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VA 2 LAX-SYD-MEL – Quick Report
We flew VA 2 LAX-SYD-MEL on Sat Sep 26 dep LAX 20:20 / arr SYD Mon Sep 28 06:20 so thought I should provide a few quick notes:
LAX ARR: Arrived T1 on Southwest from Houston at 18:20 – easy stroll from T1 to T3 to VAQ check in
CHECK IN: As stated above check in is T3 - we arrived and nobody waiting in J line so imm check in – prompt courteous procedure
*A LOUNGE: Strolled from T3 to Tom Bradley to pass security then into *A J Lounge. I really like this lounge – ticks all the boxes – and WOW – the new outside deck out back now open - view of Terminal works not that appealing but once completed will be great place to chill – just beautiful sitting outside sipping the Mumm Napa – I had this last year also and IMHO very drinkable – very drinkable. Food offerings just OK – many of the in seat USB charging points just do not work – showers good albeit a 30min wait – still the time flew and time to board.
BOARDING: What’s happened here? Last year nothing short of a ZOO – this year perfectly orderly – well done VA – see stuff can improve.
ON BOARD: Selected 3H/3K as 3H gives me a good overall view of main cabin – you could not shoe horn me into that mini cabin behind bar but thank God we are all different huh? First thing I notice on board are gone are the tall banded Champers glasses – Blackcat20 our favourite Champers glasses are no more – replaced by stemless Vegemite glasses – progress can be so soul destroying – too many spillages apparently – but the Ayala 2006 Millesime served is a very very nice drop for Intl J – big tick VA.
CREW: We had Kate looking after us – what can I say – Kate was SPECTACULAR – just a gorgeous young lady who was so pleasant – so obliging with just a lovely manner – Kate was a STAR. Indeed I spend plenty time on board long haul just watching crew as they go about the business – the 4 cabin crew on this flight were FABULOUS – they were so pleasant and obliging to ALL pax from what I can see – well done VA this is one area where you excel – I have done maybe 5 or 6 LAX-MEL/SYD/BNE now and the crew at ALL times have been excellent – faultless in fact. YES – I have sent off feedback to VA re the service we received from cabin crew and Kate in particular on this flt.
FOOD: Excellent! Except for the beetroot soup – BEETROOT SOUP? Give me a break – what is it with these Celebrity Chef ‘flogs’ who dream up these ridiculous concoctions? For the main Cruiserette had the Barramundi fillet – sensational piece of fish – I would accept it any good restaurant and be very happy with it – I had the Beef short rib – was also pretty good. Cheeses were excellent! And how can you ever go wrong with vanilla ice cream with red wine or champers – works for me!
Breakfast was about as good as a breakfast on a 15hr flt can be – but at least VA provided an excellent large hot English Breakfast tea – then another – then another.
WINES: As mentioned above the Ayala was excellent – the reds well questionable to say the least – see here:
Now seriously – a 2014 Shiraz? Really? It was just not up to scratch – clearly still needs it’s nappy! The Coriole Cabernet much better – still too young but very drinkable. (Life is too short to waste in white wine sorry)
SEAT/BED: Yep that seat / bed way past it’s use by date. OK to sit in – the total lack of adjustability once tray table employed is absolute PITA – always has been – bed only just acceptable when deployed – Cruiserette slept like a baby – motion sickness tablets and a couple glasses champs and she could sleep 24 hours straight – I must have gotten sufficient sleep as I felt really good on arr and rest of day – the sooner the new seats employed the better – these are now way out of date.
SYD ARR: OMG – that SYD arr is nightmare – I am so glad MEL my home port – that transfer Int->Dom just a nightmare IMHO – clearing customs was just a disgrace – those bloody public servants justifying their positions sickens me no end – and the way they speak to non-English speaking visitors is just DISGRACEFUL – as an Australian I just feel embarrassed the way they treat some of our foreign visitors. The only redeeming point in this arr/trsfr is that bus dropped us off right at The Lunge kerb entry – that is certainly a plus.
OVERALL: VA again provided an excellent experience – really a pleasure to fly them – upgrade the seats and come to grips with SYD arr and this is an excellent Intl J product.
