Switch from Qantas to Virgin

[FishFood]

Unfortunately I am 5 SC away from QF gold so will miss out on the VA status match, hopefully they'll run it again in the future

 

[AIRwin]

Unfortunately I am 5 SC away from QF gold so will miss out on the VA status match, hopefully they'll run it again in the future

Status run?

 

[FishFood]

Status run?

I'll pick up gold soon enough, so not worth it for me personally

 

[harnetcd]

I think it depends on your travelling patterns, if it is mainly Domestic, I think Virgin would serve you well, Status qualification is easier, and status per dollar would also be better. eg Qantas Gold - 700 and Virgin Gold - 500

However if you are looking at International Flights, Qantas does have the network and alliances that makes routes easier, Virgin is a mismatch of partnership, in some cases they won't even recognise. Also if there are flights to Perth than the A330 on Qantas is just better than a 737 for hours (Sydney <-> Perth for me)

Have been VA Platinum for around 6 years and have used ANZ and Delta in the USA and NZ (no longer current) and Italia (not sure arrangement now), Singapore and Etihad in Europe and Asia and have accessed lounges and priority boarding and other benefits without incident so have qualms in advising that is not an issue. Cheers

Post automatically merged: Sep 22, 2022

I think it depends on your travelling patterns, if it is mainly Domestic, I think Virgin would serve you well, Status qualification is easier, and status per dollar would also be better. eg Qantas Gold - 700 and Virgin Gold - 500

However if you are looking at International Flights, Qantas does have the network and alliances that makes routes easier, Virgin is a mismatch of partnership, in some cases they won't even recognise. Also if there are flights to Perth than the A330 on Qantas is just better than a 737 for hours (Sydney <-> Perth for me)

Have been VA Platinum for around 6 years and have used ANZ and Delta in the USA and NZ (no longer current) and Italia (not sure arrangement now), Singapore and Etihad in Europe and Asia and have accessed lounges and priority boarding and other benefits without incident so have qualms in advising that is not an issue. Cheers

 

[flyingfan]

I think it's hard for many people to completely leave QF and fly solely with VA, and vice versa, despite declarations of "I'll never fly X again!!" in the heat of the moment after a monumental stuffup. I've however read about a couple of people managing to move wholly to VA and never looking back - good on them.

There are many threads on QF vs. VA and I'd echo many of their comments, with pluses and minuses based on lounges, hard/soft product, international partners, lifetime status, earning SCs/points and so on.

I recall reading effectively chasing status (which the OP didn't ask) is a fool's game and just to fly BFOD and most suitable timings. As I fly more I'm starting to believe this.

OP looks to be in WA so their route and lounge requirements/experiences might be different to those in the east. I've never flown VA in WA so what works for me might not for them. Other factors are also if they intend to chase status, whether flying Y or J, whether flying internationally frequently, even if they fly HLO, etc etc.

I've had great and terrible experiences with both airlines, with the benefit of so-called status.

 

[PuravidaTC]

Personally, I have just taken advantage of the status mach offer Plat to Plat as it seems incredibly easy to maintain Plat on Virgin whilst continuing the majority of flying on QF and One World benefits.

The one key thing Virgin have over QF for myself is the Air Canada partnership as QF don't have much in regards to Canada outside of lowly Westjet arrangements.

Reaching the 200 status credits for the Plat match is one short business round trip at around $1k spend - if you travel, it's a no brainer even if just for the Hotel and Car hire perks.

 

[Scr77]

Just flew VA PER to MEL in Y with well travelled 17 year old spawn. Compared to QF, even son was impressed with the enforcement of J boarding, the rope separating Y & J and the hostile standing in aisle to allow J to disembark first.

Because of points earn, we normally fly QF, but will start to lean towards VA now.

Flew Y because VA had Y rewards availability 2 weeks out and during school holidays. Unlikely to see that with QF.

 

[bladeau1981]

Just flew VA PER to MEL in Y with well travelled 17 year old spawn. Compared to QF, even son was impressed with the enforcement of J boarding, the rope separating Y & J and the hostile standing in aisle to allow J to disembark first.

Because of points earn, we normally fly QF, but will start to lean towards VA now.

Flew Y because VA had Y rewards availability 2 weeks out and during school holidays. Unlikely to see that with QF.

I like the typo for Hostie to Hostile, fitting when describing the standing in the way of Y pax and blocking access to the J cabin (which I am all for btw).

 

[Marty_]

I have been VA platinum since 2016.

Some years, I’ve taken over 100 flights with VA.

Since I started flying with them regularly (2014), I have not had one single bad experience that I can recall... which is quite incredible!

I was reflecting on this the other day and realised they would be one of my favourite companies.

