Another V Australia Incident at LAX

[serfty]

Thread on FT: VAustralia LAX to BNE - Cancellation - FlyerTalk Forums

Flight was scheduled for Friday 15th October

No news here yet, but rumour is:

... when leaving a hanger they hit/broke/clipped the wing. ...

Track Flight Status for (VA) V Australia 8

 

[markis10]

Re: Another V Australia Incident LAX-BNE

After it had just been fixed????

 

[cove]

How an airline deals with a setback is a great way to measure them.
That was a very interesting read on VAustralia having one more problem.
Thanks for the post.

 

[samh004]

Sounds like V Australia should be asking the company that handles their ground operations some tough questions, and maybe, hopefully, switch to someone else.

 

[PineappleSkip]

8 Days! Sounds like something that TT would do
Cheers skip

 

[drron]

8 Days! Sounds like something that TT would do
Cheers skip

Well it is Fridays(US time)flight so basically is 3 days late.I really cant see how VA is at fault.

 

[notzac]

Oh dear ... while I appreciate that you're generally only going to hear the worst version on the Internets, sounds like pretty terrible handling of the situation all around.

So, I go to the Air New Zealand counter to check in and they have no record of me!

Errwut? Is this exaggeration on the forumz shock, or did a VA agent book something and forget to ticket it?

Wow.

 

[markis10]

Reports over at pprune indicate it was the same airframe and was the wing, should be out for four days or so.

 

[samh004]

Reports over at pprune indicate it was the same airframe and was the wing, should be out for four days or so.

Can’t wait for photos

A few more "incidents" and I might not feel too safe on that a/c.

 

[odysseus]

Link from that related thread says news reports that the damage is now repaired.

 

[drewbles]

My Colleague was on the VA flight LAX-MEL on the 17th and there was also another cancellation (apparently to SYD). Someone mentioned about an a/c being damaged in SYD, but it could be related to this.

He said the queue was out the door of T3 and he didn't move in 60 minutes. The flight eventually departed an hour late (should be due in to MEL shortly) but not sure what the end situation was.

He mentioned they were doing a mad shuffle to try and accommodate pax. T3 is not a place i'd want chaos to reign supreme at LAX!

 

[FlyboyAl]

VA got hammered on the ABC PM Program tonite. Seems there are still a heap (50+) passengers in hotels waiting to get back to Oz. Seems they have been told by VA they have been booked on Air Pacific and others to come home, but when they get to the airport the airline knows nothing about them.
From a listeners point of view, the VA handling of this whole issue is real bad. Then there was the usual comment from the ABC saying that VA had been contacted for a response, but they had not contacted the ABC.
That aircraft must have a few good scars on it by now.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: Another V Australia Incident LAX-BNE

After it had just been fixed????

What same aircraft!!!!


is it that towing rubbish they go with over there?

 

[oz_mark]

Transcript from PM PM - V Australia customers still stranded in Los Angeles 19/10/2010

 

[pauly7]

Seems they have been told by VA they have been booked on Air Pacific and others to come home, but when they get to the airport the airline knows nothing about them..

VA is one of QF's most valuable customers on this route from the delayed launch rebooking fiasco to the 2 accidents at LAX....

I heard most ppl got stuffed on a combo of UA, QF and FJ....but loads are high ATM I'm sure it wasn't easy! And clearly some people left behind...

 

[markis10]

Its the same old story, we want cheap airfares that dont include the cost of a backup plane when things go wrong. Having said that DJ should be across this a bit better given the first incident, this one certainly has got more press, and I suppose the issues with the Delta tie up are not helping when it comes to relief, nor are the high loads across the route at present.

 

[mannej]

Nothing mentioned over this side of the island

 

[Shazza90]

Oh dear ... while I appreciate that you're generally only going to hear the worst version on the Internets, sounds like pretty terrible handling of the situation all around.



Errwut? Is this exaggeration on the forumz shock, or did a VA agent book something and forget to ticket it?

Wow.

Well, guys, get a cup of coffee, sit back and read on...

