Is the weather at OOL airport that bad?

[JohnK]

The 1830 VA arrival is now retimed to 2040

That flight and the one after it have now been cancelled.

My flight is boarding now but as OOL airport is supposedly closed I am hoping we are landing in BNE but have not been advised yet. I will ask on board.

 

[LiamR]

When you say advance notice you do mean the traveller needs to check the website?

Like others I have spoken to I received a call from VA advising me of my options well before departure. I was under the impression everybody on a disrupted service got a call.

If your flight has been cancelled, a member of our team will be contacting you with recovery options as soon as possible. Please do not proceed to the airport without a confirmed booking​

Source: http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/bookings/flight-status/travel-alerts/

 

[Deleted member 29185]

How does one check JohnKs flight stats?

If he boarded at 4.20pm, it's conceivable he currently taxiing out! Be interested to see where he ends up.

Right now, the wind and rain has stopped at my place. Hopefully it's finished.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Hmmm. I don't want to risk it either but need to be at work Tuesday morning.
Would BNE be a better alternative for tomorrow? Cannot afford to defer travel as I have a return from OOL again next Friday.

Short answer, rebook to Brisbane ASAP, its the better alternative right now, and I suspect VA will cancel more flights soon for tomorrow, when that happens options will diminish quickly.

Am sure I am not the only person who wonders why yesterday you did not book SYD to BNE on QF VA [or JQ if they fly that route]

 

[serfty]

He tried to change his booking at the VA lounge, look up thread.

I do believe he would have had a better result using the telephone.

 

[Plutonus]

Like others I have spoken to I received a call from VA advising me of my options well before departure. I was under the impression everybody on a disrupted service got a call.



Source: Travel Alerts | Virgin Australia

I must be unlucky... no text message or phone call, I just kept checking the website. Website also says don't call us, we'll call you - but how long to wait?

On a side note, both VA and QF showing no flights available tomorrow from OOL (to book). Would they have just suspended sales so they can sort out the mess?

 

[burrco]

What are the thoughts of any locals (or anyone) on the OOL airport. I'm booked on an early morning (Qantas) flight to Sydney and not sure if I should change the flight or risk it? I really want to get home and dread the thought of spending another night at the Miami Vice Childcare Centre (aka Sheraton Mirage) but don't want to have the hassle of rebooking the car, hotel and flights in a panic when I can easily do it now.

Looking at the forecast the winds should have died down - so should be all systems go? Thoughts?

 

[KCMil]

I do know that as soon as VA get a significant disrupt they block out a certain number of flights that gives them service recovery capability. Depending on the severity of the disrupt will determine the number of flights that they block out ahead. I saw this most prominantly during the last flood crisis.

 

[JohnK]

How does one check JohnKs flight stats?

Stats are generally not good and this is no exception.

If he boarded at 4.20pm, it's conceivable he currently taxiing out! Be interested to see where he ends up.

Right now, the wind and rain has stopped at my place. Hopefully it's finished.

Boarded ~5:15pm maybe a little later, closed doors ~5:30pm and did not take off until ~6:35pm or thereabouts.

Just my luck and OOL airport was reopened and we landed ~6:47pm and ~77 minutes late. The flight before mine boarded an hour earlier and landed 5 minutes later. Not too bad. There were 3 other VA aircraft there already and nothing else. Just made the last bus to Varsity Lakes and Robina.

But now comes the task of getting to the city with all the disruptions. I have been here close to 2 hours and I am still on the Gold Coast. The 7:48pm bus never came to Varsity Lakes and taken to Robina Station and waited until 8:48pm and now on our way to Bethania where we get on a train and then bus again to the city.

At check-in I was offered the opportunity of a late(ish) service to BNE but I did not want to hang around at the airport for that long and then have a cancellation.

Oh well. Wrong decision again and hopefully I will be home by midnight. Not sure how I will get to work tomorrow as the place is a mess....

 

[777]

Oh well. Wrong decision again and hopefully I will be home by midnight. Not sure how I will get to work tomorrow as the place is a mess....

