Schedule Change Updates

[Saab34]

It appears VA has made changes to the October to March schedule. Had 6 bookings in that time, just got 6 emails.

I assume they are pulling back capacity this peak season.

 

[harryhv]

An extra flight between Perth and Sydney in Dec, dep PER 11.15 am, SYD 1.55pm, with comparatively heaps of classic award availability. Ostensibly offering one award seat per flight in J of course, but if you book that seat a second one may pop up in 24 hrs.

 

[Harrison_133]

Some rejigging of the Alliance flying too:

• 1 of 2 daily F100s between Brisbane and Adelaide replaced by a 737-800.
• 1 of 4 daily Brisbane to Canberra services becomes a Fokker 100 (0620 departure ex BNE).

Also appears they’ve removed the all economy 737-700s on routes ex Brisbane, apart from a Sunday service to Perth.

 

[Zanzaid]

I can see my BNE-PER-BNE flights have changed too, no emails yet though. Wouldn't mind changing to earlier flights though... 737-8 on the way back though apparently.

 

[AIRwin]

I can see my BNE-PER-BNE flights have changed too, no emails yet though. Wouldn't mind changing to earlier flights though... 737-8 on the way back though apparently.

Try calling before desired flight fills up

 

[Harrison_133]

Due to 737 MAX delivery delays, Air North E190s will be operating on the Brisbane to Townsville route again from next week, taking over all Boeing 737 operated services until October 9th at this stage.

 

[Zanzaid]

Try calling before desired flight fills up

Thought i'd wait for the email to have leverage in case but they never came. Easy done now though, just had to get approval for being moved to a more full flight though for one of them. The other flight i moved to barely had 2 sears taken.

They didn't really specify why i hadn't got the emails, seemed to just be up to the system to decide when? I guess they were still far off in December.

 

[Saab34]

They didn't really specify why i hadn't got the emails, seemed to just be up to the system to decide when? I guess they were still far off in December.

Jetstar did that to me once. I picked up the change but they took 4 weeks to email me. The preferred flight was filling up fast, which was more premium morning time. The next flight was later in the day and going out for bargain prices.

I actually believe they do this on purpose, especially in peak times, the longer they take to tell us, the more revenue they take on some key flights, then put the cancelled people on the lower yielding remaining flights.

 

[Harrison_133]

VA are withdrawing from Sydney to Apia route at the end of October.

Instead, Brisbane to Apia will increase from 2 flights per week to 4. This will further increase to 5 flights per week over December and January.

Virgin Australia NW23 Samoa Service Changes — AeroRoutes

 

[kookaburra75]

VA are withdrawing from Sydney to Apia route at the end of October.

Instead, Brisbane to Apia will increase from 2 flights per week to 4. This will further increase to 5 flights per week over December and January.

Virgin Australia NW23 Samoa Service Changes — AeroRoutes

Yuck. The flights ex-Sydney departed and arrived, both ways at decent times. The ex-Brisbane flights, like Qantas depart are over night flights that arrive at 4am or so. Not a good use of time.

 

[MarkD]

Yuck. The flights ex-Sydney departed and arrived, both ways at decent times. The ex-Brisbane flights, like Qantas depart are over night flights that arrive at 4am or so. Not a good use of time.

Likely to increase aircraft utilisation

 

[Harrison_133]

Virgin to resume flights to Uluru in June 2024, with two routes.

• Brisbane to Ayers Rock (3 times per week)
• Melbourne to Ayers Rock (4 times per week)

Fares start at $129 one way.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/virgin-australia-to-fly-to-uluru-from-melbourne-and-brisbane/news-story/d660816746ca3928f860dd663cdf0bc7?amp

 

[AIRwin]

Virgin to resume flights to Uluru in June 2024, with two routes.

• Brisbane to Ayers Rock (3 times per week)
• Melbourne to Ayers Rock (4 times per week)

Fares start at $129 one way.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/virgin-australia-to-fly-to-uluru-from-melbourne-and-brisbane/news-story/d660816746ca3928f860dd663cdf0bc7?amp

Virgin Australia maiden Uluru service takes off with epic three-day sale

Virgin Australia today commences flights between Melbourne and Uluru with the airline’s first Brisbane-Uluru service set to take flight from tomorrow.

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[Saab34]

Uluṟu has often been a marginal route, QF switched it out with JQ which still enables them to offer partner seat availability.

I assume this is an important part for Virgin’s network in terms of partner feed.

 

[A321]

Sounds good
App shows nothing new. Email sent.

 

[Harrison_133]

Sounds good
App shows nothing new. Email sent.

Did you end up figuring out what happened here?

Worth noting that 5 minutes is being added to the block time of a number of routes out of Melbourne commencing July 8th, including MEL-CNS/CBR/DRW/HBA/LST/NTL either in one or both directions. This has changed the arrival and departure times of some flights by 5 minutes.

No doubt some OTP related schedule padding.

 

[HS-TQE]

Good ol' adding fat to the timetable and then declaring you're "on time" on the back of that fat. Reminds me of most PT authorities around Australia when they address delays, just throw a few minutes onto the timetable.

 

[A321]

Did you end up figuring out what happened here?

Worth noting that 5 minutes is being added to the block time of a number of routes out of Melbourne commencing July 8th, including MEL-CNS/CBR/DRW/HBA/LST/NTL either in one or both directions. This has changed the arrival and departure times of some flights by 5 minutes.

No doubt some OTP related schedule padding.

Not yet, still awaiting a reply from the Plat email address. This flight is DRW-BNE-ADL.

 

[A321]

Sounds good
App shows nothing new. Email sent.
View attachment 392357

Well got another change notification for this one, this time actually providing details.
VA454 in mid Sept now changed to E190 operated by Airnorth and two hours earlier. Thankfully was transferred to the E190 biz seats which are sold as YX on the service.

 

[henrus]

VA454 in mid Sept now changed to E190 operated by Airnorth and two hours earlier. Thankfully was transferred to the E190 biz seats which are sold as YX on the service.

Assuming that sticks I'd say it's a big upgrade!