OK, I know it was our *second* date, but still ...

[Mattg]

@jmacpher VA MEL lounge now after security after rejig of terminal.


Recovery continued. Today I got an email with an apology for not getting my flight in business ( with an accurate description of the nature of the disruption), 10,000 points into account and refund of fare difference. The refund was expected (probably won’t be much) but the quick apology and points compo not expected and never such received from QF.

Now waiting for their website and app maintenance to finish to see if I get the J SCs ( not that I should, and not expected, with the $ refund of difference)

That's a much better recovery than you would have ever received from Qantas!

I think there are still people waiting for an apology (let alone compensation) for not receiving any catering in QF J back in April.

 

[tdimdad]

Yep, I noticed I could shift from row 7 to 6 at OLCI as Gold. Though row 4 on QF is a pretty pleasant place compared to row 6…

Yup, row 4 on QF is something I'll miss compared to rows 6+ on VA. My strike rate on QF row 4's has been higher than reasonable, probably 70%.

 

[ferntree]

@jmacpher VA MEL lounge now after security after rejig of terminal.


Recovery continued. Today I got an email with an apology for not getting my flight in business ( with an accurate description of the nature of the disruption), 10,000 points into account and refund of fare difference. The refund was expected (probably won’t be much) but the quick apology and points compo not expected and never such received from QF.

Now waiting for their website and app maintenance to finish to see if I get the J SCs ( not that I should, and not expected, with the $ refund of difference)

That is great. I suspect that aside from the obvious benefit of 10k points, what really matters here is that you are respected and valued as a customer.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

MEL T4 is indeed the Tullamarine version of Avalon.
Or the mullet lover version of Bazza/Shazza/Mazza, not happy Jan(e)...
Its meant to be the elcheapo version of Tulla, but they then decided to conjoin T3 and T4, so that is how they have downgraded T3 to become the JQ version of what life is meant to be like.
Before they joined it, the VA terminal was good.
I was at the Tiger days T4 when it was all open after stepping onto the steps of the tarmac from the plane, and you had to walk from there to the turnstiles, and it was like coming out of a Holden workplace, the turnstile was one way and stopped you from going back in.
You have to realise that T3 is from the AN days, that is how old it is, and it hasn't been touched, ie, hasn't been majorly renovated at all, touched up only.
Even the Tulla "freeway (tollway more so)" is newer than MEL T3.
Since VA2 came along, we have to expect cheaps.
***

That Melb VA lounge is before security and the priority line has never been open when I needed it.
At least the SYD priority check in line is opening up

The VAd MEL lounge is now after dom security, not before security anymore.

 

[jase05]

Coffee service is marginally better in Q lounges.

It tastes a whole lot better in the VA lounge especially ADL.
The coffee in the QF lounge can be decent one day and like dishwater the next.
I try to avoid coffee onboard with either airline though

 

[MH_fan]

Most of the time, I prefer VA over QF. I can choose freely between them as I'm WP with both. However, my experience in J has been so much better on VA than QF. The last few flights on QF J, I have not even received a PDB! Service is better and more consistent on VA. Food also better on VA in J. When in Y, Economy X is pretty comfortable and I don't have to wait for T-80 to try and get row 4 on QF. Finally, priority boarding on VA is almost always enforced and works well (cue angels singing). Why is it so hard for QF??

 

[Saab34]

Why is it so hard for QF??

Last Wednesday in Syd when flying a A330 domestic the queue split 50/50 between both lines and nobody kicked off the non PB pax. Over in Virgin Land she sent them to the loooooong back of the normal queue.

 

[ferntree]

I realise that to some extent this has always been a problem with Qantas, though if my memory serves me well shortly before the pandemic they made some patchy attempts to improve it. Now it's back to being a zoo again.

I wonder whether this might have something to do with rock-bottom staff morale, with staff just not thinking it's worth the hassle.

 

[1022]

They’ve almost never bothered to enforce PB at QF since well before the pandemic. In part it’s because on golden triangle weekday flights it seems half the plane is gold or above. And also people saunter to the gate from the lounges throughout the entire duration of boarding, so from an operational punctuality pov it kinda makes sense just to have a two lane free for all and piss off elites..who stand in the same backed up aerobridge as NBs anyway.

But of course this has been discussed to death on the QF forums. Those of us flirting with jumping ship are just very pleasantly surprised to see how PB can and (usually) does work on VA.

 

[Anna]

I think there are still people waiting for an apology (let alone compensation) for not receiving any catering in QF J back in April.

