QF OOL-SYD-PER 73H and 332 Skybed.

[ChrisCunard]

This is the return flights from this trip:
Virgin Australia (New) A332, E190 And 73H that I posted last week: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?t=50729

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Flight 1:

Route: OOL-SYD
Date: 23/05/2013
Flight No: QF863
Seat: 3C - J cabin was full.
Aircraft: VH-VZD "Geelong" -- First flight: June 22, 2008, Engines: CFM International CFM56-7B26 engines and fitted with winglets, Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VZD - June 26, 2008.

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It's been a long time since I've been aboard a Qantas aircraft at OOL - since they pulled out many years ago I've only visited that airport once aboard JQ back in 2007. The airport has changed a lot, and it's great to see the red tail of Qantas back on the ramp!

I arrived at the airport and went through security before turning left into the refurbished Qantas Club. The lounge is quite small, though much improved over its predecessor. It's pleasant and has large bathrooms and showers. I enjoyed a beer and some crackers while waiting for the flight to be called.

When called, boarding was well and truly underway. OOL has no aero-bridges so it's a walk across the tarmac to the awaiting aircraft. Here she is:




Here's a view of the legroom on the Qantas 73H J class:



I was in seat 3C and once we were airborne the little TV screens came down for the Channel 9 News:



But I opted to use my iPad - shortly after a drinks service was offered, I had a James Squire. Then lunch was served. The meal was a chicken dish with a sourdough roll and some form of chocolate brownie. I ate the main meal and the roll (though the butter was as hard a stone) but the brownie was very floury so I left it:



It was a very short flight - 55 mins, and we were landinging in Sydney. Once on the ground we taxi'd along next to a Virgin Australia 777-300 outbound for LA (I guessed).

Here she is parked - aircraft's name was "Geelong" and it no longer wears the Optus decals:

 

[ChrisCunard]

Once in the terminal I made my way to the Qantas business lounge, after checking out the flight board - all the EK codeshares courtesy of the new partnership:


As a WP I get to take non-travelers into the lounge, so a colleague met me there and we had a meeting with complimentary snacks from Qantas. This pic was an accident but it shows the difference between the QF and VA platinum bag tags:



This was the view from the window near where we were sitting - we watched as VH-OGO was prepared for a flight:



She was pushed back, idled for about 15 mins and then returned to the gate - engineers were then spotted in the coughpit - guessing some kind of technical issue?



I also spotted this - I think Qantas are keen to get their hands on the E-190 as they've clearly stolen a VA aircraft

 

[ChrisCunard]

===

Flight 2:

Route: SYD-PER
Date: 23/05/2013
Flight No: QF571
Seat: 3C - J cabin was full. J cabin in this config is split across two small cabins of 6 across by three deep.
Aircraft: A330-200 International

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Boarding was a smooth process. By the time we were called from the Qantas Club the aircraft was in "Final Call" and I made my way aboard. Water and Juice is offered on Qantas Domestic services, and no comfort packs (though probably not needed for 4 hours).

Once airborne, another drinks service was offered. I had a beer and a bag of nuts is offered too - actually a second bag was brought around about 10 mins later too. It was cold aboard the aircraft (thankfully) but I also used the blanket. Qantas' J blankets are better than those on VA:



The meal service continued with a starter. There was one option (vs. two on VA) - this was smoked trout. It was quite nice and served with feta cheese and spinach. I also had the sourdough bread and again rock hard butter which devastated the poor bread - this is a before pic :



Then there were mains. On this flight three meals were brought out on a hand held tray and you can select which you want from the tray... Personally I think this is really icky - sure you get to see the meal - but I really don't want other passengers breathing all over my food.

I chose the lamb:


Hopefully, the new "plate service" will greatly improve the presentation and service style here, got high hopes as QFi is superb.

For sweets, there was a choice of the cheese plate, or the Maggie Beer ice cream. Luckily it was the very tasty chocolate ice cream again on this flight so I went with that, and a coffee sometime later:


So by now we were about 1 1/2 hours into the 4 hr 25 minute flight - the meal service is very fast. The movie I watched was Zero Dark 30 which was a bit disturbing but well made movie...

Alarmingly a movie option was "Flight" which I understand is about an aircraft crash?? Maybe not but I didn't try!

Anyway time to explore the Skybed Mk I - very lucky to get this over the 2-3-2 bird. Here is the seat position options:



In all another nice QF flight - very glad to get the Skybed A330-200 as it's far and beyond the best Qantas domestic aircraft currently in service but not quite as epic as the service on VA.

 

[Fifa]

I had the same aircraft type on Monday PER-SYD. The front J cabin was full, seats and legroom great for a transcontinental flight and the service was excellent.

We flew VA on a 3 day old A330 SYD-PER two weeks earlier and it was definitely better all round.

 

[samh004]

It certainly seems like the VA offering trans-con is better, when comparing your two reviews. The A330 doesn't seem much better than the 737, but then at least it's consistent I guess.

 

[ChrisCunard]

My thoughts... (J only)...

Virgin excels in service and food offering. The service is absolutely superb and the food is very good. Restaurant quality on every J flight I've had.

I prefer the Virgin interiors. They are brightly lit, airy and fresh, well cleaned and even on the refitted VA332's it all seems roomier somehow.

I think the VA 332 seats are more comfortable (on the new birds) than QF Skybed Mk I though the head rests are better on QF.

Skybed II would take the cake though if on domestic runs though.

QF' IFE options are better. More movies. VA offer better headphones. VA's new screens are better than Skybed I screens - much larger and clearer. Skybed II again would win here though as its closer and touch screen.

QF' lounges are better though the VA Sydney lounge is excellent and Qantas's Melbourne J lounge is a bit of a joke so it's a tough call. I prefer the QF check in.

That's about the sum of it from my point of view. Both are superb domestic airlines.