Glad you made it in one piece. I'm sure you won't be the only one in SEQ with issues getting to work in the morning.

 

[jetlagger]

Stats are generally not good and this is no exception.


Boarded ~5:15pm maybe a little later, closed doors ~5:30pm and did not take off until ~6:35pm or thereabouts.

Just my luck and OOL airport was reopened and we landed ~6:47pm and ~77 minutes late. The flight before mine boarded an hour earlier and landed 5 minutes later. Not too bad. There were 3 other VA aircraft there already and nothing else. Just made the last bus to Varsity Lakes and Robina.

But now comes the task of getting to the city with all the disruptions. I have been here close to 2 hours and I am still on the Gold Coast. The 7:48pm bus never came to Varsity Lakes and taken to Robina Station and waited until 8:48pm and now on our way to Bethania where we get on a train and then bus again to the city.

At check-in I was offered the opportunity of a late(ish) service to BNE but I did not want to hang around at the airport for that long and then have a cancellation.

Oh well. Wrong decision again and hopefully I will be home by midnight. Not sure how I will get to work tomorrow as the place is a mess....

One of those days.. JohnK.
Have a spare bed in GC but you would have been challenged by the 4am ride to BNE in am.
Hope you managed to get home.

 

[drron]

And I am meant to be working in Bundaberg next week.

 

[JohnK]

One of those days.. JohnK.

Unfotunately "one of those days" is happening too regularly.

Still nowhere near Bethania.

 

[james1]

Watching on flightradar and I note that after some significant time holding, at least 5 aircraft are on their way back to their departure points due to the curfew restrictions in Sydney. I see that two of these aircraft are VA flights now returning to the Gold Coast! The last flight in was Qantas from Perth and air traffic congratulated them for getting in with a minute to spare before 11pm.

Having said all that, If there was ever a case for a dispensation for late arrivals, I would have thought it would have been tonight. However, I guess 2013 is an election year....

 

[bullerdude]

Watching on flightradar and I note that after some significant time holding, at least 5 aircraft are on their way back to their departure points due to the curfew restrictions in Sydney. I see that two of these aircraft are VA flights now returning to the Gold Coast! The last flight in was Qantas from Perth and air traffic congratulated them for getting in with a minute to spare before 11pm.

Having said all that, If there was ever a case for a dispensation for late arrivals, I would have thought it would have been tonight. However, I guess 2013 is an election year....

Damm... the people on VA536 and VA 540 will be pretty unhappy... at this rate they will getting back off the plane at Midnight having flown almost the entire way to Sydney and then having to turn back to the Gold Coast...

 

[whatmeworry]

Not good news for you guys around BNE and SEQ travel wise tomorrow.

Cookies must be enabled | Herald Sun

 

[Hvr]

I have an $88 trip promotional to OOL on Sunday. (Booked mid last year?) Based on the current experiences of weather is the airport likely to even be open?

 

[Meggsy]

I have an $88 trip promotional to OOL on Sunday. (Booked mid last year?) Based on the current experiences of weather is the airport likely to even be open?

Based on tomorrows forecast I see no reason why it won't be open. Winds are predicted to drop right away so it should be business as usual.

 

[Katie]

I have an $88 trip promotional to OOL on Sunday. (Booked mid last year?) Based on the current experiences of weather is the airport likely to even be open?

By Sunday it should be fine. Spent Fri night-Sun early arvo at Mooloolaba and the wind didn't seem to stop at all. Back into BNE yesterday, and definitely constant wind and frequent rain.
Today was fine, overcast, some rainy patches, but also sun, and in the domestic side of things, I even got some washing on the line & it dried without being ripped off 10mins later due to rain and shoved through the dryer. The Goldie should be without wind by tomorrow, I'd think, based on what I've experienced in the past few days.

 

[JohnPhelan]

dread the thought of spending another night at the Miami Vice Childcare Centre (aka Sheraton Mirage)

Huh ????????