Once a year flyer...Qantas or Virgin?

[UP4014]

Despite what some on here say, for 5 people UA is worthy of consideration for travelling via SFO, price and connections. Sure the cabin is a bit dated but it's only what all airlines were not that long ago and the service is fine. As a family with kids, ask to be seated at the back as sometimes there can be a few empty seats dotted around.

Matt

 

[Powerballsam]

I am happy to pull the kids out of school for a week before the holidays (start on the 22nd of September) if it means saving a couple of thousand dollars. I was looking at some dates and leaving mid Sep and coming back a couple of weeks later the flight are around the mid 8K with both Qantas and Virgin.

I would love to minimize the stops on the way and it seems like both of them have a stop in LAX and then straight onto MCO.

So everything is the same expect for who....I am leaning towards Virgin as we should accumulate enough point from the trip to get to LAX return for one adult at a later date. The Status is just a spot of good luck and maybe I will get one use out of being Gold.

As all our credit cards are of the Qantas variaty I have to look into getting a Virgin type of card to start earning those points but that is not going to be a problem.

 

[Powerballsam]

Sorry also because of the kids, the inflight entertainment is very important. There needs to be head rest screen or they will drive me insane

 

[eastwest101]

Sorry also because of the kids, the inflight entertainment is very important. There needs to be head rest screen or they will drive me insane

Or consider the cost of BYO DVD players/iPads/cheap tablets which isn't too bad. As far as I know by the time you fly even UA will have seatback entertainement as well as VA QF NZ and DL. Remember your flights LAX-MCO or SFO-MCO or even DFW-MCO may not have seatback IFE depending on the airline, plus some hours in transit somewhere, another good reason to do a bit of BYO when it comes to entertainment. This will all be specific to the operating airline and aircraft so sources like seatguru.com and even routehappy.com can give some useful clues.

 

[drewbles]

Or consider the cost of BYO DVD players/iPads/cheap tablets which isn't too bad. As far as I know by the time you fly even UA will have seatback entertainement as well as VA QF NZ and DL. Remember your flights LAX-MCO or SFO-MCO or even DFW-MCO may not have seatback IFE depending on the airline, plus some hours in transit somewhere, another good reason to do a bit of BYO when it comes to entertainment. This will all be specific to the operating airline and aircraft so sources like seatguru.com and even routehappy.com can give some useful clues.

Problem with that is you'll need 3 (kids aren't going to want to share all the time) and then you need to bring DVD's or load them up with content (which can get expensive). Based on price, just don't fly UA

 

[TomVexille]

I think the only two airlines that can guarantee seatback IFE on a US domestic flight are VX and B6. So VA connecting to VX might be your best bet to keep the kids occupied.

 

[Powerballsam]

The big leg will be the Syd to Lax one. After that I am sure the ipads can take over.....we have 2 ipads and 3 kids so hopefully the fighting will be contained to the Lax to Mco leg.

 

[Quickstatus]

PowerB.
I have done this exact trip with 3 young kids about 2 years ago
Happy to share my experiences with you. Msg me if you like. I don't have any commercial interests in this.

 

[Quickstatus]

But it's like this:
Take kids out of school
One stop for flights. Get there as fast as possible.
Stay outside Disney. I use VRBO. $800 for 8 nights over Christmas 1mile from Disney.
Staying at Disney hotels not necessarily give better access to entrance
Hire car -also better for discount outlet shopping, and also more mobile for days off Disney so you can visit other places. Use local simcard. SmartPhone for satnav.
Visit only 1 Disney resort per day they are huge. . Each of the 4 resorts are bigger than Disney Anaheim. Day off every 2 days and have afternoon nap back at condo so kids awake for night stuff which is amazing.
Kennedy space centre uninspiring unless a rocket launch planned on day of visit. Meet an astronaut is just a person dressed up in spacesuit. Not actual astronaut.
Tourguidemike.com gives you Disney optimization techniques/advice. Like AFF gives you travel optimization techniques
Get fit - for Disney.
Have lots more...

 

[Powerballsam]

I would love to get your input I will send you a msg.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Despite what some on here say, for 5 people UA is worthy of consideration for travelling via SFO, price and connections. Sure the cabin is a bit dated but it's only what all airlines were not that long ago and the service is fine.

UA tired unreliable B747's on LAX/SFO SYD/MEL are to be replaced by B777's. Dates are on FT
Consolidated "United SYD/MEL Flight Delays or Cancellations" Thread [2014] - Page 3 - FlyerTalk Forums
But I would not fly on UA

 

[TomVexille]

UA tired unreliable B747's on LAX/SFO SYD/MEL are to be replaced by B777's. Dates are on FT
Consolidated "United SYD/MEL Flight Delays or Cancellations" Thread [2014] - Page 3 - FlyerTalk Forums
But I would not fly on UA

Also because of the reduction in seats on the route, their fares have gone up (at least for when I would potentially be travelling to the States)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Virgin Australia
VA 001 SYD/LAX 1340/1025
DL1554 LAX/ATL 1445/2206
DL1769 ATL/MCO 2255/0022+1

VX 315 MCO/LAX 1740/1950
VA 002 LAX/SYD 2215/0620+2

DL only have two non-stop flights per day LAX/MCO - DL994 0945/1734 or DL883 2155/0535+1 so you'd need to fly via their hub of ATL as above. VX only have one non-stop flight per day VX312 0840/1645. Neither of these options would suit arriving on VA1 at 1025.

