No Flights from Canberra?

[wendlle]

Family is looking at going to QLD in August to visit Family. Our closest airport is Canberra, we usually fly into Gold Coast and out of Bundaberg.
There are NO flights at all until August 31st.
I was looking two days ago for early August flights and there were plenty.

Any ideas what is going on? Am I going to have to call?

 

[BNEFlyer]

Family is looking at going to QLD in August to visit Family. Our closest airport is Canberra, we usually fly into Gold Coast and out of Bundaberg.
There are NO flights at all until August 31st.
I was looking two days ago for early August flights and there were plenty.

Any ideas what is going on? Am I going to have to call?

Which airline?

 

[hossein_au]

Which airline?

Given the forum hierarchy, I would assume VA.

To answer the OP, I was looking for flights a couple of days ago and there were plenty of VA flights in and out of CBR mid- to late-July (that is the timeframe I was looking at).

Edit: I just double-checked and there is NONE available! They must have pulled everything off of the system.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Given the forum hierarchy, I would assume VA.

To answer the OP, I was looking for flights a couple of days ago and there were plenty of VA flights in and out of CBR mid- to late-July (that is the timeframe I was looking at).

Edit: I just double-checked and there is NONE available! They must have pulled everything off of the system.

That would indicate a schedule update is coming.

 

[adrenaln]

That would indicate a schedule update is coming.

Yep, had some scheduled PQQ-SYD flights for 14/8 and 21/8 cancelled last night, interestingly rerouted via PQQ-BNE-SYD with PQQ-BNE on Alliance.

I suspected that they may be doing something with the ATRs however I checked CFS-SYD which uses a 737 and they are all cancelled too....

 

[Bolthead]

Just be mindful.... we just flew SYD-OOL to visit my ailing father in NSW (20km's south of the border) We had all the documentation that was required based on the QLD website but we nearly were turned around at OOL by the QLD police as we had no proof that my father was not well. (They don't mention that on the website) Luckily my brother was there to pick us up and he had some documentation that satisfied the police. To be fair they were very apolagetic and compassionate. They certianly were not rude because we had no proof. Hopefully by August the borders will be open.

 

[wendlle]

Thanks guys, we are hoping to get all of this booked fairly quickly and this is throwing a spanner in the works.
I can go CBR-SYD with Qantas then SYD-MCY (not OOL now we decided to go to Sunshine coast instead) then BDB-SYD, SYD-CBR but it adds quite a bit of cost and effort to the trip - early weird flights that would mean us staying in Canberra or Sydney a night to make flights etc

When do you think they might add flights if they are looking at doing schedule changes? As it stands I can't get anything out of Canberra until August 31st and that's just too late.

I am sure by August the borders will be open, if the Premier doesn't do it herself I think the lawsuits will. Getting a bit absurd to keep them closed now.

 

[hossein_au]

Thanks guys, we are hoping to get all of this booked fairly quickly and this is throwing a spanner in the works.
...

Same. I was about to pull the trigger and book the flights I wanted just a few nights ago, but then I thought I'd do that the following day. Now all the flights have disappeared. So, I might just bite the bullet and book with QF, even though their timing is far less favourable than the VA flights (albeit when VA had ANY flights you could book).

 

[wendlle]

Same. I was about to pull the trigger and book the flights I wanted just a few nights ago, but then I thought I'd do that the following day. Now all the flights have disappeared. So, I might just bite the bullet and book with QF, even though their timing is far less favourable than the VA flights (albeit when VA had ANY flights you could book).

Yes the only reason I need to book with VA is because I have a travel credit that I need to use. I'll get the QF flights that I have to but the rest will be with VA so I can use up that credit before it expires. Also I'm so close to Gold, these flights should just tip me over before my SC expire.

 

[Mattg]

VA is still running CBR-MEL flights, and is resuming CBR-BNE next month. Nothing on CBR-OOL, CBR-SYD-OOL or CBR-SYD-MCY though.

 

[wendlle]

Where are you seeing CBR-BNE for next month? I can see some via MEL but the pricing is obscene.

 

[AIRwin]

Where are you seeing CBR-BNE for next month?

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) information hub

travel.virginaustralia.com

 

[Happy Dude]

VA is still running CBR-MEL flights, and is resuming CBR-BNE next month. Nothing on CBR-OOL, CBR-SYD-OOL or CBR-SYD-MCY though.

I've just booked CBR-BNE direct for this Monday return the following week, also direct. $215 each way for getaway.

Well I think I have. There is an issue with the original payment (made with travel bank and credit card) which means the conditional credit can't be established and it can't be ticketed immediately. Surely I'm not the first person to go through this? Took two hours to get to "We've made the booking, you are definitely on the plane, and we'll call you back tomorrow with the reference".

Where are you seeing CBR-BNE for next month? I can see some via MEL but the pricing is obscene.

Maybe worth chancing your luck and leave it till the last minute?

 

[The Flying Brick]

I had a pair of flights MEL-CBR for the 4th and 5th of August booked last weekend. At the time VA were advertising 4 flights per day.

This morning received an email that my flights had been cancelled and was offered a rebooking on the same days, however there is now only one flight per day MEL-CBR for when I need to go.

I did take up the rebooking offer and noted that the sole J seat left on my return flight was now priced at $750!

VA having to be making a bit of profit on this flight - just really wish that they were making a profit elsewhere too.

 

[jakeseven7]

Yes the only reason I need to book with VA is because I have a travel credit that I need to use. I'll get the QF flights that I have to but the rest will be with VA so I can use up that credit before it expires.

Don’t worry we didn’t think you were outlaying your own cash on VA flights with the state they are in at the moment! If I had travel credit with them I would be trying to burn it sooner rather than later too

 

[PlaneCrazy]

I recieved an email on friday from Virgin saying my SYD-CBR flight in late July had been cancelled so id say they've just rolled forward their reduced schedule for july/august

 

[jakeseven7]

I recieved an email on friday from Virgin saying my SYD-CBR flight in late July had been cancelled so id say they've just rolled forward their reduced schedule for july/august

Oh no... was it a revenue flight you paid for yourself or were you trying to burn up travel credits?

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Oh no... was it a revenue flight you paid for yourself or were you trying to burn up travel creditzzz?

It was yet another paid flight. Had three bookings cancelled so far. Accepted the travel voucher the first time but since they've changed to the "conditional credits" which to me mean nothing, I've regrettably put charge back requests through with AMEX. Time will tell the outcome of that!

 

[wendlle]

It's extremely frustrating, I'm trying to book some with Virgin and some with Qantas but none of the flights link up very well, long layovers or overnight stays which is hard with two small kids.
I've got to say I'm becoming more and more angry and frustrated with this covid business by the day.

I've got more flights in Nov to USA that are going to need to be cancelled. I paid some with points and the rest cash. What happens there?

 

[jakeseven7]

It's extremely frustrating, I'm trying to book some with Virgin and some with Qantas but none of the flights link up very well, long layovers or overnight stays which is hard with two small kids.
I've got to say I'm becoming more and more angry and frustrated with this covid business by the day.

Feel your pain - unfortunately with the wish washy nature of State border openings / non-openings, announced openings with asterixes attached and selective openings with some states and territories but not others and all on slightly different days - it is making scheduling near impossible for both VA and QF group..... What a nightmare for them to try and manage....