Momddtravel2

I am in the process of booking flights to Brisbane from LAX and the two carriers I am looking at are Virgin Australia and Quantas Air - I have experience on Virgin America and like the equipment they fly on but no experience on Quantas - I am wondering if there is any feedback here for the two carriers? It is a 14 hour direct flight - flying coach.

Thanks in advance!

doug_stallings

I don't think you'll find that much of a difference in coach. I was lucky enough to fly Premium Economy on Virgin Australia (to Brisbane, actually), and I enjoyed it tremendously. But Coach was pretty tight, as is Qantas (not Quantas ... it's an acronym, not a word). And the entertainment is similar.

However, Qantas flies A380s as well as 747s, while Virgin flies 777s, and there is a difference in experience by plane. Qantas may have an edge. I'm sure you'll get some better feedback from those with more personal experience on Qantas.

Momddtravel2

Thanks Doug! Good feedback - not sure I can swing premium economy for her (and thanks for the tip on the name! ha!)

sartoric

It stands for Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services.
Qantas has an outstanding safety record, (acknowledge that could change any minute) and I agree with Doug that there probably isn't a lot of difference in economy.

I've flown with both many times, and while VA isn't bad, I would choose Qantas.

sartoric

Sorry, I probably should have said why I would choose Qantas.
Qantas is a full service airline, so you don't pay extra for drinks, food luggage etc. although some VA international flights do serve a free meal.

I find the VA flight announcements a bit grating and very cheesy "Morning boys and girls" irks me.

If you do choose VA, check out whether you need to download the IFE plug in. They will tell you about this on the plane, but by then it is too late to download it.

AAFrequentFlyer

Qantas, Qantas, Qantas

VA may be ok, I don't know, but Qantas was wonderful, especially in first class from LAX to SYD......

doug_stallings

Well, first class is almost universally wonderful, even on a mediocre airline. Economy is a different matter entirely.

FYI: Virgin Australia international offers full service, just like any other international (i.e., non-US airline), with meals, drinks, entertainment, a luggage allowance, etc. It bears little resemblance to the domestic service, which I've also flown.

Momddtravel2

I am sure she would love to be in the front of the bus..but alas not happening ;-)

sartoric

There was no luggage allowance on VA flight Bali - Brisbane in May 2014. It cost $65 for 20kg.

Momddtravel2

I ended up going with Qantas strictly due to the fact that she can get AA points as they are a partner - the fares were so close and there did not seem to be any real differences in the service etc.

doug_stallings

Brisbane to Bali is a DOMESTIC flight in Austrlia, just as Miami or New York City to Caribbean flights are DOMESTIC in the US. Again, bearing no resemblance to international service on VA.

doug_stallings

Please ask your daughter to report back on the quality of the flight. I'll probably be doing this again in the next year, so I'm curious about the flight and relative (dis)comforts. I'll be doing it in coach this time.

Momddtravel2

I will Doug - (and trust me she will anyway) She struggles with long haul flights in general - she has long legs and is almost 5'8 so she gets pretty cramped up in coach.

sartoric

Bali - Brisbane is not considered DOMESTIC, however you are correct that baggage is included for long haul international flights. Bali - Brisbane is short haul international, no baggage allowance.

Geordie

<<Bali - Brisbane is not considered DOMESTIC>>

I think Doug is meaning in terms of the aircraft that they use and the way they charge for extras, they use the domestic type planes, not the 777 that fly between the US - Australia and Abu Dhabi

On the 777 you don't buy anything and they have in-seat entertainment

<<she has long legs and is almost 5'8 >>

I'm 6'5" and while its not very comfortable, I've survived many a long journey in economy. I often get out of the seat and on the Qantas A380, I go to the self service galley for drinks and nibbles, and I stand around there for a while.

Virgin has something similar but I think its only for premium / business class customers, as I haven't flown economy with them