My first DJ flight ever

[777]

Is Air France still allowed to fly to the EU?

 

[drewbles]

There is nothing documented about golds and platinums getting complimentary F&B, however there have been one off reports of people getting complimentray drinks. It certainly isn't policy, but it seems that it happens on occassion.

I was offered a complimentary bottle of Water on my flight yesterday, but nothing further. It was perfectly acceptable

 

[under the radar]

There is nothing documented about golds and platinums getting complimentary F&B, however there have been one off reports of people getting complimentray drinks. It certainly isn't policy, but it seems that it happens on occassion.

so it seems DJ can be 'excused' for offering an 'inconsistent' product...something posters on here are always eager to criticize qantas for!! but i'm sure the DJ lovers will make some sort of 'excuse' for it happening.. (yes..im sick of the QF bashing on this forum)

 

[JohnK]

There is nothing documented about golds and platinums getting complimentary F&B, however there have been one off reports of people getting complimentray drinks. It certainly isn't policy, but it seems that it happens on occassion.

No problem.

I obviously misread/misunderstood what was posted on AFF as I remember thinking well this is good because as a Gold or Platinum it matches the availability of food and drink on Qantas dinner flights and factored that into the equation.

So far so good although the flight still has a touch of LCC about it. I even heard the announcement "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls" in a amateurish/childish sort of tone when we were about to descend into SYD. I know some people like that but I prefer for them to be a little more professional.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

So far so good although the flight still has a touch of LCC about it. I even heard the announcement "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls" in a amateurish/childish sort of tone when we were about to descend into SYD. I know some people like that but I prefer for them to be a little more professional.

I got the much loathed "there is a serious side to the flight" line a week or two ago...

 

[DJ332]

Very much off topic but re: previous comments I just wanted to say it would be foolish to write off Garuda as merely 'that scary airline that crashes all the time'. They've made enormous improvements in safety, gained an ICAO certification and have improved their products right across the board. There has been plenty of coverage of this. And for the record, they were indeed banned from the EU, along with all Indonesian airlines, until July 2009. The EU then made an exception for Garuda and three other airlines (including Mandala, which recently collapsed) to fly to Europe unconditionally. While a jaunt via CGK might not be the best option for European trips just yet, I'd pay a little more to fly them to Bali over Jetstar any day!

On topic: I think it's only a matter of time before, at the very least, DJ start to offer complimentary tea, coffee and water to all passengers. Do I recall Liam mentioning the galleys in the BSI aircraft and reconfigured 737s will be suitable for full service?

 

[oz_mark]

On topic: I think it's only a matter of time before, at the very least, DJ start to offer complimentary tea, coffee and water to all passengers. Do I recall Liam mentioning the galleys in the BSI aircraft and reconfigured 737s will be suitable for full service?

I think they will do something along these lines once all the aircraft are reconfigured. We wait and see.

 

[LiamR]

On topic: I think it's only a matter of time before, at the very least, DJ start to offer complimentary tea, coffee and water to all passengers. Do I recall Liam mentioning the galleys in the BSI aircraft and reconfigured 737s will be suitable for full service?

Yes - They are refitting the galleys to 'Full Service Galleys[SUP]*[/SUP]' on the 737s at the same as they install the new J/Y seats.

The way I see it, it's only a matter of time before they switch to full service, or at least Water, Juice, Coffee & Tea. They have already switched to full service on SYD/CBR flights. Hopefully in the next year or two it will spread to other routes.

* I have not a clue what a full service galley is.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Maybe just a coincidence, but recently we were op-uped to PE seats (cheapy fares) and the CS charged my wife for the food but gave the coffee as complementary. My wife commented at the time how professional they were (she fully expected to pay for the lot).

 

[markis10]

so it seems DJ can be 'excused' for offering an 'inconsistent' product...something posters on here are always eager to criticize qantas for!! but i'm sure the DJ lovers will make some sort of 'excuse' for it happening.. (yes..im sick of the QF bashing on this forum)

Tall poppy syndrome or a case of an airline being stoic in the way it treats it's frequent flyers for the past 15 years, as opposed to an airline that's changing to provide true competition and will have the inevitable teething problems with such change?

Not sure if it's Qantas bashing or just reality, the passenger number decline over the last few years across the mainline ops would suggest the latter.

 

[serfty]

...
Not sure if it's Qantas bashing or just reality, the passenger number decline over the last few years across the mainline ops would suggest the latter.

Is there a passenger number decline if you refer to "The Qantas Group" rather than just "Qantas"? (Domestic, proportion of paying PAX).

 

[markis10]

Is there a passenger number decline if you refer to "The Qantas Group" rather than just "Qantas"? (Domestic, proportion of paying PAX).

