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

[AustraliaPoochie]

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.

And QF is asking nearly $8k in J for ADL - east coast - HND in Dec or even into Jul next year.
Can't wait for when (if) VAi does pull over Au - HND in the near or far future.

 

[Saab34]

Rex should really jump on transcontinental.

 

[Sprucegoose]

And QF is asking nearly $8k in J for ADL - east coast - HND in Dec or even into Jul next year.
Can't wait for when (if) VAi does pull over Au - HND in the near or far future.

Realistically I don't expect VA to operate other than in its own interests. I would seek out ANA or JAL for better value over an AUS based airline.

 

[Sprucegoose]

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.

Well posted.....no paper these days contrary to some views.

Lucky indeed to get a menu on some international premium services.

Agree there is greater consistency in the VA rollout.

Consistent service levels are always a delivery challenge across diverse networks.

 

[Ade]

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.

Yes that’s always been my understanding as well.

From what I know/see/heard/understand, at CBR airport at least, that VA & QF both have ground staff that are trained to do ADB (Arrival Departure Boarding) procedures. I rarely see VA FAs do ADB. That being said, I have also seen only QF ground staff do ADB and not QF FAs. I think it varies with the flight and availability of the ground staff. I have also seen all the FAs board prior and the ground staff do the boarding ... so it varies IMHO ...

Edit: I have also seen some office staff (blue tags) help with boarding if there is less availability of trained ground staff

the VA staffer never has to see the pax again but the QF FA will prob see them again in 5 minutes onboard.

I'd say, IMHO, this is all the more reason that QF should enforce PB efficiently, because, the FA is going to meet the pax again in 5 or so minutes onboard .. if PB isn't enforced properly, pax might not be happy ... That being said, there is only little pax can do if the airline chooses not to follow PB procedures, other than, be unhappy about it, report it as feedback ... or sit back, relax & enjoy the flight

 

[Ade]

I'll say that the CBR VA lounge has never been crowded and the coffee and food is always pretty good IMO.

Agree with this. This is my experience as well. VA CBR lounge is not crowded even in the busiest of hours of the day. The coffee is good - a much needed pick me up .. re food - there isn't much, but whatever is there is good and sufficient, so to say ...

My only beef with QF CBR J lounge (or any other domestic J lounge, with the exception of MEL J) is the lack of vego options ... but I guess the % of pax going after vego meals is very small .. so not a big thing I guess ...

 

[lovestotravel]

In and out of MCY airport quite a bit recently and the check-in desk staff were doing the gate boarding as well.

50/50 mix for a great vs grumpy check-in experience.

 

[Sprucegoose]

In and out of MCY airport quite a bit recently and the check-in desk staff were doing the gate boarding as well.

50/50 mix for a great vs grumpy check-in experience.

VA has less historical industrial baggage than Qantas, a point I referred to earlier. Therefore I expect they will have more flexibility and, consequently, greater potential efficiency.

The EBAs should be publicly available if someone is inclined to review them.

AJ can't wait until all those QF workhorses engaged on old awards die out.

 

[Drakecula]

But how was the NLA? Missed you by a day it seemed, I was there on Thursday doing some stuff on my day off from other work. I hope you had a good visit research wise.

 

[lovestotravel]

AJ can't wait until all those QF workhorses engaged on old awards die out.

The A350's and A320's are a dream for QF to waive those old awards goodbye

 

[RooFlyer]

But how was the NLA? Missed you by a day it seemed, I was there on Thursday doing some stuff on my day off from other work. I hope you had a good visit research wise.

I thought you'd moved on to somewhere else, so I didn't get in touch, else a coffee at Bookplate. Research was OK. Two items very helpful, one other was a fishing expedition and not helpful.

 

[RooFlyer]

So, all the 'dates' since the above have gone just swell - and I've got flowers and choccies! Given Plat in January from the Switcheroo (a few weeks later than optimal) and I'm a semi-regular now on HBA-BNE. Either Biz or (free) Economy-X, which I've belatedly discovered has more legroom in row 3 than Business! Handy instant DSC promo after being made Plat. First (of 4) comp upgrades to J to be requested this week.

Undoubtedly one of the most refreshing (read: different) things I'm finding is that e-mails and phone calls not only get replied to - and NOT with a generic message - but follow-ups are done in the promised time frame. I had to follow-up the Hilton Diamond benefit, as nothing happened in about 6 weeks; I thought maybe the various details didn't match. Called (Plat line answered), and agent couldn't see a problem so promised to investigate and get back to me within a week. E-mail received 6 days later confirming Hilton Diamond in place etc etc. And sure enough, it was. E-mails to the Business mob on another issue answered in a day the first time and a week a second time.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Now that VAd has a few 737-700s without a J cabin, there is more onerous having to search and see, and hope that "my" flight, does not get swapped to a 737-700, and the "dates" might go downhill, when you find all the econX are taken, and you don't have the choice of them as VFF WP.
When we were into this thread, all that VAd had were the 737-800s, even though not a lot of them, but at least with the 737-800s, we have J cabin, and knew 320s had no J cabin, and that VA had gotten rid of their 330s and 777s.
But now, no J cabin to buy on some routes, not the best!
But, to each their own, some don't mind not having a J cabin, but personally, I would like at least the option of buying a business class seat, without having to phone up for a comfort seat request, or to buying an econX seat.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm not overly fussed either, but I'm thinking/hoping that HBA-BNE direct will keep its Biz cabin.

Never had a problem getting Econ X and usually get row 3.

 

[ferntree]

But now, no J cabin to buy on some routes, not the best!

Agreed. Worse than that is when you book J only to be downgraded when the metal is changed to Y only.

 

[Ade]

Agreed. Worse than that is when you book J only to be downgraded when the metal is changed to Y only.

Honestly, for me the issue is not the downgrade of the metal itself, but the lesser SC offered … every now and then im happy to put up with the metal downgrade, but not the SC downgrade … if I paid for J SC’s I’d like to see J SC’s in my account pls.

Of course, it goes without saying, the distance flown, route, onboard benefits etc etc …

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Guess this is what "cheaper to run" is all about.

 

[twinaisle]

Guess this is what "cheaper to run" is all about.

Sometimes there's not enough -800 due to last min maintenance and the only option would be to send the -700 with no J seat than to cancel it.

It may inconvenience 8 but it still gets 140 pax to where they need to be. I hate it when it happens but it's a hard call sometimes

 

[UP4014]

Good on you for making the change, in the end you can only vote with your wallet.

I guess it shows business to middle seat economy grass isn’t always greener.

 

[RooFlyer]

I guess it shows business to middle seat economy grass isn’t always greener.

I was peeved afterwards when I didn't win the lottery