We flew VA 2 LAX-SYD-MEL on Sat Sep 26 dep LAX 20:20 / arr SYD Mon Sep 28 06:20 so thought I should provide a few quick notes:
LAX ARR: Arrived T1 on Southwest from Houston at 18:20 – easy stroll from T1 to T3 to VAQ check in
CHECK IN: As stated above check in is T3 - we arrived and nobody waiting in J line so imm check in – prompt courteous procedure
*A LOUNGE: Strolled from T3 to Tom Bradley to pass security then into *A J Lounge. I really like this lounge – ticks all the boxes – and WOW – the new outside deck out back now open - view of Terminal works not that appealing but once completed will be great place to chill – just beautiful sitting outside sipping the Mumm Napa – I had this last year also and IMHO very drinkable – very drinkable. Food offerings just OK – many of the in seat USB charging points just do not work – showers good albeit a 30min wait – still the time flew and time to board.
BOARDING: What’s happened here? Last year nothing short of a ZOO – this year perfectly orderly – well done VA – see stuff can improve.
ON BOARD: Selected 3H/3K as 3H gives me a good overall view of main cabin – you could not shoe horn me into that mini cabin behind bar but thank God we are all different huh? First thing I notice on board are gone are the tall banded Champers glasses – Blackcat20 our favourite Champers glasses are no more – replaced by stemless Vegemite glasses – progress can be so soul destroying – too many spillages apparently – but the Ayala 2006 Millesime served is a very very nice drop for Intl J – big tick VA.
CREW: We had Kate looking after us – what can I say – Kate was SPECTACULAR – just a gorgeous young lady who was so pleasant – so obliging with just a lovely manner – Kate was a STAR. Indeed I spend plenty time on board long haul just watching crew as they go about the business – the 4 cabin crew on this flight were FABULOUS – they were so pleasant and obliging to ALL pax from what I can see – well done VA this is one area where you excel – I have done maybe 5 or 6 LAX-MEL/SYD/BNE now and the crew at ALL times have been excellent – faultless in fact. YES – I have sent off feedback to VA re the service we received from cabin crew and Kate in particular on this flt.
FOOD: Excellent! Except for the beetroot soup – BEETROOT SOUP? Give me a break – what is it with these Celebrity Chef ‘flogs’ who dream up these ridiculous concoctions? For the main Cruiserette had the Barramundi fillet – sensational piece of fish – I would accept it any good restaurant and be very happy with it – I had the Beef short rib – was also pretty good. Cheeses were excellent! And how can you ever go wrong with vanilla ice cream with red wine or champers – works for me!
Breakfast was about as good as a breakfast on a 15hr flt can be – but at least VA provided an excellent large hot English Breakfast tea – then another – then another.
WINES: As mentioned above the Ayala was excellent – the reds well questionable to say the least – see here:
Now seriously – a 2014 Shiraz? Really? It was just not up to scratch – clearly still needs it’s nappy! The Coriole Cabernet much better – still too young but very drinkable. (Life is too short to waste in white wine sorry)
SEAT/BED: Yep that seat / bed way past it’s use by date. OK to sit in – the total lack of adjustability once tray table employed is absolute PITA – always has been – bed only just acceptable when deployed – Cruiserette slept like a baby – motion sickness tablets and a couple glasses champs and she could sleep 24 hours straight – I must have gotten sufficient sleep as I felt really good on arr and rest of day – the sooner the new seats employed the better – these are now way out of date.
SYD ARR: OMG – that SYD arr is nightmare – I am so glad MEL my home port – that transfer Int->Dom just a nightmare IMHO – clearing customs was just a disgrace – those bloody public servants justifying their positions sickens me no end – and the way they speak to non-English speaking visitors is just DISGRACEFUL – as an Australian I just feel embarrassed the way they treat some of our foreign visitors. The only redeeming point in this arr/trsfr is that bus dropped us off right at The Lunge kerb entry – that is certainly a plus.
OVERALL: VA again provided an excellent experience – really a pleasure to fly them – upgrade the seats and come to grips with SYD arr and this is an excellent Intl J product.
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