Yes, as a percentage of market share:

Domestic group market share at 65% 2011
Domestic group market share at 67.1% 2007

 

[simonpenny408]

My onward flight (to the formula 1) was with SQ and I can verify that the lounge sharing arrangement works fine even with a temporary cardboard Velocity Platinum card which they were good enough to issue on the spot in the Sydney DJ lounge

 

[samiam]

(yes..im sick of the QF bashing on this forum)

Perhaps if a healthy discussion about the positive aspects of one carrier weren't immediately linked to the bashing of another carrier, there would be less of it?

I'm reading with interest (in this thread and others) the experiences of hereunto QF flyers on VA, in order to inform my own choice.

As they say, if you don't like it you can change the channel.

 

[Mogul]

so it seems DJ can be 'excused' for offering an 'inconsistent' product...something posters on here are always eager to criticize qantas for!! but i'm sure the DJ lovers will make some sort of 'excuse' for it happening.. (yes..im sick of the QF bashing on this forum)

In all fairness to VA the inconsistencies are with things that are over and above any written benefits. Whereas it appears the QF inconsistencies are with written benefits.

I would much rather have an inconsistent approach to unstated benefits rather than stated ones !!!!!

 

[reductionist]

No need to start a new thread for this.

Just wanted to say that as a result of the platinum status match I've gone ahead and booked a DJ flight for the end of October. My first Virgin flight in a very long time.

I am very much looking forward to trying out the new lounge & product.

 

[Moody]

Not my first DJ flight ... but my first after the Gold status match. A quick Sydney/Canberra return, and here is my summary :-

1. Price - $250. Excellent considering the zoo was back in town with 2 critical pieces of legislation to argue over. Qantas wanted stupid money.
2. Seat selection - 4C/3C. Nice. Online checkin was easy, but I would prefer to save rather than be forced to immediately print the BP.
3. Sydney Lounge - unusually crowded (go figure) but still plenty of seats. Good Wifi.
4. Pre-flight - Still managed to find locker space even though I was one of the last on board. Complimentary newspaper.
5. Flight - offered snack & drink. Declined as I had filled up in The Lounge.
6. Deplaning - very efficient (as you would imagine from row 4.)
...
7. Canberra Lounge. Fat Yaks and peanuts. Bliss! Had some cheese for even more protein (oh dear!). Good Wifi again.
8. 3C was actually the 2nd row on the right, and no-one was in PE so that gave me pole position. No newspaper though.
9. Offered snack and beer. Accepted even though I really shouldn't have. Had to use the forward toilet on the 24min flight.
10. Off the plane and in a taxi in about 5 minutes.

The only bad news ... I am flying QF to Melbourne on Thursday and returning Friday night. Or will I????

 

[QF WP]

My virgin Virgin experience.

4am came around waaay too quickly and when my iPhone alarm rang, I was quickly up and got ready. I took longer than expected to leave, as my daughter woke up after hearing me showering and didn't want me to go. I had to give her a long goodbye cuddle and deposit her back into bed with my wife. By the time I left, they were both asleep.

At 4.45am, there isn't a lot of traffic on the road and made it across to the airport in 20 mins. The challenge then was to find parking and the "green light" indicating empty spots didn't work until I got to the 2nd floor of the parking station. Writing my bay number on my ticket, I pulled out my carry on and my small suitcase (filled moreso with client files than clothes) and walked to the VA Terminal.

I'll admit to being nervous, as this was my first experience with VA and whilst I knew the QF system, what would happen if things went wrong and I didn't know what to do?

I walked straight for the well signposted Priority line (3 chec-in desks with 2 emptying as I approached). I was ushered forward by the CSA who asked where I was going today, I answered SYD and handed my VFF card. He processed me and tagged my bag and off it went. Check-in took all of 2 mins.

Whilst I have expressed my disappointment at the shop-a-docket BP (particularly as I collect them and wanted this one to be special), it's not a deal breaker. I didn't think I had the time to change it upstairs at the service desk as it was already 5.30am and my flight departure was 6am. I liked the access

I made my way swiftly to The Lounge where I was greeted at the line by the Lounge Goddess herself, Annette - she remembered me from the AFF Do a couple of months ago. She checked my BP, then graciously arranged a hot chocolate for me and walked me to the F&B counter, explained the use of the Pancake machine and pointed out the new "shot glasses" of yogurt and museli. She introduced me to Carrie Ann, the Supervisor this morning and Jenny came around offering sweet potato (or was it pumpkin) mini quiches - delicious. That was a nice touch and not something I had ever experienced in the QC.

