VA A330s - New Business Class Rollout

[Bagpuss]

Has VA actually managed to sell out a J cabin (with revenue pax) on the 330 yet?

Information like that isn't released. I'd imagine it's pretty much the same for Qantas as J class points redemption is most likely always offered on all flights. If someone is sat in a seat the airline has earned revenue.

 

[Jurahn]

Has VA actually managed to sell out a J cabin (with revenue pax) on the 330 yet?

PER-SYD last Tues AM - 4 pax in J, SYD-PER today - 2 pax in J, both of us had upgraded with points. As per my other thread, I've now received a survey asking me to comment on my experience with the new domestic business product but neither flight was on a refitted plane!

 

[Noob]

So now we just need a narrow-body Business seat Mk II - Time goes fast, it's been 4 years since the current 737 Business seats were first installed.

 

[pauly7]

So now we just need a narrow-body Business seat Mk II - Time goes fast, it's been 4 years since the current 737 Business seats were first installed.

Doubt anything exciting is going to happen there would be my guess. With the 'truce', VA have no real incentive to do much more than what they are doing to try and roughly match QF's hard offering. Given they fly them on routes where they don't even bother selling them as J nowadays and the woeful catering when they do provide full service I actually think their best bet is to lift their game with soft product in J. Better staff, better service, better catering where they could make big game changers!

 

[Nizar]

Is the new J guaranteed on the red-eye PER-MEL ?
For $1,799 one way I would like to think so lol

 

[rmh]

Is the new J guaranteed on the red-eye PER-MEL ?
For $1,799 one way I would like to think so lol

Once all A330's are upgraded and if the flight is on an A330, then yes
Currently half way through upgrading planes from what I can tell. From what others have said here, by early Nov they should all be done.

 

[Nizar]

Once all A330's are upgraded and if the flight is on an A330, then yes
Currently half way through upgrading planes from what I can tell. From what others have said here, by early Nov they should all be done.

I don't know much about VA generally but you would think they would prioritise the upgraded A330s on the longer flights like MEL/SYD/BNE<->PER and especially on the overnight flights.

QF for example will take much longer to upgrade the fleet (done by Nov 2016) but even at this early stage the overnight flights from Perth to Sydney and Melbourne are practically guaranteed to be on a refurbed bird.

I thought - for the sake of being competitive - that VA would perhaps follow suit.

If not then yeah lol I know which airline I will be choosing when flying overnight from Perth back home to Melbourne in late October.

 

[rmh]

I don't know much about VA generally but you would think they would prioritise the upgraded A330s on the longer flights like MEL/SYD/BNE<->PER and especially on the overnight flights.

There doesn't seem to be such a thing, from looking at the flight paths for each plane they all seem to do the small and long flights, it's not like the same 3 planes do the same route all the time. This is what makes it hard to tell if upcoming flights will be on the new or old set up without relying on the seat plan when booking tickets.

 

[a1ring23]

Anyone flown the new business overnight from Perth? What is the meal service like? Is an amenity kit/PJs offered?

 

[KCMil]

You get a mattress overlay, Duvet and a larger separate pillow to the day one. You still have the blanket to use as well if you wish. There's an amenity kit, but no PJ's. Have no idea about the food as sleep was the priority.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Enters PNR. Loads seat selection page. Sees this.

It's going to be a good weekend.

 

[Mondo]

Does anyone have an update on which aircraft have now been updated and the schedule when the remainder will be completed? I think they were saying all to be finished by the end of October. Thanks

 

[KCMil]

XFG, H and J are done. The remainder will be completed after the grand final fever is over.

 

[shbap]

ExpertFlyer still showing the old config on the flight I am on, so no luck. At least the Eagles made the Grand Final, so hopefully I'll be "flying high" in any case

Is the old business class worth $440 (which is the min upgrade bid)? Hmm...

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Is the old business class worth $440 (which is the min upgrade bid)? Hmm...

I'm going to say yes. Whether it's old or new product, the J crews on the C2C routes (and most domestic J really) are just wonderful and always make my day.

 

[kamchatsky]

Having said that, even in the older A330 VA J, it is still a very impressive domestic J offering (same seat as SQ new regional J). I actually don't mind older VA J especially on day flights. It is not as quantum leap in domestic J as say QF.

 

[shbap]

Flying back from Perth on the red eye. Going to put a bid in, let's see what happens. Thanks guys!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Well what a brilliant experience that was!

On VA697 the other night I had what was easily the most fun J experience ever – only complaint, it was too short.

Now, this was partly thanks to the fact that I had the sassiest, most entertaining FA I've ever come across, and also because I had the cabin to myself.

But the seat really made it.

A few notes:

• The cabin is just stunning.
• The 'suite' is smaller than I expected. The early promos seemed to push the number of storage spaces, but I found these were either too small or filled with something. Still, the 'bench' storage is great.
• There is no 'perfect seat' that I could tell (i.e. no bulkhead with extra legroom or anything), so you can't really go wrong.
• Food is solid, as ever.
• Had two FAs dedicated to just me, and even had them offer to make up a centre suite into a bedroom after I finished my meal (international F anyone?).
• The outward-facing angle seats (which I think is a factor delaying the 777 rollout) is superb. Makes it feel super private and gives a great view on takeoff.
• Crew gave me a goodie bag of snacks and treats, as well as a few extra amenity kits for gifts, as I disembarked. This was after I mentioned I had about 12 hours of Y flying ahead of me, so their kindness was greatly appreciated.

This seat, combined with VA's J crew/food/service will make it one of the best J products on the market. Just wish they took it to more international destinations! In HK right now, and would have loved to fly this the whole way.

 

[PDog]

Well what a brilliant experience that was!

On VA697 the other night I had what was easily the most fun J experience ever – only complaint, it was too short.

Now, this was partly thanks to the fact that I had the sassiest, most entertaining FA I've ever come across, and also because I had the cabin to myself.

But the seat really made it.

A few notes:

• The cabin is just stunning.
• The 'suite' is smaller than I expected. The early promos seemed to push the number of storage spaces, but I found these were either too small or filled with something. Still, the 'bench' storage is great.
• There is no 'perfect seat' that I could tell (i.e. no bulkhead with extra legroom or anything), so you can't really go wrong.
• Food is solid, as ever.
• Had two FAs dedicated to just me, and even had them offer to make up a centre suite into a bedroom after I finished my meal (international F anyone?).
• The outward-facing angle seats (which I think is a factor delaying the 777 rollout) is superb. Makes it feel super private and gives a great view on takeoff.
• Crew gave me a goodie bag of snacks and treats, as well as a few extra amenity kits for gifts, as I disembarked. This was after I mentioned I had about 12 hours of Y flying ahead of me, so their kindness was greatly appreciated.

This seat, combined with VA's J crew/food/service will make it one of the best J products on the market. Just wish they took it to more international destinations! In HK right now, and would have loved to fly this the whole way.

Thanks for the update! Am booked for 2 day flights in Dec- I have chosen the middle seats as am flying with my husband. But maybe I should do that one way and two window seats for the other leg?

I laughed at your first comment as that is exactly how he described our first Virgin C2C J trip: he 'just didn't want it to end'! (and that was the old layout!) I am possibly more excited that they are still showing the West Wing! Love that series!!

 

[under the radar]

i laugh at the fact the OP was the ONLY pax in J/C on an A330 C2C...regardless of time of day!! that doesn't bode well for VA