The two main Australian carriers, Qantas and Virgin Australia, have intensified competition on the domestic transcon routes between the east and west coasts. Both carriers have installed new business class seats on their A330s that fly these routes. Reward Flying flew Qantas from Melbourne (via Sydney) to Perth and Virgin Australia direct on the return. How did they compare? The results are startling.
Qantas Business Class lounge - Sydney
Virgin Australia Business Class lounge - Perth
Qantas Business Class lounge - Melbourne
Virgin Australia Business Class lounge - Perth
Qantas - Sydney lounge shower facilities
Virgin Australia - Perth lounge shower facilities
Aircraft Airbus A330
Business class cabin
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Business class seat
Qantas - (Vantage XL)
Virgin Australia - (B/E Super Diamond)
Seat - Armrest
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Center Seats - Privacy Divider
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Seat - Control
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Seat - Placard / iPad holder
Qantas
Virgin Australia
IFE Airshow
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Food - Dinner Service
Menu
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Presentation
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Starter Course
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Main
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Dessert
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Verdict
Qantas
Virgin Australia
For more comparison photos visit rewardflying.com
Flight-Report Qantas
Flight-Report Virgin Australia
Really like this comparison and I hope you will extend this way of reporting on further routes.
Virgin Australia definitely seem to be the best on IFE, catering, seat, privacy and so on. but what about the service onboard ?
Thanks for this FR
Thanks 1999. I might do an A350 comparison with CX and CI. The CX post is coming.
As far as the service, the VA flight had two of the nicest FA's I've ever had on a flight versus a grumpy FA on QF. No comparison, service on Virgin was superior in every way. An example, when I sat down the head FA on Virgin approached, introduced herself and gave me a bottle of water. The QF FA stood in the galley entry just watching everyone (I have a photo), and I never received a bottle of water the whole flight. Thanks again for reading!
The coat hook on the QF seat is the notched part of the seat back in your photo of the literature holder.
Thanks, apparently I missed the manual!