Bonza Airline Discussion

[Harrison_133]

The GCB article implies there's a bunch of routes delayed indefinitely - I would assume it's all those which have had all flights removed from sale (I think includes but not limited to CNS, BDB, GLT, MKY, AVV and of course DRW).

Yeah, it looks mostly like the routes that weren’t in that first tranche which started in November.

Here’s a novel idea… communicate. They’re burning a lot of good will by cancelling everything at the last minute.

UIK is back in the air, repositioning from OOL to MCY as AB8888

It operated the Mount Isa inaugural today. Its positioning flight to MCY leaves the Gold Coast without a Bonza aircraft.

Nauru is operating ROK & TSV sectors from OOL tomorrow. The other 4 scheduled flights are cancelled.

 

[PineappleSkip]

If you're refering to me being able to use points to book my QF flight,

I just read that as trolling the membership generally. Boring…

 

[A321]

Next Flair aircraft is C-FLHI, which is currently hopping around Canada on Flair revenue flights wearing the same hideous Bonza stickers as the first aircraft.

Lol it filed for OOL-MEL yesterday whilst still in Canada

 

[justinbrett]

Finally we have answers. Statement from the CEO

“As we’ve previously shared, in the short term we will use an aircraft leased from our partner Flair at our Gold Coast base whilst we recruit Aussie crew for this third base. This arrangement brings with it a separate regulatory approval process. That process is progressing but is not yet complete and, as a result, we’ve had to make the regrettable decision to defer flights to/from Gold Coast to Darwin, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Avalon, Cairns, Whitsundays and Mildura and are also making some additional cancellations for this week to other routes,” the statement reads.

“The new start date for the impacted routes is currently being worked through but we remain very committed to offering a service to these markets and deeply apologise for having to make this decision,

“At this point our priority is to inform our impacted customers as efficiently as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements. Customers will be contacted by us in date order (based on their date of travel) and will be automatically offered a full refund,

“We are acutely aware of the impact this has on our customers and we are very sorry for this.”

Christmas travel chaos as Bonza cancels several routes to and from the Gold Coast

Hundreds of families have had their travel plans thrown into chaos with budget airline Bonza cancelling over half a dozen routes to and from the Gold Coast. Flights impacted to/from the Gold Coast are Darwin, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Avalon, Cairns, Whitsundays and Mildura with additional routes...

www.hottomato.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

There’s an exposé on Bonza on A Current Affair tonight.

https://fb.watch/oLicLABC0y/?

 

[Albert Hoffman]

Nauru is operating ROK & TSV sectors from OOL tomorrow. The other 4 scheduled flights are cancelled.

I guess it would be retro-fun to fly the 737-300 again, but I hear it's a 700. Regardless, lots of people are being bumped to future flights.

 

[henrus]

There’s an exposé on Bonza on A Current Affair tonight.

I’m looking forward to the dramatic music and stock video of people waiting in queues.

I guess it would be retro-fun to fly the 737-300 again, but I hear it's a 700. Regardless, lots of people are being bumped to future flights.

It’s hard to get on one of the Nauru Bonza flights because most are heavily booked and the Nauru aircraft have less seats. Also there would be some lucky people who get a free upgrade because the air Nauru aircraft have business class.

 

[jakeseven7]

Wow what a cluster….
Feel very sorry for the travellers impacted.

 

[justinbrett]

I’m looking forward to the dramatic music and stock video of people waiting in queues.

I'm the first to bag ACA but I half expect an old school ACA ambush out the CEO's front door while he gets in his car and refuses to speak to the media.

The lack of communication from Bonza has become the problem, not the cancelled flights. The trailer indicates they got an interview with the CEO, so we shall see.

 

[henrus]

Very amusing and typical ACA...

Quoting someone who said "I've flown with bonza three times and the three times they've cancelled" - so sounds to me like they havent actually flown?

Then the first part talking about people who couldn't get a refund due to their medical issues.

 

[justinbrett]

Very amusing and typical ACA...

Quoting someone who said "I've flown with bonza three times and the three times they've cancelled" - so sounds to me like they havent actually flown?

Then the first part talking about people who couldn't get a refund due to their medical issues.

Yeah was pretty much a nothing story, although that's the first communication I've had from Bonza confirming my flight is cancelled, and I've had to get that through the media.

Joke of an airline, and the story confirms the risk of booking with them when they only operate 2/3 times a week on most routes. I won't be booking with them again.

 

[A321]

Rubbish ACA story (as usual).

Certainly not backing them up, but wouldn't Travel Insurance cover all of these situations aired?

 

[Albert Hoffman]

Also there would be some lucky people who get a free upgrade because the air Nauru aircraft have business class.

Hopefully I'll be one of those peeps since i booked seat 1a. Let's see if they use the Nauru Airlines to concentrate on OOL-TSV/ROK and at least maintain a semblance of sanity for passengers booked on those two routes during the holidays.

 

[JessicaTam]

Rubbish ACA story (as usual).

Certainly not backing them up, but wouldn't Travel Insurance cover all of these situations aired?

It would be unlikely domestic travellers would be able to get TI.

 

[dajop]

It would be unlikely domestic travellers would be able to get TI.

And even if they did, a lot of policies have exclusions relating to anything that is “the fault of the carrier”.

 

[justinbrett]

I wonder if there will be a swag of QCAT/NCAT/VCAT etc cases claiming more compensation for those left high & dry mid journey?

 

[jakeseven7]

Why not…

‘Jetstar offers affected Bonza flyers discounted rescue flights’

Jetstar jumps on Bonza’s Gold Coast woes with discounted flights

Bonza has already axed all Gold Coast–Darwin flights for December, with the route to now launch on 2 January. Other Gold Coast routes, including Melbourne’s Avalon Airport and Cairns, have been delayed indefinitely while CASA’s approval process continues for its wet-lease agreement with Flair.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[Saab34]

I do think they should be offering those accommodation for those stranded, the others are pretty good (well now) at this these days. Rebooking some of these routes with the competition generally involves a connection and a very costly regional leg of it.

Especially those who managed to use one of the new OOL flights in the first week for two, then they just axed the rest so people got stuck.

Really annoys me reading stories people out of pocket thousands just to get home. I get that disruption happens and by all means, at the worst, someone might get put up for the night and sent the next day (or two/three with this carrier), but nobody should be out of pocket $0000s. You don’t book a ticket to then be out of pocket $3-4k to get the troops home. Bonza needs to wear that an do hope new protections come into play.

 

[justinbrett]

I do think they should be offering those accommodation for those stranded, the others are pretty good (well now) at this these days. Rebooking some of these routes with the competition generally involves a connection and a very costly regional leg of it.

Especially those who managed to use one of the new OOL flights in the first week for two, then they just axed the rest so people got stuck.

Really annoys me reading stories people out of pocket thousands just to get home. I get that disruption happens and by all means, at the worst, someone might get put up for the night and sent the next day (or two/three with this carrier), but nobody should be out of pocket $0000s. You don’t book a ticket to then be out of pocket $3-4k to get the troops home. Bonza needs to wear that an do hope new protections come into play.

I would think Q/N/VCAT would find they're obligated to cover such expenses.

 

[Albert Hoffman]

Mea Culpa, Bonza cancelled OOL-TSV again today, so I followed justinbrett's example and booked a backup JQ flight from BNE with the free cancellation option as a backup option. Still would like to be on an exotic Flair or Nauru airplane tho

Did anyone who's flight got cancelled actually get any communication from Bonza beforehand, either through email or the app?