Qantas Airways
QF 007 SYD/DFW 1320/1345
AA1390 DFW/MCO 1700/2030
AA 244 MCO/LAX 1700/1945
QF 012 LAX/SYD 2205/0610+2

AA have a 1800 flight as a backup plan should should you miss your first AA flight DFW/MCO if the QF7 was running late or you take longer than expected to get through customs & immigration however DFW is good compared to LAX plus you have 3 hours which is not as nerve wracking as only two. You could take the 744 over into DFW then get the A380 back ex LAX.

 

[JohnK]

If price was the same between both carriers then choosing Qantas would be the (only) way to go. And the A380 vs 777?

Now back to the discussion on FF points. What am I missing?


- Velocity

I dont think the airfare quoted was a Flexi so it will be earning 0.5 Velocity points per mile and for 5 people they will earn ~37,500 Velocity points for SYD-LAX plus either ~11,000 or ~22,000 Velocity points on Delta for LAX-MCO depending on the fare class.

- QFF

A minimum of ~75,000 QFF points for SYD-LAX or ~85,000 QFF points for SYD-DFW. It is a possibility they will earn some points for domestic AA flights. Maybe not.

Taxes aside, anyway I look at it then Qantas comes out miles in front for a once a year flyer. And if you have any status then Virgin looks even worse. Forget the excuse of using Velocity points to upgrade domestic flexis and whatever.

Status isn't an issue. If you are going to LAS in 2015 then go with Qantas and purchase an AAdmirals 90 day membership or purchase 4 lounges from Gumtree or similar for <$200.

 

[Barks]

If price was the same between both carriers then choosing Qantas would be the (only) way to go. And the A380 vs 777?

Now back to the discussion on FF points. What am I missing?


- Velocity

I dont think the airfare quoted was a Flexi so it will be earning 0.5 Velocity points per mile and for 5 people they will earn ~37,500 Velocity points for SYD-LAX plus either ~11,000 or ~22,000 Velocity points on Delta for LAX-MCO depending on the fare class.

- QFF

A minimum of ~75,000 QFF points for SYD-LAX or ~85,000 QFF points for SYD-DFW. It is a possibility they will earn some points for domestic AA flights. Maybe not.

Taxes aside, anyway I look at it then Qantas comes out miles in front for a once a year flyer. And if you have any status then Virgin looks even worse. Forget the excuse of using Velocity points to upgrade domestic flexis and whatever.

Status isn't an issue. If you are going to LAS in 2015 then go with Qantas and purchase an AAdmirals 90 day membership or purchase 4 lounges from Gumtree or similar for <$200.

Agree 100%. Also, I'd be avoiding LAX as much as possible, especially with kids.

 

[Powerballsam]

I did not know that Virgin offered 0.5 point per mile....guess chalk that one up to a rookie mistake.

 

[TomVexille]

I did not know that Virgin offered 0.5 point per mile....guess chalk that one up to a rookie mistake.

Depends on the fare. Saver is 0.5

 

[JohnK]

I did not know that Virgin offered 0.5 point per mile....guess chalk that one up to a rookie mistake.

There are lots of little quirks in all FFer programs.

Most of the advice you will receive are from people who travel for work on flexible airfares paid for by someone else. Not going to be relevant to you and me travelling on cheapest possible airfares. Comparison of FF programs is usually through their experience.

Another reason for going Qantas.

In December 2013 if you knew you were going to USA you could have purchased 5 x $500 vouchers and received 25,000 QFF points.

Do you shop at Woolworths? We have earned ~70,000 QFF points in the past 3 years.

Do you travel domestically on cheapest airfares using VA or Qantas? You are going to earn a lot more points on Qantas as they have a 1,000 QFF point minimum fora $79 flight where as with Virgin you would earn 395 Velocity points without status.

What was the reason for choosing Virgin again? To save a few $$ in taxes?

 

[Powerballsam]

To be fair thou it was not a few dollers in taxes, it was $136 to $850. When you are talking about a Syd to Lax flight which you can buy on special from Qantas at $1299 the taxes seem very much over the top.

Add in that you will get to Gold status flying Virgin which means the next time you will be able to access lounges and different member perks.

Again for a once a year flyier it might be nice to get to gold once in your life

 

[JohnK]

To be fair thou it was not a few dollers in taxes, it was $136 to $850. When you are talking about a Syd to Lax flight which you can buy on special from Qantas at $1299 the taxes seem very much over the top.

I don't disagree with the points you raised. Status is nice and the taxes Qantas charges are ridiculous.