Virgin Breakfast MEL-SYD A330

That looks YUM!

 

[Justinf]

Flew the brand new A330 in J yesterday for the first time. All I can say is "wow!". I didn't want it to end. Food was fantastic. There's a new menu. Had the snapper fillet with couscous for my main. It was delicious. I will do a trip report during the week with pics.
I am not looking forward to coming back to MEL tomorrow in QF Y.

 

[jozdemir]

I've flown VA J a few times on both the 'old' and new A330s, and now I definitely route myself via Melbourne to ensure I'm on one of the new A330s.

Service wise, very comparable and no complaints at all, however the outdated IFE and slightly less wide seats really put me off the ex-Emirates A330s.

I'd definitely pick this every time over QF, especially with the 5 points p/$ base earn as a gold member I earnt 12,500 points on a one way J flight from PER-MEL!

Has anyone else found though that the IFE can be very slow and unresponsive when buttons are pushed? Also the poorly scaled VA logo on the handset bothers me for some reason, I'm not sure why

 

[TonyHancock]

Just booked MEL-PER Flexible return, on the 332, for early September, and used points (Half price at the moment) to upgrade. It's a no brainer for me even though I could do with the QF SC's. I did a couple of trips last year via Sydney.

 

[ataline]

Just booked MEL-PER Flexible return, on the 332, for early September, and used points (Half price at the moment) to upgrade. It's a no brainer for me even though I could do with the QF SC's. I did a couple of trips last year via Sydney.

Me too. Moving to Melbourne soon and will be bringing stuff over - the 2 x 32kg allowance comes in handy. Well worth the difference in price from Saver to Flexi. Plus the 80 status credits will tip me over to gold. Definitely a no brainer!

 

[Blue Chameleon]

Are they moving all the 332's to MEL-PER legs, or is there still a good spread between MEL and SYD?

Are the 332's running at certain times during the day?

 

[TonyHancock]

Are they moving all the 332's to MEL-PER legs, or is there still a good spread between MEL and SYD?

Are the 332's running at certain times during the day?

I believe the new 332'a are flying from MEL, but I could be wrong. 332 flights are clearly marked, and are from both MEL and SYD to PER, during the booking process on the DJ/VA website too.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Are they moving all the 332's to MEL-PER legs, or is there still a good spread between MEL and SYD?

Are the 332's running at certain times during the day?

Check the VA timetable, that will tell you the type of aircraft, unfortunately not the version.

 

[Blue Chameleon]

Check the VA timetable, that will tell you the type of aircraft, unfortunately not the version.

When you book, there is always a red plane icon displayed against the flight times for any A330's.

The clincher is not being able to work out (before seat selection) whether it's V2 or V1.

Not a massive issue anyhow, but would always be good to establish which version at the booking stage.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Is it still the case that the new A330 seat map shows at T-14 days for all A330 flights?