I have just returned to Brisbane (7pm last night) from the doomed VA flight which was scheduled to leave LAX on Fri 11.30pm. Here is a summary of what happened:
1. Announcement made about 9.00pm that flight to Brisbane cancelled. Passengers to go to VAustralia service desk for details.
2. After queuing, given letter apologising for cancellation and toll free number to call after 7am following day. Told we would be accommodated in hotel, meal vouchers overnight but would be flying following day direct to Brisbane so 'keep your boarding cards'
3. When booking in hotel, told by hotel staff we were staying two nights.
4. Rang at 7.10am following morning - told to call back 'after lunch' as VA still sorting out flights.
5. Rang at 1.10pm - on hold until 3.50pm. Told only one option - flight following night (11.30pm!) Air Pacific to Fiji (10hrs), 9hrs at Fiji in transit, Pacific Blue to Syd, 1.5hrs transit, Virgin to Brisbane. "There are no direct flights to Brisbane on any airline for days", "Can't get you on VA for several weeks - fully booked", "Only option available"...
6. LAX following night - 28 seats on Air Pac flight, 60 passengers - near riot.
(We were two of the 'lucky' ones)
7. Arrived Nadi Fiji. Queued (again!) for 1.5hrs at transfer desk - no bookings for us on any flight leaving today - 'not on the system', 'you won't be flying today', 'you'll have to talk to VAustralia (who don't have presence at airport)'....
8. Got a taxi into town, went to travel agent, bought 2 tickets Pacific Blue direct to Brisbane leaving in afternoon (there were 14 seats available).

Moral of the story? Sure, things can go wrong...we were understanding at first, but the above is a very, very brief summary of our experience. Other passengers had even worse experiences - some are still stuck in LA. VAustralia MUST address this as a public relations issue, get a plan in place, and at least apologise to passengers for this mess...

Now, off to bed....

 

[mikemadden1977]

I think there are still more than 50 people stranded up there. I have a work colleague who is over there and still hasn't been put onto an alternate flight ( and I think she flew business). I think she has spent most of her time at the airport, not a pleasant way to finish up your break.

Guess it really makes you wonder whether the cheaper fare is worth it on an airline with a very small long haul fleet.

 

[markis10]

Well, guys, get a cup of coffee, sit back and read on...

I have just returned to Brisbane (7pm last night) from the doomed VA flight which was scheduled to leave LAX on Fri 11.30pm. Here is a summary of what happened:
1. Announcement made about 9.00pm that flight to Brisbane cancelled. Passengers to go to VAustralia service desk for details.
2. After queuing, given letter apologising for cancellation and toll free number to call after 7am following day. Told we would be accommodated in hotel, meal vouchers overnight but would be flying following day direct to Brisbane so 'keep your boarding cards'
3. When booking in hotel, told by hotel staff we were staying two nights.
4. Rang at 7.10am following morning - told to call back 'after lunch' as VA still sorting out flights.
5. Rang at 1.10pm - on hold until 3.50pm. Told only one option - flight following night (11.30pm!) Air Pacific to Fiji (10hrs), 9hrs at Fiji in transit, Pacific Blue to Syd, 1.5hrs transit, Virgin to Brisbane. "There are no direct flights to Brisbane on any airline for days", "Can't get you on VA for several weeks - fully booked", "Only option available"...
6. LAX following night - 28 seats on Air Pac flight, 60 passengers - near riot.
(We were two of the 'lucky' ones)
7. Arrived Nadi Fiji. Queued (again!) for 1.5hrs at transfer desk - no bookings for us on any flight leaving today - 'not on the system', 'you won't be flying today', 'you'll have to talk to VAustralia (who don't have presence at airport)'....
8. Got a taxi into town, went to travel agent, bought 2 tickets Pacific Blue direct to Brisbane leaving in afternoon (there were 14 seats available).

Moral of the story? Sure, things can go wrong...we were understanding at first, but the above is a very, very brief summary of our experience. Other passengers had even worse experiences - some are still stuck in LA. VAustralia MUST address this as a public relations issue, get a plan in place, and at least apologise to passengers for this mess...

Now, off to bed....

Welcome to AFF, its good to hear from someone who has first hand experience! I would be sending those PB tickets to VA for compensation as a start!