VAustralia vs Qantas vs Others

[miss.potatohead]

Hi guys

I'm oh so close to booking a spur of the moment trip to DL for a week in early February. Maybe just myself, maybe with a friend, just depends on how things turn out.

Everyone here seems to be well seasoned travellers especially when it comes to the lovely 15+ hour flights. Most airlines have great deals to LAX for the period I want to travel, so far I've seen flights for $1100 odd with VA and a tad more for Qantas. Now, I know I could have easily searched the boards for similar posts, but what are the current reviews like for Virgin and Qantas to LA? I'd be flying out from Melbourne. I've previously flown to LA with Air NZ who were AMAZING and I am considering them as well.

Thanks in advance

x

 

[alicia1506]

i recently did the bne-lax leg direct with VA and they were fabulous. free drinks (alcohol included) all flight long, decent food, good service, nice chairs etc.

i've heard tell that some find the seats a bit hard, but for me they were fine. i quite liked the direct flight, their treatment of their passengers etc.

my recent TR paints my 14 hr flight (they did it in 12 hrs 50mins) as hell on earth, but that had more to do with an obnoxious drunk and an entire athletic team on board than the service from VA.

no matter who you book with, i hope you make it to disney. a spur of the moment trip sounds awesome good luck!

 

[Aust]

I've yet to travel with V Australia but have booked flights with them for our next trip - mainly due to price and good comments on the entertainment system (vitally important for the 3 kids!)

Have been on Qantas the last 2 trips. The first time (4 years ago now) was not bad. The last trip (almost a year ago) I wasn't impressed, especially on our trip to LA - there were extenuating circumstances, as when we booked the flight was supposed to be on an A380, but then they started having problems, so it was changed to 747. We got bumped off our direct flight from Sydney and changed to one via Brisbane a few days before departure (even though we booked 10 months in advance! apparently this doesn't make a difference), the women I spoke with were not helpful and quite rude. My sister eventually had another Qantas person move us to a direct flight a day earlier when she rang to confirm her daughters kids's meal.

Then the flight itself - no kid's meal for my neice or several other kids, unfriendly and unhelpful service, shabby plane, and small meals for the length of the flight. For the extra price we paid for the Qantas name, we didn't feel we got anything better.

 

[carnival kid]

We have done both

Qantas in 2008 and VA this year.

We paid extra this year for "premium economy" on VA. We thought it was well worth the money.

We would go either again... which ever works out best with flight times and prices.

The food, service and entertainment IMO is pretty much the same on both.

 

[Feej]

I flew V Australia for the first time in Oct for a business trip to the US and they were fantastic.

Their cattle class seats are a smidge wider and have a little more leg room. Also the design of the interior of the aircraft makes it feel quite roomy too. No complaints about the food and the in flight entertainment was great.

I try to do all my flying with them now.

 

[CairnsGirl]

Another vote for V Australia. I flew with them last year and the service, entertainment, food was great.

Seats are wider and there seems to be a lot more leg room in economy.

I flew with Qantas to LA in 2007 and really thought their service and standards had come down since I last flew with them.

I am definitely a V Australia converter!!

 

[gogo65]

V australia were fantastic when we flew with them, we did fly premium economy to LA however we also flew V from Fiji to Syd in economy and they were great.
I have flown Qantas numerous times and generally I find the staff just dont seem to care, I also flew premium economy with Qantas to South Africa this year and again the service was no where near as good as V.
I would always choose V over Qantas, in saying that my upcoming trip is booked on Qantas as it is a group booking, and I didnt have a choice.
If the price difference is huge then go the cheapest otherwise choose V

 

[Saskiwi]

We went with Qantas ex-Auckland in April 2009 and then with Virgin ex-Brisbane this October - Virgin was much nicer: newer planes, better in-flight entertainment, friendlier crew and that little Virgin-"something extra" which clinched it.
Have also taken Air NZ ex-Auckland but not for several years so can't comment on what they're like these days....

 

[australiankaren]

Hey
I am also a v Australia convert, premium economy....and checking the prices for sept 2012, they have dropped...so fingers crossed that they drop again after Xmas..
The staff are great, the special diet meals are good, and it just seems more civilized than qantas....although that said, if the price is right I may fly qantas premium economy next year....we'll see.
Air travel these days is not the experience it used to be, more like catching a bus....unless you splurge for business/ first class.....
Expect nothing, then be pleasantly Surprised.

 

[miss.potatohead]

Thanks everyone for the opinions. I'll continue to watch the prices but having said that, if I want to go in the time I plan to, I should get to it and book soon. VAustralia is winning in my eyes at the moment so let's just hope Santa delivers enough extra cash to me this year for the trip to be able to go ahead!

 

[Mum from oz]

Fingers crossed Santa is good to you and you can book those V Australia flights!