Report on 2 random upgraded sectors

[RooFlyer]

Doing 4 sectors on VA tomorrow. As a presently irregular user of VA, I've avoided most of the website etc fiasco, so will see how the hard product is standing up.

Please report

<snip>

Just briefly:
4 sectors booked on Flexi as I thought there might be a bit of changing around. yep - I skipped the first 2 and took a direct JQ flight instead. Call to the guest Contact Centre efficiently got the flights credited to Travel Bank. Good stuff.

Checked in for SYD-MEL-HBA, HLO so used the Premium check-in at SYD abt 4pm. Love this facility. Upgraded to J using points. pretty economical, but the base fare wasn't low of course. SYD lounge a zoo. Checked out Serfty's 'hidden' extra capacity and still chokkers. Food and bev looked OK, but I just grabbed a coke and exited to have a wander before the flight. Oh, tried to use the bathroom as well. Chokkers - used terminal facilities instead!!! VA, just finish the lounge for Gawd's sake

Priority boarding worked a charm, as usual, although there may have been 50 people in it!!

Flight was good. 3 pax in 8 capacity cabin. Offered nice pre flight 'mocktail' drink (and refills during flight with good timing); got the tablet thing and snack was a very nice cheese plate and icecream.

However most memorable thing in the flight was the second up-front FA (ie not the lead). In the end I was wondering if she was on training, work experience or something else. Fixed dour expression the entire time. Zero interaction with pax, except to hand out Galaxy things. Twice was leaning hip and shoulder on the entrance to the cabin, looking incredibly bored. An awful look!! Lead FA up front was good and overall the flight was great.

In MEL, decided to upgrade the second leg as well. Again, no problems. MEL lounge was crowded up front but plenty of room down the back. Hot dogs were popular.

Went to gate, in the 'extension' pier (ie gates 11 and up). Very long line for the single security point open; no priority security. Lots of pax asking to push into front as they were late for flights, with some being paged (all happened without rancour). Abt 10 mins in queue. Not good.

Same crew as last flight - and exact same behaviour by the second FA in business. Feel sorry for the poor lass - something's not right; looked absolutely miserable the entire flight.

Meal was very nice braised steak with mushy peas and either polenta or mashed potato - not sure which! Nicely presented tray. But no choice of meal - I guess maybe because of my late upgrade. Good wine selection, but didn't indulge, as I was driving afterwards.

Overall - two very good J sectors, with only the miserable FA putting a dampener on things. Phone and service desk admin around the flights also good, no problems.

Overall, I think I still prefer QF domestic J - better atmospherics and tenor' of J service. But I have no probs with the VA J product, or the service around it. If only they'd get their web site sorted ....

 

[Inver]

Thanks for the report Rooflyer.