Things I like –

• Consistently friendlier, more positive, and more helpful staff than QF. Consistently good vibes.
• The planes are usually fresher / feel newer than QF.
• Call centre is always easy enough to get through to. Always helpful.
• Economy X is a godsend and it’s free for plats (I am 6’7”+).
• Never lost a bag. And priority baggage is fairly reliably adhered to (though not perfect).
• Priority boarding is always enforced.
• J upgrades are easy to get.
• The lounges are a better experience. The QF lounges can be a real zoo sometimes; just overrun with the masses. Rarely so for VA.
• Speaking of which, VA has the advantage that not everyone is a frequent flyer, so the benefits are for the few, not the many… Like, priority boarding doesn’t mean 2/3 of the plane… it means 10 people. Replicate this phenomenon for all status benefits.
• Of late, the domestic J food is better.
• As a platinum I *always* feel especially looked after, including several notable "over and above" customer service experiences.

Every time I fly QF I feel affirmed in my long-held practice of preferring VA.

International flying used to be a real weakness, but the current array of partnerships really puts an end to that (United, Singapore incl points transfers, Qatar). I may let my QF gold status lapse now. That said, I will really miss "The Business" going to the US. It was an awesome product.

During the pandemic things changed, of course. I was worried it might not come back to its old self. But I am steadily feeling reassured as the new staff become more familiar with their work. The old VA culture is starting to show again... and those things that have changed have been good changes.

I may think of more things. Will edit if so!

 

[ferntree]

I signed up for Discover Gold in Dec 2021 and honestly have never looked back. I still have to fly Qantas occasionally (to use up flight credits) and every time am reminded why I switched.

-Platinum status much easier to attain with Virgin
-Flying ex Hobart I lose the half hour in the Qantas Club but fly for significantly fewer $$ direct to and from BNE, and in a relatively spacious 737 with Economy X complementary and extra leg room, rather than cramped up on a 717.
- Much more affordable J when I want to indulge myself. With better serice.
- More flexibility when I need to change or cancel flights.
- Cash refunded (when appropriate) immediately to a flexible travel bank rather than eventually and with a plethora of restrictions months later.
- Priority boarding enforced

 

[kerfuffle]

Speaking of which, VA has the advantage that not everyone is a frequent flyer, so the benefits are for the few, not the many… Like, priority boarding doesn’t mean 2/3 of the plane… it means 10 people. Replicate this phenomenon for all status benefits.

Didn't feel like it when I took a flight ADL-MEL in May. As soon as the priority boarding was called it felt like 2/3 of the plane had priority boarding privileges haha (lots of Gold and Platinum digital boarding passes)

 

[Bagpuss]

Didn't feel like it when I took a flight ADL-MEL in May. As soon as the priority boarding was called it felt like 2/3 of the plane had priority boarding privileges haha (lots of Gold and Platinum digital boarding passes)

Usually is people who aren't entitled to priority boarding and then they get told to move over to general boarding.

 

[kerfuffle]

Usually is people who aren't entitled to priority boarding and then they get told to move over to general boarding

Yeah that was the lady in front of me this morning SYD-MEL when the staff were all PRIORITY BOARDING ONLY! Dunno why they try get into the queue when they're not eligible

 

[ferntree]

Yeah that was the lady in front of me this morning SYD-MEL when the staff were all PRIORITY BOARDING ONLY! Dunno why they try get into the queue when they're not eligible

Maybe because they've got away with it with Qantas ... or could be inexperienced flyers not paying attention who just jumped up when they saw boarding started?

 

[AIRwin]

Maybe because they've got away with it with Qantas ... or could be inexperienced flyers not paying attention who just jumped up when they saw boarding started?

You mean those who jumped ship as they were not match fit...

 

[ferntree]

You mean those who jumped ship as they were not match fit...

Ha, ha, that would include me I guess!

 

[Sutty]

Apologies for question : can you move your points from Qantas ( unhapply) to VIrgin ???
are there times in the year where they allow
mike

 

[SCM]

Apologies for question : can you move your points from Qantas ( unhapply) to VIrgin ???
are there times in the year where they allow
mike

No way, never heard of anything like this.

 

[ferntree]

Apologies for question : can you move your points from Qantas ( unhapply) to VIrgin ???
are there times in the year where they allow
mike

Alas no!

I'm using my leftover Qantas points for a holiday trip to Norfolk Island (Virgin doesn't fly there).

Another option might be Qantas wine, which, if you catch them during their wine sales, can be pretty good value.

 

[antycbr]

Alas no!

I'm using my leftover Qantas points for a holiday trip to Norfolk Island (Virgin doesn't fly there).

A small stash of QF is handy for regional Australia. Another good example is LDH.