New VA International J class seat

[lovestotravel]

UA does well across the Pacific due to their corporate contracts.

If they did so well due to this they wouldn't discount as heavily as they do

 

[serfty]

...
If you find yourself on an old A330 or 737, then Uzbekistan Airways beats the VA J product hands down.

I disagree re the ex EK 330's - I find them quite comfortable and perfectly adequate for a 5 hour flight.

 

[lovestotravel]

I disagree re the ex EK 330's - I find them quite comfortable and perfectly adequate for a 5 hour flight.

Seats are fine IF they work properly but the TV's are pathetic and they generally don't

 

[serfty]

Seats are fine IF they work properly but the TV's are pathetic and they generally don't

I have stored worrying about domestic IFE on either QF or VA - the only things I miss on XFA/XFB are the belly/tail/nose cams when they are not available.

 

[bullerdude]

I disagree re the ex EK 330's - I find them quite comfortable and perfectly adequate for a 5 hour flight.

I actually find the recline of the seat pretty good for a 3-5 hour flight as you don't need lie flat for that, they are also decently padded.

The problem with these planes is that so much on them is broken from IFE, to seat recline, to window shades, to tray tables.

If they actually made everything on them work they really wouldn't be to bad.

 

[mannej]

It seems as if the expectations of transcon J have evolved in the last couple of years.

It wasn't that long ago that recliners and a lack of Personal IFE was the norm...

 

[TomVexille]

If they did so well due to this they wouldn't discount as heavily as they do

Is that why for MEL-LAX the random dates I picked in July in J, QF is cheapest, followed by VA, then UA is most expensive of the three?

 

[Plutonus]

Is that why for MEL-LAX the random dates I picked in July in J, QF is cheapest, followed by VA, then UA is most expensive of the three?

Someone's gotta pay for all those additional pointless staff milling around at check-in (OT).

 

[Jamesl]

Someone's gotta pay for all those additional pointless staff milling around at check-in (OT).

Consider that both QF AND VA use their own staff for checkin, and UA use Menzies aviation that point is slightly void.

 

[pblackie]

Consider that both QF AND VA use their own staff for checkin, and UA use Menzies aviation that point is slightly void.

VA sub-contract to Aerocare you don't notice they do as they wear VA uniforms

 

[blackcat20]

VA sub-contract to Aerocare you don't notice they do as they wear VA uniforms

I did notice their American accents so that makes sense.

 

[lovestotravel]

Is that why for MEL-LAX the random dates I picked in July in J, QF is cheapest, followed by VA, then UA is most expensive of the three?

UA is generally the cheapest and has and will continue to have the worst J product

You couldn't pay me to fly that pathetic airline

 

[mannej]

UA is generally the cheapest and has and will continue to have the worst J product

You couldn't pay me to fly that pathetic airline

What are their 777/789 options like? The 747's have been removed so is it same old UA?

 

[Jamesl]

VA sub-contract to Aerocare you don't notice they do as they wear VA uniforms

Ummm, no, note that I said check in staff, the ramp and baggage services is contracted to AC,

 

[TomVexille]

UA is generally the cheapest and has and will continue to have the worst J product

You couldn't pay me to fly that pathetic airline

Yet I can find plenty of days where where UA is the most expensive. I won't argue about the quality of the overall J product. However you have to remember that UA has more daily J seats to America than VA as well as F. They even have an international lounge at MEL. That's more than VA can say. UA can obviously sell their premium cabins, even if Y needs to be discounted heavily.

 

[gwilli1]

It took a while to come out , but its great to see the confirmation of the upgrade to J seating across not only the 777 fleet , but also the A330 fleet & further indication that the A330 will be flying internationally at some point .


Virgin Australia new Airbus A330 Boeing 777 domestic international business class - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Spacetravel]

About time! I'm so happy. I do enjoy the VA J product however other airlines have started to inch ahead in terms of J seating.

I do this trip 2-3 times a year so its a welcome change.

I have a SYD - LAX return J planned for next year, I'm considering booking before the new seating gets announced as if its a "suite" or at least in that direction. I assume they are probably going to have a massive price hike the moment they do. Can anyone see where this could backfire on me?

I hope they update their prem economy seating when they do the refit. I'm not even after anything new, just for some reason the prem econ cabin seems to be in the worst shape more than Y or J.

 

[Jurahn]

I wonder what the timeframe for the rollout of the new seats/suites will be, as we'll be flying J SYD-LAX in February, returning in March, so will be interested to see whether they'll be in place by the time we travel.

 

[Clivem]

Galley speak at it again...

and it was on the money ....... this time

 

[Clivem]

It took a while to come out , but its great to see the confirmation of the upgrade to J seating across not only the 777 fleet , but also the A330 fleet & further indication that the A330 will be flying internationally at some point .

With regard to that A330 international route mentioned, the Etihad Airbus A330-200 service on the 'Brisbane -Singapore- Abu Dhabi' route is going to end on June 1, 2015 when it becomes a non stop BNE / AUH service on one of the new Etihad 787-9.

Given that, what are the chances of VA doing a Brisbane - Singapore service with their updated J product on board their A330's with some reworking of some of their Aust. coast to coast services (say more 738's on Perth to BNE) to make it happen ? .........that new VA service would link up with some other SQ pairings when the Etihad Brisbane - Singapore legs goes on June1 .... any thoughts ?