Annette and I at down underneath the departure and arrivals screens opposite the F&B bar to have a chat and whilst there, noted that my flight was delayed 28 mins due to ATC. No problems for me, as I had built in travel time of 90 mins after touchdown to get to my first appt in the CBD, so would still get there on time.

Annette was very generous with her time this morning, even offering to walk with me to my Gate (44) for the take off - now that's service (to me) as I'd never had that from the QF Lounge Manager! However, as she explained, she liked to get out of the lounge and look after her frequent flyers. well she was doing that in spades this morning, making me very comfortable with my choice to switch to Virgin. As the former SPG catch cry went "Little things mean a lot".

I handed over my BP to be scanned at the Gate BP reader. I gave Annette a hug goodbye, turned and waved as I headed down for my "on board" experience.

DJ908 BNE/SYD B737-800
CSM - Duncan
FA's - Carla

PE only had 1 pax so I was able to utilise the locker space to put my hand luggage. I like the fixed bulkhead and the additional legroom afforded be in Row 3, however I coveted the PE seats that were crying out to me - at least nobody tried to go forward to sit in them.

After an uneventful departure from the Gate, the taxi and take-off were smooth and we climbed to the cruising altitude of FL380. The FA came to my seat mates in 3E&F and told them they had "included meals in your flights today" - a nice way of putting it I thought. Interestingly, Carla had one glove on whilst collecting the trays, not something I had seen on QF and probably sensible given the OH&S issues. Did I mention she was a stunning blonde? Something else as a point of difference - VA seem to have friendlier cabin staff.

Ended up having a chat to my seatmate in 3E, a Gold member and we had similar travel stories both having young kids and spouses that don't understand our love for flying. Although she showed her non-AFF status by saying she redeemed her points for shopping credits

Touchdown was smooth and we deplaned at 8.45am, only 15 mins behind now. We were at Gate 39, so I carefully followed the signs to Baggage Claim (my first time arriving into the SYD DJ Terminal). Thankfully baggage was coming on carousel 2 and mine was second put, so loaded up and turned around towards the escalators and headed for the train. A big plus is the short walk to the train, versus the longer walk from the QF Terminal. Saw a train departing at 9.01 so ran ahead of another pax to the Amex accepted ticket machine on the left and 2 mins later was down the stairs just as the train was approaching the platform.

Overall, an excellent start to my VA experience and Virgin wins over QF - having said that, the sample size of 1 is a little misleading. Now to my return flight on Thursday AM

 

[Jack Melon]

What an awesome experience!

 

[QF WP]

The return journey:

After meeting up with Mal at the P1 launch, we travelled back to HI Sydney Airport arriving at midnight and organized our mini-bus shuttle service at 5.30am for our scheduled 6.30am departure (only $6). I was originally on the 7am flight but the opportunity to travel with Mal was appealing enough to try the Fly Ahead access - even giving up my 3D for the unknown seat allocation I'd get at the airport on the earlier flight.

I woke at 5am, showered, dressed, rang Mal to make sure he was awake and we met outside our rooms (opposite each other) at 5.20am. Downstairs to check out and we were the only ones on the shuttle bus. Straight to Virgin check-in and asked the CSA if I could get on the earlier flight. Even though it would have been a pain and looked like a lot of typing, she didn't blink and I was rapt to find availability and then to be allocated 4D.

Mal showed me the Premium Access ramp (back outside) and we were through it and into The Lounge within 3 mins.

Didn't find the Lounge Goddess but not as worried - time for food as I was hungry (2 biscuits at 5am with water didn't fill me up). Breakfast v1 was great - fruit and yoghurt (although I was expecting food on board given my Flex ticket). I didn't explore the lounge very much - more interested in feeding my stomach quickly and plenty of opportunity in subsequent trips. Boarding was called and down the escalators to the boarding gate and PB.

DJ 905 SYD/BNE 737-700
Seat: 4D
CSM: Doni
FA's: Samantha, Kim

Settled into my seat, had to find space for my bags above Row 5, but could have placed above PE as only 1 seat occupied.

Mal was seated in 4A and we both had full rows of pax, in fact looking back it was a pretty full flight. Given breakfast (see photo):



which was similar to QF's breakfasts. They came around to hand out those pre-purchased breakfasts, akin to QF handing out special meals. Gave me a head start (which I like) however none of my seat mates bought anything - in fact the whole row apart from me slept.

Flight was onetime and de-planing was easy. I ended up going into The Lounge for a pit stop (love ATA) but missed seeing Annette - never mind, she rang me at 11.20am to find out how my overall experience went. Now again, service above and beyond QF however I don't expect it every time. Spent 20 mins telling her the pro's and con's of VA TL v QF QC, as well as check-in.

Overall, a win to VA by a short half head. Now for them to continue the trend