I've assumed that's at least partly what my 30K points and $50 credit was for. QF probably got so many complaints back in April for all sorts of things that it was probably more cost effective to do a global handout rather than try to deal with them all individually. (I know I lodged another complaint then as well as the one about no J catering. So that's 2 complaints just from me. Multiply by each unhappy pax ).

 

[Anna]

I wonder whether this might have something to do with rock-bottom staff morale, with staff just not thinking it's worth the hassle.

Not sure if this is accurate but I've read that it's to do with the fact that QF gets FAs to do boarding and VA doesn't. So the VA staffer never has to see the pax again but the QF FA will prob see them again in 5 minutes onboard.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure if this is accurate but I've read that it's to do with the fact that QF gets FAs to do boarding and VA doesn't. So the VA staffer never has to see the pax again but the QF FA will prob see them again in 5 minutes onboard.

Yes that’s always been my understanding as well.

 

[Sprucegoose]

No worries at all . I was thinking of calling the thread "The grass isn't always greener" and my move to VA is one of 'preferred airline' rather than 'loyalty'. Now I'll be Plat on both, I can happily take either with similar perks, but VA will nearly always be cheaper. Plus VA's tie-up with my favourite international airline, QR will work well for me. Unfortunately my 2 domestic flights next month to reach ADL where I board QR was before the tie-up, so will be QF, but the return will be VA

Not impressed at all with the Virgin lounge in Melbourne. A zoo with simply appalling food and bev options. Now, I'm used to QF business lounges, so maybe I should be comparing with QPs, but this is a major negative for my transition. I had 4 hours there and I took an hour or so in the T3/T4 concourse as it was much the same. The only advantage the VA zoo had over the concourse was the free beers in the lounge; wines were lamentable. Food much better in the concourse, even if it costs a bit. (BTW where in God's name does that long corridor lead to - What's at T4? Is it another word for Avalon? ). Thank goodness for the agent who got my seat back, else I would have been a very unhappy camper.

Having wrested my J seat back, when we departed MEL-HBA abt 15 mins late at 8:40pm, there was a vacant seat in the cabin! The crew were again great; keen, enthusiastic and a pleasure to fly with. PDB of a Victorian sparkling, or water. Meal orders taken before push-back - choice of two salads. Again, only cold options which again surprised me. I chose chicken 'salad' (it was called something else) and it was possibly one of the best cold domestic meals I've had. Absolutely delicious and perfect for what was now mid evening. And TWO choices of white wine - Chardonnay (of course) or a pinot gris. Top ups offered a couple of times but I had to decline, as I was driving.

View attachment 305503

I gave this flight 10/10 as well.

So, FWIW a comparison for short-haul business

Meals and bev - better on Virgin. Presentation and taste very good to excellent. Both VA and QF limit number of 'second choices' of meals.

Crew - better on Virgin. No faults on 3 flights, on two of them, 10/10. QF business FAs are good to very good (especially, I find, on Hobart-Melbourne flights), but Virgin's were a bit keener to please, and more engaging.

Lounges - I haven't been in MEL QP for years, but even thinking of the Hobart QP, which I bag regularly, Qantas lounge in MEL would have to be better than Virgin's. My ability to access QF business lounges is a major plus for them in my view.

Call centres - seem to be equally bad, although with Virgin I got to talk to someone within a minute on each of my 3 calls, on a day when there were many flight disruptions. That I can (usually, only ) get Qantas' Hobart call centre might put Qantas ahead.

As others have said, Virgin's seeming lack of focus on business travellers detracts from their on-ground appeal. If I was still shuttling around the country for work, then I'd selectively choose Qantas (especially as someone else would be paying)! But as a 20-25 domestic flight a year retiree, Virgin will do me most of the time, including most international connections. Oh, economy-X wasn't so bad, either. Bring a snack and you'll be sweet.

I have taken a few VA Flights this month; however, the two that struck me as optimally operated was MEL-NTL-MEL; however, they both had the same meal offering. I would have thought NTL southbound would have alternative offerings. - I am told they were serving that choice (as you depicted) out of Melbourne for October. The NTL return originated in MEL. I keep learning these things.

I agree with you the VA crew were 10/10.

Lounges are so so and adequate, but I wouldn't plan a holiday in them.

Call centre, if you get HBA with QF, that's great, but VA has sorted issues expeditiously in the MNL call centre if I have not been put through to a local 'more premium' operator.

