My experience/observations from my first J flights recently:
MEL-PER Boxing Day DJ697 VH-XFE (as advised by crew member - forgot to check when boarding) Seat 3G
Check-in - Selected seat 1A when check-in window opened T-14 days. Didn't bother with web check-in as seat allocated and travel mate needed to check in bag - big mistake! Checked in 2 hours before flight (to allow time to use lounge) and was given boarding pass for row 3! Not happy! Asked check-in staff member what happened to my 1A seat allocation - she asked whether ticket was a points upgrade (it was) and she advised that because I didn't check in full paying passengers were allocated 1A! She mentioned about an issue with a connecting flight from BNE (?). Not sure she was being truthful. Also thought it poor that she advised that points upgraded seat allocations can be changed if you don't check in! First I've heard of it! Not off to a good start!
Lounge - not many people, good selection of self-serve wine (drank Knappstein Riesling 2012 and tried a Chardonnay but didn't like it), ok selection of food. Fixtures and fittings starting to show wear since I was there 18 months ago, particularly in male toilets. Good service overall.
Flight - Priority security screening worked well - no one else in queue! Didn't need priority boarding as no-one else waiting (we waited an extra 5 or 10 min. in lounge after boarding announcement). Plane very nice! Seat comfortable and enough legroom even for me at 6'9"! Offered a choice of orange juice, water or champagne before take-off (chose champagne - didn't like it, though don't usually like champagne) - no sign of mocktail! Given menu and wine list after take-off, then shortly after offered pre-dinner drink - chose a Pinot Grigio from South Aust. (Dandelion). Food pretty good - had smoked salmon with asian dressing for entree, barramundi in prawn broth for main, finished off with cheese (offered dessert or cheese). Good selection of wine with dinner - tried the other two whites - Viognier from Barossa (Gatt Accent) and Chardonnay from Strathbogie Ranges Vic (McPherson). Wine list had a fantastic long list of fortifieds and stickies, but unfortunately they didn't have an fortifieds! And only one sticky - luckily a good one from Elderton. Finished off with a couple of cointreau's on ice and returned glass as were descending! Overall very good service. Nice way to travel!
PER-MEL DJ692 New Year's Day VH-XFB Seat 1A
Check-in - Selected seat 1A when check-in window opened T-14 days. This time checked in day before flight! Unfortunately seating config changed to older bird - damn! Dropped bags 2 hours before flight (to allow time to use lounge) - no change to seat this time!
Lounge - not many people, seemed bigger than MEL, though not as nice and food selection less. Different beers and same wine, but not self serve - bizzare! Toilets didn't look like they were upgraded as part of the upgrade last year. Good service overall.
Flight - Priority security screening queue as long as normal queue! Didn't need priority boarding as only one person in front (we waited an extra 5 or 10 min. in lounge after boarding announcement again). Plane nowhere near as nice - seats very uncomfortable for me and less leg room in row 1 than row 2! Fittings look quite old/worn. Offered a choice of orange juice, water or champagne before take-off (chose water this time!) - still no sign of mocktail! Given menu but not wine list after take-off, then shortly after offered pre-dinner drink - asked for wine list but chose a Fat Yak beer, as I'd been drinking beer in the lounge. Food pretty good - had pancetta and grilled vegetables (cold) for entree, salmon with dukkah crust for main (ok but not great), finished off with cheese (again offered dessert or cheese). Same wine list, but didn't have a couple of the still wines and still unfortunately didn't have an fortifieds! Luckily they again only had the good sticky from Elderton! Finished off with a couple of cointreau's on ice and again returned glass as were descending! Overall very good service.
Differences boiled down to the two planes, with service pretty similar (some minor inconsistencies, but nothing significant) and both very good. For me, the new planes (XFC, XFD & XFE) are far superior to the older planes (XFA and XFB).
I look forward to flying these flights again soon!
