Virgin to Qantas Comparison

[CaptJCool]

QF has digital access to AFR and the OZ via QF lounge wifi and inflight wifi too

 

[tdimdad]

Yesterday morning, while waiting in BNEd to drop off my bag, I was recollecting how effortless and quick it is in QF terminals when you use the QF-issued bag tags ("coasters"). The terminal was a zoo though the premium check-in queue looked reasonable, only 10-15 people deep.

The queue advanced really slow and it took 20 mins to get to the top of it. At that point, VA did a nice service recovery: an agent called the first six from the queue and took us around the corner to the group check-in desk to get us through. From that moment on, it took only 10 mins to the airside. That was a nice move from VA. I wonder if QF would have done something similar in a comparable situation?

The reason for the slow operations was the luggage belts continuously stalling. I wonder how long did it take for the general queue to get through?

 

[HSB44]

That was a nice move from VA. I wonder if QF would have done something similar in a comparable situation?

Hmm..I can see the headlines now - Alan Joyce complains that ferals using Qantas are not match fit and are failing to test if their bags are compatible with luggage belt operational parameters before arriving at terminal.... How does the board expect him to game his bonus KPIs when QFF plebs wont help AJ out?

 

[marks]

Interesting in SYD tonight, they closed the lounge just after 8p when there was still flights to depart. The flight to BNE was delayed 20 mins but still other flights later tonight. I thought they would keep the lounge open until the last flight. Perhaps with a Skelton level of staff...

 

[HSB44]

Interesting in SYD tonight, they closed the lounge just after 8p when there was still flights to depart. The flight to BNE was delayed 20 mins but still other flights later tonight. I thought they would keep the lounge open until the last flight. Perhaps with a Skelton level of staff...

Thats pretty surprising - I thought that Thursday night was the new Friday night for FIFO workers post covid .

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've done the switcheroo thing, both for my personal account, and also for the business program. Have had a first from Virgin that QF have never done - ring me up and thank me for supporting them, enquired if there was anything I needed assistance with. I noted I was trying to make a booking but not returning any results when I was looking. A few minutes later they rung me back noting that the system needs to be updated to ensure the search I was trying to do, didn't show up as a possible search option - and a nicely worded "thank you for highlighting that issue which our IT will rectify ASAP:..

I know its still in the switcheroo honeymoon period, but hey, could get used to this

 

[CMA222]

I know it's still in the switcheroo honeymoon period, but hey, could get used to this

Yes the arrogance of AJ and the QF board and their dogged maintenance that everything is almost back to normal continues their "head in the sand" approach. It will ensure all those that switch to VA for domestic and progressively international (hopefully), and basically anyone else for international, will flow through to the QF bottom line as a negative. I am looking forward to my switch-a-roo qualifying flights next week. The rest will follow naturally.

 

[Ade]

Award fares are pretty much nowhere to be found,

Can't find anything decent between CBR-MEL-SYD routes. There are seats, but on the first flight out & last flight in .. neither works me ... even JQ is expensive now .. time to fly rex perhaps ..

 

[flyingfan]

Last couple of VA flights, right after announcing priority boarding they also called for the back half of Y (rows 15-30 or so) to also come forward. Even though they were asked to use the general lane, this seems to dilute priority boarding, almost to like QF - I'd prefer to keep seeing both scanners process only premium pax until they're all cleared, before any general boarding starts, and after that keep the priority lane free for any premium pax coming later. (I couldn't find a recent thread on VA PB and didn't want to start a new one yet)

 

[antycbr]

Last couple of VA flights, right after announcing priority boarding they also called for the back half of Y (rows 15-30 or so) to also come forward. Even though they were asked to use the general lane, this seems to dilute priority boarding, almost to like QF - I'd prefer to keep seeing both scanners process only premium pax until they're all cleared, before any general boarding starts, and after that keep the priority lane free for any premium pax coming later. (I couldn't find a recent thread on VA PB and didn't want to start a new one yet)

Arrgh nothing is broken, don’t change it!

 

[dairyfloss]

Geez - how will QF DOM lounges compete with this one leading into xmas, I wonder!

Fans of Appelles’ luxe travel-inspired products on offer in Virgin Australia’s lounges will be delighted to discover the brand’s ‘Tranquility Angels’ are setting up shop to offer travellers a moment of peace before the holiday chaos with free massages in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

Virgin Australia lounges to offer up free massages - Travel Weekly

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[ols]

Perth?
I want an angel.

 

[jakeseven7]

Last couple of VA flights, right after announcing priority boarding they also called for the back half of Y (rows 15-30 or so) to also come forward. Even though they were asked to use the general lane, this seems to dilute priority boarding, almost to like QF - I'd prefer to keep seeing both scanners process only premium pax until they're all cleared, before any general boarding starts, and after that keep the priority lane free for any premium pax coming later. (I couldn't find a recent thread on VA PB and didn't want to start a new one yet)

How bizarre - I had this today out of MEL, VA boarded by rows. I actually don’t understand the logic because we were using both front and rear stairs.

Is this the new boarding process?

 

[dk4]

How bizarre - I had this today out of MEL, VA boarded by rows. I actually don’t understand the logic because we were using both front and rear stairs.

Is this the new boarding process?

I have had it out of Melbourne as well, thankfully on delayed departures only so far.

Presumably they think most of the "priority" queue will be heading for the plane's front door, so it won't impact them if the back half of the plane heads down the stairs and out onto the tarmac. Thus it's only a small cross-over point between the scanners and deviation between the aerobridge and stairs to the ground, where the two mix before separating again. So, the priotity queue basically ends up boarding (from the front) in the same order they went through the scanners anyway, with no one else pushing in at 1L (as they have all disappear down the stairs).

Although, it slows down the initial priority queue, by not having both scanners working that queue before switching over to general boarding.

 

[stm1sydney]

Sounds logical and efficient.

 

[jakeseven7]

I have had it out of Melbourne as well, thankfully on delayed departures only so far.

Presumably they think most of the "priority" queue will be heading for the plane's front door, so it won't impact them if the back half of the plane heads down the stairs and out onto the tarmac. Thus it's only a small cross-over point between the scanners and deviation between the aerobridge and stairs to the ground, where the two mix before separating again. So, the priotity queue basically ends up boarding (from the front) in the same order they went through the scanners anyway, with no one else pushing in at 1L (as they have all disappear down the stairs).

Although, it slows down the initial priority queue, by not having both scanners working that queue before switching over to general boarding.

The confusing thing was for the rows called forward is that they went into the PB lane and were not turned away.

So does this mean, that when VA call forward rows the rows called forward can use the PB lane, is the question. They were allowed to on the flight I saw it being used on, which was interesting.

 

[marki]

You do know you can use points on QF to bring those charges to zero ?

But is value ok or so so?

 

[encryptededdy]

But is value ok or so so?

It's not great, but neither is it on Virgin.

 

[clifford]

Virgin has a much nicer lounge at OOL (now with self-pour wine).

Verified personally last week.

 

[SYD]

It's not great, but neither is it on Virgin.

I posted previously (here? Or elsewhere) that it irks me that VA defaults to the all points option to provide the illusion of “free travel”…