I have faith in Capitalism; therefore, VA ought to be flying the J cabin sustainably and profitably. I expect a pimply-faced bean counter will have reported the good news to VA equity. They (indeed) will have realised there is a current sweet spot.

Current QF fares are not sustainable - $5k+ to return J coast to coast - really? I can't see the match fit stomaching that for too long.

 

[Happy Dude]

Coffee service is marginally better in Q lounges.

It tastes a whole lot better in the VA lounge especially ADL.
The coffee in the QF lounge can be decent one day and like dishwater the next.
I try to avoid coffee onboard with either airline though

I'll have to take your words for it as I couldn't even get a barista coffee in the BNE QFi lound a few weeks ago. One person to take orders, make the coffee and distribute them for a line of people that was out the front door (which was causing a few issues for people trying to enter the lounge). That's a really coughpy lounge on all fronts - a loogie in the face of BNE QF elites and beneath the standard of any VA lounge I've been in, including SYD and MEL when busy.

I'll say that the CBR VA lounge has never been crowded and the coffee and food is always pretty good IMO. The new ADL is pretty darn good too. Just need some covid closures to be revived together with better lounge access for international (esp BNE).

 

[lovestotravel]

Current QF fares are not sustainable - $5k+ to return J coast to coast - really? I can't see the match fit stomaching that for too long.

On the 737 for nearly all flights too

The final nail in my QF flying was another A330 downgrade to B737, having booked multiple flights from MEL-PER-MEL specifically in J on the A330, the 5th downgrade was it with QF

While I sit in Y on the 737 on VA at least I know what I'll get

All other flights are in J as the pricing is quite good, however getting 4 seats on flights can be a challenge

Trying to book MEL-NAN-MEL and J is heavily booked already

 

[Sprucegoose]

While I sit in Y on the 737 on VA at least I know what I'll get

Your statement here has powerful connotations.

Successful corporate travel is about consistency and familiarity. While it may not be evident to the uninitiated if these factors are not working, the distraction levels are above where they ought to be and have a more significant energy drain.

If I am, say, booked on a lie flat and get subbed an upright, the few hours of sleep I was 'budgeting' doesn't materialise; that affects me. But if I get what I expect, I am not changing the game plan.

No surprises, please.

Personal travel - I love changes and making all the mistakes; it keeps me honest and young.

 

[Happy Dude]

Not impressed at all with the Virgin lounge in Melbourne. A zoo with simply appalling food and bev options.

MEL is always a zoo, inside and outside of the lounge. Damn airport is too small.

VA lounge there had little sausage rolls the other week and people were just shoving in to get at them. The sandwich/salad stuff doesn't change a lot so I'd say the lounge food can be hit and miss on any given day.

And the drinks vary from lounge to lounge. MEL has bottles of lemon lime bitters that my wife really likes but it has a poorer beers (IMO, who is sick of the pale ale craze) than CBR and ADL which has better beer but no lemon lime bitters in a bottle.

 

[lovestotravel]

I've been through the VA MEL lounge quite a few times over the past few weeks during the breakfast sittings, yes it's busy but I've found the food to be quite good with eggs, bacon, fruit, good coffee, juices, cereals.

Not sure what QF is serving these days but it's quite good in my eyes and you can't expect a 5 star buffet.

In saying that, it's too easy to be VA Gold

 

[ferntree]

Not sure if this is accurate but I've read that it's to do with the fact that QF gets FAs to do boarding and VA doesn't. So the VA staffer never has to see the pax again but the QF FA will prob see them again in 5 minutes onboard.

Thanks for posting, I didn't know this.

 

[1022]

Your statement here has powerful connotations.

Successful corporate travel is about consistency and familiarity. While it may not be evident to the uninitiated if these factors are not working, the distraction levels are above where they ought to be and have a more significant energy drain.

If I am, say, booked on a lie flat and get subbed an upright, the few hours of sleep I was 'budgeting' doesn't materialise; that affects me. But if I get what I expect, I am not changing the game plan.

No surprises, please.

Personal travel - I love changes and making all the mistakes; it keeps me honest and young.

This actually used to be my gripe with VA in the early post DJ days. Service offering was always so confusing. Does my flight and fare class offer free drinks? Food? Tea but not coffee? It was when QF had the marketing upper hand with an ad of a business type saying “I fly Qantas because I know I will get my coffee and paper in the morning and a beer on my way home”. QF these days is less consistent than VA.