Trans-Tasman and International Short Haul update - from 28th October 2018

[henrus]

So far nothing to entice me from NZ/QF.

Not even the price.

Right now I'm seeing VA ~$40 return cheaper than NZ and ~$150 cheaper than Qantas.

 

[AviationNZ]

Not even the price.

Right now I'm seeing VA ~$40 return cheaper than NZ and ~$150 cheaper than Qantas.

I'm talking about the long-game here with my loyalty, and IMO, those low fares won't last. Sure, they're probably dropping their pants initially, but it's not sustainable. QF/NZ are selectively matching the fares, but it's the inventory levels on certain flights which are generally pushing QF/NZ higher.

 

[henrus]

I'm talking about the long-game here with my loyalty, and IMO, those low fares won't last.

I hope they last

Sure, they're probably dropping their pants initially, but it's not sustainable.

Most of my trans tasman hops are booked during sale times and the cheapest one (prior to the VA/NZ breakup announcement) was $322, I booked and flew around 3 of these (next cheapest was $350).

Currently the cheapest at $318 isn't that far off so whilst I suspect them to rise, I think that when the sales come around again next year we'll see similar prices.

 

[indigo1]

That looks worse than the old Trans Tasman meals (or at least the ones I've had in the past year). Was always one alcoholic drink but refills of soft drinks were included. Beer used to be Corona.

How was the free wifi?

In the past, I'd purchased the full fight pass (on the trans tasman flights) and the speed was slow ~1mbps. I couldn't imagine offering the whole plan 15 minutes free has done good things to the speed.

The pictures probably don't do it justice, by economy standards it was very good...a hell of a lot better than their domestic offerings. Wifi was patchy, sometimes it would load quick, then others slow.

 

[indigo1]

What was under the ham on the main dish (plate)?
I am assuming its ham.
More meat?
Or was there a slice of bread?
Rice?

Was a couple of pretty big slices of roast pork, with half a dozen roast potatoes. Other roast veges in there too.

 

[indigo1]

Whist that food doesn't look that appealing to me, I have heard from a few people that it actually tastes OK. The one-drink policy seems like penny-pinching for me, especially when they've been spruiking that they're now "all-inclusive". So far nothing to entice me from NZ/QF.

The meal was better than anything I have had on NZ Y in the last few years. Especially that ice cream!

 

[AviationNZ]

Most of my trans tasman hops are booked during sale times and the cheapest one (prior to the VA/NZ breakup announcement) was $322, I booked and flew around 3 of these (next cheapest was $350).

Currently the cheapest at $318 isn't that far off so whilst I suspect them to rise, I think that when the sales come around again next year we'll see similar prices.

I agree, the levels aren’t too dissimilar but they’re in market for longer, so the airlines are selling more tactical fares rather than high yielding year round levels. Plus, fuel is very different now to the past year.

I’m not sure how long it’ll last, and always expected it’d be a bloodbath, but I know it’s not sustainable.

 

[moa999]

I remember 10yrs ago when sub-$100 gates weren't uncommon.

Sadly both fuel and increased government charges killed this

 

[Cryptarcadian]

I remember 10yrs ago when sub-$100 gates weren't uncommon.

Sadly both fuel and increased government charges killed this

Indeed, when taxes and government charges alone on a Y return ticket these days is something like $180, if I remember correctly!

 

[sven89]

International Short-Haul, Brisbane to Port Vila in EconomyX.

Meal service was speedy, although complete confusion from all three cabin crew in Y as to what they were actually serving.
One announced from the rear-galley that the choices were Moroccan Lamb with polenta, cold chicken salad, or vegetarian penne pasta.
Row in front of us were offered (by different crew member) "Lamb with polenta, tabbouleh salad or lasagne".
We were then offered (by the third Y crew member) "hot lamb, beef salad or penne pasta".

I asked for the chicken salad, was told it was the beef, mentioned that they'd announced it as chicken, she checked with the other crew member and came back with "Oh, it was beef yesterday".
Partner asked for the penne, was served his meal no problems, opened it up to find it was vegetarian lasagne.
So all in all, pretty confusing despite there only being three (relatively simple) dishes for them to remember.

Taste wise, while the dressing didn't look that appealing, the dish actually tasted fantastic, especially for Y. Have had much worse salads in J! Ingredients were really fresh, and the chicken tasted just-poached; tender, moist and not at all rubbery or dry. Was really impressed.

Lasagne was standard Y food. Tasty enough, but nothing to write home about.
Dessert was a piece of fudge.

For a 2.5-hour flight, I felt it hit the mark.
Would be great to see them roll this sort of thing out domestically for 'lunch' and 'dinner' flights.
Was also good to see the new 'more sustainable' packaging with cardboard lids rather than foil, though still plenty of plastic.

One complimentary drink per person, then tea, coffee and water free after that.
Crew messaged it as "the first round' s on us", which I thought was a fun enough, 'Virgin' way of spinning it.

 

[kermatu]

Recently flew CHC-MEL in Business class. Only two options for the meal, while Economy had three. Huh?

Flight was OK but somewhat underwhelming. Service efficient but you had to ask for everything other than pre-meal drink and dinner. Nothing was refused but not proactive. On the very positive side, thanks to the rope barrier, zero Y pax came forward to the J cabin.

 

[Harthagan]

Recently flew CHC-MEL in Business class. Only two options for the meal, while Economy had three. Huh?

Flight was OK but somewhat underwhelming. Service efficient but you had to ask for everything other than pre-meal drink and dinner. Nothing was refused but not proactive. On the very positive side, thanks to the rope barrier, zero Y pax came forward to the J cabin.

On my two most recent long haul flights in J with virgin i was also very underwhelmed by the meals.

I think virgin's domestic J product is very good in terms of food but the food/service certainly doesnt scale up with the international flights (short or long haul) as one might expect it to.

 

[pauly7]

On my two most recent long haul flights in J with virgin i was also very underwhelmed by the meals.

I think virgin's domestic J product is very good in terms of food but the food/service certainly doesnt scale up with the international flights (short or long haul) as one might expect it to.

I wonder who provides their long haul catering then and if it’s different to domestic?

 

[kermatu]

On my two most recent long haul flights in J with virgin i was also very underwhelmed by the meals.

I think virgin's domestic J product is very good in terms of food but the food/service certainly doesnt scale up with the international flights (short or long haul) as one might expect it to.

From the menu and food thread it looked like a number of meals were the same across domestic and longer flights (eg, to LA).

My CHC-MEL service, while OK, was certainly well short of the trans-continental VA flights. Does VA operate a subsidiary across the Tasman (like QF does/did)?

 

[jase05]

On my two most recent long haul flights in J with virgin i was also very underwhelmed by the meals.

I think virgin's domestic J product is very good in terms of food but the food/service certainly doesnt scale up with the international flights (short or long haul) as one might expect it to.

Have had excellent food and service to HKG every time with VA