My first DJ flight ever

[simonpenny408]

First ever VA flight tonight after being 100% Qantas for domestic since Ansett folded. Platinum status match made it a no brainer and also cheaper on DJ than QF from SYD to BNE.

Thoughts - watch out Red Roo this is a much better experience.

Check in seamless and very friendly. Not much queue (I had a bag to check). Lounge excellent. Immediately got my temp platinum card and went to bar. WIFI much faster than QP. MUCH. half decent chardonnay on pour and Asahi (yay) behind bar. Soup with crusty baguettes (yay). Better pizza thing than QP and better antipasti and coffee. Upgraded to 2c PE without even asking despite being on cheap ticket. Service onboard outstanding and personal welcome from FA as a Platinum. Food + booze free and ok (nothing to rave about however).

Only downsides were that FA couldn't turn off my seat back screen with the foxtel drivel, they ran out of red wine so I couldn't have a second and the only beer on board is Pure Blonde (gack - girls drink!)

Enjoyed the experience and I'll be back. Qantas have been a bit too arrogant on the service front and DJ is like a breath of fresh air for domestic shuttle runs

 

[Rebekkap]

.. and the only beer on board is Pure Blonde (gack - girls drink!)

Scuse me, I'm a girl, and I thin Pure Blonde (and other similar tasteless beers) are revolting! I'd say they're a w*nkers drink!

 

[serfty]

Scuse me, I'm a girl, and I thin Pure Blonde (and other similar tasteless beers) are revolting! I'd say they're a w*nkers drink!

Freudian? (Given PB is marketed as a low carb beverage)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'd say they're a w*nkers drink!

A WP drink, in fact

 

[QF WP]

I always wondered how I came up with the W in WP

*sneaks off to hide the NPB's in his beer fridge*

 

[markis10]

Did they give you the welcome back speech

 

[Rebekkap]

Freudian? (Given PB is marketed as a low carb beverage)

Lol, that's just my coughpy keyboard, it often misses a letter and unless I'm paying attention I don't notice - and I'm a WP as well as a girl!!

 

[quark]

Yeah I am happy to use them for my SYD-MLB and SYD-BNE flights.

I did SYD-PER DJ in J (A330) and PER-SYD QF in J (747) this week. The IFE on DJ is absolute ****e and I can't believe those new? seats have been designed so badly in terms of IFE control and headphone placement, but I have to say their service was a million times better that the QF service.

QF staff may as well have been serving economy. On Garuda. Which is a shame as usually on the PER-SYD leg in J the QF staff are great.

 

[drewbles]

I always wondered how I came up with the W in WP

*sneaks off to hide the NPB's in his beer fridge*

Neil Perry has branched out from Party Pies to Beers now?

 

[Ansettaddict123]

The IFE on DJ is absolute ****e and I can't believe those new? seats have been designed so badly in terms of IFE control and headphone placement, but I have to say their service was a million times better that the QF service.

The seats are merely the reupholstered EK J seats, so may (?) change when DJ refits the aircraft and receives factory fresh frames next year?
I know the A332s are getting getting RED as part as the refit, so I assume other things will change as well...

 

[adampenrith]

Quark

Garuda beat QF hands down in both Y and J!!!

 

[Rebekkap]

Quark

Garuda beat QF hands down in both Y and J!!!

But not in the coughpit, which is what really counts after all!

 

[straitman]

Quark

Garuda beat QF hands down in both Y and J!!!

If you are game enough to fly with them :!:

 

[Sprucegoose]

Neil Perry has branched out from Party Pies to Beers now?

Ha ha, Neil Perry Pilsner!!NPP.........

 

[Sprucegoose]

Quark

Garuda beat QF hands down in both Y and J!!!

How can you win anything if you are banned from flying or have been banned from flying to the EU!!!

Please!

 

[markis10]

How can you win anything if you are banned from flying or have been banned from flying to the EU!!!

Please!

Indeed, a look at the Aviation Safety Database at the last few years of accidents and the prevalence of EU banned airlines is very high. Not much point having great service if your playing roulette with your life.

 

[notzac]

I seem to recall that Garuda are no longer banned from flying in to the EU? Supposedly they are a far safer airline than they once were..

 

[JohnK]

Upgraded to 2c PE without even asking despite being on cheap ticket. Service onboard outstanding and personal welcome from FA as a Platinum. Food + booze free and ok (nothing to rave about however).

Was the food and drink on board free because of the upgrade to premium economy?

I have no idea about the benefits of Platinum or Gold onboard but I seem to recall posts on AFF recently mentioning that Platinum and Gold receive complimentary food and drink onboard?

So I asked one of the FAs before takeoff and she said we get a complimentary newspaper if one is available but that they have recently received an email that only those on flexible airfares receive complimentary food and drink. No problem as I have obviously misunderstood what I read on AFF.

Anyway served all meals to premium economy and flexible fare customers and then they get ready for cart service. As the cart went past one of the FAs asked if I would like a glass of wine. I said no but I would love a beer. She told me to wait as these were chilling. True to her word about 15 minutes later she came back with cold Crown Lager. Personally I would have preferred Pure Blonde but hey beggars can't be choosers.

Can anyone confirm if what I was told is correct?

 

[oz_mark]

Was the food and drink on board free because of the upgrade to premium economy?

I have no idea about the benefits of Platinum or Gold onboard but I seem to recall posts on AFF recently mentioning that Platinum and Gold receive complimentary food and drink onboard?

So I asked one of the FAs before takeoff and she said we get a complimentary newspaper if one is available but that they have recently received an email that only those on flexible airfares receive complimentary food and drink. No problem as I have obviously misunderstood what I read on AFF.

There is nothing documented about golds and platinums getting complimentary F&B, however there have been one off reports of people getting complimentray drinks. It certainly isn't policy, but it seems that it happens on occassion.

 

[notzac]

Can anyone confirm if what I was told is correct?

So far as I'm aware, Golds and Platinums aren't entitled to free F&B.