Qantas vs Virgin Australia: have your say!

I still prefer Qantas. While I like what Virgin are doing and like the re-branding and business product, I still find Qantas has an edge. I think Virgin will get there but it's the little things with Qantas that sway me such as I prefer their "manage my booking" system compared to Virgin. I like the fact I can select my seat from the moment I book my flight, Virgin only 14 days prior and only if you have a flexi or above ticket. I like that on Qantas you can upgrade with points even on a Red E-deal ticket (despite it not being guaranteed I'm yet to be declined at check in). The check in process with Qantas is fantastic and I love the Q tags which make checking in your bag easy and seamless. Virgin improving so look out Qantas but for now I'll stick with the Red Roo

I think there are areas where Qantas is superior as New Mint has mentioned, however for me the general staff demeanor abord Virgin has seen that i prefer to fly with them. There are little things that I wish they did better however given the enormous change that has happened there I'm sure that they will get there.

Virgin- Cheaper, better product, better service!

Since January it's been Virgin unless absolutely necessary (JQ have a better evening schedule for NTL<>MEL). The service experience in DJ has improved out of sight - now I genuinely enjoy flying again in economy. More legroom in economy (QF BSI have a 30" pitch), the slightly wider seats in the E190s, and a free cup of tea hit the spot. Some of the refurbished aircraft still have Live2Air, however IFE is almost moot now as people have their own devices. Very happy with VIrgin and look forward the next flights. 

However this is not a general dig at QF, I'm sure the team over there work very hard to do their job. But when you're chasing those SCs you have to pick a side and stick with it. 

Virgin for me.You can bring your own food and drink on the planes and I find them that little bit friendlier.I haven't stepped foot on Qantas anywhere since 2010 so can't comment on them.

It would be good if Qantas FF offered Hilton HHonors Gold Membership for Gold FF or Platinum of Platinum FF like Virgin does.
I really appreciate that feature of the Virgin program.

Sorry, but the new kid on the block is running rings around Qantas both domesticaly and on the ( limited) Int'l routes. One reason and one reason alone. Customer driven. I could give a number of examples where Virgin are pro active and Qantas are only ever reactive. (Syd-Perth-Syd for example) Frequent Flyer is another. I'm supporting them all the way while they continue to put the customer first.

Having flown both in the last month, I still believe Qantas have the edge. In terms of ticket price, Qantas and Virgin now do not differ a whole lot in price, with Qantas sometimes coming under the price of Virgin. If they are indeed looking to charge similar prices, I think that the QF inflight product is far superior to the Virgin one. Particularly when it comes to Business class.

Not adverse to Virgin stepping it up however, because it just means Qantas will need to improve too and in the end, we all win.

Virgin are showing fantastic progress, and their new lounges and hard product look great!  But wether you call it reactive, or simply that QF are listening to tehir customers QF are maintaining their edge.  Ecconomy on QF is constantly changing.  Often for an equivalent price to virgin even the cheapest ticket comes all inclusive.  I fly ADL-SYD a lot and for a 1hr40min flight the included food/drink are very welcome.  The new planes are great, and we can only hope that soonish some of the older 737s will get the new seats and IFE.  I travel with my iPad, but i dont always have time to load it up with videos.  Business is a whole other game.  The VA seats look impressive and the new service sounds swish, but I have caught 20 domestic Business flights on QF this year and have had a different meal every single time.  Fro the sounds of things VAs selection is still a small rotating offering.  Finally, as a Platinum FF the QF lounges cannot be matched.  The modern styling of the domestic business lounges combined with the great food and beverage make them a haven at the end of a trip.  As for the first lounge in Sydney....VA are improving and competition is healthy, but QF cannot be matched atm.

I've been a loyal Q FF Platinum for several years, with an annual spend between $40K and $90K.  But  the airline stand down by Joyce in October was the final straw for me, after seeing poorer and poorer service from Qantas out of Perth and a marked decline in quality of international service under Joyce .   I wanted to jump ship to Virgin and asked Virgin to status match my Qantas Platinum across to their program.  They messed about and tried to get me to purchase some kind of deal.  All in all it was apparent that Virgin were not really that interested in winning my busines.  So it seems both airlines are equally unfocussed when it comes to their customers.  In the end, just like the Banks, it's harder to switch that to stay with what you've got.  So I'm stuck in a miserable relationship with Qantas!  And I really hate the whole Jeststar thing (e.g., Perth to Bali, Perth to Cairnes and increasingly, Perth to Adelaide).  Completely cheap rubbish. 

I have always found it rather funny how people comment on Jetstar when this is Australian BUSINESS traveller. Don't complain until you travel with them solely for leisure!

I recently travelled to Melbourne on Virgin and back to Sydney on Qantas, Virgin seems to have the better product, especially in the food area. Qantas' food was not fresh and frozen but Virgin was just right especially the coffee. I prefer flying Virgin Australia on business class flights.